Itinerary to 1 perfect week in vibrant Morocco
“It’s not just in Norway they can build roads across mountains.“
Mid-way into our 1 week in Morocco, my father and I were standing on Tizi n’Tichka, Morocco’s highest mountain pass. Looking out on the winding road through the rugged landscape below us, it was pretty clear that Morocco knows the art of road building. If this was in Norway, the road would definitely have been listed as a Scenic Route.
So far this week, we had given our senses an overload to work with in busy Marrakech. Now it was time for a couple of days in the mountains. A week isn’t long, but standing there in the middle of the High Atlas, Essaouira’s coastal vibes felt like something far, far into the future.
It was freezing cold at 2.200 metres above sea level. Eager to continue our adventure in this diverse and fascinating North-African country, we jumped back into the warm car.
I have dreamed about visiting Morocco for as long as I can remember. What intrigued me was the mix of modern and historic, African and Arabic, the Berber culture, colourful cities, spices and Argan oil, desert and caravans, beaches, dromedaries, and all the ornamented architecture. It seemed so vibrant!
Our 1-week Morocco itinerary
When planning my January getaway, Morocco soon came to mind. It was finally time to tick it off my list, but I didn’t want to travel solo. I looked into a few group trips before I remembered my father mentioning wanting to visit Marrakech once. A seed was sown.
Fast forward a few months of travel planning, the two of us boarded the 4-ish hours flight from Oslo, ready for a week of adventure. This is what our 1-week itinerary in Morocco looked like:
- 3 nights in Marrakech
- 1 night in Ait-Ben-Haddou / Ouarzazate
- 1 night in Marrakech
- 2 nights in Essaouira
Looking back, a week or so after returning home, I couldn’t be happier with how the trip turned out. Starting with hectic Marrakech with all its attractions, continuing with a scenic and interesting overnight trip across the High Atlas to Ait-Ben-Haddou, and ending with a couple of relaxing days in peaceful Essaouira.
This itinerary is filled with destinations that gives you a glimpse of Morocco’s diversity, while still letting you explore in a slow pace with time to kick back.
3 nights in lively, colourful Marrakech
The efficiency and the modern architecture of Marrakech Airport gives you an easy start to the 1 week in Morocco, but don’t let that fool you. The city hits your senses the moment you set foot in the medina. It’s everything you imagined, and a bit more. It’s noisy and colourful. You are surrounded by people, mopeds, bicycles, donkeys, sellers, slaughters, carpenters, spices, beautifully ornamented doors, and basically everything else you could think of. Plus cats. You will see lots of cats!
That’s the medina, the old, fortified town that goes all the way back to the 11th century. The contrasts won’t be as large if you choose to stay in the new part of town, which I urge you not to do. The medina is the heart of the city. Book a traditional riad for your stay, and your senses will get a break every time you enter.
Before leaving Norway, I was a bit worried my father, who’s travelled rather extensively throughout Europe but not so much outside, would get overwhelmed. I needed not to worry. He has already announced that he wants to go back.
What to do in Marrakech?
Three days in Marrakech is a minimum. I could easily have spent a week here. Probably even longer without getting bored. There are so many highlights to visit and great places to eat, I will need to cover that in individual posts. To name a few, you can’t leave the pink city without seeing Ben Youssef Madrasa; Jema el-Fna; Le Jardin Secret; the Koutoubia Mosque, the Baadi Palace, the souks (market), and Jardin Majorelle.
Tip: Make sure you find yourself on a roof top restaurant in time for sunset at least once!
To make the days as smooth as possible, we split the days in two with a siesta to recharge in between. For example, on the first day we visited the tanneries, Ben Youssef Madrasa, and Le Jardin Secret before lunch. Then went back to the riad for a break, before continuing our discoveries to Jemaa el-Fna and Koutoubia Mosque until it was time for dinner.
Riad love
Staying in a traditional riad inside the medina is one of Marrakech’s greatest must dos. As soon as you have walked through the front door, it feels like you have entered a different world. The layout of these originally family homes offers an oasis of peace and quiet.
Riad Le Coq Berber Fou was everything I had hoped for. Silent, full of history and small details, and with several levels of roof terraces to chill on. The staff makes you feel at home and the house cat Mimim will adopt you as soon as you sit.
There are riads for all kinds of wishes. From 5-star luxury hotels to simpler, cheaper B&B to hidden gems like Le Coq Berber.
And hey! Riads are not only for Marrakech, you find them all around Morocco.
Overnight trip to Ait-Ben-Haddou
Let’s get back to the High Atlas. Soon after we were back inside the warm car from the windy stop at Tizi n’Tichka, our driver Abdoul turns off the main road. Outside the windows, small Berber villages clinged to the mountain sides, and here and there small herds of goats searched for something edible amongst the rocks.
In order to see a bit more of the country, I booked an overnight guided tour with Asara Morocco Tours. Our main goal was to explore and spend the night in the UNESCO-listed, historic town Ait-Ben-Haddou. In addition, Asara Morocco Tours included visits to the Ounila Valley and Ouarzazate into our program.
It was the Ounila Valley Abdoul turned into from the main road. Here you find the remains of the once oh’ so extravagant Kasbah Telouet, home of one of the wealthiest men in the world until 1957. Do not drive past this part of Morocco without stopping here. You will soon understand exactly how prosperous the caravan traffic across the Sahara was.
