salut,
pour partir avec une agence, les prix sont par personne, ce qui rend parfois la sortie trop cher surtout si on est nombreux.
pour passer par un idividu, il faut le connaître et faire confiance et parfois c'est plus cher qu'on paie les honoraires en plus.
en effet, lors de mon dernier voyage, j'ai connu une personne qui fait du transport touristique avec un 4X4, un chauffeur trés sympa, confirmé et qui nous a fait découvrir marrakech et les environs( les villages bérbères, essaouira, l'ourika, ouarzazate) à petit prix.
si vous souhaitez son contact ou autres informations, rappelez moi, je vous le communiquerai avec plaisir.
Amicalemnt.
pour moi une excursion hors agence, c'est sans guide ni chauffeur.
le Maroc est un pays ou il est facile et sur, de tout faire par soi meme, pas de problème de langue, de signalisation routière, de conduite, de sécurité.
On peut tout faire soit en transport en commun, en taxi, ou en voiture de location, avec en main le guide du routard ou le lonely planet, ou les autres guides plus culturels pour les villes et les monuments.
exemples au départ de Marrakech:
Essaouira, la journée avec aller retour en bus.
Vallée de l'ourika, setti fatma en taxi, rando en montagne avec guide.
Vallée d'asni, voiture de location, jusqu'à Ouirgane pour le repas, et détour par le lac et Amizmiz.
Cascades d'ouzoud, excursion en car avec l'hotel ou voiture de loc.
Petit détail,
A tous ces gens qui proposent de miracles à petits prix sur les forums, il faut leur demander leur numéro de licence, et leur agrément.
Pour certains c'est un petit boulot non déclaré, ils louent à un copain un 4x4 avec ou sans chauffeur, mettent 4 ou 6 touristes dedans, vont manger chez le cousin au bled, appelent ca "excursion dans un village berbere", ça peut etre super sympa et réussi, mais aucun recours possible en cas de problème.
C'est aussi valable avec des européens qui n'ont pas de licence et qui font des excursions avec leur propre 4x4 non homologué transport touristique, donc non assuré pour des passagers payants. pourtant ca marche super pour eux, on est tellement eu confiance avec un compatriote !
bonjour,
vous faîtes semblant que vous connaissiez bien le maroc et vous voullez mettre tous les gens dans le même panier en citant des faits que les marocains ne peuvent pas jouer avec.
En fait tout ça à commencer avec l'arrivée de certains francais qui penser posseder des fortunes et qui pourront tourner le pays, vous vous tremprez monsieur, l'effet que vous avez évoqué seuls les français sur place qui l'exerce malheusement, il possède un riad, il ramène une voiture de france non imatriculé sur place, non assurer et il commence à faire des transferts avec et des excursions alors que des agences de transport touristiques qui paie des taxes et des impots sont en chômage, vous trouvez ça normal.
Vous parlez des visites autour de marrakech, bien sûr c'est faisable mais pas pour tous les gens, le séjour est court, ils vont pas commencer à trainer chercher des bus pour l'ourika alors que la gare se trouve de l'autre bout de marrakech, le bus date de 1914, tout monte des animaux, des vélos, 2heures de routes pour 30 km...........
Quand j'ai cité un 4X4 avec chauffeur, je sais ce ce que je dise, c'est un 4X4 de transport touristique, avec agrément et assuarant personnes transportés.
c'est dommage que vous faites semblant que vous connaissez tout. laisse les gens tranquille et si ce pays vous le voyer comme ne partez plus.
Bonjour,
entièrement d'accord avec Raoulx!
Tout est possible en solo au Maroc.
Lit de bon guide, achète une bonne carte et vas-y.
Les bus de 1914 n'existent plus!
La gare routière de Marrakech, on y est de partout en moins de 10 minutes de taxi, et pour+- 10dh.
Il ne faut pas chercher les bus..., de grand panneaux avec les horaires et les prix sont affichés partout.
Ils partent tous de là, sauf supratour (Essaouira) qui part de la gare de trains.
Pour les grand trajets, prends des compagnies sérieuses comme Satas ou CTM.
