{"id":637,"date":"2026-10-16T23:51:58","date_gmt":"2026-10-16T23:51:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/moroccosaharaspirit.com\/trip\/7-day-private-morocco-tour-sahara-imperial-cities\/"},"modified":"2026-10-16T23:51:58","modified_gmt":"2026-10-16T23:51:58","slug":"7-day-private-morocco-tour-sahara-imperial-cities","status":"publish","type":"trip","link":"https:\/\/moroccosaharaspirit.com\/fr\/trip\/7-day-private-morocco-tour-sahara-imperial-cities\/","title":{"rendered":"7-Day Private Morocco Tour: Marrakech, Sahara Desert and Imperial Cities"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Seven days is the first length where Morocco stops being a choice between the desert and the cities. You get both. This loop runs south-east from <strong>Marrakech<\/strong> over the High Atlas to the <strong>Erg Chebbi<\/strong> dunes, north through the Ziz Valley to <strong>Fes<\/strong> for a guided medina day, then west across the imperial cities &mdash; <strong>Meknes<\/strong>, <strong>Volubilis<\/strong>, <strong>Rabat<\/strong>, <strong>Casablanca<\/strong> &mdash; and back to Marrakech, without driving a single road twice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What seven days actually allows<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Three things that shorter trips cannot fit. A <strong>night in the dunes<\/strong> with a camel trek at sunset. A <strong>full guided day in Fes<\/strong>, which is the single most rewarding city day in the country and needs a guide to make sense of. And the <strong>Roman and imperial north<\/strong> &mdash; Volubilis, UNESCO-listed since 1997, with mosaics still in the floors where they were laid, and Rabat, inscribed in 2012, where the Hassan Tower has stood unfinished since 1184.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The route, and why it goes this way round<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Anticlockwise. The hard driving comes early, while you are fresh: the <strong>Tizi n&rsquo;Tichka pass<\/strong> at about 2,260 m on day one, then the pre-Saharan valleys, the <strong>Dades Valley<\/strong> and the <strong>Todra Gorge<\/strong> &mdash; walls around 400 m high narrowing to roughly ten metres &mdash; before the dunes on day two. From there the days get shorter and the stops get closer together, so the end of the trip is city walking rather than long transfers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What it does not include<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Chefchaouen. The blue city is three and a half hours north of Fes and adding it would cost you the Rabat and Casablanca leg or an eighth day. If Chefchaouen is a priority, say so and we will quote the <a href=\"https:\/\/moroccosaharaspirit.com\/fr\/10-day-morocco-itinerary\/\">ten-day version<\/a> instead, or swap the imperial-cities leg for a Rif detour. We would rather tell you that than pretend it fits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who this suits<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Travellers with a full week who want the country rather than a highlight. If you have less, the <a href=\"https:\/\/moroccosaharaspirit.com\/fr\/trip\/5-day-morocco-tour-marrakech-sahara-fes\/\">5-day Marrakech to Fes route<\/a> covers the desert and Fes one-way. If you have more, the <a href=\"https:\/\/moroccosaharaspirit.com\/fr\/10-day-morocco-itinerary\/\">10-day circuit<\/a> adds Chefchaouen and a second desert night. Our <a href=\"https:\/\/moroccosaharaspirit.com\/fr\/7-day-morocco-itinerary\/\">seven-day itinerary guide<\/a> compares three different ways of spending the week.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A seven-day loop from Marrakech: Ait Ben Haddou, the Todra Gorge, a night in the Erg Chebbi dunes, a guided day in Fes, then Volubilis, Meknes, Rabat and Casablanca back to Marrakech.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":498,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","destination":[11,167,97,10],"activities":[17,169],"trip_types":[21,168],"difficulty":[6],"trip_tag":[],"class_list":["post-637","trip","type-trip","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","destination-atlas-mountains","destination-imperial-cities","destination-morocco-tours-from-fes","destination-sahara-desert","activities-camel-riding","activities-sightseeing","trip_types-cultural-tours","trip_types-multi-day-morocco-tours","difficulty-medium","travel-monster-post","latest_post"],"packages_ids":[638],"trip_extras":[],"cut_off_time":{"enabled":true,"duration":7,"duration_unit":"days"},"booked-seats":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>7-Day Private Morocco Tour: Sahara Desert &amp; 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You get both. This loop runs south-east from <strong>Marrakech<\/strong> over the High Atlas to the <strong>Erg Chebbi<\/strong> dunes, north through the Ziz Valley to <strong>Fes<\/strong> for a guided medina day, then west across the imperial cities &mdash; <strong>Meknes<\/strong>, <strong>Volubilis<\/strong>, <strong>Rabat<\/strong>, <strong>Casablanca<\/strong> &mdash; and back to Marrakech, without driving a single road twice.