Discover Marrakech & the Sahara

Name: Discover Marrakech & the Sahara
Brand: Exodus
Rating: 4.5 (70 reviews)

70 reviews

Activity

Culture

Overview

Discover Morocco’s incredible variety, from the vast expanse of the desert to the rippling High Atlas Mountains

Experience the grandeur of the Sahara on a journey that takes us from Marrakech and across the High Atlas Mountains. En route, explore the historic ksar (fortified village) of Ait Benhaddou, before a camel trek and night under a thousand stars at a camp in the Sahara. On our return to the city, we stop in the remote mountain village of Tighza to enjoy a peaceful walk and authentic hammam. Finally, there is time to explore Marrakech, one of the great cities of the Arabic world.

Key Information

Trip Code: AMS
Ways to Travel: Guided Group
Countries: Morocco
Carbon Footprint: 21kg CO2e per person per day

What's Included

All accommodation: 5 Classic nights (hotels), 2 Simple nights (1 gite, 1 Sahara camp)
All breakfasts and five dinners
Immersive itinerary with all transport and listed activities
Expert tour leader to enhance your adventure
Arrival and departure transfers

Don't Forget To

Request a single room if required, purchase travel insurance and arrange any visas and vaccinations.

Highlights

Experience the extraordinary variety of Morocco, from the Sahara to the Atlas Mountains
Discover the grand ksar
Journey into the Sahara by camel and spend a memorable night under the stars
Stay in Tighza, a remote Amazigh village that has welcomed our groups for years
Walk in the magnificent Atlas Mountains, guided by our tour leader
Explore Marrakech with an expert local guide, visiting the lively souks and more

Itinerary

First Destination: Marrakech
Next Destination: Marrakech

Accommodation:Hôtel Palais Al Bahja, Hotel Le Caspien, Hotel Ayoub (or similar)
Meals included:Dinner

Accommodation:Rose du Sable (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation:Hotel Kasbah Taborihte (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation:Yasmina Chebbi camp (full-service camping)
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation:Hotel Chez Ali (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation:Tighza gite
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Hôtel Palais Al Bahja, Hotel Le Caspien, Hotel Ayoub (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

First Destination: Marrakech
Next Destination: Marrakech

Buzzy Marrakech is an invigorating introduction to Morocco. However, today is a relaxing one, a chance for our group to congregate and settle in. If you have time you may want to jump in a taxi to visit Djemaa El Fna, the central square, where you can explore the souks and watch the world pass from a cafe.

Around 6pm, say hello to your tour leader and fellow travellers at the hotel, where we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead.

Your tour leader then ensures a big Moroccan welcome over a group dinner together.

Want to explore further? Secure pre-tour nights through your sales representative.

Accommodation:Hôtel Palais Al Bahja, Hotel Le Caspien, Hotel Ayoub (or similar)
Meals included:Dinner

With time to explore Marrakech at the end of our adventure, we leave the Red City and head into the Atlas Mountains. Our destination for the day is the well-preserved ksar (fortified village) of Ait Benhaddou. This World Heritage site is one of the most spectacular landmarks in the Atlas and the filming location for several Hollywood movies, including Gladiator (2000). Our route takes us over the Tizi n’Tichka pass, the highest in Morocco, and we arrive mid-afternoon.

We then join our tour leader for a tour of the ksar, navigating the maze of alleys as we make our way to a hilltop granary, where we can enjoy views back over the site and to the Atlas Mountains. We then return to our hotel for dinner.

Drive time: Four hours with two stops

Accommodation:Rose du Sable (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Leaving Ait Benhaddou after breakfast, we travel through Ouarzazate, nicknamed the door to the desert because it used to be a crossing point for African traders on their way to Europe. It is now home to the Atlas Film Studios, the setting for many Hollywood films and Game of Thrones.

