Final Up to date on 21 July 2020
Planning to go to Morocco? In that case, learn this one week in Morocco itinerary and uncover all of the wonderful locations to go to in Morocco.
You’ll clearly embrace the well-known Marrakech in your Morocco 7-days itinerary, however the nation has much more to supply!
So, learn this text on find out how to spend one week in Morocco: issues to see and do for all preferences by Rachel from Youngsters of Wanderlust. They’ve spent loads of time visiting the nation so use the beneficial itinerary for Morocco beneath to profit from your journey right here!
Excessive Atlas Mountains
Morocco is a ravishing and welcoming nation, filled with unbelievable color and variety. It is usually surprisingly giant, with dramatically various street requirements. Consequently, to do the nation justice and go to all that it has to supply, 1 week won’t ever be sufficient.
Now we have not too long ago returned from touring the nation with our household, in our traditional motorhome. We spent 1 month in Morocco, visiting all corners, and even that at instances felt rushed.
Nevertheless, I settle for that not all people has a number of months to spare for a vacation. Likewise, many individuals will go to Morocco on a brief break however solely see Marrakesh.
Marrakesh Sq.
Once more, this can be a disgrace, because the nation has a lot extra to supply. I’ve due to this fact tried to discover a compromise and compile some concepts for find out how to finest spend 1 week in Morocco – seeing some selection however on the similar time not feeling overly rushed or such as you’re simply travelling on a regular basis.
I additionally realise that almost all people who find themselves visiting for a short while shall be unlikely to have their very own transport. I’ve due to this fact solely included locations in my primary itinerary that may be simply reached through public transport or by taking available excursions.
For anybody who can spare longer, I’ve additionally included some glorious potential extensions to your journey. Whereas these will normally be nearly achievable on public transport, having your individual set of wheels is certainly preferable.
If contemplating driving, outdoors of the mayhem of the very centre of the most important cities, you’ll discover there may be truly little or no to worry from the Moroccan roads.
So right here is my 1 week (7 night time) itinerary for Morocco…
Marrakesh
Lantern Store
Marrakesh (or typically, Marrakech), is Morocco’s most visited metropolis and the nation’s number one vacationer vacation spot, widespread year-round for metropolis breaks.
As it’s the primary hub for worldwide flights into the nation (from all around the globe), I’ll begin and finish my week right here. The vitality of the town with its sights, sounds, and smells is a fairly distinctive feast for the senses. It’s every little thing you’d count on from a visit to Morocco.
Marrakesh Jemaa el-Fnaa Sq.
The primary motion of the town facilities across the full of life Jemaa el-Fnaa Sq..
Distinctive to Marrakesh, this sq. is the heartbeat of the outdated metropolis medina (market space). It is usually probably the greatest issues to do in Marrakech so be sure to embrace it in your one week Morocco trip.
Marrakesh Sq.
Suppose musicians, road hustlers, market stalls, outside eating and even snake charmers, all packed in collectively and thrilling to expertise each day and night time.
Marrakesh Sq.
In addition to exploring and procuring within the outdated medina (don’t count on too many bargains and be ready to haggle laborious although), the town additionally boasts loads of parks and gardens.
The Bahia Palace
The Bahia Palace is a pretty 19th Century former Royal Palace, that’s open to guests and filled with ornate, geometric decorations. A go to to a standard hammam spa can also be a vital expertise to not be missed.
There are additionally numerous nice eating choices. The stalls within the Jemaa el-Fnaa Sq. are enjoyable, if a bit loopy. For a extra peaceable meal, consuming at a roof terrace restaurant is the proper option to escape the manic streets beneath for a short time.
Select properly and when you’re fortunate, you’ll have a view down on all of the motion beneath. For a break from the same old Moroccan choices, check out some scrumptious Lebanese delicacies on the glorious Naranj restaurant.
Nevertheless, regardless of its good factors, in some methods the town has change into a sufferer of its personal success, with ever-increasing crowds bringing related issues with them. Fixed problem from touts, misinformation, and infinite motorbikes are all a menace.
Marrakesh Madina
A wander by way of the medina is never a soothing expertise. Removed from my favorite place in Morocco, I’d nonetheless advocate anybody to positively expertise it no less than as soon as, as it’s fairly in contrast to wherever else!
