Morocco: A week Itinerary
- Ruth Carlisle
- 22 minutes ago
- 3 min read
In January 2026, we spent a week in Morocco to escape those January UK blues! Let me give you our itinerary!
TRAVEL
We flew into Marrakech which was only 3 hrs 20mins from Belfast. We organised our transfer to our accommodation through 'Hoppa'. Note, that if you are staying in a RIad - they are normally in the centre of the Medina, meaning the taxi will drop you at the closest point and you will need to walk the rest of the way.
MARRAKECH
We spent 3 and a half days in total in Marrakech, in which one of those days was a day trip excursion which I will mention about below. Marrakech is easy to walk around and you don't need to rely on public transport. If you can, stay in the medina as this means you are at the heart of all Marrakech has to offer.
Where to visit:
Koutoubia Minerat and Gardens
Jemaa el-fna square
Bahia Palace
Le Jardin Secret
Jardin Marojelle (during peak season, book in advance!)
The many streets of souks
Mellah Jewish district
Where we didn't visit but are popular tourist spots:
- Saadian Tombs
- El Badi Palace
- Ben Youseff Mosque
Where we stayed: We stayed at 2 different traditional Riad's (1 at either side of our excursions). There are loads to choose from and probably some fancier than ours (as we were on a budget and booked last minute) - but both served great breakfasts, were quiet, great location and had a lovely rooftop area.
EXCURSIONS
We did 2 excursions whilst in Morocco. We would have loved to see more of the country, however when we looked into it, the driving distances are far between sights so this would have been more appropriate if you were spending 10 days-2 weeks in Morocco. The excursions we did were:
Day trip to the Atlas Mountains and Ourika Valley with a 2km hike to the waterfall and lunch along the valley river. 'Get your guide' link here
- We really enjoyed this trip, it took place from 9am-4pm, the walk was scenic and enjoyable with some steep points and having lunch by the Ouirka Valley was magical!
3 day 2 night trip to the Merzouga Dunes of the Sahara desert with stops at the high Atlas Mountains, Ait Benhaddou and Dades Gorge on the way. 'Get your guide' link here.
- The Merzouga Dunes are the most western part of the Sahara and is on the border between Morocco and Algeria. All the stops on this journey were amazing, but be aware it is a lot of driving, with the 3rd day being a full 9 hours drive back to Marrakech. I would also mention that the food gets very similar throughout the trip but overall I would still do it to visit the places mentioned above, because the hassle of driving by yourself and the multiple police stops would not feel worth it.
At both trips there are stops to see how the Berber people make their famous argan oil and other products - as well as a chance to dress up in traditional dress and try their traditional breakfast!
TIPS
Cash is king - always make sure to have cash with you. Morocco has a closed currency meaning you can only get the cash out from ATM's or currancy exchanges when you are in the country. You can exchange your leftover cash back to your home currency at the airport only. We used Al Barid Bank which has no fees.
Get a sim/e-sim for your phone so you have data, you will need this to not get lost in the souks in Marrakech. If you do the Sahara desert tour, be aware there are a lot of companies which don't have signal outside of the main cities (such as 'orange' which I had bought!) - so make sure to review it's coverage prior to buying.
Sellers in the souks and at Jemaa el-fna square will try their best to sell you their items, but if you say no politely - we found that they stopped with no issue. If you do want to buy souvenirs, you can always get money off with haggling so don't be afraid to try!
In the winter months it can get very cold at night - make sure to pack appropriatley for both the day and night when you visit.
Happy Travelling!
Ruth xxx