The Perfect One Week Morocco Itinerary: From Marrakech to the Atlas Mountains and Desert

Marine
7 hours ago
5 min read

Planning a trip to Morocco can feel overwhelming — there’s so much to see, and distances are often bigger than they seem. If you only have one week, the key is to choose a route that feels balanced and not rushed, while still allowing you to experience the country’s incredibly diverse landscapes.

In this blog, you can steal my full itinerary — including all the hotels we stayed in — so you can experience beautiful, authentic places without blowing your budget.

This itinerary is based on a real trip and follows a loop from Marrakech, combining vibrant city life, remote mountain landscapes, traditional kasbahs, and a desert escape — all while keeping driving times reasonable and the experience immersive.

📍 Morocco 1 -Week Route Overview

Day 1–2: Marrakech
Day 3: Atlas Mountains → Aït Ben Haddou
Day 4: Skoura → Atlas Mountains
Day 5: Imlil (High Atlas)
Day 6: Agafay Desert
Day 7: Marrakech
Total expenses of the trip (Hotels, breakfast and car rental): 515 Euros for two people

🕌 Day 1: Arrival in Marrakech

photo @sorsduframe

photo @sorsduframe

photo @sorsduframe

Arriving in Marrakech in the evening is the perfect introduction to Morocco. After landing, take a taxi into the Medina — the contrast between the calm of the airport and the bustling energy of the city is immediate.

Spend your first night wandering through the famous Jemaa el-Fna square , where food stalls, music, and street life create an atmosphere that feels almost surreal.

Where we had dinner: Amasia Rooftop Marrakech

Where we stayed: Riad Miski, 80 € per night

https://www.booking.com/hotel/ma/riad-miski.de.html

A beautiful, traditional riad tucked inside the Medina. It’s quiet, authentic, and perfectly located for exploring on foot.

Riad Miski - inner courtyard

Riad Miski - rooftop terrace

🌿 Day 2: Exploring Marrakech

Start the day early to explore Marrakech before it gets too busy.

Visit Jardin Majorelle, then head back into the Medina to see Ben Youssef Madrasa and wander through the souks.

Take your time here, getting lost is part of the experience!

Ben Youssef Madrasa

photo @sorsduframe

Jardin Majorelle

Rooftop Café Kosybar

photo @sorsduframe

Where we stayed: Riad Miski

Riad Miski, 80 € per night

https://www.booking.com/hotel/ma/riad-miski.de.html

🚗 Day 3: Marrakech → Atlas Mountains → Aït Ben Haddou

Pick up your rental car in the morning at the Aiport, or with a local company in the center, and begin the drive across the Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n’Tichka pass. Instead of taking the direct road, turn towards Telouet and follow the Ounila Valley — a slower but much more scenic route, where you will find desert, greenery, and snowy mountains. Make sure to check whether the Tizi n'Tichka pass is open before going.

photo@sorsduframe

If you're lucky, you might drive through the snowy Atlas mountains when passing the Tizi n'Tichka pass.

By late afternoon, you’ll arrive in Aït Ben Haddou, a UNESCO-listed village that feels frozen in time.

Where we stayed: Kasbah Tebi, 97€ per night

A hotel with no lights, only candles! It really makes you feel like you're experiencing the UNESCO-town like it was 300 years ago.

photo @sorsduframe

Ait Ben Haddou

Kasbah Tebi

Kasbah Tebi

The sunset in Ait Ben Haddou is one of the highlights of the trip!

🌴 Day 4: Skoura & Atlas Mountains

In the morning, take a final walk through Aït Ben Haddou before driving east to Skoura.

The palm grove here offers a completely different landscape — lush, quiet, and far less touristy. Visit Kasbah Amridil and have lunch at le Jardin des Grenadiers, where the owner will cook traditional Morrocan food in his garden, surrounded by palm trees... and cats.

photo @sorsduframe

Kasbah Amridil

photo @sorsduframe

After lunch, you can drive through the Palm Oasis and visit the horse stables, maybe even ride through the palm trees, at Centre Equestre Skoura.

In the afternoon, start heading back toward the Atlas Mountains and stop halfway up for the night.

photo @sorsduframe

Lunch at le jardin des grenadiers

photo @sorsduframe

Visit the horse stables at Centre Equestre Skoura

photo @sorsduframe

Stop at The Ceramic Shop in Tarmigt on the way

Where we stayed: Irocha (Tisselday) 51 € per night

A hidden gem in the mountains. The setting is incredibly peaceful, with panoramic views over the valley and a cozy fireplace in the evening. This was one of the cheapest and best decorated hotels of our stay!

Irocha Tisellday

Irocha Tisselday

⛰️ Day 5: Atlas Crossing → Imlil

After breakfast, continue driving across the Atlas Mountains. To avoid Marrakech traffic, take a shortcut via Aït Ourir toward Imlil.

Imlil is a small village in the High Atlas and a perfect place to slow down. Spend the afternoon walking through the valley or simply enjoying the views from your terrace.

photo@sorsduframe

Imlil waterfalls

photo@sorsduframe

Snowy Imlil mountains

photo@sorsduframe

Imlil Village

Where we stayed: Amazigh Family Riad 31 € per night

Simple, welcoming, and family-run. The terrace views over the mountains were unforgettable.

🌙 Day 6: Imlil → Kik Plateau → Agafay Desert

This is another incredibly scenic drive.

Descend from Imlil toward Asni, then continue across the Kik Plateau, with views of the Atlas Mountains behind you and Lake Lalla Takerkoust ahead.

You can have lunch at Le Flouka for some great food and beautiful views over the lake!