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Koutoubia Mosque minaret and fountain in Marrakech, Morocco

Photo: Youssef Taghlaoui / Unsplash

Compact Morocco Tour: 7 Days from Marrakech to Fez

A clear, well-timed week: Marrakech, the High Atlas, Dades, a Sahara camp and Fez, with exact times for every day.

  • Duration7 days · 6 nights
  • StartMarrakech
  • EndFez
  • Trip typePrivate tour

Overview

This Morocco tour of 7 days was designed for travellers who have limited holidays and like a precise plan, such as guests from Japan. Every day has a clear timetable, so you always know when you leave, when you eat and when you arrive. Your private driver is on time, and we plan stops at clean places with good toilets.

You start in Marrakech, cross the High Atlas to the Sahara and finish in Fez, where you can take the train to Casablanca. If you come from Japan, read our Japan travel page. For a longer trip, see our Morocco Essentials 8-day tour.

Highlights

  • Clear daily timetable with fixed departure times
  • Guided day in Marrakech: Bahia Palace, Koutoubia, Majorelle Garden
  • Aït Ben Haddou and the Tizi n'Tichka pass
  • Camel ride and night in an Erg Chebbi camp
  • Cedar forest and Ifrane on the way to Fez
  • Full guided day in the medina of Fez

Day-by-day itinerary

  1. 1

    Day 1

    Day 1: Arrival in Marrakech, Jemaa el-Fna evening

    Your driver waits for you at Marrakech airport with a name sign and takes you to your riad, about 20 minutes away. After check-in you can rest. At 18:00 your driver or a staff member walks with you to Jemaa el-Fna square, where food stalls, musicians and storytellers fill the space at sunset. You can have a simple dinner there or in a quiet rooftop restaurant. Return to the riad by 20:30 for a good sleep.

    Overnight: Marrakech

  2. 2

    Day 2

    Day 2: Marrakech full day with a guide

    Your licensed guide meets you at the riad. 09:00 visit the Bahia Palace with its painted ceilings and gardens. 10:30 see the Koutoubia Mosque and its gardens. 12:30 lunch in a clean local restaurant. 14:00 visit the Majorelle Garden, with its blue walls and cactus plants (we book timed tickets in advance when possible). 16:00 walk in the souks with your guide, who helps you shop with no stress. Free evening.

    Overnight: Marrakech

  3. 3

    Day 3

    Day 3: Marrakech – Tichka – Aït Ben Haddou – Dades

    08:00 departure from your riad. 10:30 stop at the Tizi n'Tichka pass, 2,260 metres, for photos and a toilet break. 12:00 guided walk in Aït Ben Haddou, the UNESCO earth village. 13:30 lunch with a view of the ksar. 15:30 short stop in Ouarzazate. 18:00 arrival at your hotel in the Dades Valley. Dinner is served at the hotel around 19:30.

    Overnight: Dades Valley

  4. 4

    Day 4

    Day 4: Dades – Todra Gorges – Merzouga camp

    08:30 departure after breakfast. 10:00 walk in the Todra Gorges, about 45 minutes. 12:30 lunch in Tinghir. 16:30 arrival in Merzouga, where you leave your large luggage safely and take a small bag. 17:30 camel ride into the Erg Chebbi dunes, about one hour. 19:00 arrival at camp and tea. 20:30 dinner. The camp has private tents with bathrooms in the comfort and luxury categories.

    Overnight: Merzouga (Erg Chebbi)

  5. 5

    Day 5

    Day 5: Sahara sunrise – Midelt – Ifrane – Fez

    06:30 sunrise from the dunes (time changes with the season). 08:00 breakfast and shower at the hotel. 09:00 departure north along the Ziz valley. 12:30 lunch in Midelt. 15:30 stop in Ifrane and the cedar forest to see Barbary macaques. 17:30 arrival at your riad in Fez. This is a long day, about 7 hours of driving with comfortable breaks.

    Overnight: Fez

  6. 6

    Day 6

    Day 6: Fez full day with a guide

    09:00 your licensed guide meets you at the riad. You walk through Fez el-Bali, the old medina, visiting Bab Boujloud, the Bou Inania madrasa, the outside of Al Quaraouiyine and the Chouara tannery from a terrace. You see artisans making brass, tiles and leather. Lunch is in a medina restaurant. 16:00 end of the visit and return to the riad. The evening is free.

    Overnight: Fez

  7. 7

    Day 7

    Day 7: Transfer to Fez airport or train station

    After breakfast your driver takes you to Fez airport or to the train station at the time you choose. The train from Fez to Casablanca takes about 4 hours and is comfortable, with first-class seats. We can help you book the ticket. If your flight leaves from Casablanca or Marrakech, we can also arrange a private transfer at extra cost. This is the end of your compact Morocco tour.

Route map

Marrakech → Tizi n'Tichka pass → Aït Ben Haddou → Ouarzazate → Dades Valley → Todra Gorges (Tinghir) → Merzouga (Erg Chebbi) → Midelt → Ifrane → Fez

What's included

  • Private air-conditioned vehicle (4x4 or minivan) with fuel
  • Private English-speaking driver; Japanese-speaking guide on request (subject to availability)
  • 6 nights in riads, a kasbah hotel and a desert camp in your chosen category
  • Breakfast every day; dinner in the Dades Valley and in the desert camp
  • Camel ride and desert camp night in Merzouga
  • Licensed local guides in Marrakech and Fez
  • Airport pick-up in Marrakech and drop-off at Fez airport or train station
  • Bottled water in the vehicle

Not included

  • International flights and the train ticket to Casablanca
  • Lunches and drinks
  • Entrance tickets to monuments and gardens
  • Travel insurance (mandatory)
  • Tips and personal expenses

Comfort notes for travellers from Japan

  • Your driver arrives 10 minutes before every departure time.
  • We send you the full timetable in writing before the trip.
  • Toilet and rest stops every 1.5 to 2 hours on long drives.
  • Rooms with private bathroom in every hotel; luxury camp tents with hot shower available.
  • Small private group only: your family or friends.
  • Light meals and vegetable dishes can be requested if you prefer less oil or spice.

Accommodation by category

Choose your hotel category. The final hotel names are confirmed when you book, depending on availability.

NightLocationStandardSuperiorLuxury
1MarrakechTraditional riad, en-suite roomCharming riad with patioLuxury riad or palace hotel
2MarrakechTraditional riad, en-suite roomCharming riad with patioLuxury riad or palace hotel
3Dades ValleyFamily-run kasbah hotelBoutique kasbah with poolLuxury kasbah lodge
4Merzouga (Erg Chebbi)Desert camp, tent with private bathroomComfort camp, tent with private bathroomLuxury camp, large tent with private bathroom
5FezTraditional riad, en-suite roomCharming riad with patioLuxury riad or palace hotel
6FezTraditional riad, en-suite roomCharming riad with patioLuxury riad or palace hotel

Photo gallery

Frequently asked questions

Is the timetable fixed?

The times are a guide. Your driver follows them carefully, but weather or road works can change them a little. We always tell you in advance if something changes.

Are there clean toilets on the road?

Yes. We plan stops at cafes, restaurants and petrol stations that we know are clean. In the desert camp, comfort and luxury tents have private bathrooms.

Can I have a Japanese-speaking guide?

Japanese-speaking guides are few in Morocco. We try to find one for city visits if you ask early, but it depends on availability. Your driver speaks English.

Is Morocco safe for Japanese travellers?

Morocco is generally safe and welcoming. Use normal care in busy medinas. Our drivers and guides stay with you during the visits. See our Japan travel page.

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