Ce sera beaucoup moins cher qu'un chauffeur, guide etc... Tu feras ainsi marrakech - Zagora pour +- 130Dh ou Essaouira pour 50DH. Et en plus, tu voyagera avec des locaux, ce qui est une occasion de rencontre.
Il ne faut pas avoir peur de partir en solo au Maroc. C'est comme cela qu'on fait les plus belles rencontres et qu'on est disponible pour modifier son voyage au gré des belles rencontres.
Méfie-toi surtout des bonnes affaires qu'on te propose. Neuf fois sur dix il y a une commission que tu va payer sans le savoir.
Tu trouveras bien ce que tu cherches tout seul!
Il est très facile de sa débrouiller au maroc, même si on n'a que quelques jours...
Bon voyage!
PS: marié avec une marocaine, plus de 30 voyages là-bas, je connais un peu...
Je suis marocain, je vis au Maroc et je voyage beaucoups.
J'ai lu et ton post et celui de raoulx et j'affirme que le tien est plein de mensenges et de faux. raoulx, tout en etant etranger, est beaucoup plus realiste et connais mieux que la plupart de marocains le bled et ce qui s'y passe.
il existe aussi des européens qui ont l'agréement touristique et qui prétendent con naitre le maroc aussi bien que les 'pays' et sont assurés pour les personnes transportées. je peux vous communiquer mon N° de patente si vous le desirez.
bonsoir,
je suis allé 2 fois au maroc. J'ai loué une voiture sans passer par l'hôtel (donc moins chère). J'ai essayé de conduire moi même pendant une 1/2 journée mais face à la cohue indescriptible de la circulation à Marrakech, j'ai renoncé. J'ai rencontré un habitant qui s'est proposé de me servir de chauffeur. Je l'ai inscrit comme 2 ème conducteur à l'agence de location. Il ne réclamait pas d'argent simplement que je lui paie son repas le midi. Il me faisait voir des endroits sympas un peu en dehors des circuits traditionnels classiques. Tout s'est très bien passé, je lui ai donné un peu d'argent à la fin des 3 jours de location, et l'année suivante je l'ai rappelé pour recommencer. Encore une fois tout s'est bien passé.
je pense que tu trouveras sans difficulté
Les coordonnées de cette personne m'intéresse beaucoup car nous allons à Marrakech 15j en Août et ns aimerions visiter sans passer par les excursions de l'hotel. Je compte sur vous pour me donner les renseignements sur cette personne. Merci d'avance
Bonjour, afin de faire de la pub pour ton chauffeur qui est peut être au chômage tu pourrais donner de plus amples renseignements si tu penses qu'il va apprécier.
Je pars au Maroc avec une amie fin mai 2007 ce serais sympa par exemple que ce monsieur nous serve de guide
Petit détail,
A tous ces gens qui proposent de miracles à petits prix sur les forums, il faut leur demander leur numéro de licence, et leur agrément.
Pour certains c'est un petit boulot non déclaré, ils louent à un copain un 4x4 avec ou sans chauffeur, mettent 4 ou 6 touristes dedans, vont manger chez le cousin au bled, appelent ca "excursion dans un village berbere", ça peut etre super sympa et réussi, mais aucun recours possible en cas de problème.
la sécurité surtout en 4x4 a un prix, celui du professionalisme ! des véhicules assurés, en bon état, des chauffeurs responsables et habilités.
Ne vous laissez pas 'draguer' sur les forums, par les copains, des copains de gens qui connaissent le fiancé de la collègue, etc .... de plus tous ces gens se rétribueront sur votre dos.
alor avant je te souhaite bonne chance et bonne vacance
je suis tarik ingenieur agronome et je suis sur fes et je fai parti d une association d ecotourisme les voyages ca me tante bp alor si jamai tu as besoin de l aide n hesite pas a mle contacter ca me fera grand plaisir de le fair aussi en plus je suis motorisé avec une mercedes que je transforme en caravane en cas de
besoin
alor l email c est t_igg@hotmail.com ou anzzar@hotmail.com c est avec grand plaisir
vous allez à MARRACHECH EN AOUT. Sachez q'u'il y fait très chaud (35 à
40° à l'ombre) ;je vous conseille en premier lieu de choisir une autre
période si vous le pouvez;dans le cas contraire, sachez q'entre 11h et 17h,
vous aurez beaucoup de mal à profiter du pays, sauf si vous programmez
une grosse sieste climatisée...
