What Makes it Special?
- Watch the sun sink behind the dunes on a camel ride before a night under the Sahara stars.
- Walk the mudbrick alleys of Aït Ben Haddou’s ancient fortified village.
- Sip mint tea with Berber locals in the palm-filled Dades Valley.
- Ride bikes through the kasbah-dotted trails and palm plantations in the oasis of Skoura.
- Visit the unique and quirky Jardin Majorelle, hidden away in Marrakesh.
- Get a little lost in the myriad of narrow lanes that make up Marrakesh's vibrant medina.
Your tailor-made holiday will be as unique as you are. These itineraries are just a starting point, a bit of inspiration to show what’s possible. Your own trip all starts with a conversation with one of our Morocco experts, who’ll take the time to understand what matters most to you and design the perfect holiday to match.
For many, a trip to the Sahara Desert is the highlight of a Morocco holiday, one of those magic, once-in-a-lifetime experiences you talk about for years. Reaching the dunes from Marrakesh is no quick hop (it’s a long drive to the desert’s edge, let alone the camps!), but we’ve made sure the journey itself is a real highlight, one that winds through cinematic landscapes, stopping off at ancient kasbahs and palm-filled valleys along the way.
Your adventure begins with two nights in Ait Ben Haddou, a legendary fortress village that time seems to have left behind. Think sun-baked mudbrick buildings, winding alleyways and streets that have graced more than a few Hollywood films. From here, the road leads deeper into the wilderness, through the Draa Valley, past date palms and scattered Berber villages, until you reach the towering dunes of the Erg Chebbi. This is the Sahara at its most mesmerising, golden waves of sand stretching endlessly, best explored on camelback or by 4x4.
After an unforgettable night at your desert camp under the endless stars, you’ll start the return journey, stopping for two nights in Skoura, where the green palm groves and crumbling kasbahs contrast sharply with the arid landscapes behind you. This oasis is the perfect place to slow down after your Sahara adventure, take in the views and soak up the stillness before heading back to Marrakesh.
3 hours 40 minutes from London
When to go
- September to May
Average temperature
- 10-34°C
5-20mm/month
Itinerary at a Glance
Day by Day
Here's a summary of what you might get up to day-to-day on this Morocco holiday. As always, this is just an idea. Every single day of your holiday will be tailored to suit you.
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Today, you’ll wake up in Ait Ben Haddou, one of Morocco's most recognised UNESCO World Heritage landmarks. Take a stroll around the kasbah today, taking in the crumbling buildings and the high defensive walls and watchful towers that guard the city. Known for its timeless fortified Ksar, you might just recognise this city from a fair few blockbusters!
Today, you'll continue eastwards along the Dades Valley, also known as the valley of a thousand kasbahs. You’ll drive through rose gardens, pass Berber villages, and enjoy endless views of the North Atlas Mountains, and livestock tracks as you pass through the impressive Todra Gorges. Finally, you'll reach your gateway to the southern Sahara desert, the Erg Chebbi, where you'll check into your luxury desert camp. You'll head off on a sunset camel ride before tucking into a delicious fireside dinner accompanied by some traditional Moroccan entertainment.
Today, you'll be driven to the crumbling city of Skoura via the Dades Valley, with plenty of opportunities to explore the gorges and plantations in the area along the way. When you make it to Skoura, check into your hotel for two nights of Berber culture and a taste of local life in the valley.
Head out to explore the city of Skoura today. It's a wonderfully peaceful place, home to palm-fringed roads, impressive kasbahs and palm plantations. We recommend taking a bike ride around the main sites this morning. This afternoon, why not visit Kasbah Amridil, one of Morocco’s only living museums? It's the perfect place to delve into kasbah life, learning all about the traditions and architecture that have stood the test of time.
Today, you're in for a bit of adventure as you take to a mountain road in a 4x4, through the heartlands of the once-powerful Glaoui tribe, finishing at their headquarters at Telouet. It's a great opportunity to learn about a lesser-known side to Morocco's culture. From there, you’ll head back to Marrakesh for the final four nights of your trip, checking into your cosy riad in the heart of the city.
