The route at a glance
| Day | Route | Night |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive in Marrakech | Marrakech |
| 2 | Marrakech | Marrakech |
| 3 | Marrakech → Tizi n'Tichka → Aït Benhaddou → Dades gorges (about 7 h with stops) | Dades valley |
| 4 | Dades → Todra gorges → Merzouga (about 5 h) | Desert camp, Erg Chebbi |
| 5 | Merzouga → Marrakech (about 9–10 h) | Marrakech |
| 6 | Marrakech → Essaouira (about 3 h) | Essaouira |
| 7 | Essaouira → Marrakech (about 3 h) and departure | — |
Transport: a private driver or a small-group desert tour for days 3–5; bus or transfer to Essaouira. Self-driving is also possible.
Is this too rushed? Days 3–5 involve long drives — that is the price of reaching the Sahara from Marrakech in a week. If you prefer a slower pace, see the alternatives below.
Day by day
Day 1 — Arrive in Marrakech
Arrange a transfer from the airport to your riad, especially if you arrive in the evening. Settle in, then walk to Jemaa el-Fna for sunset and dinner at the food stalls or on a rooftop overlooking the square.
Day 2 — Discover Marrakech
Start early at the Ben Youssef Madrasa, then explore the souks. After lunch, visit the Bahia Palace and the Saadian Tombs, or book a timed slot at Jardin Majorelle. Finish with a hammam. Our Marrakech guide has the details.
Day 3 — Over the Atlas to the Dades valley
Leave by 8:00. The road climbs through Amazigh villages to the Tizi n'Tichka pass (2,260 m). Stop at Aït Benhaddou, the UNESCO-listed fortified village, for a walk to the granary at the top. Continue through Ouarzazate and the Skoura palm grove along the "Road of a Thousand Kasbahs" to the Dades gorges. Overnight in a guesthouse in the valley.
Day 4 — Todra gorges and into the desert
Morning in the Todra gorges, where the canyon narrows to a few metres between 300-metre cliffs. Drive on through Tinejdad and Erfoud to Merzouga, arriving mid-afternoon. Leave your main luggage at the hotel, ride a camel into the Erg Chebbi dunes, and watch the sunset from a dune top. Dinner and music around the fire in camp.
Day 5 — Sunrise in the Sahara, back to Marrakech
Wake early for sunrise over the dunes, return by camel or 4x4, shower and have breakfast in Merzouga, then begin the long drive back to Marrakech via the Draa or Dades route. Expect to arrive in the evening.
Alternative: end the circuit in Fez instead (about 7–8 hours from Merzouga through the Middle Atlas cedar forests) and fly home from Fez, skipping Essaouira.
Day 6 — Essaouira
Take the morning bus or a transfer to Essaouira. Walk the Skala de la Ville ramparts, explore the relaxed medina, and have grilled fish at the stalls by the harbour. Sunset walk on the beach. See our Essaouira guide.
Day 7 — Morning by the sea, departure
An early visit to the fishing port when the boats come in, last shopping for thuya wood or argan products, then return to Marrakech for your flight. (Some flights also leave from Essaouira's small airport.)
Alternative 7-day routes
Imperial cities and the blue town (no desert). Casablanca (1 night) → Rabat (1 night) → Fez (2 nights) → Chefchaouen (2 nights) → Tangier (1 night). Mostly by train, very relaxed, best for culture and architecture.
Slower south (desert without the rush). Marrakech (2 nights) → Aït Benhaddou (1 night) → Dades (1 night) → Merzouga (2 nights) → Fez (fly home). Ends in Fez, avoiding the drive back.
Marrakech and the mountains. Marrakech (3 nights) → Imlil (2 nights, walking in the Toubkal National Park) → Essaouira (2 nights). No long drives, ideal for families.
Budgeting the route
The main variable is transport for the desert circuit:
- Shared group tour (3 days / 2 nights from Marrakech): the cheapest option, usually including transport, two nights' accommodation and some meals. Expect a large group and little flexibility.
- Private driver: several times more expensive per vehicle but much more comfortable; good value when shared by 3–4 people.
- Self-drive rental car: flexible and reasonably priced, but you will do all the driving.
Tips for this itinerary
- Book Jardin Majorelle and your desert camp in advance in high season.
- Pack warm layers for the desert night, even in spring and autumn.
- Carry enough cash for days 3–5; ATMs are scarce outside the towns.
- Avoid this route in July and August if you can — the desert is extremely hot.
Is 7 days enough?
It is enough for a first visit if you choose one region. If you want to combine Fez, Chefchaouen and the Sahara, look at our 10-day itinerary or the 14-day itinerary.
Related: Merzouga guide, getting around Morocco and the best time to visit.
This guide was last reviewed in October 2026. Entry rules, opening hours, transport timetables and prices change; check official sources shortly before you travel. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.