bonjour je souhaiterais avoir ce contact je part en voyage a agadir le 26 octobre ce serais smypa si tu as des taris je suis preneur et de plus amples informations ca m'intéresse gilles
bonjour tu as l'air de bien connaitre propose moi comment puije occuper ma semaine a partir du 26 coctobre je vais a l'hotel le ramada a agadir fait moi un programme si tu veux car je connais pas le moin cher possible et donne moi des tarifs si tu le peut merci d'avance et dit moi la conversion en euros cordialement gilles
Lors de mon dernier séjour au Maroc, je n'ai fait appel à aucun guide. Ns avons tjs pris un gd taxi (tjs le même: super sympa) pour visiter les environs de Marrakech. Pr faire les cascades d'Ouzoude et la vallée de l'Ourika, c'est notre chauffeur qui ns a mis en contact avec le guide (très très bien les 2 fois), pour Essaouira, ns ns sommes promenés seuls ds cette ville magnifique...pleine de charme.
Ns avons fait appel à une personne qui organise des visites touristiques en 4X4 avec chauffeur pour faire la route des Kasbas et les pistes. Ce sont des personnes charmantes. Si tu veux, je peux te donner les coordonnées.
Cordialement
Je suis tt à fait d'accord avec toi Staffi....Moi aussi j'ai eu affaire aux mêmes personnes que toi je pense, et ce sont des gens charmants et qui plus est, sérieux.
Hi there, We re planning a one-week trip to Morocco at the beginning of November and would like to book a quad bike or buggy excursion for three days in the…
I’m heading back to Egypt for the first time in 30 years this July. Last time, I was 20, and we spent two weeks traveling on a shoestring as backpackers.
I’m wondering about a "cruise" on a felucca from Aswan—mainly to avoid being stuck in an air-conditioned tourist bubble (we’re already spending our first week in that setting with our diving club). We’d like to explore the most interesting stretch of the Nile between Aswan and Luxor. Do you have any thoughts on this option, tips, or maybe some contacts?
I was wondering if it’s possible to join a group as a solo traveler with local agencies in Djanet for circuits like Tadrart, Essendilene, Sefar, or Tassili?
If you have any agencies to recommend, I’d love to hear about them.
I didn’t find any info on the forum.
Best,
Here’s a first draft for a 14-night itinerary during the Christmas break with two teens. We’re especially fond of hiking (nothing too extreme, though), which is why we’re drawn to the south.
- Marrakech (2 nights)
- Aït Ben Haddou (1 night)
- Dadès (3 nights, though we’re thinking of doing a day trip to the Todra Gorge on one of those days)
- M'hamid (1 night)
- Erg Chigaga (1 night)
- 4 nights to slot in
- Marrakech (2 nights)
Okay, I realize this involves a lot of driving, and we’re still debating the return route since we’d like to avoid the Tichka Pass in January, but going through Taroudant seems like it would add *a lot* of time. 😕
If you’ve got other suggestions for an itinerary with great hikes, I’m all ears!
Also, the 4 nights total in MRK isn’t really our preference, but since we’re arriving/departing super early from overseas, we’d like to be a bit rested before the long flight.
Another question:
For hikes (aside from the desert one), is it better to have a guide with us, or are the trails well-marked?
Hi everyone,
Our trip to Morocco will be from November 3 to 17, in the High Atlas.
Basically, our route would be:
Marrakech - Aït Benhaddou
Skoura - Tinghir - Merzouga
Merzouga via the N12 to Zagora
Zagora - Draa Valley - Marrakech
It seems to be the low season, so I’d love to travel without having to book accommodations in advance. In other countries, pre-booking has restricted us and kept us from visiting unplanned sites. Freedom is important to us, but I’d also like to avoid arriving somewhere and finding nothing available.
