Itinerary ideas for a week in Morocco

Hi there,

From Marrakech to the Merzouga dunes—for a potential night in a real desert—it takes about 9 hours of driving. The same on the way back, and all that without stopping! I don’t think doing this trip in 2 days is reasonable, even if some less scrupulous agencies organize such excursions.

If you want to see arid landscapes that resemble the desert, you can go to Agafay, just about an hour from Marrakech. A local agency can arrange a night in a Berber tent for you. Maybe your hotel can take care of it. It’ll be a nice experience for your "not-so-adventurous" daughter [;)]

As for your hotel pool, if it’s not heated, you won’t be able to swim. In February, the weather is mild during the day, but pools are at best around 18°C.

Thanks Kate for your reply—you’re right, the distance is too long. That said, I’m not set on Marrakech. Are there any other alternatives not too far from the desert?

Hi, If you’re not "stuck" on Marrakech, you could consider Ouarzazate as a base. There are several beautiful spots within less than an hour’s drive: the kasbah of Aït Benhaddou, the Skoura oasis, and the Fint oasis. You’re only 4 hours from M’Hamid and the dunes for an overnight stay. A local agency can organize all of this.

Thanks Kate for your reply—you’re right, the distance is too long. That said, I’m not "stuck" on Marrakech. Are there any other alternatives not too far from the desert?

In that case, I’d plan the first two nights and the last night in Marrakech and spend the rest of the stay in the Skoura palm grove, 40 km from Ouarzazate (which isn’t a great city). I’d also include a one-night desert excursion. As Marabamu said, a local agency can organize all of this for you. Here’s how it could look: Day 1: Marrakech + sightseeing Day 2: Marrakech + sightseeing Day 3: Skoura + walks in the area Day 4: Skoura + walks in the area Day 5: Departure for Merzouga and night in the desert Day 6: Skoura + walk in the palm grove Night 7: Marrakech.

Just an idea ;)

Thanks again, Kate, for these suggestions—it seems like a good compromise, even if it means cutting down time in Marrakech.

I’m wondering about transportation for getting around Skoura and heading to Merzouga: car rental? Bus? Taxi? What do you all think? Have a great day! !

I’m wondering about transportation to get around Skoura and go to Merzouga—renting a car? Bus? Taxi? What do you think?

I’ve always rented cars during my trips to Morocco. I prefer having the freedom to manage my schedule and go wherever I want! Of course, there are taxis, but buses are more complicated for this route.

Driving around Skoura is peaceful—the roads are much less busy than in northern Morocco, especially in the low season! To get to Merzouga, it’s about 5-6 hours on well-maintained pavement, though sometimes winding and narrow. Just stay alert, especially until Tinghir. If you’re doing a bivouac (camel trek and night in a Berber tent), you’ll need to arrive at the organizing hostel by 5 PM at the latest.

In summary: for exploring around Skoura—rental car. And for Merzouga, either rent a car, or if you’re not comfortable driving, ask a local agency to organize an excursion that includes round-trip transport and a night in the desert.

I saw in your profile that this isn’t your first trip. Morocco will feel "easy" compared to Asia [;)]

Thanks again, Kate—you’ve convinced me! I’ll rent a car in Marrakech; it’ll give me so much more freedom! Any suggestions for a nice stopover to break up the drive between Skoura and Merzouga for an overnight stay?

Great idea to rent a car in Marrakech [;)] I recommend Medloc or Yacout.

Can the drive between Skoura and Merzouga be broken up with a nice stop for an overnight stay?

Yes, you can spend a night in Tineghirt, in its beautiful palm grove (photo). You can also take a detour through the Todra Valley and visit a Berber museum along the way, "Les Sources de Lala Mimouna", not far from Tinejdad...

My partner and I published a travel journal. Here’s the section that talks about these places and this route, at least up to Tineghirt. https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=10655309;a=10655309

Hi, To answer your question, you should know that the desert around Marrakech (like Agafay) is actually a rocky, arid area made up of dry hills—not sand dunes like those in the Sahara. If you want to experience the real sandy desert, you’ve got two main options:

The Merzouga Desert (Erg Chebbi): This is the most famous, with its large golden dunes and amazing camps at the foot of the dunes.

The M’Hamid Desert (Erg Chigaga): More wild and less touristy, but also farther away and harder to access.

