Hi everyone, I’ve given my 18-year-old daughter a week in Morocco in February. I’d like to mix a bit of Marrakech (or elsewhere) with a hotel and pool, plus a trip into the desert with some beautiful dunes.
How can I structure this without making the journeys too long? Is it possible to do Marrakech to the south in 2 days, stopping at lovely spots along the way? Just to clarify, I’d prefer not to rent a car, and my daughter isn’t very "adventurous."
Thanks in advance for your replies and tips!
From Marrakech to the Merzouga dunes—for a potential night in a real desert—it takes about 9 hours of driving. The same on the way back, and all that without stopping!
I don’t think doing this trip in 2 days is reasonable, even if some less scrupulous agencies organize such excursions.
If you want to see arid landscapes that resemble the desert, you can go to Agafay, just about an hour from Marrakech. A local agency can arrange a night in a Berber tent for you. Maybe your hotel can take care of it.
It’ll be a nice experience for your "not-so-adventurous" daughter 😉
As for your hotel pool, if it’s not heated, you won’t be able to swim.
In February, the weather is mild during the day, but pools are at best around 18°C.
Thanks Kate for your reply—you’re right, the distance is too long. That said, I’m not set on Marrakech. Are there any other alternatives not too far from the desert?
Hi,
If you’re not "stuck" on Marrakech, you could consider Ouarzazate as a base.
There are several beautiful spots within less than an hour’s drive: the kasbah of Aït Benhaddou, the Skoura oasis, and the Fint oasis.
You’re only 4 hours from M’Hamid and the dunes for an overnight stay.
A local agency can organize all of this.
Thanks Kate for your reply—you’re right, the distance is too long. That said, I’m not "stuck" on Marrakech. Are there any other alternatives not too far from the desert?
In that case, I’d plan the first two nights and the last night in Marrakech and spend the rest of the stay in the Skoura palm grove, 40 km from Ouarzazate (which isn’t a great city). I’d also include a one-night desert excursion.
As Marabamu said, a local agency can organize all of this for you.
Here’s how it could look:
Day 1: Marrakech + sightseeing
Day 2: Marrakech + sightseeing
Day 3: Skoura + walks in the area
Day 4: Skoura + walks in the area
Day 5: Departure for Merzouga and night in the desert
Day 6: Skoura + walk in the palm grove
Night 7: Marrakech.
Thanks again, Kate, for these suggestions—it seems like a good compromise, even if it means cutting down time in Marrakech.
I’m wondering about transportation for getting around Skoura and heading to Merzouga: car rental? Bus? Taxi? What do you all think?
Have a great day! !
I’m wondering about transportation to get around Skoura and go to Merzouga—renting a car? Bus? Taxi? What do you think?
I’ve always rented cars during my trips to Morocco. I prefer having the freedom to manage my schedule and go wherever I want! Of course, there are taxis, but buses are more complicated for this route.
Driving around Skoura is peaceful—the roads are much less busy than in northern Morocco, especially in the low season! To get to Merzouga, it’s about 5-6 hours on well-maintained pavement, though sometimes winding and narrow. Just stay alert, especially until Tinghir. If you’re doing a bivouac (camel trek and night in a Berber tent), you’ll need to arrive at the organizing hostel by 5 PM at the latest.
In summary: for exploring around Skoura—rental car.
And for Merzouga, either rent a car, or if you’re not comfortable driving, ask a local agency to organize an excursion that includes round-trip transport and a night in the desert.
I saw in your profile that this isn’t your first trip. Morocco will feel "easy" compared to Asia 😉
Thanks again, Kate—you’ve convinced me! I’ll rent a car in Marrakech; it’ll give me so much more freedom!
Any suggestions for a nice stopover to break up the drive between Skoura and Merzouga for an overnight stay?
Great idea to rent a car in Marrakech 😉
I recommend Medloc or Yacout.
Can the drive between Skoura and Merzouga be broken up with a nice stop for an overnight stay?
Yes, you can spend a night in Tineghirt, in its beautiful palm grove (photo).
You can also take a detour through the Todra Valley and visit a Berber museum along the way, "Les Sources de Lala Mimouna", not far from Tinejdad...
My partner and I published a travel journal. Here’s the section that talks about these places and this route, at least up to Tineghirt.
https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=10655309;a=10655309
Hi,
To answer your question, you should know that the desert around Marrakech (like Agafay) is actually a rocky, arid area made up of dry hills—not sand dunes like those in the Sahara. If you want to experience the real sandy desert, you’ve got two main options:
The Merzouga Desert (Erg Chebbi): This is the most famous, with its large golden dunes and amazing camps at the foot of the dunes.