What do you recommend? Book ahead or not?
Your advice is always helpful, and thanks to anyone who can shed some light on this for me.
Roberto
First of all: a big thank you to everyone whose insightful, funny, lively, and exotic posts we’ve enjoyed. It’s a joy to find such lovely writers on this forum, who’ve given me tons of ideas and addresses to prepare our trip.
Our plan: to explore Morocco from November 2nd to December 4th. We’ll have our own vehicle (a 2011 Renault Grand Scenic, in great condition), shipped with us from Sète to Tanger Med. Returning from Nador.
Our profile: 75 and 62 years young, so old but happy to be, in very good health. Seasoned travelers—it’s practically our whole life. Lovers of beautiful landscapes, historic sites, fine craftsmanship, and road trips. This will be my 3rd trip to Morocco, but the first two were 20 and 17 years ago. I’ve never been north of the Essaouira-Marrakech line (though I’ve gone further south). As for my husband, a lifelong expat including in Muslim countries, it’s his first time in Morocco.
He’s the one driving. He’s very experienced, cautious, not necessarily fast, but used to driving in all conditions (and countries, including the most creative on the road). But I don’t want to tire him out, and he no longer drives at night (and we’ll be there in November).
I’ve decided to show him a bit of everything by taking a road trip along beautiful backroads, with daily distances averaging 180-200 km (except on highways, which will be rare), regularly broken up by rest days. I’m counting on a speed of 40-50 km/h, plus stops/visits along the way.
Since I’ve read so many posts, I’ve narrowed it down to some very specific questions.
1) Coming directly from Rabat via the highway, we’d prefer to skip Marrakech*. Still, we’ll need to sleep somewhere nearby. We’ll head toward Skoura the next day. Does anyone have a well-located address for this route, possibly east of Marrakech? Ideally, we’re looking for a small town, easy parking, clean accommodation (minimum) with average comfort (or better if available), a bit heated, and if possible, pretty and/or nice—but above all, a place to sleep well, wash with lukewarm (ideally hot) water, and have a decent dinner.
(*Explanation for the "no-go" in Marrakech: it’s a shame, because there are truly beautiful things in this city, but I think the vibe won’t suit us—it’s an understatement for "it’ll put us off" / "make us flee" / "traumatize us." Not because it’s too crowded and we want to stand out from tourists (we’re part of them), but because of forced henna on your hand, or spending 10 minutes every quarter-hour saying "no thank you" to a "guide" who’s as much a guide as I am a trapeze artist. Knowing us, it’ll wear us down. The country is vast and beautiful, and our time too short to waste our memories just days after arriving. And I don’t want to ruin things for my peaceful husband, or he’ll demand we turn back—and Sète in November isn’t exactly thrilling either.)
2) Which route to Skoura (in 2 days)? I see two options: either via the Tichka Pass, with a night in Telouet before reaching Skoura, or via the R307/N23 from Demnate, with a night near Megdaz before descending to Skoura. So: Tichka Pass or R307/N23? I have a slight (big) preference for the second option, even though I know the other route is very beautiful too. Of course, before deciding, we’ll check the weather and the current state of the R307/N23—does anyone know where to get info on the road conditions? But even assuming the road is "passable," is it a bit too tough in itself? In short, is it reasonable? If a kind soul could share their experience, a thousand thanks in advance.
That’s all I’ve written for now. I’ll save the other questions for later posts. Thanks again to those who had the patience to read this and to those who can respond. Happy Sunday to all!
I’m just a few days away from my trip to Marrakech—I’m leaving from November 13th to 20th and bringing my parents along! I’d love to plan my stay as best as I can, and I’m sure the forum crew can help. So, here are my questions:
- Where’s the best place to exchange money without getting ripped off? The owner of the riad where we’re staying told us to avoid doing it at the airport because it’s really expensive and to do it in the medina instead, near Jemaa el-Fna square.
