A one-way week from Casablanca's main gateway: the white city and Rabat, two nights in Fes, the Ziz Valley road to the dunes of Merzouga, then Aït Ben Haddou and the Atlas down into Marrakech.
Day by day
Your 7-day plan
- 1
Day 1
Casablanca arrival & the Hassan II Mosque
Arrive at Mohammed V International Airport (CMN), Morocco's main gateway, about 30–40 minutes from the centre. Settle in, then take a guided visit to the Hassan II Mosque on the Atlantic and walk the Art Deco downtown around Mohammed V Square, finishing with seafood on the Ain Diab Corniche.
- Mohammed V Airport (CMN)
- Hassan II Mosque (guided)
- Mohammed V Square
- Ain Diab Corniche
- 2
Day 2
Rabat the capital, then on to Fes
Drive under an hour north to Rabat: the blue-and-white Kasbah of the Udayas, the Hassan Tower and Mausoleum of Mohammed V, and the Chellah necropolis. In the afternoon continue east toward Fes (roughly 2.5–3 hours from Rabat) for the night.
- Kasbah of the Udayas
- Hassan Tower
- Chellah necropolis
- Transfer to Fes
- 3
Day 3
Fes el-Bali: the medieval medina
A full day in Fes, Morocco's spiritual and cultural capital. Explore the walled medina of Fes el-Bali — the Bou Inania and Al-Attarine madrasas, the Chouara tanneries, the Nejjarine fountain and the maze of artisan souks — with the Bab Boujloud blue gate as your landmark.
- Fes el-Bali medina
- Chouara tanneries
- Bou Inania Madrasa
- Bab Boujloud
- 4
Day 4
Over the Atlas to the Sahara via the Ziz Valley
A long, scenic driving day south. Climb through the cedar forests around Ifrane and Azrou (watch for Barbary macaques), cross the Middle Atlas, then follow the dramatic Ziz Valley and its palm gorges down to Erfoud and Merzouga. Arrive at the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes for sunset, with the option of a camel trek to a desert camp.
- Ifrane & Azrou cedars
- Ziz Valley & palm gorges
- Erg Chebbi dunes
- Merzouga camel trek
- 5
Day 5
Merzouga to the Dadès & Todra gorges
Catch sunrise over the dunes, then head west along the route of a thousand kasbahs. Stop at the Todra Gorge, where sheer rock walls rise hundreds of metres over a narrow river, and the rose-coloured Dadès Valley with its rock formations, overnighting in the Dadès or Ouarzazate area.
- Sunrise over Erg Chebbi
- Todra Gorge
- Dadès Valley
- Route of a Thousand Kasbahs
- 6
Day 6
Aït Ben Haddou & over the High Atlas to Marrakech
Visit Ouarzazate, Morocco's film hub, then the UNESCO-listed ksar of Aït Ben Haddou — the earthen fortified village familiar from countless films. Cross the High Atlas over the Tizi n'Tichka pass (about 2,260 m) and descend into Marrakech in the late afternoon, with the Koutoubia minaret and Jemaa el-Fna for your first evening.
- Aït Ben Haddou (UNESCO)
- Ouarzazate
- Tizi n'Tichka pass
- Jemaa el-Fna
- 7
Day 7
Marrakech: medina, palaces & gardens
A final day in the Red City: the Bahia Palace and Saadian Tombs in the medina, the Souk Semmarine, and the Jardin Majorelle and YSL museum in Gueliz. Depart from Marrakech (RAK) or connect back to Casablanca by the roughly three-hour train.
- Bahia Palace
- Saadian Tombs
- Jardin Majorelle
- Souk Semmarine
Good to know
Practical notes
- This is a realistic one-way route from the main airport: arrive at Casablanca (CMN) and depart from Marrakech (RAK), or take the ~3-hour train back to Casablanca.
- Days four to six involve long mountain and desert drives — a private driver makes the distances comfortable and lets you stop for photos and viewpoints.
- Pack layers: the Sahara is hot by day and cold at night, and the Atlas passes can be chilly even in summer.
- The Erg Chebbi desert camp and camel trek near Merzouga is the highlight for many — confirm camp standard when you plan.
Frequently asked
Is 7 days enough to see Morocco from Casablanca?
Yes — a week from Casablanca covers the imperial cities of Rabat and Fes, the Sahara dunes at Merzouga, the kasbahs of the south and Aït Ben Haddou, ending in Marrakech. It's a fast but classic loop that captures Morocco's highlights without backtracking.
Can you do this Morocco itinerary as a one-way trip?
Yes — it's designed to arrive at Casablanca's Mohammed V Airport (CMN, the main international gateway) and end in Marrakech, so you fly out of Marrakech (RAK) or return to Casablanca by the roughly three-hour train. No retracing your steps.
How far is the drive from Fes to Merzouga?
It's a long day — roughly 7–8 hours with stops — crossing the Middle Atlas via Ifrane and Azrou and following the Ziz Valley south to the dunes. Breaking it with a viewpoint and lunch stop makes it one of the most scenic drives of the trip.
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