To finest expertise the hustle and bustle of the outdated metropolis, choose to remain in a standard riad guesthouse. The regular improve in vacationer numbers lately has led to a proliferation of this sort of lodging, with actually hundreds to now select from, to go well with all budgets.
Riad Azra Marrakech presents properly furnished, nice worth rooms proper within the coronary heart of the medina and solely a brief stroll from the Jemaa el-Fnaa Sq..
Altogether, there may be positively sufficient to maintain you entertained for a number of days. I’d advocate Three-Four nights within the metropolis throughout your 7-day tour Morocco.
Learn our complete Marrakech journey information right here.
Excessive Atlas Mountains
Excessive Atlas Mountains
Forming a powerful backdrop to the Marrakesh skyline, are the grand and sometimes snow-capped, Excessive Atlas Mountains – probably the greatest issues to see in Morroco in every week.
A go to to the mountains is likely one of the commonest day journey excursions out of Marrakesh, with no scarcity of operators providing this expertise.
Excessive Atlas Mountains
One such journey that we took included a stroll to a waterfall and an opportunity to go to a conventional Berber village. It’s a good option to simply get a take a look at each some nice pure surroundings, in addition to achieve an perception into some conventional customs and Berber methods of life.
There are additionally alternatives for additional mountain trekking on some excursions, if desired.
These excursions are sometimes run as day journeys out of Marrakesh. Nevertheless, they are often prolonged to incorporate an in a single day keep if that is one thing that pursuits you.
Essaouira
Situated on Morocco’s Atlantic coast, a simple brief hop from Marrakesh, sits the attractive metropolis of Essaouira. An vital fishing port for hundreds of years, the town’s visible attraction has seen it typically used as a backdrop for the massive display, in addition to not too long ago that includes as a filming location for the hit TV sequence, Recreation of Thrones.
It’s Morocco in a nutshell and an amazing place to hang around for a number of days – thus it must be your subsequent cease in your one week in Morocco.
Essaouira – Morocco’s solely pre-planned outdated city medina (market)
Essaouira has Morocco’s solely pre-planned outdated city medina (market). This creates a pleasantly spacious and hassle-free area to discover, free from the claustrophobia skilled elsewhere, whereas nonetheless containing the anticipated vary of retailers and atmospheric souks.
Costs are additionally normally extra beneficial right here than they’re in Marrakesh. It additionally boasts a UNESCO World Heritage listed Kasbah; spectacular stone coastal fortifications, now dwelling to some hip, roof-top bars (attitudes to alcohol are extra relaxed right here than you’ll discover elsewhere). Artwork galleries full the bohemian vibe.
Essaouira Outdated City
Sat alongside a pure, sandy bay, regular sunshine and Atlantic commerce winds have acted as a magnet for water sports activities fanatics.
Well-liked with surfers, the town can also be internationally recognised as a centre for kite-surfing, with quite a few faculties providing instruction and an inland lagoon offering the proper coaching grounds for these not able to tackle the Atlantic waves.
The town can also be dwelling to an atmospheric fishing port, which is a good spot for images. It’s no shock that this is likely one of the finest locations to go to in your Morocco journey.
There’s vary of eating choices, each within the outdated city and alongside the beachfront. On the far finish of the seaside, the superb Ocean Vagabond is a good spot to calm down at sundown after an extended day strolling and exploring the town.
They’ve a full drinks menu (together with all sorts of alcohol), first rate pizzas in addition to a night meals menu, and vary of seats and loungers that look out onto the seaside. When you’re fortunate, even reside music.
Essaouira spice souk
The town boasts a wide variety of lodging too, from upscale accommodations each in and across the metropolis, to domestically run guesthouses.
Palazzo Desdemona is splendidly positioned within the coronary heart of the medina. It occupies a ravishing historic constructing, filled with vintage appeal and with a panoramic roof terrace for metropolis and sea views.
To achieve the town, common bus journeys depart from Marrakesh. These can get busy, so it’s a good suggestion to try to e-book your journey in each instructions no less than a day upfront.
One firm that runs this route is Supratours. The journey takes round Three hours. Simply as you strategy Essaouira, preserve an eye fixed out for the well-known ’goat tree’ on the roadside (it’s because it sounds, a tree filled with goats)!
