8-Day Road Trip Itinerary in Morocco

Hi everyone, we’re renting a small car in Marrakech for an 8-day trip (Marrakech-Essaouira-Marrakech-Ouarzazate-Zagora-Marrakech). Is this doable? Thanks for sharing your experiences...

Hi, Personally, I’d skip Zagora—it’s a 3-hour drive from Ouarzazate, which is already 4 hours from Marrakech. Between your arrival and departure days, do you have 8 full days? If so, that’s still pretty tight. I’d prioritize a night in Essaouira over Zagora, which you can explore on a future trip toward M’Hamid and the Erg Chegaga dunes.

Hi there,

I totally agree with Aoreora. Zagora itself isn’t all that interesting. If you want to enjoy the sand desert a bit, you should go at least as far as Mahmid. If that’s the priority for your trip, then dedicate the whole week to the Marrakech-Mahmid loop, with a couple of nice stops along the way (one on the way there, one on the way back).

Otherwise, in a full 7 days, you could stick to Marrakech and Essaouira, with a possible round trip to Ouarzazate to explore the surrounding areas (Skoura, Ait Ben Haddou). For example: 3 or 4 nights in Marrakech (including the very first and very last night of your stay), 1 or 2 nights in Essaouira, and 2 nights in Skoura.

No need to rent a car just to get to Essaouira (there are plenty of buses). Avoid driving in Marrakech.

Murielle

I’d skip Essaouira, though (you’ll probably come back), and do a loop: Marrakech, Ouarzazate, Zagora—I really love the Draa River banks and the palm grove—then turn right toward Foum Zguid. After that, Tazenakht, Taroudant, the Tizi N Test valley, and back to Marrakech. The landscapes are stunning.

Hi there,

Right now, I’d strongly advise against taking the Tizîn Test road. It’s really bad overall. Huge construction sites with endless machinery. More of a rough track than a proper road. I drove it again at the end of October.

Ok