What is the best time to visit Morocco for a vacation?

The ideal time depends on your preferences. Spring (March-May) and fall (September-November) are favoured for agreeable temperatures and fewer tourists. Summer (June-August) can be scorching in the desert but is great for the coast. Winter (December-February) is chilly in the mountains but good for skiing in the High Atlas.

What are the visa requirements for traveling to Morocco?

Citizens of many countries - including the US, Canada, UK, Australia and most EU countries - do not need a visa for stays of up to 90 days. Check the requirements for your nationality before travelling; your passport should be valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay. Longer stays may require a visa from a Moroccan embassy or consulate.

Is it safe to travel to Morocco?

Morocco is considered safe for tourists. As anywhere, protect your belongings, avoid walking alone at night in unfamiliar areas, be cautious of pickpockets in crowds, and dress modestly at religious sites and in rural areas.

What is the currency in Morocco, and can I use credit cards?

The official currency is the Moroccan dirham (MAD). Credit cards are widely accepted in major cities and tourist areas, but carry cash for smaller establishments and remote areas. ATMs are available in most towns and cities.

What are the transportation options within Morocco?

Domestic flights connect Marrakech, Casablanca, Fes and Tangier. Trains are efficient between major cities, buses cover the widest network, and grand taxis serve shorter distances. Car rental is possible if you are comfortable with local driving conditions.

View Gallery

Morocco Family Journey: Ancient Souks to the Sahara

From €950.00

0 out of 5

Trip Type

Sahara Trips
Activities

No Activities
Group Size

2 Min - 14 Max
Locations

Sahara
Trip Duration

9 Day(s)

Trip Enquiry

Trip code :WT-CODE 8970

Embark on an unforgettable journey through Morocco, from vibrant souks and historic cities to the endless golden dunes of the Sahara. Discover the rich Amazigh culture through traditional music, stories, and authentic local experiences. Learn to prepare delicious Moroccan dishes, hike through breathtaking landscapes, explore dramatic rock formations, and uncover the hidden treasures of lush oases and magnificent ancient palaces.

Itinerary

9 days, Marrakech to Marrakech

YOUR EXPEDITION, DAY BY DAY

Itineraries

Day 1

Arrival in Marrakech

Welcome to Marrakech, the vibrant heart of Morocco. Upon arrival at Marrakech Menara Airport, you will be transferred to your hotel. In the evening, meet your Expedition Leader and fellow travellers during a welcome meeting, where you’ll get an introduction to the journey ahead and have the chance to enjoy a local meal together.

✈️ Arrival Transfer

Marrakech Menara Airport - Marrakech, 30 minutes

You will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel to start your adventure.

🏨 Accommodation

Dellarosa Boutique Hotel (or similar)

Day 2

Marrakech to Ouarzazate

Leave Marrakech behind and travel south through the breathtaking High Atlas Mountains, passing colourful valleys, red cliffs, and green terraces. Enjoy lunch along the way before arriving in Ouarzazate, known as the gateway to the Sahara. Visit Atlas Film Studios and discover the fascinating world of cinema, exploring famous sets featured in productions such as Gladiator and Game of Thrones.

🍽️ Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

🚐 Private Vehicle

Marrakech - Ouarzazate, 3 hours and 30 minutes

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

🏨 Accommodation

Berbere Palace (or similar)

Day 3

Ouarzazate to Merzouga

Journey through dramatic landscapes, mountain peaks, and palm-filled oases towards Merzouga, the gateway to the Sahara Desert. Settle near the spectacular Erg Chebbi dunes, where golden sands stretch as far as the eye can see. In the evening, enjoy a traditional Amazigh dinner and admire the breathtaking desert sky filled with stars.