The goat tree close to Essaouira
Essaouira is a ravishing, pleasant and laid again place. The mix of an fascinating outdated city and lengthy, sandy seaside made it positively considered one of our very favorite locations in Morocco. I’d advocate staying 2-Three nights right here.
Return to Marrakesh
After absorbing some coastal vibes in Essaouira, head again to Marrakesh, with the possibility to perhaps spend yet one more night time earlier than catching your flight again dwelling.
Marrakesh Koutoubia Mosque
Some Various Choices, or for Prolonged Journeys
Taghazout seaside
To see extra of the coast… head additional south to Taghazout, the city on the coronary heart of Morocco’s surf trade. It’s a cute, sleepy little fishing city, now dwelling to a number of stylish surf and yoga accommodations, in addition to a ravishing sandy seaside.
Yr-round sunshine and constant waves imply that you simply gained’t discover many higher locations wherever for a browsing vacation. The unique and arguably finest operator is Surf Maroc.
Additional south nonetheless, the dusty city of Sidi Ifni accommodates a crumbling Spanish colonial legacy, full with fascinating Artwork Deco buildings, and laid-back seashores throughout. It is likely one of the fascinating locations to go to in Morocco in every week.
Aït Benhaddou
To see extra of the mountains… Persevering with the drive from Marrakesh previous the Excessive Atlas mountains will carry you first to the picture-perfect city of Aït Benhaddou.
This city was used within the filming of Ridley Scott’s ‘Gladiator’, earlier than reaching Morocco’s well-known Todra and Dades Gorges, the previous widespread with mountaineering fanatics.
Dades Gorges
Alternatively, the Anti-Atlas mountains additional to the south, provide other-worldly landscapes of purple granite boulders, centred across the city of Tafraoute.
The gorgeous Auberge Kasbah Chez Amaliya is a pleasant lodge and restaurant laid out round a central swimming pool, set proper below the watchful eye of the so-called ‘lion’s head’ rock within the mountains above.
Additionally don’t miss the actually bonkers, ‘painted rocks’ simply outdoors of city.
Fes fountain
To see extra of the cities… Head north to Fes, with its historic, enclosed medina and vibrant leather-based tanneries, or to Meknes with its grand, former royal palaces. For extra particulars, take a look at our journey to Fes, Meknes and North-Central Morocco.
Fes can also be dwelling to its personal worldwide airport of a good measurement, creating the choice of flying out and in of various cities as a method of constructing higher use of restricted time.
Chefchaoun
Additional north nonetheless, a visit into the Rif Mountains brings you to what’s undoubtedly Morocco’s prettiest metropolis, the picture-perfect and blue painted metropolis of Chefchaoun (a metropolis that can also be infamously on the coronary heart of Morocco’s hashish trade).
To see the desert… Merzouga, on the sting of the Sahara Desert, is the city on the centre of Morocco’s desert tourism trade.
Conventional mud-brick luxurious accommodations, just like the Resort Kasbah Moyahut, and camel rides to trendy desert camps, the choose of which is the unbelievable Sahara Stars Camp, each guarantee a memorable keep. If this sounds enjoyable, take a look at our unforgettable household Moroccan desert journey. It’s an extended (although scenic) drive from Marrakesh nonetheless, so that you’d battle to get there and again in solely every week.
Conclusion
I hope my strategies have given you some concepts for find out how to realistically spend an pleasurable week in Morocco. You by no means know, perhaps my concepts for added locations to go have even tempted you to return for longer.
Regardless of the case, know that Morocco is a ravishing and numerous nation, that for probably the most half is extremely secure and welcoming. It’s recurrently a feast for the senses and filled with surprises. Whereas a visit to Marrakesh will normally type a vital a part of any go to, I’d at all times urge anybody to additionally look additional afield.
There’s a lot extra to see and do. A visit to Morocco, of any size, must be an expertise that may stick with you eternally.
So discover Morocco in a single week utilizing this insider’s 7-day Morocco itinerary and revel in every second!
Concerning the Authors
We’re Rachel & John, a pair from the UK recognized on-line as Youngsters of Wanderlust, with a ardour for journey and exploration. These days, meaning bringing our Three kids, Savannah (5), Aurora (Three) and Easton (1) together with us. For extra from our household adventures around the globe, you’ll want to comply with us on our web site, Instagram, Fb or Twitter.