A night in paradise
In contrast to the seemingly untouched Ounila Valley, Ait-Ben-Haddou is a tourist hotspot. I don’t question why. The old ksar was enlisted on UNESCO World Heritage list in 1987 and is a popular backdrop for several large movie- and tv productions. It sure is a must to visit when in Morocco!
There are only a few families left living inside the old town, but it’s filled with artists and souvenir sellers with plenty to look at as you walk around. We spent the night in Riad Paradise of Silence in the outskirts of the new town. A place that really lived up to its name.
Bonus! Watching the sunrise from the hill behind the hotel.
Hollywood of Africa
Only 30 minutes’ drive from Ait-Ben-Haddou, you find the Hollywood of Africa. Since the early 1980’s, Atlas Studios in Ouarzazate has been used to film many well-known movie- and tv-productions. Such as Kingdom of Heaven, the Gladiator, Prison Break, 7 Years in Tibet, and Asterix and Obelix to name a few.
It’s not a life-changing experience, but a nice break to all the historic architecture. Which Ouarzazates other main attraction is all about. Kasbah Taourirt is another massive palace, restored back to its original splendour.
Full of historic facts and new knowledge about everything from the Berber (Amazigh) alphabet to caravan trade across the Sahara, we turned our noses back across the High Atlas. Before reaching Marrakech, Abdoul managed to squeeze one last stop into the itinerary.
Women’s Argan Oil Cooperatives
Argan trees grows predominantly along the coast of Morocco, and the nuts are used to make argan oil which is a popular ingredient in skincare products all over the world. Around the country, women cooperatives offer jobs to women in low-income communities. They produce oil for both skincare and food, as well as selling the results.
When Abdoul asked if I wanted to visit one of these cooperatives, I didn’t hesitate and I recommend you to stop and visit if you come by one too. If you purchase something, it’s not only for a good cause. Here, you can trust you get pure oil to a much lower price than in Europe or anywhere else.
One night back in Marrakech
The reason we went back to Marrakech, was to split up the long drive from Ouarzazate to the coast and our next and last destination: Essaouira.
Use this last night in the pink city to see the sunset from a rooftop by Jemaa el-Fna or, as we did, get lost in the souks.
2,5 – 3 hours’ drive west of Marrakech, whitewashed Essaouira sits on the shores of the Atlantic. I disagree with those calling it a good alternative to Marrakech, instead I found it the perfect add-on.
The perfect end to 1 week in Morocco
Arriving from Marrakech, you feel the easy atmosphere at the moment you walk through the old town gates. The main reason is the lack of mopeds rushing past, the next is way less people and tourists. Essaouira truly is the perfect place to relax after hectic days exploring the country.
It’s close enough for a day visit from Marrakech, but I definitely recommend spending at least one night. We stayed two and that was perfect. There are only a few highlights you shouldn’t (and can’t) miss: Sqala du Port d’ Essaouira, Essaouira Ramparts, the city wall, and the beach. Also, take a swing into the harbour. This is the only really busy place within the old town, and mostly due to all the seagulls looking for a snack.
The rest of your time here, just stroll around at the pace of the locals, eat fresh seafood, sit down at a street café with a perfectly made cup of coffee, and sip Moroccan wine to the views of the sun setting in the Atlantic. Essaouira is also ideal for shopping, as it’s a lot more laid back than in Marrakech and many places even have price tags on their products.
How I planned our 1-week Morocco itinerary
There’s off course plenty of other places I’d love to visit but exploring all of Morocco in one week just isn’t possible. If I’d had a day or two more, I’d definitely extended the trip to Ait-Ben-Haddou with a visit to Merzouga and a night in the desert.
I made this itinerary with a few things in mind. First, I wanted to experience a bit of the variety of what Morocco can offer. Second, I wanted enough time in each destination to actually get a feeling of its atmosphere. Third, we were travelling in winter. A time when temperatures vary a lot throughout the country. Fourthly, as I was going with my elderly father, I was more concerned than normal about things going as smooth as possible.
As Marrakech was a must and Northern Morocco can be cold and wet in winter, I ended up with the program above. And for us, it was the perfect way to see Morocco in just 1 week without it feeling hasty.
Figuring out the details
I spent quite some time on Google, Tripadvisor and Booking.com, searching for riads and tour companies that could tick of all my boxes for this trip. Did I find them? Definitely! The
In addition to boosting with charm and great service to a great price, Riad Coq Berber Fou organised transfer from the airport upon arrival. A big plus, as I’d have no idea where to go from the taxi stand in the medina if not…
Asara Morocco Tours gave me a safe feeling from the first e-mail reply and custom made our trip across the High Atlas to Ait-Ben-Haddou.
Rachid Taxi Essaouira drove us safely from Marrakech to Essaouira, and the communication was excellent both on e-mail and Whatsapp. When I managed to forget my sunglasses in the car, they even did their best to deliver them back to me.
Riad Le Khan Mogador in Essaouira was no less of great place to stay. The owner Corinne organised our transfer back to Marrakech Airport upon departure!
And guess who met us when leaving Essaouira? It was Rachid Taxi’s excellent driver from the other day, handing me my glasses before getting us to the airport just in time for check-in.
Our 1 week in Morocco ran as smoothly as I could ever have hoped for. The only failure was my own fault, when a very happy and playful dog accidently bit through my skin just before leaving Essaouira on our last day. But that’s an other story…