We then carry on to Todgha Gorge, a spectacular river canyon with towering limestone walls. Here, our tour leader takes us on a 1hr 30min walk and we enjoy lunch cooked by a food-loving family in their home.

Drive time: 4hr 30min with two stops

Accommodation:Hotel Kasbah Taborihte (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

We journey to the largest hot desert on Earth after breakfast. Upon arrival, we explore the dunes and desert landscape on a one-hour camel trek with expert handlers showing us the ropes and guiding our convoy.

The trek ends at our desert camp, where we are sleep on beds in Amazigh-style tents. Surrounded by silence and millions of stars, we can appreciate the immensity of the desert and enjoy dinner in the communal dining tent.

Please note: You need to pack an overnight bag for the Sahara – your remaining luggage stays with the vehicle.

Drive time: 4hr 30min

Accommodation:Yasmina Chebbi camp (full-service camping)
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

We wake in the desert silence. Rise early to climb a nearby dune and catch sunrise from the top, a magical experience. After breakfast, we return to our vehicle and drive to Zagora, a town in the Draa Valley.

After a night in the desert, you might like to relax in the hotel gardens or take a dip in the pool. Later in the afternoon, we can take an optional walk into the valley and around this famous desert outpost.

Drive time: Five hours

Accommodation:Hotel Chez Ali (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast, we travel west through the Draa Valley to join the Ounila Valley in the High Atlas Mountains. We then leave our vehicle for a hike with steep inclines, which takes us through a series of small mountain villages. After about 1hr 30min, we arrive at our gite (a simple inn) in the village of Tighza, where we spend the night.

From the terrace, you can look down into the valley and watch the sun set over the mountains. It is a peaceful retreat and provides the opportunity to meet local villagers and share their way of life.

In the evening, we visit the village hammam, built with money raised by our groups. This is a truly authentic experience. It is very much a traditional hammam and you are likely to get the opportunity to mix with the villagers, which further adds to the experience. Please don’t expect a spa treatment. A standard treatment is included, but you need to purchase a scrubber and soap for 20 Moroccan dirham (US$2) and pay a customary tip of 20 dirham. We return to the gite for our dinner in the mountains.

Drive time: 4hr 30min to 5hr

Accommodation:Tighza gite
Meals included:Breakfast

We leave the gite after breakfast, making the scenic drive over the High Atlas Mountains back to Marrakech, with some stunning scenery along the way.

In the afternoon, we have a walking tour to see the spectacular sites of Marrakech. Our city guide leads us to the Bahia Palace, we see the outside of the Koutoubia, the largest mosque in Marrakech, and continue through the labyrinthine of souks where you can barter for souvenirs.

We can then have dinner together in a restaurant overlooking the square. Alternatively, you may prefer to head off on your own today and take a calèche (horse-drawn carriage) to Yves St Laurent’s Majorelle Gardens.

Drive time: Four hours

Accommodation:Hôtel Palais Al Bahja, Hotel Le Caspien, Hotel Ayoub (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Our journey comes to an end after breakfast. Hop into your free transfer to Marrakech Airport to catch your flight.

If you’d like to extend your adventure, stay a little longer in Marrakech or take a free transfer from Marrakech to Casablanca and join our Discover North Morocco and Chefchaouen trip – speak to your sales representative for more information.

Meals included:Breakfast

Dates & Prices

Skip the hassle: We’ll handle your trip from start to finish, with competitive flight prices, dates that suit you, 24-hour support, loyalty discounts, and peace of mind for delays or disruption.

Call us on 1 844 462 4317

Book Your Flights With Us

Window or aisle? Premium seat with extra legroom? Adding a stopover en route? We’ll sort the flights that fit your plans. With access to thousands of routes - major airlines and regional gems alike, we’ll help you fly from your preferred airport, at times that suit you. Secure your flights and trip together and enjoy peace of mind knowing everything's organized with one team here to help if plans change.