That said, M’Hamid is *very* far from Marrakech. If you’d rather avoid long trips, I’d recommend Merzouga—it’s still the more practical choice.

Little tip: Instead of driving the whole way, you can take a flight from Marrakech to Errachidia with RyanAir (about a 1-hour flight). From Errachidia Airport, it’s only a 2-hour drive to Merzouga, and you can easily arrange a transfer with a local agency.

That way, you can enjoy both a relaxing stay in Marrakech with a hotel and pool *and* a gentle desert adventure—without too much fatigue or long trips.

Hi there, Personally, for Marrakech / Merzouga or Marrakech / Zagora / M'Hamid, it's best to go via Ouarzazate. And from Ouarzazate, it's pretty much the same, with really beautiful landscapes. I much prefer M'Hamid and the desert all the way to Foum Zguid. Both are very touristy, but M'Hamid is better in my opinion.

Hi, I also prefer M'Hamid. Ouarzazate to M'Hamid is 100 km shorter than to Merzouga. There are some lovely discoveries to make from Marrakech, like: reaching Ouarzazate via Telouet, the Ounila Valley, and Aït Benhadou heading to Zagora via the P519 through the palm grove from the N9-R108 junction

Hi there,

M’Hamid is wilder and less touristy, with rocky expanses and dunes that aren’t as impressive as those in Merzouga. The Erg Chebbi offers a more spectacular landscape with its large golden dunes.

Good evening! Part of the trip in southern Morocco, specifically the High Atlas region near Jbel Saghro and around Agdz. With the Draa River’s meanders, it’s a really fertile plain, and you can wander through the farmlands. I hiked there on foot without a guide for a few days—it was such a great memory, even magical at times. Not a soul in sight.

Thanks for all these suggestions! I think I’ll head to Merzouga by car, making some nice stops along the way. If you have any recommendations for great places to stay and cool spots on the route and in Merzouga, I’d love to hear them.

Hi again! I’ve sketched out a rough itinerary—what do you think? Especially in terms of travel time distribution?

Day 1: Marrakech → Ouarzazate by bus Day 2: Ouarzazate → Tinghir (overnight in Tinghir?) with car pickup in Ouarzazate Day 3: Tinghir → Merzouga Day 4: Merzouga (bivouac) Day 5: Merzouga → Ouarzazate Day 6: Ouarzazate → Marrakech (by bus) Day 7: Marrakech

I’ve opted for buses between Marrakech and Ouarzazate because I’m not a huge fan of driving, especially on mountain roads. I’d love to visit Ait Benhaddou, but I haven’t found a good way to fit it in yet...

I'm looking for a way to visit Ait Benhaddou but I can't find a solution...

Your journey is doable.

Public buses don’t stop at Ait Ben Haddou, and the village is about ten kilometers from the main road. Here’s an adventure tip: ask the driver to drop you off at Tabourahte, then take a taxi to the village. After that, grab another taxi to Ouarzazate. The more relaxed (but pricier) option is to book a private transfer through an agency in Marrakech, which will include a stop at Ait Ben Haddou.

For overnight stops along the way: Skoura and/or Tinghir.

Hi Seb, I don’t have a ton of experience in the country, but I drove the Marrakech / Ouarzazate route in May and it was really chill: part highway, part scenic national road. And it might make getting to Ait Benhaddou easier for you...

A friend did this route the day before yesterday. She took 3h30 and told me the road is really beautiful and smooth these days. Major roadworks have been done in recent years, and crossing the Tizi n’Tichka is a breeze now (much trickier when there’s snow).

Like you, I prefer renting a car [:)] For example, so you don’t miss that little turn-off (the P1506) that goes via Telouet, just before Ait Benhaddou. That stretch is stunning !

The route from Marrakech to Merzouga will let you make some lovely discoveries along the way. If you rent a vehicle, pick it up in Marrakech and head straight toward Ouarzazate. If you're nervous about driving in Marrakech, ask the rental company to drive you to the outskirts of the city and give them enough for a bus ticket back. That way, you can pass through Ait Benhadou before reaching Ouarzazate and stop over in Skoura. You’ll get a little preview of the landscapes you can expect in my travel journal. https://voyageforum.com/forum/itineraire-15-jours-dans-sud-maroc-d10572399/

I think I'll go for the rental in Marrakech—it really will be more convenient! Thanks for all the info!

That makes sense, I think...