A week is the most common length of trip people ask me about, and it's a good one: enough for the desert and something else, if you're realistic about the distances. Here are the three shapes of a 7-day trip that I think work best, and who each one suits.
1. North to south: Chefchaouen, Fes and the Sahara
This is the classic first trip, and the reason it's classic is that it shows you the most different Moroccos in one week. You fly into Casablanca, and I drive you to Marrakech the long way round.
- Day 1: Casablanca to Chefchaouen, the blue town in the Rif.
- Days 2–3: Fes, with a full day inside the medina with a local guide.
- Day 4: Fes to Merzouga — the longest day, about 8 hours with stops — and a night in the dunes.
- Day 5: Sunrise, then west to the Dades Valley.
- Day 6: Through the kasbah country to Ait Ben Haddou.
- Day 7: Over the Tizi n'Tichka to Marrakech.
Best for: first-timers who want the full picture. It's the 7-day Casablanca to Marrakech route.
2. A desert loop from Marrakech, without doubling back
If you're flying in and out of Marrakech, this loop spends more time in the south and less time on motorways. Two nights around the desert means one whole unhurried day in the dunes instead of arriving at sunset and leaving at sunrise.
- Ait Ben Haddou and the Dades Valley on the way out.
- Two nights at Merzouga.
- Back through Agdz, the Draa palm groves and Ouarzazate — a different road home.
Best for: people who care more about the desert and the south than about the cities. It's The Berber Heartland Loop.
3. Slower, and led by food
Not everyone wants to spend a week in a van. This version skips the desert entirely and gives the days to Fes, the Middle Atlas and Marrakech — markets, bakeries, cooking and long lunches.
Best for: second visits, food lovers, and anyone travelling in the hottest months. It's Bread, Saffron and Salt.
What I'd avoid in 7 days
- Trying to add Essaouira and the desert and the north. Something has to give, and usually it's your enjoyment of all three.
- A single night in Fes. You arrive tired and leave before you've seen it.
- Driving to the desert and straight back in two days. It's around 18 hours in the van for one night in the dunes.
Every one of these can be bent around your dates. Send me when you land, where you fly out from and what matters most to you, and I'll tell you honestly which version fits.