"We have one week — what should we do?" We hear it all the time, and our answer rarely changes. Rather than racing from city to city, we suggest a simple Morocco itinerary — 7 days, two bases and one mountain escape: three nights in Marrakech, three in Essaouira, a day in the High Atlas and time to breathe in between. You will see the red city, the mountains and the ocean — and still feel like you have had a holiday.
Morocco itinerary, 7 days at a glance
| Day | Where | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marrakech | Arrival, riad, Jemaa el-Fnaa at sunset |
| 2 | Marrakech | Souks, Ben Youssef Madrasa, palaces |
| 3 | High Atlas | Ourika Valley and the Setti Fatma waterfalls |
| 4 | Essaouira | Road to the coast, argan goats, port and ramparts |
| 5 | Essaouira | Half-day argan route, beach afternoon |
| 6 | Essaouira | Sidi Kaouki, a private picnic or a free day |
| 7 | Departure | Transfer back to Marrakech for your flight |
Day 1: arrive in Marrakech
Land at Marrakech Menara airport, where your driver waits at arrivals with your name. Our Marrakech airport transfer costs from €20 per vehicle and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to the medina; our airport arrival guide explains how it works. Settle into your riad, rest, then walk to Jemaa el-Fnaa for sunset and dinner at the food stalls — our Jemaa el-Fnaa guide tells you what to order.
Day 2: the medina of Marrakech
Start early in the souks, before the crowds, then visit the Ben Youssef Madrasa and Le Jardin Secret. After a long lunch and a rest, head south to the Bahia Palace and the Saadian Tombs, or take a taxi to the Majorelle Garden (book tickets online in advance). End with a hammam. Our guides to the best things to do in Marrakech and the Marrakech souks help you choose.
Day 3: a day in the High Atlas
Leave the city for the mountains. Our private Ourika Valley day trip picks you up at your riad and takes you through Berber villages to Setti Fatma, where a path climbs to a series of waterfalls, with lunch by the river. At the time of writing, it costs €120 per vehicle for up to three people. Back in Marrakech for a last evening on a rooftop.
Day 4: from Marrakech to Essaouira
After breakfast, drive west to the Atlantic. Our Marrakech to Essaouira transfer takes about two and a half hours and costs €100 per vehicle for up to four people; stops for the goats in the argan trees and a women's cooperative are easy to add. Our Marrakech to Essaouira guide describes the road. Arrive for a grilled-fish lunch at the port, then walk the medina and watch the sunset from the Skala ramparts.
Day 5: the argan route and the beach
Join our Essaouira half-day excursion in the morning: the Diabat ruins, the Oued Ksob estuary, the dunes and an argan cooperative, from €80 per vehicle. Spend the afternoon on the beach watching the kitesurfers, and have dinner in the medina.
Day 6: your choice
- Beach and wild coast: a full day to Sidi Kaouki with our full-day excursion, from €120 per vehicle.
- Romantic or family day: our private picnic in Essaouira, on a clifftop or in the argan forest.
- Slow day: shopping for thuya wood and argan oil, a cooking class, or simply a book on a rooftop.
Our 2-day Essaouira itinerary has more ideas.
Day 7: departure
Transfer back to Marrakech for your flight — about two and a half hours with our Essaouira to Marrakech transfer. Tell us your flight time and we will plan the pickup with a comfortable margin.
Where to stay on this itinerary
In Marrakech, a riad in the medina puts the souks and Jemaa el-Fnaa on your doorstep; families may prefer a hotel with a pool in Hivernage or the Palmeraie. In Essaouira, choose a riad in the medina or a hotel on the beachfront. Our guides to where to stay in Marrakech and where to stay in Essaouira compare the neighbourhoods.
Transport budget
For two or three people, the transfers and excursions in this plan come to about €540 per vehicle at the time of writing: airport pickup, Ourika day trip, Marrakech to Essaouira, half day, full day and the return to Marrakech. Larger groups travel in a van or minibus at a lower price per person.
Variations on the theme
- Desert lovers: swap day 3 for the road over the Atlas to Aït Benhaddou and Ouarzazate — see our guide to a desert trip from Marrakech.
- Surfers: continue south from Essaouira to Imsouane or Taghazout and fly home from Agadir; read our Essaouira to Agadir guide.
- Flying from Casablanca: end with our Essaouira to Casablanca transfer.
- Families: stay in a hotel with a pool in Marrakech and a beachfront hotel in Essaouira.
Before you go
Check the best time to visit Morocco, read our Morocco travel tips, and send us your dates. We will help you turn this plan into your own Morocco itinerary: 7 days, from the airport to the ocean.