View Details

Accommodation

Hotels, mountain 'gite' and Sahara camp

On this Moroccan adventure, we spend five nights in hotels, one night in a gite and one night in a Sahara camp. The normal accommodations used are on the day-to-day itinerary.

However, the highlight for many is our night in the Sahara, where we can stargaze and spot shooting stars. Distractions are few, which allows everyone to share, what is for many, a bucket-list experience.

We also spend one night in a mountain gite, the name for modest rural accommodation (like a refuge or hostel) in Morocco. Here, we receive a lovely welcome from our hosts, who bring us tea as we sit on the terrace taking in countryside views. Our rooms are basic and sparse, and you could be sharing with other group members depending on room availability; however, the spectacular location and chance to spend a night in a traditional village is reason enough to visit.

Worth knowing

There are shared bathroom facilities at the Sahara camp and mountain gite.
Single supplement not available in the desert camp or mountain gite.

Extend Your Trip

Exclusive Add-ons

Marrakech Hotels & Riads

A city of vibrant souks, ornate palaces and fragrant gardens, where ancient traditions meet modern energy. Extra nights here give you time to wander the medina, relax in hidden courtyards and soak up the city’s atmosphere at your own pace. Here are a few of our favourite hotels to inspire your stay:

Kenzi Rose Garden: Set within expansive landscaped gardens in Marrakech’s Hivernage district, this comfortable hotel offers a peaceful retreat close to the city’s main attractions. With multiple pools, spacious rooms and a relaxed atmosphere, it’s an ideal base for unwinding after exploring the medina.

Riad Moullaoud: Tucked away in the heart of the medina, this traditional riad offers an intimate and authentic Moroccan experience. Centred around a tranquil courtyard with a small pool and rooftop terrace, it’s perfect for travellers wanting charm, character and easy access to Marrakech’s souks.

Es Saadi Marrakech Resort: Located in the upscale Hivernage area, this stylish resort combines luxury accommodation with lush gardens, art-filled interiors and excellent dining. With a large spa, pools and views towards the Atlas Mountains, it offers a refined and relaxing end to your adventure.

This is just a glimpse of what’s possible. Speak to your sales representative, who can guide you through the options and arrange everything for you.

Essential Information

This trip is rated Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings, visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip, please contact us.

Driving: There are sometimes long journeys on this trip, but this is the only way to see everything Morocco offers. We are not confined to our vehicle though, as there are plenty of photo stops and opportunities to stretch our legs. Approximate drive times are noted on the daily itinerary.

Weather: Morocco is hot in summer but we try to make the most of the coolest parts of the day for our sightseeing, so expect some early starts. Morocco can get cold in winter, normally with mild daytime temperatures. Pack winter clothes and nightwear for November to March, when nighttime temperatures can drop considerably, especially in the desert and the mountains. During these months, there can also be rain throughout the country and snow in the mountains. As Morocco is generally mild to hot it is not set up for colder temperatures and so there may not be heaters available. Of course, you can also ask for more blankets from the hotels.

Key information

Start hotel: Hôtel Palais Al Bahja, 33 Rue Ibn el Qadi, Marrakesh 40000, Morocco
Phone: +212 5244-33001
Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time today, but we recommend flights that land around midday to ensure you can pass through security and get into the city in good time before our welcome briefing at 6pm. Hotel check-in is from 2pm.
Airport: Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK)

Getting to the start hotel

The start hotel is approximately a 15-minute drive from the airport depending on traffic. Exodus provides free arrival transfers to the start hotel from the airport for all customers.

If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative.

Catching your return flight

We provide free departure transfers for all customers to Marrakech Airport (RAK) from the end hotel. If you’re not taking the transfer, allow three hours for check in, bag drop, immigration and security.

Please note, unless specified otherwise, the transfers will be to the start (or pre-tour) hotel and from the end (or post-tour) hotel and will be on the date on which the tour starts/ends; transfers to other hotels in the same city and/or on different dates may attract an extra charge. Transfers should be booked with your sales representative at least two weeks before the tour starts.