- Which traditional hammams do you recommend that are reasonably priced? How much should we budget for one? That’ll help me plan my expenses.
- What are some nice restaurants in the medina?
- I’d also like to know roughly how much to expect for a tea, a meal, a taxi, a djellaba, and babouches. I don’t want to get overcharged and would like to know what to expect.
- What are the must-do activities and places to visit?
Hi, I’d like to head to Morocco next week with my car. I’ve looked online at all the different info about the ferry crossing to Tangier, but I’m finding it really expensive. Is there a way to buy tickets in Spain? Or another way to get the Algeciras–Tangier crossing cheaper? Thanks for any tips or info!
We found a guide who offers the trip from M'hamid to a camp (departure at 3 PM, tea, meal, camel ride, overnight stay, breakfast, and return to M'Hamid by 11 AM the next day via the sacred oasis). He quoted us a price of 380 € for April.
What do you think of this rate?
This might sound like a silly question, but is it common to negotiate the price for this kind of thing (we're booking from France)? It’s still a big part of our travel budget.
Hi there,
We're planning to visit Egypt between January 25 and February 15, 2027. I looked up the Ramadan dates and found some sites saying it starts on February 8, while others say February 18... Where's the mistake?
Thanks,
Christian
Hi there,
We’re a family of 4 with two boys aged 12 and 10 traveling to Egypt in February.
We’re spending 3 days in Cairo to take our time exploring the city and the sites before heading south.
-Is it necessary to have a guide to visit the GEM? Are audio guides available?
-Do you have any contacts for drivers to organize a few transfers (Giza, Saqqara, Airport)?
-Do you know a French-speaking guide who’s friendly, family-friendly, and good at making things exciting, with reasonable prices?
With our two teens, we’re heading to Morocco for two weeks at the end of December and beginning of January. It’ll be our first trip that’s more "off the beaten path," even though we’ve visited several countries before. Given the overwhelming amount of info, I’m feeling a bit swamped with the prep this trip requires, and I’ll admit I’m a little lost when it comes to figuring out what’s realistic to visit in two weeks 😕 So, all your tips, personal experiences, and suggestions are more than welcome!
- Which places should we prioritize during this time of year? (I’ve read that some spots are less accessible in winter?)
- What’s the best way to get around? (rental car, train, private transport, buses, etc.? — just a heads-up, we’ll have a few suitcases!)
- In terms of "safety," are there any areas to avoid?
- Any recommendations for reliable local tour companies (beyond the big names like "Get Your Guide") that offer excursions or private transport to help us explore the country?
- A doable 2-week itinerary that lets us enjoy the country’s diversity without having to change accommodations every two days?
I’m planning a trip to the High Atlas in Morocco and have a few questions for you:
- Why do so many people recommend avoiding international agencies for car rentals? Can anyone explain why?
- Is Booking.com reliable, and has anyone rented a vehicle through their service? There’s a pretty big price difference compared to local Moroccan agencies.
- Is there a detailed road map included in the rental car?
- Is Google Maps enough to get around the High Atlas? This will be my first trip there.
Thanks so much to anyone who can help with this destination I’ve been dreaming about for years.
Have a great evening,
Roberto
hi there, I’m heading to Tunisia 🙂 from April 27 to May 8 with my family. I’ve read through the various discussions about the country, but I’m still a bit unsure🤪: for currency exchange, I saw on the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs website that withdrawing currency with a bank card from ATMs is limited to 200 TND per week. There are four of us traveling by car, so that might be a bit tight! And it’s a hassle to carry a lot of cash, even if I’m not being paranoid! What do you all recommend?
Cheers,
Laurent.
We're planning a 2-week trip in late February/early March for a road trip in the High Atlas with a rental car, and we'd love to avoid booking our accommodations in advance. Is that doable, easily manageable, or risky (are accommodations available, expensive, or not great)? Thanks for your tips!
Annie
Hi,
This autumn, we’re planning to explore the Oriental region and we’re wondering where the best place to land would be. We’ll have three weeks ahead of us and we’ll be renting a car.
Any tips would be much appreciated. Thanks.