Today, you'll join your local guide for a tour of the historical sites of Marrakesh. You'll visit one of Morocco’s oldest mosques, the Saadian Tombs and the Badi and Bahia Palaces. There's such a blend of Moroccan and European influence to take in everywhere you go, and today's tour will give you a much better understanding of Marrakesh's rich history.
On today's tour, you'll stay within the medina but seek out the less well-known, peaceful corners of the walled city. Within these walls, you’ll visit traditional riads, meet local craftsmen and amble through quieter spice markets. We always like getting you a little off the beaten track on your holidays, and today is a chance to do just that.
Places you'll visit
We have hundreds of partner hotels across the world, with our tailor made trips you can pick from our range of beautiful hotels
What You're Saying
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I would definitely use Holiday Architects again.Emma booked us an amazing holiday in Morocco, and really listened to what was important to us. We travelled extensively, staying in local riads to maximise the true feel of the country and what it has to offer. It was a fantastic trip. All the local staff were friendly and helpful. I would definitely use Holiday Architects again.
Caroline Wolfe
Trustpilot
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Rebecca at Holiday Architects really listened to me when I described the sort of holiday I wanted. It was truly tailor made for us. We had a fabulous time on our expertly planned multi-destination holiday to Morocco, and all the arrangements and transfers were seamless. Charming people too - I can't recommend this company highly enough and I wouldn't hesitate to use them again.
Charlotte Hope
Trustpilot
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Thank you to Holiday Architects for creating us an itinerary which enabled us to immerse ourselves within Moroccan culture. From the Atlas Mountains, to the Desert and finally to the city, the holiday exceeded our expectations and blew us away. Many thanks to Emma, you have been fantastic! From your quick responses to our questions and your knowledge of Morocco and the areas we were visiting was invaluable to us. We have no doubt that you helped make our holiday and memories of it, as fantastic as they are.. Having you plan our holiday was like a good friend planning our holiday for us.
Paul T
Trustpilot
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We recently returned from a holiday to Morocco, where we visited three different places in the country. Everything was organised meticulously by Rebecca, at very short notice. Whilst away the local team were excellent - friendly and efficient and all transfers and trips ran like clockwork. Would highly recommend both Holiday Architects and Morocco!
Greg
Trustpilot
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An amazing trip, brilliantly planned. Emma from HA was fantastic. She understood what we were looking for from the start and planned us an unforgettable trip which kept both adults and teenagers happy, as well as exposed us to a huge expanse of Morocco in just two weeks. The trip to the Sahara was the highlight, a memory which will last forever. Highly recommend HA and will definitely ask them to help with future trips.
Alexi Arlidge
Trustpilot
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From the moment I contacted Emma, I knew I was in good hands, she listened and delivered and exceptional holiday for the five of us. She could not have organised a better experience for us; we had the most fantastic holiday ever. Everything worked like magic and your travel partners in Morocco were exceptional and guided us. I can't thank you enough for curating such a perfect experience for us. I would not hesitate to recommend Holiday Architects to anyone planning a trip to Morocco.
Diane Tapner-Evans
Trustpilot
”
Holiday Gallery
Meet our Morocco experts
We offer tailor-made holidays to suit a wide range of tastes. Our experts Emma and Rebecca are dedicated to all things Morocco and are here to help you plan your perfect trip.
Emma Higgins
Destination Manager
Our Emma’s been exploring Morocco since 2010 and still finds something new every time. She’s equally at home hiking in the mountains or bargaining in the souks and knows exactly how to balance it all in one holiday.
Rebecca Dodds
Destination Manager
Rebecca’s spent years really getting to know Morocco, from trekking in the High Atlas to wandering Chefchaouen’s blue-washed lanes. And always making friends everywhere she goes. Your Morocco holiday is in safe hands with our Rebecca.
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