Days 1 to 3: Marrakech at your own pace
The first three days cover the city. Our itinerary Marrakech in 3 days details each time slot; with a week ahead of you, you can keep its day-3 excursion for later and spend that day on the gardens and an evening at La Mamounia instead, as in our 4-day itinerary.
Day 1: the northern medina
Morning on Jemaa el-Fna square, still quiet at that hour, then a walk through the souks to the Spice Square. In the afternoon, the Ben Youssef madrasa (50 DH, daily from 9am to 7pm) and the Maison de la Photographie (80 DH), with its rooftop terrace. Back to the square at sunset, when the grill stalls and storytellers set up.
Day 2: the southern medina and its palaces
The Bahia Palace at opening time, the Mellah, El Badi Palace and the Saadian Tombs: each of the three monuments costs 100 DH per foreign adult and opens from 9am to 5pm. In the afternoon, a hammam or a break at the riad; in the evening, tea or a booked dinner at La Mamounia.
Day 3: Majorelle, Gueliz and the Secret Garden
The Majorelle Garden opens at 8am; its 170 DH ticket is sold only online for a time slot, and the combined ticket with the Yves Saint Laurent Museum costs 330 DH (museum closed on Wednesdays). Lunch in Gueliz, then back to the medina for Le Jardin Secret (100 DH). In the evening, pack a bag for two days: you leave early the next morning.
Days 4 and 5: the Tichka pass, Aït-Ben-Haddou and Ouarzazate
These two days cross the High Atlas over the Tizi n'Tichka pass (2,260 m) and include a night in the South. The two-day tours sold in Marrakech include transport, accommodation and dinner; with a private driver or a hire car, you choose your stops. The road is winding and can be closed for a few hours by snow in winter.
Day 4: the pass, the Telouet kasbah and the ksar
Leave around 8am. After about 2.5 hours climbing the N9 and the Tichka pass, turn off the main road for the Telouet kasbah, about 130 km from Marrakech, the former palace of the Glaoui family: its salons of stucco, zellige and painted cedar contrast with the crumbling rammed-earth walls around them. A minor road then runs down the Ounila valley, between earthen villages and gorges, to Aït-Ben-Haddou: allow about 1.5 hours without stops. Arrive at the ksar of Aït-Ben-Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in the late afternoon: access is free, the light is golden and the tour groups have gone. Climb to the ruined granary at the top for sunset, then sleep in one of the guesthouses in the new village.
Day 5: Atlas Studios and the return
In the morning, drive to Ouarzazate, about thirty kilometres away. Atlas Studios is visited with a guide, with no booking needed, for 80 DH per person: Egyptian temples, Cleopatra's palace and sets from Gladiator or Game of Thrones. In town, the Taourirt kasbah, a former Glaoui residence, takes an hour to visit. Head back towards Marrakech in the early afternoon: allow 4 to 4.5 hours, and arrive before nightfall, as the descent from the pass is tiring in the dark.
Variant: three days to the Merzouga desert
If you want to see the great dunes of Erg Chebbi, replace days 4 to 6 with a three-day tour to Merzouga, with a night in the Dades valley and a night in a desert camp; Aït-Ben-Haddou is usually a stop on the first day. The journey is long: about 560 km, or 9 to 10 hours on the road to reach the dunes. Our guide to the Merzouga desert from Marrakech compares tours and prices. In that case, drop Essaouira or Imlil.
Day 6: Essaouira, the windy city
After two days on the road, a day on the Atlantic coast brings a complete change of mood. Essaouira is about three hours from Marrakech by Supratours or CTM coach: allow 100 to 140 DH one way, and book both directions ahead, especially at weekends. Take a morning departure. Once there, everything is on foot: the listed medina, the Skala ramparts and their cannons, the fishing port and its blue boats, where grilled fish is served at lunchtime, then the long beach. Bring a jacket: the wind blows almost all year round and the air is cooler than in Marrakech. If you have time, stay the night and return the next morning: the town is at its best in the evening, once the day-trippers have left.
Day 7: Imlil and the High Atlas
For the last day, head up to Imlil, about 1.5 hours' drive via Asni, at the foot of Toubkal, the highest peak in North Africa. In one day, a guided walk links the Berber villages of the valley, among walnut trees, farmed terraces and stone houses, with lunch in a family home or a guesthouse. Climbing Toubkal takes two days, with a night in a mountain refuge, and a licensed guide is compulsory; a guide usually costs 500 to 1,000 DH a day. If you prefer an easier day, the Ourika valley and its waterfalls are the same distance from Marrakech. Return in the late afternoon for a last evening on Jemaa el-Fna.
Summary of the week
| Day | Stage | Travel from Marrakech | Recommended transport | Main costs (adult) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northern medina | On foot | On foot | 130 DH in admissions |
| 2 | Southern medina | On foot | On foot | 300 DH in admissions |
| 3 | Majorelle, Gueliz, Secret Garden | 10 min by taxi | Petit taxi | 430 DH in admissions |
| 4 | Tichka, Telouet, Aït-Ben-Haddou | About 4 hours with stops | Tour, driver or car | Night in a guesthouse |
| 5 | Ouarzazate, return | 4 to 4.5 hours | Tour, driver or car | 80 DH at Atlas Studios |
| 6 | Essaouira | About 3 hours | Supratours or CTM coach | 200 to 280 DH return |
| 7 | Imlil | About 1.5 hours | Tour or taxi | Guide from 500 to 1,000 DH a day, shared |
Prices checked in October 2026.
Budget and bookings
For admissions over the three days in the city, allow 860 DH per adult (about €78). The rest depends mainly on how you get around: a two-day group tour to Aït-Ben-Haddou costs far less than a private driver, though a driver can be shared between four. Book the Majorelle Garden (online), the coaches to Essaouira and the day 4-5 tour in advance. To drive yourself, see our guide to renting a car in Marrakech, and to work out the rest of your costs, our guide Marrakech travel budget.
Adapting the itinerary to the season
In spring and autumn, the whole itinerary works well. In summer, Marrakech and Ouarzazate are very hot: visit early in the morning, and make the most of cooler Essaouira and Imlil. In winter, snow can close the Tichka pass for a few hours and makes the Toubkal trek more demanding; evenings are cold in the Atlas and the South, so pack warm clothes. During Ramadan, monuments have shorter hours and many restaurants close during the day, especially outside Marrakech.
Further reading
To compare all the possible outings from the city, read our guide to day trips from Marrakech. Film fans will find every set along the southern road in our guide to filming locations in and around Marrakech. And to choose your dates, see the best time to visit Marrakech.
