Hi Fodorites,

My friend and I are planning our first trip to Morocco in September 2026. We are in our 50’s, very fit, enjoy seeing the most important cultural sites, generally like spending at least two days everywhere we visit (rather than hopping from city to city wishing we had more time in each) like exploring and hiking around in ruins, shopping, and are particularly intrigued by the Sahara dessert. My friend will have 9 full days on the ground though I will be able to stay a while longer, assuming we use a guide and driver that I will feel comfortable traveling with solo after my friend departs. (I know I can travel on my own though I don't wish to do so on this trip.) My friend is traveling from Chicago and I will be coming from NY.

Thinking about the below itinerary after reading some trip reports and looking at my guidebook. Note that my friend is more excited about hiking and the dessert so I would be open to adding more time there and in the mountains and doing more of the cities myself though I wouldn’t want to backtrack much.

With my Friend

Marrakesh (3 full days) – Would like to start here since if we start with smaller cities, we will likely not enjoy this one as much.

Travel to and Dessert (4 days) – thinking Erg Chebbi since it looks the most spectacular in photos. Camel Trek for as long as we can tolerate it and luxury camping. (Hoping 4 days allows for time in Ouarzazate and Ait Ben Haddou and anywhere else of interest on the way). Believe it’s 10 hour drive to the dessert so hopefully we can break it up en-route with overnight somewhere that makes sense.

Travel to Fez and spend 2 full days there and my friend departs from most convenient airport.

Solo

Chefchaouen ( Travel and spend 2 full days there)

Open to anything else great for another few days or perhaps go on to Lisbon for a few days and fly home from there.

Thoughts on this plan? Open to all forms of transit, though prefer a driver and flying when necessary.

Thanks in advance!!

I’m sure you will have a wonderful time no matter what you choose!

My thoughts:

· Depending on your interests, 3 full days might be enough for Marrakech. That’s close to what I had (3.5 days), but I had already recovered from jet lag when I got there.

· Many people choose Erg Chebbi; I was glad that I went to Erg Chigaga.

· IMO, 2 days is very, very little for Fez.

· I skipped Chefchaoen after hearing several friends say it was disappointing and overrun by tourists. That said, having skipped it, I don’t know if I would have found it worthwhile.

· Give some thought to Rabat. It’s got a lot to offer, including things you won’t see elsewhere with this itinerary.

I know you say you prefer to hire a driver. FWIW, I found the trains very comfortable and the buses were a wonderful way to meet some Moroccans who are not associated with the tourism industry. Just sayin’!

Thanks, Kja! I was debating between Chebbi and Chigaga . . . Heard the former’s dunes are higher and more golden, though know it’s also more touristy. If we can fit in the time for the longer trip to Chigaga, perhaps we will change.

Thanks for suggesting Rabat! It looks like I can fly into Marrakesh and out of Rabat and the flight times are within reason.

Can you confirm that the dessert excursion with the driving (one way) can be done in 4 days?

Thanks!

That sounds like a fantastic plan for a first trip to Morocco! September is a great time to visit, and your itinerary seems well-balanced for a 9-day trip. Starting in Marrakesh is a smart move; it's vibrant and intense, so seeing it first while your energy is high makes a lot of sense. For the 10-hour journey to the Sahara, breaking it up with an overnight stay in Dades Valley or near Ait Ben

Haddou is highly recommended , the scenery there is stunning and offers some great hiking opportunities that your friend would likely enjoy. Erg Chebbi is definitely the most iconic spot for those "spectacular" dunes. Since you're looking for luxury camping and a bit of hiking, spending that extra time in the Atlas Mountains or the desert regions will really pay off. Enjoy the planning! It’s going to be an unforgettable experience.

I cannot -- which isn't the same as saying it isn't possible.

Starting from either Marrakech or Fez, I think it would be hard to visit Erg Chigaga with less than 4 nights (one en route each way, two at the camp) -- so 5 days.

Since I didn't go to Erg Chebbi, I don't know how long it would take.

I would encourage you to plan on two nights in the desert either way: Get there in time for sunset the first evening. Spend a day with the options that suit your interests. Another night, then off after sunset the following day.

I too am in the 2 nights in the desert camp, regardless of whether you choose Erg Chebbi or Erg Chigaga. Erg Chebbi to Fez in one day is doable but Marrakesh to Erg Chebbi will be much, much longer. We went in the other direction, from Fez to Marrakesh, via Erg Chebbi. We had two nights in Erg Chebbi, then we overnighted in the Todra Gorge and near Mount Toubkal; there are easy to moderate hikes in both places and that's what we did.