Is there an official website or list of certified Egyptologist guides in Egypt? And most importantly, what are the normal prices for a full day or half day? There’s so much scamming and crazy pricing—depending on who you contact, it can range from simple to quadruple!!!!
Thanks
Hello,
In September, my wife and I, along with another couple, will be traveling to Tunisia and staying at the Sheherasade Hotel near Sousse.
We’d love to hear your recommendations or tips on places to visit, as well as advice on taxis or other transportation options.
Thanks in advance!
This autumn’s trip should be in Morocco—barring any geopolitical issues between now and then.
After many trips to the south of Fès, I’m giving the north a try.
My plan is roughly to do a road trip loop from Rabat back to Rabat, passing through Asilah, Tangier, Tétouan, Chefchaouen, Akchour, Fès, Meknès, and Volubilis.
That’s a lot of cities.
Probably a bit too many for our taste—we usually prefer more isolated spots...
So I’m looking for tips on little backroads, secluded beaches, half-day hikes, and offbeat places.
If you’ve also got recommendations for accommodation... (We’re open to splurging over 100 € if it’s a real favorite.)
Feel free to think outside the box—this is an open-ended plan! !😉
Hello,
I’m looking for testimonials from Pieds-Noirs who have recently returned to Algeria.
There can’t be many left after 65 years of the country’s independence.
I’m planning to go back myself soon to reconnect with my roots... before I pass away...
I’ve started making a few pre-bookings for hotels and apartments to rent in Algiers. At first, I received friendly and welcoming responses. Then, when I mentioned I wanted to stay for two or three weeks—maybe even a month—explaining that my trip wouldn’t be strictly touristy but more of a pilgrimage to the places of my childhood, and that it would likely be a very emotional journey, I expected a positive and warm reaction to my approach. Instead, I suddenly stopped getting replies from the three or four people I’d contacted. So now I’m wondering about the reception former Pieds-Noirs can expect...
Anyone here who can share their experience of returning? I specified “recently” because it seems that right now, diplomatic relations between the two governments are extremely tense, not to say hostile... even if Macron claims otherwise...
Hello,
I’m traveling to Algeria from October 27 to November 16, 2026.
I’d love to hear from anyone who’s been through the process about the accommodation attestation required for the visa application:
- Does it need to cover the entire duration of the trip?
- Is this document mandatory for a hotel to rent a room?
- Is it checked during inspections?
- Is a hotel booking (e.g., via Booking.com) sufficient for the visa?
- If so, does it need to be paid in advance?
I plan to visit several cities and do one or more treks with a guide or agency.
If you have any contacts you’d recommend, I’d be grateful!
Also, I’d love to share this trip with a companion who’s already done some traveling.
We’d organize the journey together, of course.
Thanks for your feedback!
Safe travels to all,
Dom, Dijon, 64 years old
I’m leaving for Tunisia in five weeks for a full 15-day trip. I’ll be arriving in Monastir and departing from there as well.
I’d like to do a route that’s a bit different from my first stay, which was more focused on cities and culture (Tunis, Sousse, Kairouan, El Jem).
I’ll be getting around by public transport.
I’d like to head south toward Tozeur, and I saw that you can take a *louage* from Monastir to Sbeitla (2h30). I imagine it’s not too complicated to get to Tozeur from there afterward? The issue is the return trip to Monastir and safety in Sbeitla.
If this route seems too complicated, I might opt for Djerba instead, which looks simpler.
I’m heading to Morocco in September 2026, and part of my trip takes me through Merzouga. I’m looking for a 4x4 driver-guide to explore the area with my partner and me.
Even though I come to Morocco four times a year, it’s been a long time since I’ve made the trip by car. I need to refresh my knowledge! I’ll be traveling in early October. I have a car that’s about 20 years old. The plan is to cross via Algeciras/Ceuta.
A few questions:
1) Does this crossing still exist? If so, do I need to buy the ticket in advance or on the spot? From whom? Any advice is welcome!
2) What documents are required for the car?
3) If anyone is making the trip around the same time, it could be fun to drive together 😊