🍽️ Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

🚐 Private Vehicle

Ouarzazate - Merzouga, 6 hours and 30 minutes

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

🏨 Accommodation

Hotel Nomad Palace Merzouga (or similar)

Day 4

Exploring Merzouga & Sahara Culture

Discover the magic of the Sahara on a 4x4 adventure across the Erg Chebbi dunes. Explore ancient fossils, visit the village of Khamlia to experience the rhythms of Gnaoua music, and meet local Amazigh communities to learn about their traditions and lifestyle. Later, relax at your hotel, enjoy a delicious Amazigh dinner, and gather around a campfire for traditional stories under the desert sky.

🍽️ Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

🏨 Accommodation

Hotel Nomad Palace Merzouga (or similar)

Day 5

Merzouga to Dades Gorge

Travel through Morocco’s spectacular desert landscapes towards the impressive Dades Gorge, a colourful valley shaped by the Dades River. Stop at a local village to taste Medfouna, a traditional Amazigh dish also known as Moroccan desert pizza. Continue to your hotel and enjoy some time to relax.

🚐 Today's Activities

🚗 Private Vehicle

Merzouga - Gorges du Dadès, 5 hours

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

🏨 Accommodation

Riad Xaluca (or similar)

🍽️ Meals Included: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Day 6

Dades Gorge – Aït Ben Haddou

Start the day with a guided walk through the Dades Gorge, discovering the unique rock formations and learning about the fascinating geology of the area while enjoying the stunning mountain scenery. Continue your journey through the beautiful Ounila Valley to Aït Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Explore its ancient narrow streets, traditional clay buildings, and enjoy breathtaking views of the surrounding oasis. End the day with a fun Moroccan cooking experience, where you will learn how to prepare a traditional tagine before enjoying a delicious dinner.

🍽️ Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

🥾 Activities

Dades Gorge walk – Aït Ben Haddou Kasbah visit – Tagine cooking class

🚐 Transport

Private vehicle (approximately 2.5 hours from Dades Gorge to Aït Ben Haddou)

🏨 Accommodation

Riad Maktoub Aït Ben Haddou (or similar)

Day 7

Aït Ben Haddou – Marrakech

Travel back to Marrakech through the Atlas Mountains by private vehicle (around 4 hours and 30 minutes), enjoying the beautiful landscapes along the way. After arrival and hotel check-in, visit Henna Art Café in the heart of the old Medina to enjoy a traditional henna art experience with a cup of tea. Then explore the famous Djemaa el Fna Square, discovering its lively atmosphere, local markets, and traditional performances. Enjoy free time to further explore the magic of Marrakech.

🚐 Private Vehicle

Aït Ben Haddou - Marrakech, 4 hours and 30 minutes

🎨 Activities

Henna Art Café experience – Djemaa el Fna Square – Explore Marrakech Medina

🍽️ Meals Included: Breakfast

🏨 Accommodation

Dellarosa Boutique Hotel (or similar)

Day 8

Discover Marrakech

After breakfast, enjoy a guided tour through the heart of Marrakech’s old Medina, exploring its narrow winding streets, colourful souks, spices, and traditional crafts. Discover iconic historical landmarks such as Bahia Palace and Ben Youssef Madrasa while admiring the beauty of authentic Moroccan architecture. After the tour, enjoy free time to explore the city at your own pace or visit the famous Majorelle Garden. In the evening, celebrate the end of your adventure with a special farewell dinner in a traditional Moroccan riad, surrounded by an authentic atmosphere.

🕌 Activities

Marrakech Medina guided tour – Bahia Palace – Ben Youssef Madrasa – Majorelle Garden

🍽️ Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

🏨 Accommodation

Dellarosa Boutique Hotel (or similar)