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":2} -->\n<h2>What seven days actually allows<\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Three things that shorter trips cannot fit. A <strong>night in the dunes<\/strong> with a camel trek at sunset. A <strong>full guided day in Fes<\/strong>, which is the single most rewarding city day in the country and needs a guide to make sense of. And the <strong>Roman and imperial north<\/strong> &mdash; Volubilis, UNESCO-listed since 1997, with mosaics still in the floors where they were laid, and Rabat, inscribed in 2012, where the Hassan Tower has stood unfinished since 1184.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":2} -->\n<h2>The route, and why it goes this way round<\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Anticlockwise. The hard driving comes early, while you are fresh: the <strong>Tizi n&rsquo;Tichka pass<\/strong> at about 2,260 m on day one, then the pre-Saharan valleys, the <strong>Dades Valley<\/strong> and the <strong>Todra Gorge<\/strong> &mdash; walls around 400 m high narrowing to roughly ten metres &mdash; before the dunes on day two. From there the days get shorter and the stops get closer together, so the end of the trip is city walking rather than long transfers.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":2} -->\n<h2>What it does not include<\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Chefchaouen. The blue city is three and a half hours north of Fes and adding it would cost you the Rabat and Casablanca leg or an eighth day. If Chefchaouen is a priority, say so and we will quote the <a href=\"https:\/\/moroccosaharaspirit.com\/fr\/10-day-morocco-itinerary\/\">ten-day version<\/a> instead, or swap the imperial-cities leg for a Rif detour. We would rather tell you that than pretend it fits.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":2} -->\n<h2>Who this suits<\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Travellers with a full week who want the country rather than a highlight. If you have less, the <a href=\"https:\/\/moroccosaharaspirit.com\/fr\/trip\/5-day-morocco-tour-marrakech-sahara-fes\/\">5-day Marrakech to Fes route<\/a> covers the desert and Fes one-way. If you have more, the <a href=\"https:\/\/moroccosaharaspirit.com\/fr\/10-day-morocco-itinerary\/\">10-day circuit<\/a> adds Chefchaouen and a second desert night. Our <a href=\"https:\/\/moroccosaharaspirit.com\/fr\/7-day-morocco-itinerary\/\">seven-day itinerary guide<\/a> compares three different ways of spending the week.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":2} -->\n<h2>Practical notes before you book<\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The <strong>camel trek<\/strong> at Erg Chebbi is about an hour each way, timed for sunset, with a 4x4 alternative if anyone would rather not ride. Desert nights are cold outside high summer &mdash; January lows at Merzouga average around 3.5&nbsp;&deg;C. The <strong>Hassan II Mosque<\/strong> interior is open to non-Muslim visitors on guided tours only and that ticket is not included. Local guides are included for the Fes medina day; monument entrance fees are not, and are paid on the day.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Before you travel, read our <a href=\"https:\/\/moroccosaharaspirit.com\/fr\/best-time-to-visit-sahara-desert-morocco\/\">month-by-month guide to the Moroccan Sahara<\/a>, the <a href=\"https:\/\/moroccosaharaspirit.com\/fr\/what-to-pack-sahara-desert-morocco\/\">packing list<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/moroccosaharaspirit.com\/fr\/night-in-sahara-desert-camp-morocco\/\">what a desert camp night is like<\/a>, the <a href=\"https:\/\/moroccosaharaspirit.com\/fr\/things-to-do-in-fes-medina-guide\/\">Fes medina guide<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/moroccosaharaspirit.com\/fr\/marrakech-medina-souks-palaces-guide\/\">Marrakech medina guide<\/a>. If you want the individual pieces instead of the loop, see the <a href=\"https:\/\/moroccosaharaspirit.com\/fr\/trip\/4-day-sahara-desert-tour-marrakech-merzouga\/\">4-day Merzouga tour<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/moroccosaharaspirit.com\/fr\/trip\/marrakech-medina-private-day-tour\/\">Marrakech medina day tour<\/a>.