The Morocco Grand Tour in 7 Days

Our 7-day itinerary is the ideal route for first-time visitors to Morocco who want to experience both the culture of the imperial cities and the adventure of the Sahara, without having to choose between the two. It’s the most complete tour in our catalog: two full days in Marrakech, a crossing of the High Atlas, two nights split between the gorges and the dunes of Erg Chebbi, and finally a day discovering ancient Fes before heading back towards Marrakech.

Best time to go

The best window for this itinerary is March-May or September-November, when temperatures are comfortable in both the imperial cities and the desert. Between June and August, Merzouga can easily exceed 40°C (104°F) at midday, which is why the camel ride and camp activities are always scheduled around sunset and sunrise, the coolest parts of the day. Nights are a different story: desert temperatures drop sharply even in summer, typically to 10-15°C (50-59°F), and can approach freezing in winter (December-February), so a warm jacket is essential whatever the season. Fes and Meknes, further inland than Marrakech, have noticeably colder, rainier winters.

Temperatures by season

Fes and Meknes sit further inland and higher than Marrakech, which is why their winters run noticeably colder and wetter — worth packing for if your trip includes December through February.

Difficulty level and who it’s for

This tour is rated easy, but it involves several hours of driving most days: the Marrakech-Ait Ben Haddou-Dades Gorges leg (day 3) crosses the Tizi n’Tichka pass, a winding mountain road commonly signed at 2,260 meters at the summit (a more recent GPS measurement puts it closer to 2,205 meters — either way, it remains the highest paved mountain pass in North Africa), with hundreds of hairpin bends that can trigger mild motion sickness — we recommend sitting in the front and packing any anti-nausea medication you rely on. The medinas of Marrakech and Fes are explored entirely on foot, over uneven cobblestones, so expect to walk several kilometers on days 2 and 6. The camel trek in Merzouga lasts about 30-45 minutes and suits most fitness levels, though it isn’t recommended for travelers with significant back problems or in late pregnancy.

What to pack

Layered clothing is the golden rule: light, breathable pieces for daytime, plus a warm sweater or jacket for desert and mountain evenings. Modest clothing covering shoulders and knees is required for visits to religious sites and royal mausoleums (such as the Mohammed V Mausoleum, if you add a Rabat extension). Comfortable, closed walking shoes are essential for the medinas’ uneven cobblestones. Also bring sunglasses, high-SPF sunscreen, a headlamp for moving around the desert camp after dark, and cash in Moroccan dirhams — small shops and tips almost never accept cards.

Pickup and what a typical day looks like

This is a private tour: the vehicle, driver-guide and pace of the trip are yours for all 7 days, not shared with travelers you don’t know. Pickup is from the airport on day one, and from your riad each following morning. Because this itinerary covers more ground than our shorter tours, driving days are real driving days — expect 3-5 hours behind the wheel on days 3, 4 and 5 — balanced against two full days with no driving at all in Marrakech and a relaxed final day in Fes before the transfer back.

Money, connectivity, and other practicalities

Morocco’s currency is the dirham (MAD), a closed currency you can’t buy before arriving, so plan to withdraw or exchange after landing. Riads and hotels in Marrakech and Fes generally accept cards, but the desert camp, small souk shops, and tips run on cash, so keep dirhams on hand throughout. WiFi is reliable in both cities; mobile signal holds up well in Marrakech, Fes and Meknes but drops out in stretches of the High Atlas and the open desert, so plan for a day or two of limited connectivity around days 3-5.

How this differs from our other tours

Compared to our 3-Day Fes to Marrakech Desert Tour, which covers only the crossing to the Sahara without extended city stops, this 7-Day Grand Tour dedicates real time to exploring Marrakech (2 days) and Fes (a full day) on top of the desert leg. It’s the right pick for first-time visitors who want the complete picture of Morocco in one itinerary; if you’ve already seen the imperial cities on an earlier trip, or have less time available, our 3-day Fes-Marrakech tour above or our classic 3-day Marrakech-Merzouga tour are better suited.

Did you know?

The Fes el-Bali medina, which you’ll visit on day 6, is considered one of the largest car-free urban areas in the world: over 9,000 narrow lanes, with no street wide enough for a car, where goods are still moved by mule or handcart today exactly as they were eight centuries ago.