In seven days from Marrakech you can see the medina, spend a night in the Sahara dunes and finish by the ocean in Essaouira, as long as you accept two long days on the road. If you would rather keep driving to a minimum, another version stays within three hours of Marrakech: the medina, the Atlas, the Agafay desert and Essaouira. Here are the two itineraries we recommend most often, day by day, with what they really involve.
Itinerary 1: desert and ocean
| Day | Programme | Night |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive in Marrakech, airport transfer, first evening on Jemaa el-Fna square | Marrakech |
| 2 | Guided tour of the medina in the morning, Majorelle Garden in the afternoon | Marrakech |
| 3 | Head for the desert: Tizi n’Tichka pass, Ait Ben Haddou, Dades valley | Dades |
| 4 | Todra Gorge, arrival in Merzouga, camel ride at sunset | Desert camp |
| 5 | Sunrise over the dunes, long drive back | Marrakech |
| 6 | Transfer to Essaouira (2h45), afternoon on the ramparts and at the port | Essaouira |
| 7 | Morning in Essaouira, then back to Marrakech or your flight home | — |
This is the most complete itinerary. The price to pay: days 3, 4 and 5 are largely spent in the car, and day 5 alone involves nine to ten hours on the road. Days 3 to 5 match our 3-day Merzouga desert tour exactly, and our article on the tour itinerary covers each stage.
With eight days, add a rest day in Marrakech between coming back from the desert and leaving for Essaouira. It is the day travellers who choose this version miss most often.
Itinerary 2: no long drives
| Day | Programme | Night |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive in Marrakech, settle into your riad | Marrakech |
| 2 | Medina with a guide, souks, dinner on a roof terrace | Marrakech |
| 3 | A day in the Atlas: Imlil or the Ourika Valley | Marrakech |
| 4 | Free morning, then afternoon and evening in the Agafay desert | Agafay camp or Marrakech |
| 5 | Transfer to Essaouira | Essaouira |
| 6 | Essaouira: beach, medina, or Sidi Kaouki for surfing and horse riding | Essaouira |
| 7 | Back to Marrakech or your flight home | — |
No leg is longer than three hours. You will not see the big sand dunes, but Agafay gives a good taste of the stony desert, with a sunset and dinner under the stars; our comparison Agafay or Merzouga helps you decide. This itinerary suits families with young children, older travellers and anyone who wants a proper holiday pace.
How to choose between them
- You dream of sand dunes: itinerary 1, no question. The Erg Chebbi looks like nothing else in Morocco.
- You are travelling with children under 8 or with parents who do not cope well with long drives: itinerary 2.
- It is your first trip to Morocco and you want an overview: itinerary 1, accepting a more tiring second half of the week.
- You are coming in winter: both work, but the night at the desert camp is cold, close to 0°C. Camps provide thick blankets; bring a hat anyway.
What we advise against in seven days
Every week we are asked whether you can do Marrakech, Fes, Chefchaouen, the desert and Essaouira in one week. Technically yes; in practice you will spend half the trip in a car and remember mainly the road. Fes and the north deserve a separate trip, or at least ten to twelve days.
Another common mistake: heading for the desert the day after an overnight flight or a late arrival. Keep at least one full day in Marrakech before taking the road to the Sahara; you will enjoy the rest of the trip much more.
Finally, do not try to fill every evening. Morocco is also about sitting on a terrace with a mint tea and no plan at all.
Arriving and leaving
- Arrival: most European flights land at Marrakech Menara. The airport transfer drops you at your hotel door, or at the entrance to your riad’s alley with a porter for your luggage.
- Leaving from Essaouira: Essaouira Mogador airport has a few direct flights to Europe depending on the season. Otherwise, the Marrakech to Essaouira transfer also runs the other way on your last day.
- Arriving via Casablanca: allow an extra half day to reach Marrakech, about three hours by road from Mohammed V airport.
Transport budget, as a guide
For two people on itinerary 1: the 3-day Merzouga tour at €190 per person, including transport, two nights, breakfasts and dinners; the Marrakech to Essaouira transfer at €90 per vehicle; and airport transfers from €20. On itinerary 2 the transport budget is much lower, but you pay for more hotel nights in Marrakech and Essaouira. Both versions are booked stage by stage, with no fixed package: you stay in control of where you sleep.
What about the season?
March to May and late September to November are the most comfortable periods for both itineraries. In July and August the desert often goes above 40°C in the afternoon, so itinerary 2, with Essaouira’s cooler air, is more pleasant. Our article on the best time to visit Marrakech and southern Morocco covers the weather month by month.
In short
- Seven days is enough for Marrakech, a night in the Sahara and Essaouira, at the cost of two long days on the road.
- Without long drives: the medina, the Atlas, Agafay and Essaouira.
- Do not add Fes and the north in the same week.
- Keep one full day in Marrakech before heading for the desert.