Marrakech airport
The amount of time it takes to get through Marrakech Airport can vary considerably. Therefore, we suggest you mitigate for delays and allow two hours to get through immigration, security and baggage reclaim on arrival. Take a pen with you to complete the arrivals form and have the details of your accommodation to hand for this purpose. Operators are not allowed to wait inside the terminal building for clients, so please find your Exodus representative outside the main doors.

Upon departure from Marrakech, we suggest allowing three hours to navigate the airport: check in, bag drop, immigration and security can take even longer on exit. The airport doesn’t accept mobile boarding passes, so we suggest having a printed boarding pass to avoid subjecting yourself to further delays.

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies, tuberculosis and typhoid. A polio vaccination certificate may be required for some travellers. Please confirm your needs and requirements with your doctor or travel clinic.

There is evidence that Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS) is spread by contact with camels. This trip includes camel rides to and from our camp in the Sahara, which is undertaken at your own risk. Alternatively, it is possible to book a vehicle locally at additional cost (780MAD per vehicle – price subject to change) for these transfers. We suggest that you visit the Travel Health Pro website which includes information about the virus.

Morocco

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Morocco. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/africa/morocco
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/morocco
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/morocco/entry-requirements
• USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Morocco.html

The included meals are listed on the day-to-day itinerary.

Moroccan food is, generally speaking, excellent, though not particularly varied. Breakfasts usually consist of bread and jam with coffee or tea. Where meals are not included, budget for the following approximate prices.

Lunches: 60-100 dirhams (US$6-US$10)
Dinners:
- In cities: 80-200 dirhams (US$8-US$19)
- In small towns and villages: 60-100 dirhams (US$6-US$10)
Drinks in restaurants
- Soft drinks: 10-20 dirhams (US$1-US$1.90)
- Beer: 30-50 dirham (US$2.85-US$5)
- Wine: 150 dirham (US$14) and more

Vegetarians can be catered for but there is a fairly limited choice of vegetarian cous cous, tajine or omelettes. This is particularly the case during the more rural sections of the trip. Please note that if you have any special dietary requirements, you should inform us prior to the trip. If you have a specific medical/dietary need (eg coeliac or vegan) you may find it helpful to bring some food with you from home.

From April to June, and in September, Marrakech and the north are pleasantly hot, with temperatures averaging 26C (79F) in the day, 16C (61F) at night. It is unusual for there to be much humidity, so it is quite pleasant except at midday when the sun is very strong. Desert temperatures are like those in Marrakech, with the nights usually a little cooler and the days a little hotter. Mountain temperatures are cooler than in Marrakech.

In winter, the daytime temperatures in Marrakech are around 18C-22C (64F-72F) with night temperatures falling to 4C-7C (39F-45F). The days should be clear and sunny, and a particularly attractive feature of the winter months is the clear views of the snow-covered Atlas Mountains.

The temperatures in the south are generally a couple of degrees higher than those prevailing north of the mountains. There is a small chance of rain, and it has even been known to snow (very infrequently) in January and sometimes February on the higher desert plateaux (in which case it is cold at night and early in the morning on the southern side of the Atlas).

Everything

Thoughts on Group Leader

Said was great; he was very polite, knowledgeable and helpful. He did a great job keeping an eye on us and I felt safe with him the whole time. It felt he knew before we knew it when we needed a break from driving, a toilet stop or some refreshments. Thank you, he made it an amazing trip.

Advice for Potential Travellers

This is an amazing tour.

Suggestions

I appreciate that this might not be possible, but it would have been nice and improved our comfort level to have a slightly larger mini bus on the journey. We were 16 in the group and there was no spare room. I am fairly tall and was not able to sit comfortably during the longer drives and was grateful for the many little breaks.

Sam Murray

Added April 2023

A magical experience enhanced by a great group and leader