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->","cost_includes":"Private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle with a professional driver\nSix nights' accommodation in selected hotels and riads, including one night in a desert camp\nDaily breakfast\nDinner at the desert camp and at the Dades Valley overnight stop\nCamel trek at Erg Chebbi\nLocal guide for the Fes medina day\nPick-up and drop-off at your accommodation or the airport\nAll taxes and fuel charges","cost_excludes":"Flights, international or domestic\nLunches and drinks\nMonument and site entrance fees\nEntrance to the Hassan II Mosque interior in Casablanca\nTravel insurance\nTips for the driver, guides and camp staff (optional but appreciated)\nPersonal expenses and optional activities","itineraries":[{"title":"Marrakech &rarr; Ait Ben Haddou &rarr; Dades Valley","content":"<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Morning departure and the climb over the High Atlas by the Tizi n&rsquo;Tichka pass at about 2,260 m. Down to Ait Ben Haddou, the fortified earthen village on the caravan route to Timbuktu and a UNESCO World Heritage site, with time to walk up to the granary. On through Ouarzazate and the Skoura palm oasis to the Dades Valley for the night, with dinner and breakfast. Around seven hours of driving with stops.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->"},{"title":"Dades &rarr; Todra Gorge &rarr; Merzouga and the desert night","content":"<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Through the Dades gorges, then east to the Todra Gorge near Tinghir: limestone walls around 400 m high, narrowing to roughly ten metres at the tightest point, with time to walk in. On through Erfoud and Rissani to the edge of Erg Chebbi, arriving late afternoon. Camel trek into the dunes for sunset, dinner and the night in a desert camp. Around five hours of driving.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->"},{"title":"Merzouga &rarr; Ziz Valley &rarr; Fes","content":"<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Sunrise over the dunes, then north out of the desert and up the Ziz Valley, a corridor of date palms cut between bare cliffs, with a stop at the gorge viewpoint. Over the pass at Midelt and into the cedar forest at Azrou, where Barbary macaques live along the roadside. Fes by evening, first night in a riad or hotel. Around eight hours of driving &mdash; the longest day of the week.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->"},{"title":"A guided day in the Fes medina","content":"<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>No driving. A local guide for the medina: the Chouara tanneries, the Qarawiyyin, the Bou Inania madrasa, the Bab Boujloud gate, the souks organised by trade. Fes is one of the largest car-free urban areas in the world and a working city rather than a monument. The afternoon is free for the potters&rsquo; quarter or the Merinid tombs, where you can see the whole medina laid out below. Second night in Fes.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->"},{"title":"Fes &rarr; Volubilis &rarr; Meknes &rarr; Rabat","content":"<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>West to Volubilis, the Roman city founded in the third century BC and UNESCO-listed since 1997, where the mosaics remain in the houses they were made for and the Arch of Caracalla still stands. On to Meknes, Moulay Ismail&rsquo;s imperial capital, for the Bab Mansour gate and the granaries. Then to Rabat for the night. Around four hours of driving.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->"},{"title":"Rabat &rarr; Casablanca &rarr; Marrakech","content":"<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Morning in Rabat: the Hassan Tower, the unfinished minaret of a mosque begun in 1184, the Mohammed V Mausoleum, and the Kasbah of the Udayas above the river mouth &mdash; all part of the city inscribed by UNESCO in 2012. South to Casablanca for the Hassan II Mosque, completed in 1993, its 210-metre minaret standing over the Atlantic. Then down to Marrakech for the night. Around five hours of driving.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->"},{"title":"Marrakech, departure","content":"<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Breakfast and free time. If you want it, we can add a guided morning in the Marrakech medina &mdash; Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs, the souks &mdash; before your transfer. Drop-off at your accommodation or the airport.