Morocco is an intriguing and unique country. It is located in North Africa along the Mediterranean Sea, across from Spain. It contains Berber, Arab, and European influences. A one week Morocco itinerary is the perfect amount of time to spend exploring Morocco.
Teacher Tip: Make sure to check and see if Ramadan is happening before you visit Morocco. The holiday is awesome to experience, and it gives insight into what it is like for people who celebrate Ramadan. However, be prepared for restaurants to not be open during the day. Check out some of these great tips for traveling during Ramadan from The Sane Adventurer!
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Best Time to Visit Morocco
Morocco is an amazing place to visit any time of the year, but for the best weather, visit in spring or fall. We went right at the beginning of summer, and it was just starting to get hot. I cannot imagine the peak heat in the summertime. Keep in mind that the Sahara Desert nights will be cold no matter when you visit.
How to Get to Morocco
Morocco has several international airports in the cities of Fes, Marrakech, Tangier, and Casablanca. Flights fly into these airports from all over the world. For this itinerary, you will want to fly into Fes and out of Marrakech. You could also fly roundtrip to Marrakech and take a train or taxi to Fes from there.
Where to Stay in Morocco
TripAdvisor is a great place to start your hotel search. Search for the best Morocco hotels here!
Day 1: Arrival in Fes
Hotel: Riad-Boutique Borj Dhab Fez
Today, you will arrive in Fes, Morocco. Fes is considered the cultural capital of Morocco and is known for its sprawling medina. Arrange to have your riad pick you up at the airport, or plan to take a taxi to where you are staying. Having a pre-arranged transfer will help alleviate the stress of trying to find transportation, though, so I recommend pre-booking transportation.
Once checked in and settled in your riad, spend some time relaxing and enjoying the amenities of the hotel. A riad is a popular option for a place to stay in Morocco. Riads are guest houses that are usually family-owned and include breakfast. We chose this option because we wanted to stay right in the medina. I would highly recommend it as the owners were very friendly and the place was beautiful!
Then, grab dinner at Restaurant Palais La Médina which included a huge Moroccan meal and a show. It is so worth the $30 per person.
Day 2: Fes
On your first full day in this one week Morocco itinerary, explore the unique city of Fes. What makes Fes great for the budget traveler is that many of the attractions do not cost anything. If you prefer, opt to take a tour around the city.
Start the day by getting lost in the Medina. Enter the medina through the infamous Blue Gate. This ancient walled medina is world-famous and a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is a great spot to grab any souvenirs you may want. Make sure to walk by al-qarawiyyin, the oldest university in Morocco.
Teacher Tip: There will be many locals who will offer to help you find your way if you get lost. However, if you do accept their help, it is customary to give them a “tip” once they take you to where you want to go.
Next, make sure to catch some views of the Chaouwara (Chouara) Tannery. You can see views of this from many of the shops, just ask the shopkeepers! If you opt to visit the Tannery, make sure to leave a donation or buy an item at the shop you visit to view the Tannery.
Continue wandering the medina and make sure to also check out the royal palace, Dar al Makhzen. You will not be able to go inside, but the outside is worth stopping to look at. Other things to do include the panoramic points of Fes and the Jnan Sbil Gardens.
If you arrive early on day one, you can complete this day in Fes then and opt to visit the ruins of Volubilis instead as part of day 2 of this one week Morocco itinerary.
Day 3: Fes to Merzouga
Travel Time: 7 hours + 4X4 and camel ride
Hotel: Sahara Desert Camp
Today, as part of this one week Morocco itinerary, join a Sahara Desert tour that will take you from the bustling medina of Fes to the picturesque Sahara Desert. Although it is a long drive to the Sahara Desert, you will pass through many gorgeous sites, including a forest of monkeys and the Swiss village of Ifrane.