Day 9

Departure from Marrakech

🏜️ Your Journey Highlight Moment: Sahara Dunes & Culture Excursion, Merzouga
👋 Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment – Meet Your Expedition Leader and Group
🎬 Your Family Journeys Moment: Guided Atlas Film Studios Tour, Ouarzazate
🍳 Your Foodie Moment: Tagine Cooking Class, Aït Ben Haddou
🎨 Your Family Journeys Moment: Guided Marrakech Henna Art Café Experience, Marrakech
✈️ Arrival transfer
🏘️ Amazigh village visit and Amazigh pizza lunch
🥾 Dades Gorge guided walk
🏰 Visit Aït Ben Haddou
🍲 Tagine cooking demonstration
🌆 Walk in Djemaa el Fna Square
🕌 Marrakech Medina guided walk including Saadian Tombs, Bahia Palace, souks and Jemaa el-Fnaa Square
💡 All tips included for activities and meals, except for the Expedition Leader and porterage
🚐 All transport between destinations and to/from included activities

No details found.

There are no reviews yet.

Be the first to review “Morocco Family Journey: Ancient Souks to the Sahara” Cancel reply

Please wait...

No Details Found

Rupa T

Am not going to lie, this is a tough challenge if, like me, you have not put in the practice beforehand and are not as fit as you used to be! We chose to do this as a family and my 3 older children (18, 21 and 22 yrs old) managed to complete the 2 day trek without putting in the prep due to their natural fitness and gym loving lifestyle but myself and my husband struggled on day 2. First day is approx 5-6 hours of gentle/not so gentle uphill trekking dotted with rest stops. After about 4 hours the trek flattens out. Day 2 is a killer! Constant uphill walking, quite steep at times, for a good few hours, so this is why you need to be fitter than me! But in the end, what an achievement! The whole 2 days were meticulously planned. Convenient pick up from Marrakech hotel, luggage not needed is safely stored in Imlil for us, any poles/gloves easily hired, and 2 friendly guides to see our small group of fellow travellers safely through the adventure. Not a lot of talking from the guides but you could question them about things and they did open up, both of Berber descent, very respectful and helpful when we were struggling. The chefs cooked up some really tasty meals and the Refuge was interesting but not so comfortable (cold showers and hard dorm beds), but that’s part of the fun! In July it was nice to be away from the Marrakech heat for a few days and the scenery is simply stunning! It was fine to do the trek in shorts and T-shirts but you needed a fleece for the evening and a raincoat for the rain (it didn’t rain for us). Gloves were handy for the summit and we did the trek in our old hiking boots and walking socks which was fine. One young guy in our group did it in his trainers and didn’t seem to struggle at all. Wear shades and a hat. Walking poles are a must I would say. Omar adventures is a great company, the price was good, the planning excellent and the guides super helpful and humble. I definitely recommend them.

Stephen U

All fantastic Omar’s logistics etc - perfectGuides - brilliantFood etc - amazingWalk and views - spectacularReally the most incredible experience and now wonderful memory. Would give 100 * if I could.

Isaac M

Having fun in Imlin This outfit was very professional. Plenty of food and drinks. The guides were excellent. Mohammed, Mustafa and Ayoob were very kind. They attended to all our needs. Everything was extremely safe. I would come back again and highly recommend this guiding company to my friends.

Freddy Nordt

Outstanding 1 night Toubkal Summit trip! We booked the 1 night Mount Toubkal overnight Trek and loved every minute of it! Omar was super responsive and helpful during our booking process. The guides were experienced and we felt super comfortable talking on the summit with them. The refugee where we stayed the night was like out of a movie scene plus the food was tasty and filling. Would definitely rebook but next time as a private tour so we can move faster as we found the group pace a little slow but that’s on us.Thank you to the whole Omar Adventures team!

Veerle

Amazing adventure! We did the Mt Toubkal summit trek - 3 days.This pace suited us better than the 2 day trek.It was an amazing adventure. To be honest, the summit itself was harder than expected (we are experienced hikers) but the assistance of Hamza, our guide was amazing. His calm and patience really helped us to reach the top. Due to an injurie, the 4th member of our friend group couldn't do the trek. She could stay in the lodge in Imlil where Omar and his team did everything to make the best out of it for her. Thank you so much for that also!

