Nous voudrions partir avec un couple d'amis au Maroc vers mai et ce durant une semaine. POur un séjour court nous pensions aller à Marrakech. J'ai fais un tour sur quelques sites où ils disent qu'il faut bien 4 jours pour visiter et découvrir la ville.
On aimerait louer un appartement ou aller dans une chambre d'hôte. Si certains d'entre vous ont deja essayé ou ont des conseils ou des bonnes adresses on est preneurs.
J'ai fouillé un peu sur le forum pour les bonnes adresses et lieux incontournables.
On aimerait quand même faire un petit tour dans le desert. Est-ce possible au niveau distance de la ville? Si oui qu'est ce qui est le mieux? 4X4, randonnée, balade en chameau?
Les informations demandées sont traitées dans de très nombreux messages sur les thèmes hébergement à Marrakech, excursion dans le désert (Merzouga, M'Hamid). Je vous conseille de parcourir les précédents messages, vous y trouverez une foule d'informations utiles et précises bien souvent. En plus, avec votre message, vous vous exposez à la colère de Raoulx😠 qui est sûrement très agacé par le coté répétitif des questions posées.
Cela dit, fiez-vous à ses conseils avisés car en dépit d'un caractère parfois un peu bougon, il est vraiment très compétent...
En bref, je vous donne qqs réponses à vos questions : Pour les chambre d'hôtes (riads) à Marrakech, il en existe plus de 600. Pour affiner votre recherche, vous devrez déterminer un budget (les prix raisonnables varient entre 45 et 250 € /ch/nuit). Vous aurez un bon niveau de confort et d'accueil pour 80€/nuit avec p'tits dej le ticket d'entrée dans le désert "touristique" est à M'Hamid qui est située à une dizaine d'heures de route de Marrakech (personnellement, je vous conseille ce trajet en 2 jours selon le tps dont vous disposez). Merzouga est encore un peu plus loin mais a l'avantage de vous laisser aller au pieds des dunes en voiture "normale" (4*4 nécessaire pour aller de M'Hamid à Chigaga) Peut-être que pour un 1er séjour à Marrakech, une découverte de la ville et des environs serait plus judicieuse (Aît benadou est moins éloignée, les paysages sont spectaculaires et vous pourrez profiter sans être stresser par un timing trop serré). Vous prendrez vos repères en vue de vos prochains voyages en direction du désert.Je vous souhaite bon voyage !
J'ai suivi ton conseil et feuilleté les messages du forum sur l'hebergement ^^.
J'aurais une autre question concernant le budget à prevoir sur place: prix moyen des musées ou visites à Marrakech prix moyen d'un restaurant ou d'un repas en ville prix moyen d'une course en taxi aéroport/ centre ville
- prix moyen des musées ou visites à Marrakech
de 10 à 3à dh selon, monument public ou privé.
- prix moyen d'un restaurant ou d'un repas en ville
On peut manger à 40 dh un repas simple, avec boisson, jusqu'à 300 dh, bon restau. et au dela avec le luxe et le spectacle.
- prix moyen d'une course en taxi aéroport/ centre ville
Tarifs officiels : 70 dh, grand taxi, Au compteur, 25 dh petits taxis, difficiles à obtenir.
Sinon navette à 20 dh
nous avons passé une semaine a marrakech il y a 2 ans . nous étions à l'hotel morrocan house : c'est un hotel riad trés joli et typique .il se situe dans le quartier guéliz c'est à dire à environ 20 mn à pied de la place jemaa el fna.il ont un site que vous pouvez consulter . comme on aime bien marcher, on a fait toutes les visites à pied : la ménara, le jardin majorelle, le palais badi, la mederssa ben youssef, les soukhs, etc etc .c'est une ville ou on peut prendre le temps de vivre, pleine de jardins (c'était en avril donc bien vert ! ). par contre à l'hotel les repas n'étaient pas terribles il vaut mieux prendre juste en bed and breakfest et découvrir tous les restos pas cher en plus ! dans le guide du routard il y a plein de bons tuyaux . bon séjour ! gayohara.
Merci pour vos conseils sur les visites, je pense avoir une bonne liste de toutes les visites à faire à Marrakech même. Je pense que pour ce premier voyage nous allons nous cantonner à Marrakech et quelques excursions aux alentours (certains parlent des cascades, d'autre de Zagora, du Haut Atlas... je ne sais pas encore trop quoi choisir parmis tout ça. Qu'est ce qui vaut vraiment le coup et qui peut se faire en une journée ?)