Thanks everyone! So just to clarify would it be 4 or 5 days total to get from Marrakesh to the dessert with an overnight to break up the route, stops in Ouarzazate and Ait Ben Haddou and the other places that were mentioned, and 2 full days and nights in the dessert? (We would love to try sand boarding if that is an option.)

Also, any other thoughts around Erg Chebi vs Chigaga? Or two days in Chefchaoen vs. Rabat?

Thanks!

Just to clarify, the 4 or 5 days would not include the travel time to leave the dessert and go to Fez. Thanks. (Kja, not sure if your response incorporated that piece.)

My trip was from Marrakech to Erg Chigaga, with a stop overnight en route, and then -- after two nights in the desert -- on to Fez (actually, I went first -- by choice -- to Meknes, which is very close to Fez) again with a stop overnight en route. So five days, four nights total.

I didn't go to Erg Chebbi, so I can't provide a direct comparison. From what I read,

• the dunes are taller at Erg Chebbi then Erg Chigaga. (The ones I saw were impressive enough for me! My camp offered drinks at sunset from the top of the tallest dune nearby -- awesome! I would have had trouble getting to the top of a higher dune.)
• Erg Chigaga is more remote and definitely requires an overnight stop each way. I think it might be possible to trim a day if going to Erg Chebbi, but I can't swear to that.
• Erg Chigaga's remoteness also means that it gets far fewer tourists, which was a deciding factor for me.

Sand boarding was an option at my camp. I suspect it's camp-specific.

I skipped Quarzazate -- with so many other priorities, it just didn't make it to my final cut.

After checking with the tour guide I traveled with, and based on what you described, he said your itinerary sounds really nice and well-balanced. He suggested breaking up the drive between Marrakech and Ouarzazate by stopping in the Dades Valley or Ouarzazate, which will give you time to visit Ait Ben Haddou, and then continuing to Erg Chebbi.
Choosing to spend more time in each stop instead of rushing is really the best way to experience Morocco at its best.
The suggested Itinerary from the guide :
Marrakesh → Cross the Atlas Mountains → Visit Ait Ben Haddou → Continue toward Dades Valley for the overnight → Drive through Todra Gorge area → Arrive in Erg Chebbi for two full nights in the desert → Then continue toward Fes.

From my personal experience, Erg Chebbi was truly unforgettable. It was honestly one of the highlights of our entire Morocco trip. We spent 2 nights there and had so many amazing experiences. We did camel trekking at sunset, which was magical, and we were offered sandboarding, which my kids loved so much that they went back for it the next day. We also rode quads over the dunes, visited a Berber family, and spent time in the village of Khamlia, known for its Gnawa music.

As for Chefchaouen, it ended up being our favorite stop overall as a family. The weather was beautiful, the blue Medina was charming, and the whole atmosphere felt peaceful and special. We only had one full day there, but it was enough to fall in love with that town really. Two days there would be even better if you enjoy relaxed exploring and beautiful scenery.

Thanks, Meryjane!

Curious what we should expect to pay for this itinerary with a private guide and driver and upscale accommodations throughout? 😊

Thanks!

To be honest, I’m not exactly sure how much it would cost in your case. On our trip, we chose standard accommodations, so pricing may be different for you. I’d recommend reaching out to the agency. I’m sure they’ll be happy to answer your questions.
https://toursinallmorocco.com/contact-us/

Progol or anyone else? Ballpark range? Seems like this country has come a long way from its less expensive roots! LOL. Perhaps minus the accommodations but with the guide, car and driver?

As always, thanks for your help!

Why not just ask? it puts you under no obligation.

It’s totally fine to ask about things like that. A friend of mine contacted more than 5 agencies while planning our first trip to Morocco, and she ended up choosing Tours in All Morocco. Later on, I also traveled with my family using the same company.

As @kja mentioned, it puts you under no obligation. So I’d recommend reaching out to more than one agency, since prices can vary depending on the itinerary and what’s included (guide, car, driver, etc.). Then you can simply choose the one that feels right for you.

The reason I’m asking here is because I was very surprised with the quote I received, particularly since it didn’t seem like all that much time with any particular guide and it didn’t include accommodations. Also, the back and forth wasn’t very gratifying . . . Felt more like a template itinerary and my questions weren’t really answered to my satisfaction.

Also, I’m still playing around with the itinerary and learning more about Morocco. Once I have it down exactly, I can price it with a few different tour companies. This trip is further complicated by the fact that my friend has more limited time, a more restricted budget and I also want to find a guide that I will feel comfortable traveling with after she departs so I can spend more time in the country.

I’m also hoping to cut down on some research time . . . i.e. where I don’t put together something that looks amazing and find out that I’ve blown through either of our budgets. I generally use local tour operators for better expertise and pricing; otherwise, it’s way more convenient to speak on the phone with someone in the US.

