A week is the perfect length for a desert-focused trip. Here are two proven 7-day routes built around the Sahara — a deep dunes loop to the remote Erg Chigaga, or the classic Erg Chebbi week with extra time in Marrakech — plus how to choose between them.
In this guide
Option A — Marrakech, the gorges & Erg Chebbi
The classic first-timer's desert week: the Red City, a crossing of the High Atlas, the kasbah road through Aït Ben Haddou and the gorges, and a camel trek to a camp under the stars at Erg Chebbi. Driving days are real but scenic, and best done with a private driver who knows where to stop.
- Days 1–2: Marrakech — medina, gardens, a hammam and a rooftop sunset.
- Day 3: Over the Tizi n'Tichka pass to Aït Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate.
- Day 4: The Dadès and Todra gorges to the desert edge at Merzouga.
- Day 5: Camel trek into Erg Chebbi and a night at a luxury camp.
- Day 6: Sunrise dune climb, then the road back through the Draa toward Marrakech.
- Day 7: A slow final morning and departure from Marrakech (RAK).
Option B — The Erg Chigaga deep-desert loop
For travellers who want the wildest, emptiest dunes, this week trades a city day for the long 4x4 piste out to Erg Chigaga via the Draa Valley and M'Hamid — bigger dunes, far fewer people and two nights deep in the sand.
- Day 1: Marrakech to Aït Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate over the Atlas.
- Day 2: Down the Draa Valley palmeries to Zagora and M'Hamid.
- Days 3–4: 4x4 across the piste to Erg Chigaga — two nights camping among the highest dunes.
- Day 5: Back to the kasbah road via the gorges.
- Days 6–7: Return to Marrakech with a final medina morning before departure.
How to choose
Pick Erg Chebbi (Option A) for the easiest access, the postcard golden dunes and more time in Marrakech. Pick Erg Chigaga (Option B) if remoteness and scale matter more than convenience and you don't mind a long, bumpy 4x4 day to reach it. Either can start or end in Fes instead of Marrakech — we build open-jaw routings all the time.
Frequently asked
Is 7 days enough for a desert trip?
Yes — a week comfortably covers Marrakech plus a proper Sahara loop to either Erg Chebbi or the remote Erg Chigaga, with time for the gorges and kasbahs along the way. Trying to add the imperial north as well means too much driving; save that for a return trip.
Can you do Marrakech and the desert in a week?
Comfortably. A 3-day desert loop from Marrakech (via Aït Ben Haddou and the gorges to Merzouga and back) leaves three to four days for the city, with room to upgrade to the longer Erg Chigaga route if remoteness is your priority.
How much driving is a 7-day desert trip?
Expect two longer driving days (5–8 hours) crossing the Atlas to the dunes and back, plus a rough 4x4 piste day if you choose Erg Chigaga. A private driver makes the long stretches relaxed and scenic rather than tiring.
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Itineraries
Morocco Itinerary: 10 Days
Ten days is the sweet spot for a desert-led trip — long enough to reach the dunes unhurried, spend two nights deep in the Sahara, and still see the gorges, kasbahs and one imperial city, with the coast as an optional finish.
Planning
The Best Time to Visit Morocco
If the desert is the heart of your trip, plan around the dunes first. October to April is the prime Sahara window — comfortable days in Merzouga and Erg Chigaga, brilliant stargazing and cold but magical camp nights. Spring and autumn are the all-round sweet spots for combining the dunes with the cities and the Atlas.
Practical
Getting Around Morocco
Trains cover Morocco's northern cities well, but the desert lives beyond the rail map. To reach Merzouga, Zagora or Erg Chigaga you'll travel by private 4x4 or driver-guide, by long-distance bus, or on an organised tour — and the journey through the Atlas and the Draa Valley is a highlight in itself.