Given all that Morocco has to offer, you might be wondering how you’ll manage to see it all in a single week.
Here’s a varied travel itinerary that will show you some of Morocco greatest attractions. Discover fascinating natural landscapes, lively cities with historic medinas, and a millennium-old culture all await you.
This is the exact way to do it, whether your goal is to get from point A to point B or simply to avoid the pushy salespeople and infamous touts at Morocco’s market.
How to Plan It Yourself
First off, you can do this trip without purchasing a pre-arranged, all-inclusive Morocco tour!
It is better and less expensive to do it yourself. Online reservations for lodging and local tours are quite simple to make. When compared to a package tour, this can easily cut your travel expenses by 50% while giving you more flexibility.
Get a classic Morocco trip with more freedom to explore each city by booking your hotel through Booking.com or Expedia, and then through a platform like GetYourGuide, book a 3-day trip to the Sahara.
Days 1 and 2 in Marrakech
When you first arrive in Marrakech, the stunning architecture, the ubiquitous reddish hue, and the lively atmosphere will astound you.
But first, you have to get from the airport to your lodging before you can explore all that Marrakech has to offer.
Arriving in Marrakech
The Menara airport and the city center are only fifteen minutes apart.
Bus: Take line 19 to the square Jeema el Fna. The bus ride lasts for thirty minutes, and the fare is thirty MAD ($3).
Taxi: There are two varieties: grand taxis, also known as “big taxis,” and petite taxis, also known as “small taxis.” The smaller ones have only three seats and use a metered pricing structure. Large taxis have eight seats available, and each seat has a set price. For petit taxis, the typical fare ranges from 50 MAD ($5) to 100 MAD ($10) for grand taxis.
The second thing to be aware of when using airport taxis is that some drivers attempt to defraud or mislead foreigners by failing to start the meter or by charging excessive amounts.
Private transfer: By scheduling private airport transportation, you can completely avoid using the neighborhood taxis and save time.
Get ready for Marrakech.
Although Marrakech is fantastic, the prevalence of con artists, touts, and aggressive salespeople may occasionally ruin your first impression of Morocco.
I just want to be clear about this because many websites fail to mention it, which can only cause annoyance!
While these irritations aren’t a problem throughout Morocco, Marrakech is particularly troubled by them. In addition to con artists, you’ll come across a lot of people at the market offering you unasked-for services like “helping” you find lodging or persistently trying to upsell you stuff.
Fortunately, there are a few tips to minimize this unwanted attention. Marrakech is much more enjoyable to explore if you are prepared for what to expect.
At times, it’s necessary to simply say “No, thank you” and turn to leave. In other cases, you have to say it aloud multiple times to ensure that it is understood. If that doesn’t work, tell them “La,” which is Arabic for “No,” and I promise they will stop right away. But always say this with a smile, since you are probably speaking to someone who is merely trying to make ends meet.
Just keep in mind that interacting with locals is a necessary aspect of traveling, and that these kinds of encounters are normal and can be overcome. If that disturbs you, remember that Essaouira, the next city, is far more relaxed than Marrakech.
Make sure to book a riad.
Staying in a traditional Riad will elevate your “local experience” to a whole new level. These are classic Moroccan structures, many of which have been turned into hotels, with central courtyards.
Morocco riads are distinctive structures with traditional Moorish design features like central courtyards, mosaic tiling, and hand-carved wooden ceilings.
Situated only a short distance from the well-known Jemaa el-Fnaa square, I suggest staying at the Riad Jemaa El Fna & Spa. This riad offers traditional Moroccan treatments in the Hammam and has a pool in the courtyard.
Must-see locations in Marrakech
There is so much to do and see in Marrakech that one may experience a bit of a sensory overload. The tumult of traffic and pedestrians will envelop you as soon as you step foot in the city!
However, in my opinion, that is what makes Marrakech so fascinating. Prepare yourself for an exploration of the “Red City” by arming yourself with some patience.
Commence at its most famous location, the Medina, the historic center with its endless winding streets. You can get lost in the winding streets and haggle your way through the Souks, the marketplaces where you can find a wide variety of goods, starting from the main Jamaa El-Fna square.
Don’t miss the opportunity to see the magnificent Le Jardin Secret, an Islamic garden that dates back 400 years, as well as the Koutoubia, Marrakech’s largest mosque. The Dar el Bacha Museum, a historic palace transformed into a museum complete with an opulent coffee shop, is another must-see.
