If this is your first big trip to Morocco and you have a week, a 7-day Morocco tour from Marrakech is the most complete way to discover the South. In a single loop you cross the High Atlas, follow the road of the kasbahs, sleep twice in the Sahara, travel down the Draa valley, cross the Anti-Atlas through saffron country and finish on the Atlantic coast in Agadir and Essaouira — without ever retracing your steps.
Here is the itinerary of our 7-day grand tour: South, Sahara & Atlantic, and why we built it this way.
Day 1: Telouet and Aït Ben Haddou
Leaving Marrakech in the morning, you climb the Tizi n'Tichka and take the scenic side road to Telouet, the old Glaoui kasbah whose painted salons are among the most beautiful interiors in Morocco. The road then follows the Ounila valley, lined with villages and green terraces, down to Aït Ben Haddou. Unlike most tours, you spend the night here: the ksar is magical at sunset and almost empty early in the morning. Read our guides to Telouet and Aït Ben Haddou.
Day 2: Ouarzazate, Skoura and the Dades valley
A morning at the Ouarzazate film studios or the kasbah of Taourirt, then the Skoura palm grove, where Kasbah Amridil — once pictured on a Moroccan banknote — shows how a wealthy family lived behind earth walls. Through the Valley of Roses you reach the Dades gorges for the night. Our article on the road of a thousand kasbahs tells the story of these fortified houses.
Day 3: Todra gorge and the dunes of Merzouga
A walk through the narrow Todra canyon, lunch near Tinghir, then the plains to Merzouga, where a camel ride carries you into the dunes of Erg Chebbi for sunset and your first night in camp. See our Merzouga guide.
Day 4: a full day in the Sahara
The heart of the 7-day Morocco tour. A 4x4 excursion takes you around the erg: the Gnawa village of Khamlia, an oasis, nomad families, perhaps the seasonal lake of Dayet Srji. In the afternoon you can try a quad, a buggy or sandboarding, or simply rest in the shade before a second night under the stars. Our guides to Khamlia and quad biking help you plan.
Day 5: through the Saghro to Zagora and the Draa valley
Leaving the dunes, you head west along the volcanic Jebel Saghro through Alnif, Tazzarine and the kasbah village of N'Kob, reaching the palm groves of the Draa valley and Zagora in the afternoon. Our Draa valley guide suggests visits to Tamegroute's pottery workshops and the old ksour.
Day 6: saffron country, Taroudant and Agadir
The longest drive of the week crosses the Anti-Atlas: Agdz, Tazenakht and its carpet cooperatives, then Taliouine, Morocco's saffron capital, where purple crocus flowers are harvested by hand in late autumn. In the afternoon you reach Taroudant, the walled "little Marrakech" — see our Taroudant guide — before arriving on the Atlantic coast in Agadir.
Day 7: Agadir, Essaouira and Marrakech
The coast road north passes Taghazout, argan forests and quiet beaches to Essaouira, where you have time for the ramparts, the blue fishing boats and a seafood lunch at the port. In the afternoon you drive back to Marrakech. If you are flying out of Agadir or Essaouira, the tour can end there. Our Essaouira travel guide and Agadir guide give ideas for extending your stay by the sea.
Why this 7-day Morocco tour works
- No backtracking: every day reveals a new region.
- Two nights in the Sahara: you actually enjoy the desert instead of rushing through it.
- Balanced driving: the longest day (Zagora to Agadir) is broken by Taliouine and Taroudant.
- Desert and ocean: the adventure ends with sea air, seafood and, if you wish, a surf lesson.
If you prefer to stay based in Marrakech and Essaouira with day trips instead, our 7-day Marrakech and Essaouira itinerary offers a calmer alternative. And with only five days, the Grand South loop keeps the desert and drops the coast.
Practical information
- Best season: October to May. Summer is possible but very hot inland.
- Accommodation: a riad in Aït Ben Haddou, guesthouses in the Dades and Zagora, a desert camp and a coastal hotel, all selected to match your budget. See where to stay in southern Morocco.
- Luggage: one medium suitcase per person and a small day bag for the desert night.
- Arrival: we can collect you at Marrakech airport the day before — see our Marrakech airport transfer.
Book your grand tour
This 7-day Morocco tour is private and organised by Rouasse Travels with licensed transport partners, a professional driver and assistance seven days a week. Every stage can be adjusted — a night less on the road, a day more on the coast, a luxury camp or a cooking class. Send us your dates on WhatsApp and we will prepare your personalised proposal, or start with our guide to multi-day tours from Marrakech.