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->"}],"faqs":[{"title":"Does this include Chefchaouen?","content":"<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>No. Chefchaouen is three and a half hours north of Fes and adding it would mean dropping Rabat and Casablanca or adding a day. If the blue city matters to you, the 10-day circuit includes it, or tell us and we will swap the imperial-cities leg for a Rif detour on this one.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->"},{"title":"Could we have two nights in the desert instead?","content":"<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Yes. The usual swap is to drop the Rabat and Casablanca leg and return to Marrakech via the Draa Valley, which frees a night for a second one in the dunes. Tell us which you would rather have and we will rebuild it before you pay anything.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->"},{"title":"Is this private or shared?","content":"<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Private as standard: your party, your own vehicle, your own dates, and an itinerary we adjust to you. A small shared group version can be arranged on request.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->"},{"title":"Where do we sleep?","content":"<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Hotels and riads for five nights &mdash; Dades Valley, two nights in Fes, Rabat and Marrakech &mdash; plus one night in a desert camp at Erg Chebbi, in a private or shared tent depending on the package. Every property is confirmed to you in writing before any deposit.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->"},{"title":"How much driving is there?","content":"<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Front-loaded on purpose. Roughly seven hours on day one, five on day two, eight on day three, then four, five and almost none. Day four in Fes and day seven in Marrakech have no transfers at all.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->"},{"title":"Can you collect us from the airport?","content":"<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Yes, pick-up and drop-off at your accommodation or Marrakech airport is included. If you are arriving into Casablanca or Fes instead, tell us and we will restructure the loop to start there.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->"},{"title":"Quelle est votre politique d\u2019annulation ?","content":"<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Annulation gratuite jusqu\u2019\u00e0 15 jours avant le d\u00e9part, et tout acompte d\u00e9j\u00e0 vers\u00e9 vous est int\u00e9gralement restitu\u00e9. Tous les d\u00e9tails figurent dans nos conditions de r\u00e9servation.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->"},{"title":"Comment r\u00e9server, et quand faut-il payer ?","content":"<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Send us your dates through the enquiry form on this page or message us on WhatsApp. Nothing is reserved until we confirm it to you in writing. There is no card payment on this website: a deposit confirms a multi-day tour and the balance is paid during the trip.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->"}],"is_featured":false,"featured_image":{"width":1920,"height":760,"file":"2026\/08\/ait-ben-haddou-morocco-cta.jpg","filesize":225897,"sizes":{"medium":{"file":"ait-ben-haddou-morocco-cta-300x119.jpg","width":300,"height":119,"filesize":43551,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","source_url":"https:\/\/moroccosaharaspirit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ait-ben-haddou-morocco-cta-300x119.jpg"},"large":{"file":"ait-ben-haddou-morocco-cta-1024x405.jpg","width":1024,"height":405,"filesize":130993,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","source_url":"https:\/\/moroccosaharaspirit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ait-ben-haddou-morocco-cta-1024x405.jpg"},"thumbnail":{"file":"ait-ben-haddou-morocco-cta-150x150.jpg","width":150,"height":150,"filesize":39910,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","source_url":"https:\/\/moroccosaharaspirit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ait-ben-haddou-morocco-cta-150x150.jpg"},"medium_large":{"file":"ait-ben-haddou-morocco-cta-768x304.jpg","width":768,"height":304,"filesize":91250,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","source_url":"https:\/\/moroccosaharaspirit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ait-ben-haddou-morocco-cta-768x304.jpg"},"trip-thumb-size":{"file":"ait-ben-haddou-morocco-cta-500x500.jpg","width":500,"height":500,"filesize":95434,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","source_url":"https:\/\/moroccosaharaspirit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ait-ben-haddou-morocco-cta-500x500.jpg"},"destination-thumb-size":{"file":"ait-ben-haddou-morocco-cta-600x760.jpg","width":600,"height":760,"filesize":136064,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","source_url":"https:\/\/moroccosaharaspirit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ait-ben-haddou-morocco-cta-600x760.jpg"},"destination-thumb-trip-size":{"file":"ait-ben-haddou-morocco-cta-410x250.jpg","width":410,"height":250,"filesize":62246,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","source_url":"https:\/\/moroccosaharaspirit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ait-ben-haddou-morocco-cta-410x250.jpg"},"activities-thumb-size":{"file":"ait-ben-haddou-morocco-cta-600x760.jpg","width":600,"height":760,"filesize":136064,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","source_url":"https:\/\/moroccosaharaspirit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ait-ben-haddou-morocco-cta-600x760.jpg"},"trip-single-size":{"file":"ait-ben-haddou-morocco-cta-990x490.jpg","width":990,"height":490,"filesize":148614,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","source_url":"https:\/\/moroccosaharaspirit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ait-ben-haddou-morocco-cta-990x490.jpg"},"1536x1536":{"file":"ait-ben-haddou-morocco-cta-1536x608.jpg","width":1536,"height":608,"filesize":226182,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","source_url":"https:\/\/moroccosaharaspirit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ait-ben-haddou-morocco-cta-1536x608.jpg"},"travel-monster-fullwidth":{"file":"ait-ben-haddou-morocco-cta-1290x670.jpg","width":1290,"height":670,"filesize":219054,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","source_url":"https:\/\/moroccosaharaspirit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ait-ben-haddou-morocco-cta-1290x670.jpg"},"travel-monster-withsidebar":{"file":"ait-ben-haddou-morocco-cta-860x510.jpg","width":860,"height":510,"filesize":138894,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","source_url":"https:\/\/moroccosaharaspirit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ait-ben-haddou-morocco-cta-860x510.jpg"},"travel-monster-blog-grid":{"file":"ait-ben-haddou-morocco-cta-415x260.jpg","width":415,"height":260,"filesize":63606,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","source_url":"https:\/\/moroccosaharaspirit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ait-ben-haddou-morocco-cta-415x260.jpg"},"travel-monster-latest-post":{"file":"ait-ben-haddou-morocco-cta-970x655.jpg","width":970,"height":655,"filesize":175704,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","source_url":"https:\/\/moroccosaharaspirit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ait-ben-haddou-morocco-cta-970x655.jpg"},"travel-monster-blog-list":{"file":"ait-ben-haddou-morocco-cta-300x440.jpg","width":300,"height":440,"filesize":66478,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","source_url":"https:\/\/moroccosaharaspirit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ait-ben-haddou-morocco-cta-300x440.jpg"},"travel-monster-header-bg-img":{"file":"ait-ben-haddou-morocco-cta-1920x350.jpg","width":1920,"height":350,"filesize":201591,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","source_url":"https:\/\/moroccosaharaspirit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ait-ben-haddou-morocco-cta-1920x350.jpg"},"travel-monster-single-layout-two":{"file":"ait-ben-haddou-morocco-cta-1920x600.jpg","width":1920,"height":600,"filesize":230752,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","source_url":"https:\/\/moroccosaharaspirit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ait-ben-haddou-morocco-cta-1920x600.jpg"},"full":{"file":"ait-ben-haddou-morocco-cta.jpg","width":1920,"height":760,"source_url":"https:\/\/moroccosaharaspirit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ait-ben-haddou-morocco-cta.jpg"}},"image_meta":{"aperture":"10","credit":"","camera":"ILCE-7M2","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1652716244","copyright":"","focal_length":"28","iso":"80","shutter_speed":"0.004","title":"","orientation":"0","keywords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