Pour ce qui est de l'hebergement dur de choisir parmis tout ce qui est proposé! Je pense jeter un coup d'oeil dans les différents guides touristiques. Le prix fera aussi la différence.
Est-ce que vous pensez que ça vaut le coup de passer par une agence comme maroc en liberté pour tout ce qui est organisation des excursions et des transports pour plus de tranquilité et moins de stress? Prennent ils une commission sur les tarifs pratiqués?
C'est ce qu'on avait fait en Thaïlande et c'est vrai que c'est agréable de ne pas avoir a courrir partout pour reserver des choses et de voir que le taxi vous attend devant l'hôtel en sachant ou il va.
Bonsoir,
l'agence que tu cites est une des agences sérieuses pour l'organisation d 'excursions sur mesure, elle pratique ses tarifs propres et n'a de comission à verser à personne?
N'hésite pas à leur demander des conseils par mail.
Bonjour
Si vous avez decide de rester sur Marrakech pour cette fois, c est une bonne decision, il y aplusieurs choses a voir sur Marrakech et des excursion aux environ et peut etre un trip a Essaouira(170 KM de marrakech, a faire dans une journee et retourner le soir )
Pour moi je vous conseille de chercher un riad c est traditionel et typique et pas audehors de la medina(Centre ville), je vous conseille de chercher a loger au quartier Bab doukkala, quartier riad Larouss ou a ces environ ce n est pas loin de tous et vous etes dans la medina et pas loin de SOUK, place Djamaa El Fna et...je propose par exemple Dar Sarra a Bab doukkala, aerset awzan, petit riad sympa et pas cher(45-60EUR la chambre pour 2 ou 3?) pour manger il y a plusieurs chois de restaurant, je propose Dar MINA a cote de dar si SAID c est traditionel et dirigee par une francaise nee au Maroc aide par une autre marocaine qui es retournee de la france pour ce rojet(!), cuisine marocaine pur et europienne intergree, tout dans un riad tres jolie.....
Pour des excursions aux environs, il ya tamesslouht, Vallee d Ourika, pour skier Oukaimeden s il y a du neige!(40km de Marrakech) et peut etre si vous avez du temps un circuit etudier propose par les Agences....bon voyage
Bonjour @raoulx
Oui c est vraie Dar MINA c est sympa et moderne beldya et on peut aussi manger le repas marrakchi-Tangia-
@raoulx, toi comme specialiste dans ce domaine touristique, je te donne tjs la parole et moi comme marrakchi, j ais le flair et les sentiments de donner les trips? Merci
Marrakech est une merveille. Une ville d'extrême et de contraste.
Essaye de loger dans un riad. Ce sont des petis paradis au milieu du souk.
Pour les visites, la palmeraie, la koutoubia, le jardin majorelle, le palais bahia... Fait des randonnées en Quad dans la palmeraie, c'est magnifique. Pour les excursions, en 4X4 dans l'Atlas, c'est la porte à côté ou encore dans le sud, vers Merzouga, l'entrée du désert.
Si tu veux je peux te donner le numéro d'une amie qui pourrait t'aider. Elle est experte. Tiens moi au courant
Bonjour, pour un chouette riad, familial, , 3 chambres, d'ou l'esprit familial, il y a dar badra, arset aouzal, quartier de bab doukkala.
Super adresse, cuisine exceptionnelle.
Ils vous organisent tout ce dont vous rèvez, a des prix abordables.
Allez jetter un oeil sur le site, vous verrez. www.darbadra.com
Bonjour,
Une semaine à Marrakech, c'est un peu trop, c'est sur partir dans le sud en 7 jours ce n'est pas faisable.Toutefois, faites une ou deux excursions au départ de Marrakech comme Essaouira:sublime et largement faisable dans la journée, cascades d'Ouzoud.Bon voyage.
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?
Hello, my husband and I will be in Egypt this coming November. Cairo seems more challenging to explore without a guide, and we’ll be there for 3 full days. Would anyone have the name of a guide?
Thanks!
Hi, we're looking for a guide to show us around Essaouira.
We're 11 adults and don't want to go through an agency. If you have a contact to help us discover this city, that would be great!
Thanks
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.