About halfway through the drive, you will stop for lunch in the town of Midelt. After lunch, you will drive until you reach Merzouga in the late afternoon. From there, if you opt to spend the night in the middle of the desert, you will be transported by a 4X4 to where you get ready to ride a camel the rest of the way.
After grabbing what you need for the night, you will be loaded onto a camel and spend about an hour to get to the camp. You will arrive in time to watch the sunset over the Sahara. While you will be exhausted from the long drive, it is ultimately worth it to watch the sunset on the Sahara Desert. After sunset, dinner is served in the dining tent.
If you prefer not to camp in the middle of the Sahara Desert at a Berber Camp, you can also opt to stay in a hotel near the Sahara Desert. Make sure to look at choices when booking your tour. The lower-end camps start at $60/night, with luxury camps starting at $300/night. Our camp was included in our 3-day Sahara Desert tour.
Other Sahara Desert Tour Options
- 3 Day Tour from Marrakech
- 3 Day Fes to Marrakech
- Atlas Mountains from Fes to Marrakech
- Marrakech to Fes
- 4 Day Sahara Desert Tour
Day 4: Merzouga to Todra Gorge to Ouarzazate
Travel Time: 5 hours
Hotel: Hotel Les Jardins de Ouarzazate
On the morning of day 4, wake up to watch the sunrise over the Sahara Desert. From the desert camp, you will then take a camel ride back to the 4X4s and then be given the opportunity to clean up at a hotel. Although this will be another long day in this one week Morocco itinerary, you cannot beat a Sahara Desert sunrise.
After that, you will then continue your journey from the desert to Ouarzazate on this one week Morocco itinerary. Ouarzazate is known as the gateway to the Sahara Desert and is also a popular filming location.
Along the way, make a stop at Todra Gorge, a limestone canyon located near the high Atlas Mountains. At this stop, you will have an opportunity to buy souvenirs and take in the natural wonders of the gorge.
Grab lunch along the way and then continue until you arrive in Ouarzazate. Some tours may stop you in one or more of the small towns along the way to learn about the history of the area. This evening, spend some time catching up and resting at the hotel. Dinner is included in your stay.
Day 5: Ouarzazate to Ait Ben Haddou to Marrakech
Travel Time: 3 hours, 40 minutes
Hotel: Riad Abaka
Today, travel from Ouarzazate to Marrakech. One of the first stops should be an overlook of Ouarzazate, which is a great photo stop. Like yesterday, some tours may stop in small desert towns along the way. Another stop to take is Atlas Studios, where you can opt to take a tour.
The next major stop on this one week Morocco itinerary is Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage site. It has been used in many popular films and television shows like Gladiator and Game of Thrones. Ait Ben Haddou is one of the most visited stops on this route, so try to get there as early as possible.
Plan to stop for lunch again somewhere along the way and then continue onto Marrakech, the charming economic center of Morocco. Our tour dropped us off at our riad, which was located right in the middle of the Marrakech medina, near Jemma el-Fina Square. This riad had a great location and included breakfast.
Day 6: Marrakech
Today will be a jam-packed day exploring Marrakech as part of this one week Morocco itinerary. Start off today with a visit to the Saadian Tombs, where many of the old rulers of Morocco are buried. Then, head to the Bahia Palace, which was home to the Moroccan royalty from the 1800s. Here, you can wander through several rooms and courtyards. Afterward, check out the outside of the Koutoubia mosque.
Stop for a lunch break at Nomad, a gorgeous Moroccan restaurant. Here, they have a lot of delicious Moroccan dishes and cool views of the medina. Spend the rest of the afternoon wandering through the shops around Jamma el-Fina, the main square of Marrakech.
Day 7: Marrakech
For your last full day in this one week Morocco itinerary, spend it exploring Marrakech some more, or head to Essaouira, a small seaside town, for a day trip. If you opt to head to Essaouira, you can join a tour or hire a driver for a day.