Visit the Bahia Palace and the ruins of El Badi Palace for a fantastic view over the city and the High Atlas Mountains, and take a leisurely stroll through the famous Majorelle Gardens, a luxurious garden recently renovated by designer Yves Saint-Laurent.
Constructed in the mid-1500s to house the tombs of Saadi sultans, the well-preserved Saadian Tombs are another fantastic place to visit.
Don’t leave Marrakech without having a traditional Tajine for dinner and getting lost in the medina again—the nighttime atmosphere in the medina is very different. Take a nighttime street food tour in Marrakech to add an extra twist. You can sample a wide range of local delicacies, including some surprising culinary discoveries.
Even though you can visit each of these locations on your own, you can also do so as a part of a full day tour, like this Half-Day Historical and Cultural Tour. However, in all honesty, I believe that the majority of the monuments and sites are doable on your own, while a knowledgeable guide makes the street food tour more enjoyable.
Days 3–5: Interior & Sahara
Beyond Marrakech, there are amazing scenery opportunities such as Sahara dunes, mountain canyons, and fortified cities.
This section of the one-week schedule will be the busiest with activities. Set aside at least two days to explore the fortified kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, the canyons of the Dades Valley and Todgha Gorge, and Erg Chebbi, one of the two Saharan ergs—giant sand dunes created by wind.
You can either self-drive or go on a tour to see all of these locations. Although it would not be practical, you could theoretically make the trip by public transportation. You would have to depend on buses that only run once or twice a day; the travel time will always be longer between two locations.
Option 1: Hiring a vehicle
It’s not as scary to drive in Morocco as some tourists think. (In actuality, a large number of French and Spanish travelers travel by ferry to Morocco.)
You can go on your own exploration with a rental car. To save time, effort, and potential language problems, I advise making reservations online in advance. Although automatic cars are still much more common in Morocco, you can still easily find them by making reservations online.
For those looking to rent a car in Marrakech, I suggest using DiscoverCars. To find the best deals, it compares all rental companies, big and small brands alike.
To prevent any problems when returning the car, make sure you take pictures and videos as soon as you go to pick it up.
Driving in Marrakech can be extremely chaotic at times, but as soon as you leave the city, the mayhem will drastically decrease. In general, the country’s roads are in good shape.
Just be advised that Morocco can have more random events; for example, you might come across a stray goat while driving. Have a safe and enjoyable road trip through Morocco by driving carefully.
Option 2: Tour reservations
While taking a tour is a great way to get a lot of things checked off your list in a short amount of time, it may not be as exciting as driving yourself. Additionally, you’ll have a spot reserved for one night in a tent camp deep within the Sahara Desert.
Depending on the operator, your tour experience may be positive or negative. I honestly got this tour for a really low price from a local agent in Marrakech when I was visiting Morocco for the first time, and it was incredibly hurried with far too many people packed into a minibus. It reminded me a little bit of moving cattle, but you get what you pay for!
I recommend this GetYourGuide tour as the ideal option for experiencing the Sahara Desert and the other sights en route for a better experience. Pickup from the hotel, an English-speaking guide, dinner and breakfast (vegetarian and vegan options available), first-night hotel lodging, and a night at a Bedouin camp are all included.
There will still be a good deal of driving and sightseeing on this trip. But to top it all off, you get to spend a wonderful night in the peaceful desert beneath the stars, where you can unwind and take a break.
Days 6 and 7 in Essaouira
You’ll probably want to unwind by the seaside after hectic Marrakech and your days of interior sightseeing. And Essaouira is the best location to do it.
Directions to Essaouira
By bus is the most convenient way to travel from Marrakech to Essaouira. Supratours is the primary bus company providing the transfer. Three hours are needed for the ride. You can buy the ticket online or at the Supratours bus station directly. It costs about $10 one way. The train station in Marrakech is directly next to the bus station.
CTM is the other bus company that operates on this route, but it only has a daily transfer and a less convenient bus station in Essaouira than Supratours.
Accommodations in Essaouira
The ideal way to take in Essaouira’s relaxed vibe is to reserve a boutique hotel with a view of the sea. With its large swimming pool and traditional architecture, the historic Villa Quieta is a great choice.
Enjoy shopping in the Medina’s streets (which are much less busy than those in Marrakech!), lounging on the beach, soaking up the Moroccan sun, and cooling off in the sea during your days in Essaouira.
Take a stroll around the port, which features the recognizable blue boats of the fishermen and the historic Portuguese defense walls. I recommend having lunch at the port, where you can select from the day’s catch, which is typically grilled.
Take time to visit the old Jewish quarter, the mullah, and indulge in a few hours in a hammam.