The M’Hamid Desert (Erg Chigaga): More wild and less touristy, but also farther away and harder to access.
That said, M’Hamid is *very* far from Marrakech. If you’d rather avoid long trips, I’d recommend Merzouga—it’s still the more practical choice.
Little tip: Instead of driving the whole way, you can take a flight from Marrakech to Errachidia with RyanAir (about a 1-hour flight). From Errachidia Airport, it’s only a 2-hour drive to Merzouga, and you can easily arrange a transfer with a local agency.
That way, you can enjoy both a relaxing stay in Marrakech with a hotel and pool *and* a gentle desert adventure—without too much fatigue or long trips.
Hi there,
Personally, for Marrakech / Merzouga or Marrakech / Zagora / M'Hamid, it's best to go via Ouarzazate.
And from Ouarzazate, it's pretty much the same, with really beautiful landscapes.
I much prefer M'Hamid and the desert all the way to Foum Zguid.
Both are very touristy, but M'Hamid is better in my opinion.
Hi,
I also prefer M'Hamid.
Ouarzazate to M'Hamid is 100 km shorter than to Merzouga.
There are some lovely discoveries to make from Marrakech, like:
reaching Ouarzazate via Telouet, the Ounila Valley, and Aït Benhadou
heading to Zagora via the P519 through the palm grove from the N9-R108 junction
M’Hamid is wilder and less touristy, with rocky expanses and dunes that aren’t as impressive as those in Merzouga. The Erg Chebbi offers a more spectacular landscape with its large golden dunes.
Good evening! Part of the trip in southern Morocco, specifically the High Atlas region near Jbel Saghro and around Agdz.
With the Draa River’s meanders, it’s a really fertile plain, and you can wander through the farmlands.
I hiked there on foot without a guide for a few days—it was such a great memory, even magical at times.
Not a soul in sight.
Thanks for all these suggestions! I think I’ll head to Merzouga by car, making some nice stops along the way. If you have any recommendations for great places to stay and cool spots on the route and in Merzouga, I’d love to hear them.
Hi again! I’ve sketched out a rough itinerary—what do you think? Especially in terms of travel time distribution?
Day 1: Marrakech → Ouarzazate by bus
Day 2: Ouarzazate → Tinghir (overnight in Tinghir?) with car pickup in Ouarzazate
Day 3: Tinghir → Merzouga
Day 4: Merzouga (bivouac)
Day 5: Merzouga → Ouarzazate
Day 6: Ouarzazate → Marrakech (by bus)
Day 7: Marrakech
I’ve opted for buses between Marrakech and Ouarzazate because I’m not a huge fan of driving, especially on mountain roads. I’d love to visit Ait Benhaddou, but I haven’t found a good way to fit it in yet...
I'm looking for a way to visit Ait Benhaddou but I can't find a solution...
Your journey is doable.
Public buses don’t stop at Ait Ben Haddou, and the village is about ten kilometers from the main road. Here’s an adventure tip: ask the driver to drop you off at Tabourahte, then take a taxi to the village. After that, grab another taxi to Ouarzazate.
The more relaxed (but pricier) option is to book a private transfer through an agency in Marrakech, which will include a stop at Ait Ben Haddou.
For overnight stops along the way: Skoura and/or Tinghir.
Hi Seb,
I don’t have a ton of experience in the country, but I drove the Marrakech / Ouarzazate route in May and it was really chill: part highway, part scenic national road.
And it might make getting to Ait Benhaddou easier for you...
A friend did this route the day before yesterday. She took 3h30 and told me the road is really beautiful and smooth these days. Major roadworks have been done in recent years, and crossing the Tizi n’Tichka is a breeze now (much trickier when there’s snow).
Like you, I prefer renting a car 🙂
For example, so you don’t miss that little turn-off (the P1506) that goes via Telouet, just before Ait Benhaddou. That stretch is stunning !
The route from Marrakech to Merzouga will let you make some lovely discoveries along the way. If you rent a vehicle, pick it up in Marrakech and head straight toward Ouarzazate. If you're nervous about driving in Marrakech, ask the rental company to drive you to the outskirts of the city and give them enough for a bus ticket back. That way, you can pass through Ait Benhadou before reaching Ouarzazate and stop over in Skoura.