I would think that generally, there would be some rules of thumb - perhaps for a 5 day dessert trip, expect to pay $xxx per day for the car, driver and guide, and $xxx for upscale lodging (for example Superior First Class style). If you continue with the same guide, expect to pay $xxx for the remainder of the trip even if you spend the day(s) on your own.

Understand if this isn’t possible though just wanted to put it out there just in case. (My guide book doesn’t really lay it out that way.)

FWIW, I would not be surprised if prices vary wildly, as there are so many factors in play! Level of accommodation. Type and frequency of meals. Whether your driver speaks English. The cost of fuel to reach your chosen destinations. What shopping stops will be involved and how much (or little) pressure you will face to purchase something. How much time you have with guides, and whether you’ll work with ONE guide or with various guides who specialize in the various places you visit and, if the latter, whether local guides are arranged in advance or on the spot. Etc.

And I'm not surprised that you are finding a bit of a cookie-cutter approach. Moroccan tour operators have not only formed a consensus (in general) about "good" tour options; they've also supported efforts to highlight the places they include. AND they've developed relationships with the accommodations and restaurants and shops and local guides, etc., that make their tours possible. I'm not saying that's a bad thing ... just that if you want something that isn't "cookie cutter," I think you need to expect widely varying price estimates and a fair amount of give-and-take. I could be wrong.

I’ve only rarely relied extensively on local drivers – just in Indonesia, Bali, and Cambodia. For those trips, I was stunned at the difference in prices that I was quoted, not to mention the differences in proposals for what would be included – and I already had a clear idea of what I wanted to see! Moreover, I wasn’t seeking a guide for ANY of those trips -- just an English-speaking driver. (I had already arranged my lodging and meals.)

FWIW, if a tour company is not responsive, or you find yourself with a lot of non-productive back-and-forth, then my advice would be to consider different companies.

I’m sure you already know that you should be able to get an idea of the costs of various levels of lodging on booking.com. Assume that information will be season specific, so if you take a look to get an idea, be sure to enter the approximate dates of your trip.

I think you know that most of my trip to Morocco was sans guide and sans driver. I found it easy to plan – but then, I was traveling solo, which I think makes it easier. I thought the Moon Guide excellent; with the exception of the Rough Guide, I did not find any other guidebook particularly useful – and I used a total of six.

I had a driver for my 5-day-4-night trip from Marrakech to Erg Chigaga and then on to Meknes; I arranged that through my camp. (That trip included several stops; in one case, I hired a local guide for an hour or two; the trip also included several shopping stops where I was under absolutely NO pressure to buy anything.) I used a driver for a half-day visit from Meknes to Volubilis and back; I arranged that through my Meknes riad. I spent a half day on a special, artisans-focused guided tour of Fez – awesomely wonderful! Arranged through Culturevultures. I also used a private driver to go from Casablanca’s airport to El Jadida upon my arrival, something I arranged through my riad.

I’m sorry I can’t be of more help. Given how easy it is to travel independently in Morocco, I can’t help but wonder if you might be better putting your time into planning what works for you rather than struggling to find a suitable tour operator – at least for the part that’s on your own. That’s just an idea; I know people have very different preferences about how to approach their trips. (And thank goodness for that! Wouldn’t it be awful if we all traveled the same way?)

Kja, thanks for that very thorough and thoughtful response!

I used to love unescorted travel (no guide, figuring out each day on the fly to match my mood, the weather, my energy level). I just recently changed approaches because on my last few trips, I spent my early mornings and late evenings consulting my guide book, waiting to speak with whichever concierge, etc. While I really enjoyed the spontaneity, there was much less time to just relax at the end of the day. (Also, there is almost too much info out there - I can get buried in it.)

Oh well, back to more research!

So far I have two highly regarded outfits from this board - Moroccan Family Tours and Tours in All Morocco. I welcome any other suggestions from folks reading this thread.

Looking forward to nailing this trip down soon - in whatever form! 😊🤯😉

Well, I'm an obsessive planner -- before I ever start a trip, I know what I plan to do and when on each and every day. And because I want to be able to explore things at my own pace and to make adjustments on the fly, I even have plans for what I'll do if I'm running ahead or behind! I don't want to waste any of my time when traveling, and I do want to be able to relax at the end of each day. But again, I think it's good that we all approach travel in our own way.

My husband and I never stop talking about our wonderful trip with Moroccan Family Tours. Karaoui Salam was the best guide we ever had and we have traveled the world. He did everything to accommodate our every wish. He was extremely flexible whenever we decided to make any changes before and during our trip. He included experiences no other tour company offers. We consider this tour company the very best in every way. We look forward to returning one day.