Morocco has four imperial cities — Marrakech, Fes, Meknes, and Rabat — each one a former capital of the country, each one completely different in character. Add in the fairy-tale blue alleyways of Chefchaouen and the golden dunes of the Sahara, and you have one of the world’s great travel itineraries.
Seven days gives you enough time to experience the highlights without rushing. Here is the Wolf Travel recommended 7-day imperial cities itinerary for first-time visitors to Morocco.
Day 1 — Arrival in Marrakech
Your journey begins in Marrakech, Morocco’s most visited city and the gateway to the south. After settling into your riad in the medina, spend your first evening exploring Djemaa el-Fna square — the legendary open-air spectacle of snake charmers, storytellers, acrobats, and food stalls that comes alive at sunset.
Have dinner at one of the rooftop restaurants overlooking the square. Order a tagine, a glass of fresh orange juice, and take it all in. You’re in Morocco.
Day 2 — Marrakech City Tour
Day two is for the city itself. A guided walking tour of the medina takes you through the souks divided by trade — spices, leather, textiles, ceramics — into the calm of the Bahia Palace, the historic Ben Youssef Medersa, and the tranquil Majorelle Garden, once owned by Yves Saint Laurent.
In the afternoon, explore the Mellah (historic Jewish quarter) and the Saadian Tombs. By evening you’ll understand why Marrakech is called the Red City and why people keep coming back.
Day 3 — Marrakech to the Sahara (via Ouarzazate)
An optional but highly recommended addition: a desert detour through the Draa Valley to the Sahara dunes at Merzouga or Zagora. While a full Sahara experience requires 3 days, even a single night in a desert camp changes your perspective on travel entirely.
Alternatively, Day 3 can be used for a day trip to the Agafay Desert, Essaouira, or a hike in the Atlas Mountains — depending on your interests.
Day 4 — Drive North: Marrakech to Fes
The drive from Marrakech to Fes passes through the Middle Atlas Mountains and the cedar forests of Azrou, where wild Barbary macaque monkeys can often be spotted by the roadside. Stop in the mountain town of Ifrane — nicknamed “Morocco’s Switzerland” for its European-style chalets and snow in winter.
Arrive in Fes in the late afternoon and check into a riad in the medina. The winding alleyways of Fes el-Bali are best explored with a local guide — the medina is a genuine labyrinth.
Day 5 — Fes: The Oldest Living Medieval City in the World
Fes el-Bali is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the world’s largest car-free urban zone. More than 9,000 streets and alleyways make up the medina — most too narrow for anything wider than a donkey.
Highlights include the Chouara Tannery (one of the oldest leather tanneries in the world, best viewed from the surrounding leather shops), the Al-Qarawiyyin University founded in 859 AD and considered the oldest continuously operating university on earth, and the ornate Bou Inania Medersa.
Budget a full day for Fes. You will not run out of things to discover.
Day 6 — Chefchaouen: The Blue City
No Morocco itinerary is complete without Chefchaouen. Nestled in the Rif Mountains in northern Morocco, the “Blue City” is exactly what it sounds like: a mountain town where almost every wall, staircase, and doorway is painted in shades of blue and white.
The reason for the blue paint is debated — some say it was painted by Jewish refugees in the 1930s, others that it keeps mosquitoes away, others that it simply represents the sky and heaven. Whatever the origin, the effect is stunning. Spend the afternoon wandering, photographing, and sampling the local goat cheese — a Chefchaouen speciality.
Day 7 — Rabat and Casablanca, then Home
On your final day, drive south along the Atlantic coast through Rabat, Morocco’s modern capital. Visit the Hassan Tower — a 12th-century minaret and one of the most recognisable landmarks in the country — and the beautiful Mausoleum of Mohammed V.
From Rabat it’s one hour to Casablanca and its international airport. If your flight allows, visit the Hassan II Mosque — built partially over the Atlantic Ocean and one of the largest mosques in the world. It’s a breathtaking final image to carry home from Morocco.
Book the 7-Day Imperial Cities Tour with Wolf Travel
Wolf Travel’s 7-day Imperial Cities Tour covers all of the above with private transport, experienced local guides, handpicked riads, and all the logistics handled for you. This is the itinerary we recommend above all others for first-time visitors to Morocco — it shows you the country in full.
👉 View the 7 Days Imperial Cities Tour or contact us on WhatsApp to customise the itinerary for your group size and travel dates.
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