You’ll get a little preview of the landscapes you can expect in my travel journal.
https://voyageforum.com/forum/itineraire-15-jours-dans-sud-maroc-d10572399/
We’re planning a trip to Egypt from January 21 to 28, 2027.
J21 – Arrival in Cairo at 6 PM
V22 – Visit the Pyramids
S23 – Early flight to Aswan, visit Aswan
D24 – Visit Aswan, depart mid-afternoon for Abu Simbel
L25 – Morning visit to Abu Simbel, return to Aswan. Is it possible to go all the way to Luxor the same day? Private driver between Aswan and Luxor
M26 – Visit Luxor
M27 – Visit Luxor
J28 – Early flight to Cairo, arrive around 9–10 AM, head back into the city to see 1 or 2 museums (probably just 1 due to time), then flight to Lyon at 7 PM
Does this itinerary seem realistic to you? Does it cover the highlights?
During our trip to Egypt at the end of January, beginning of February, we plan to visit the White Desert and nearby oases for 3 to 4 days, starting from Cairo.
If my initial agency searches weren't conclusive, I now have a "too many options" situation.
Here’s an alphabetical list of my first findings.
If you’ve had any experience (good or bad) with any of these agencies in the White Desert:
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
It's hard to tell from Maps or anything else whether the road along the Tessaout is fully paved from Amezri all the way to the junction with the road connecting Demnate to Ouarzazate (RN23).
Thanks for your replies!
Herviche
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 there!
I’m heading to Dakhla at the end of October for about two weeks as a backpacker.
Without renting a car or booking pricey excursions, what are the best ways to get around and explore?
I’ve heard that the small taxis only cover limited routes outside the city center, and the local buses might be tricky...
Thanks to anyone who knows the area and can share their tips for nature and culture in this up-and-coming destination!
Laurence
Hi, I’m planning a 10-day trip to Morocco starting on 12/30 with my parents, and I’d love your thoughts on the itinerary. Since I’m traveling with my parents, who are 78, I’m trying to keep train rides between cities short. I’d like to start with 4 days in FES (with Meknès nearby), then head to Casablanca for 2 days, and finish with 4 days in Marrakech, including a day trip or overnight stay in Essaouira. Thanks for your input!
During our road trip in Morocco in November/December, we’re planning to spend a night at the Hassilabied dunes around November 10th.
We don’t want to sleep in a camp, go on a camel trek, or do a 4x4 tour—we just want to stay right at the foot of the dunes so we can walk around on our own, on foot, at sunrise and sunset. It seems like Hassilabied is better located for this (closer to the dunes) than Merzouga.
Do you know of any clean accommodation with hot water, not too rustic but not too "bling-bling" either, and—most importantly—ideally located right in front of the dunes?
Thanks so much for your tips!
Fran
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
We're heading to Egypt in a few days, inspired by many of your travel journals (thanks especially to Franck!).
We’ll spend a short day exploring Cairo before an evening departure, with our luggage in tow. We’re traveling light, but it’s still not very practical...
Does anyone know if baggage storage/lockers are easy to find, and if so, do you have any recommendations?
Thanks!
I’m currently planning several trips to Morocco (Marrakech, Draa Valley, Merzouga) and I’m wondering about the reliability of data connections outside major urban centers.
Here’s what I’ve observed on the ground so far:
- In cities (Marrakech, Agadir, Fez), 4G is excellent, including in the medina riads.
- On the Tizi n'Tichka road and toward Ouarzazate, coverage remains decent, with a few dead spots here and there.
- In Saharan areas (Merzouga, Chegaga), the connection becomes patchy: some camps get great reception, others none at all.
My specific questions:
1) On your recent trips, which operator (Maroc Telecom, inwi, Orange) gave you the best coverage in the Atlas and Sahara?
2) Have international eSIMs seemed as reliable as a local Moroccan SIM, or have you noticed a difference in speed in rural areas?
3) While trekking or driving a 4x4 in the desert, have you come across completely dead zones despite theoretical coverage?
I’m happy to share my own coverage notes if it helps, and I’ll gladly answer any questions about Morocco—I know it well.
I'm looking for a travel companion for a road trip in southern Morocco at the end of March 2027.
Duration: 15 days.
Departure from Marrakech.
Car rental and Airbnb accommodation.
Budget: 1200 €.
Itinerary to plan together
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,
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