Gary C

The most amazing experience with memories not soon to be forgotten This was the first time we travelled to Morocco and we wanted to experience the best of the country. We had an amazing experience thanks to our guide- Omar. If we had tried to do it ourselves without a guide, we would have never been able to see & experience what we did with Omar. He was our lead guide for the entire trip. What made it even more interesting was in many of the cities we stopped in, we were greeted by a local guide who was able to provide a deep experience of the city he lived in. We had a wonderful group from different walks of life and from different countries. We got along famously. We were all there to experience the culture, the people, and the history of this wonderful country. We hope to come again.

louise t

Great trip, good guides but limited communication. We climbed mount Toubkal as a pair of friends and were put in a group with 7 other travellers.This trip is fantastic value and I highly recommend it as an experience although communication before and during the trip would have made it much smoother and safer.We attended during a red weather warning with -25degree temperatures and 65km/hr winds at the summit forecast. Despite the terrible weather the trek up is a lovely long smooth walk which almost anyone is capable of.Unfortunately most of our group were inexperienced hikers and they had not been sent much of a kit list but were told they must hire equipment in Imlil. The hiring took over an hour with so much to do and then the group were yelled at by Omar for this taking so long despite them being fully compliant with all requests from the guides. It was all very hectic and when it was flagged up that none of them had sleeping bags they were told that they would be given them at the refuge at the top.The food on the way up was excellent local cuisine and there are plenty of shops along the way to get water, chocolate and drinks making it a fantastic mountain for tourists.The guides organised food and led the way but with limited English they didn’t communicate much with the group. When one person in the group struggled loads to keep a reasonable pace they took her bag and had a passing mule carry it to the refuge.The refuge gave us a brilliant meal once again but it was a basic building with bunkbeds and no heating. At -18 degrees it was cold and I was the only one with a sleeping bag. The rest of the group were supplied with a think blanket each leading to a cold night and limited sleep for most. The guides were kind, knowledgable and helpful, they fitted crampons for everyone and when people struggled they supported them to keep going then took people down the mountain. The only issue is that they couldn’t give training on how to better use crampons or essential knowledge that most of the group lacked

Louisa M

Atlas Mountains Great tour of the Atlas Mountains, beautiful views and a delicious lunch in the village. Amazing tour guide and friendly service all day long.

N T

awesome experience A great hike thanks to our guide Yassine! We were only 2 people in total, which made the the trip feel pretty private. From the pick-up to the summit: everything went smooth. What I like the most, besides the incredibly beautiful view of the sunrise, was, how much Hassan told us about the Berber culture and other interesting facts about the Atlas mountains, the morrocon culture and general mountaineering knowledge. It was my first 4000er and I never used crampons, hiking poles or an ice axe before, but thanks to Hassan everything went save and sound!

Itinerary

YOUR EXPEDITION, DAY BY DAY

Itineraries

Day 1

Arrival in Marrakech

✈️ Arrival Transfer

🏨 Accommodation

Day 2

Marrakech to Ouarzazate

🚐 Private Vehicle

🏨 Accommodation

Day 3

Ouarzazate to Merzouga

🚐 Private Vehicle

🏨 Accommodation

Day 4

Exploring Merzouga & Sahara Culture

🏨 Accommodation

Day 5

Merzouga to Dades Gorge

🚐 Today's Activities

🚗 Private Vehicle

🏨 Accommodation

Day 6

Dades Gorge – Aït Ben Haddou

🥾 Activities

🚐 Transport

🏨 Accommodation

Day 7

Aït Ben Haddou – Marrakech

🚐 Private Vehicle

🎨 Activities

🏨 Accommodation

Day 8

Discover Marrakech

🕌 Activities

🏨 Accommodation

Day 9

Departure from Marrakech

Be the first to review “Morocco Family Journey: Ancient Souks to the Sahara” Cancel reply

Related Trips

Sitemap

Policies

Destinations

License# 789