If you choose to spend the day exploring Marrakech, spend the morning exploring the Majorelle Gardens. This picturesque property is a great spot to spend some time wandering and taking pretty pictures. Note that if you visit Essaouira today, you can also do this on the afternoon of day 6.
For lunch, take a Moroccan cooking class at Le Mansion Arabe. Not only are cooking classes here super affordable ($32), but you also get to eat what you cook afterward. After the cooking class, you can grab a drink at the bar.
Tonight, grab a fancier dinner on the gorgeous rooftop at Restaurant Le Foundouk. Make sure to make a reservation and pre-order the chocolate fondant for dessert. Note you can also do this on day six if you choose to head to Essaouira.
Day 8: Depart Marrakech
Wave goodbye to Morocco and depart for home or perhaps head onto another amazing destination, especially since Morocco is so close to Europe. We opted to head to Rome and Tuscany in Italy after this one week Morocco itinerary, but Madrid, Spain, would also be a very easy flight.
Many flights leave early in the morning, but if you can catch a later flight, wander through the medina for any last-minute shopping. Think of all the great experiences you had during this one week Morocco itinerary.
Total Cost for a One Week Morocco Itinerary
- Airfare: Approximately $1200 total or $600/person (note I used some points and flew to Italy afterward)
- Hotels: $290 total or $145/person
- Sahara Desert Tour: $540 total or $270/person
- Total: $2030 total or $1015/person
- Budget about $10-$20 for food a day.
Other Suggestions for a One Week Morocco Itinerary
Although I enjoyed the itinerary above, I regretted not traveling to Chefchaouen, the blue town of Morocco. It looks like such a beautiful city, and I have heard nothing but fantastic things about Chefchaouen. I would suggest one less night in Marrakech and add a night in Chefchaouen. Opt to add it in by using this itinerary. No matter what, one week in Morocco will make for a fun vacation.
- Day 1: Arrival in Tangier to Chefchaouen
- Day 2: Chefchaouen to Fes
- Day 3: Fes
- Day 4: Fes to Merzouga
- Day 5: Merzouga to Ouarzazate
- Day 6: Ouarzazate to Marrakech
- Day 7: Marrakech
- Day 8: Depart Marrakech
15 thoughts on “The Perfect One Week Morocco Itinerary for the Budget Traveler”
What a great 7 day guide, Morocco looks beautiful! Love that you included accommodation prices!
This is a great itinerary. We did something similar to this a while back but missed out on the desert tour. Looks great!
The desert tour was cool! I’d really like to see Casablanca and Chefchaouen next time.
I loveeee Morocco! You have such an amazing itinerary. I especially loved Marrakech!
I would love to visit Morocco! It’s high on the list! Might be this summer and will definitely use this itinerary! Super handy!
I love Morocco! When I was there in 2018 we didn’t make it to Merzouga but I will definitely go next time!
I went on a similar trip but with a guided group. How did you manage to do this?!?! I Want to go back but I’m still not sure if going exploring with my partner or book a tour.
Morocco is SO beautiful and fortunately for me I’ve only been to Marrakech, so I’m totally using this guide to explore more. I love that there is so much of heritage in each aspect of Moroccan lifestyle!
In the west of the country, bordered by the waves of the Atlantic, Agadir is one of the pearls of Morocco. Whatever the season, the sun pours its rays and the city enjoys a pleasant climate that the trade winds still soften.
This sounds like a great itinerary for Morocco, a mix of seeing the cities and the desert. Fes looks like such an interesting city to explore. Did you feel pretty safe while traveling in Morocco?
I did! Most of the people were friendly and I felt fine wandering around the medinas.
Just the photos alone have me wanting to revisit Morocco!
Morocco is so enticing! I’m glad to read you felt safe as it’s highly likely I’ll be traveling there alone in the future.
Morocco is beautiful country, thank you so much for sharing this article.
thanks for sharing it with us I’m next year visiting Morocco and I found this blog valuable and includes so much info that will help me. I will keep your website for new coming articles. Regards lora.