7-day itinerary in Morocco, starting from Agadir

Hi there,

I’m heading to Morocco in early September for a week, and I could use some advice on an itinerary. I’ll be renting a car, and I generally like pretty packed itineraries. That said, is this one manageable, or is it TOO packed—maybe even unworkable? I usually like to hit the road by 6 AM.

Are there any stops that are way too rushed? Any suggestions for the route or places to see along the way?

Thanks to anyone who replies! :)

Best,

Day 1 Agadir → Taroudant Taroudant → Ait Benhaddou Day 2 Ait Benhaddou → Ouarzazate Ouarzazate → Zagora, overnight in the desert (is it better to stop and take a tour in Zagora, or keep going to M’Hamid?)

Day 3 Desert excursion, then head to Skoura

Day 4 Skoura → Ouzoud

Day 5 Ouzoud → Marrakech

Day 6 Marrakech → Essaouira

Day 7 Essaouira → Agadir

Thanks!

Hello,

This is clearly too packed for 7 days, assuming these are 7 full days (meaning you arrive in Morocco on Day 0 and leave on Day 8). Your trip will only allow you to drive-eat-sleep. You’ll arrive late in the evening and leave early in the morning... You’ll only see what driving lets you see from behind the wheel.

Plan for an average of 50 km/h on most roads (except Agadir-Taroudant: 80 km/h, and Marrakech-Essaouira: 100 or 120 km/h). You’ll need to drop either Marrakech and Essaouira, or Mhamid.

Suggestion 1: Trip toward Mhamid, including Ouarzazate. I don’t understand your round trips between the south and the Ouarzazate area: Taroudant-Ouarzazate, then heading south (Zagora-Mhamid) and going back up to Ouarzazate (Skoura)? More sensibly: Via N10 Taroudant-Ouarzazate (with Ait Benhaddou AND Skoura) Via N9 Ouarzazate-Mhamid. Optionally return to Taroudant/Agadir via Foum Zguid - Tata - Igherm (N17 then N7). But even this itinerary seems too packed for 7 full days...

Suggestion 2: Ouarzazate, Marrakech, and Essaouira Agadir-Ouarzazate (visit Ait Ben Haddou and Skoura): you can stay in Skoura for 2 nights, then visit Ait Benhaddou on the way to Marrakech. Ouarzazate-Marrakech. At least 2 nights in Marrakech (it seems short, but with 7 days, it’s not really possible to do more on this route). Marrakech-Essaouira. 1 night in Essaouira (24h). Essaouira-Agadir

Depending on your arrival time at Agadir airport, you might be able to spend the first night in Taroudant. No matter your departure time from Agadir for your return, plan to be in Agadir the day before your flight.

Murielle

Hi and thanks for your reply! I arrive on the 31st at 11:20 PM and leave on the 7th at 4 PM, so that’s a full 7 days, except for the last day when I’d planned to just hang out at the pool/beach in Agadir until early afternoon.

The one-night bivouac in M’hamid—I don’t think I can move it much, I really want my nephews to experience that. The idea of heading back toward Skoura after Zagora was more to get closer to Ouzoud the next day, but maybe that’s not such a good idea.

Or maybe skip Ouzoud or Essaouira?

With the original itinerary, do I exceed 4 hours of driving per day, and if so, which days?

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts and thanks for your help! :)

In your initial itinerary, the drives on days 1, 2, and 3 are over 4 hours each (I'm talking about driving time, not including stops). And not stopping on these roads—most of which are stunning—means missing out on part of your adventure.

Only the Marrakech-Essaouira and Agadir-Taroudant routes can be done without interesting stops (2.5-3 hours for the first, 1 hour for the second). I’m also not counting the time needed to get out of certain cities (like Marrakech).

You don’t specify, but I assume you’re renting a car?

If you really want to see the desert, check out my suggestion 1, for example: Night 1: Agadir Nights 2 & 3: Skoura (with visits to Skoura, Ouarzazate, and Ait Ben Haddou) Night 4: Mhamid Night 5: Tata Night 6: Taroudant Night 7: Agadir (be at the airport by at least 2 p.m.).

Warning: In early September, it’s still very hot in the desert.

Okay, I’ll take good note of everything you’re telling me. I assume the Agafay Desert is clearly less authentic and pretty, but if I go with that option and skip Mhamid, would we have time to visit Marrakech, Ouzoud, and maybe Essaouira before heading back to Agadir?

Thanks—I don’t want to bother you too much, you’ve already been super kind! ^^

yep, I'm gonna rent a car

Essaouira is gorgeous, but in express mode it's a shame—maybe for another trip!!

Based on the comments from Elhine,

I think I’ll have to focus either on the south or the central region. I was really considering doing the desert in M’Hamid, but maybe sticking to the Agafay Desert would be better. Sure, it won’t be the Sahara dunes, but hey, the experience for my nephews is what matters most to me. After that, if I have to choose between Ouzoud and Essaouira? And if I need to decide once and for all? ^^

ETHINE's suggestion is really great—it lets you see interesting places without rushing around.