Morocco – From Medinas to the Desert to the Ocean
Trip dates: November 27 through December 6, 2026 (10 days, 9 nights)
Your adventure begins in Marrakech, the vibrant heart of Morocco. As soon as you arrive, you’re enveloped in a whirlwind of colors, scents, and sounds. The Medina — a UNESCO World Heritage site — is a labyrinth of narrow alleys lined with bustling souks selling handwoven carpets, aromatic spices, and intricate metalwork. We are hoping folks will arrive the day before our trip starts to acclimate and get rested for packed schedule. We will explore iconic spots like the Majorelle Garden, the Koutoubia Mosque, and the lively Jemaa el-Fnaa square, where snake charmers, storytellers, and sizzling food stalls create an electric atmosphere by nightfall.
Leaving Marrakech, we will head south toward the Sahara Desert. The journey itself is stunning: you wind through the Atlas Mountains, passing Berber villages built from earth and stone, and stopping at the UNESCO-listed Ait Benhaddou, an ancient fortified village famous for its cinematic history. As we continue, the landscape shifts from rocky plateaus to sweeping dunes.
In the desert, we will stay in a both a fixed tended camp and a wild tented camp. Everyone will have their own tent (couples will share) in the dunes. Days will be filled with exploring oasis villages, a camel trek over golden sands, and experiencing the profound stillness of the desert. At night, the sky comes alive with stars so bright they seem close enough to touch. We will gather around campfires, listen to traditional “desert blues” music, and taste Moroccan specialties like tagine and couscous under the Milky Way.
After the stillness of the desert, we will make our way westward, with a stop in Tafraoute, eventually reaching the breezy coastal town of Essaouira. The soothing rhythm of Essaouira: sunsets over the ocean, music drifting from cafes, and the peaceful sense of being at the edge of Africa, where land meets sea. The salty Atlantic air is a refreshing change from the dry desert. Essaouira’s whitewashed houses, blue shutters, and ramparts hint at its Portuguese and French colonial past. The Medina is smaller and more relaxed than Marrakech’s, perfect for leisurely strolls. We will wander the colorful fish market, browse artisan shops selling thuya wood carvings, maybe even sip mint tea while watching surfers catch waves.
Cost: $6495/person, double occupancy in town, private tent in desert
Deposit: $1250/person
To Register: Use our Contact Page to register.
Guides: Denise Silva, Geff Bourke, and local guides
Group Size: max 7 guests
Photography Highlights of This Trip:
📌 Street Photography – Marrakech’s bustling souks and Essaouira’s fishing port.
📌 Architectural Photography – Aït Benhaddou, Berber kasbahs, and historic Medinas.
📌 Desert Landscapes – Camel caravan shots, rolling dunes, and golden sunsets.
📌 Astrophotography – Milky Way and star trails over the Sahara.
📌 Seascapes – Essaouira’s dramatic coastline and blue boats at sunrise.
Images provided by Chris Phillips, Happy Tsui, and Jared Gerlach, enlarge to see specific artist.
Itinerary: (subject to change)
- Day 0 (Arrival in Marrakech) Figuring people should arrive a day early if possible.
- As people feel up to it and depending on arrival times, an evening walk focused on bustling souks, colorful spices, intricate doors.
- Sunset and blue hour photography at Jemaa el-Fnaa.
- Overnight in Marrakech.
- Day 1 (Office 1st day of the trip)
- Full day exploring Marrakech.
- Early morning: visit Koutoubia Mosque, Majorelle Garden.
- Late morning and midday: dive into the medina for candid street and architectural details.
- Sunset: Photograph from a rooftop cafe overlooking Jemaa el-Fnaa.
- Overnight in Marrakech.
- Day 2 (Tamdaght)
- Depart Marrakech and cross the High Atlas Mountains (photo stops en route: mountain passes, Berber villages).
- Arrive Tamdaght in the afternoon.
- Golden hour and sunset at Kasbah Tamdaght and Aït Benhaddou.
- Capture the kasbah bathed in evening light or opt for minimalist desert shots with long shadows.
- Overnight in Tamdaght.
- Day 3, 4, and 5 (Fixed desert camp (2 nights) Wild desert camp (1 night)
- Sunrise and sunset photography on the dunes, where the changing colors of the sand create dramatic contrasts.
- Guided camel trek on one evening in the desert from fixed camp (sunset shoot)
- Astrophotography: Milky Way, star trails over the dunes. With no light pollution, the desert sky explodes with stars.
- Portraits of nomadic life and camp settings.
- 3 Overnights in desert.
- Day 6 and 7 (Tafraoute)
- Depart desert and head southwest through the Anti-Atlas Mountains toward Tafraoute.
- Arrive by evening; soft light on the dramatic granite boulders.
- Full days exploring:
- Painted Rocks at sunrise.
- Ameln Valley — traditional Berber villages with pink granite backdrops.
- Rock formations like “Lion’s Head” and hidden oases.
- 2 Overnights in Tafraoute.
- Day 8 and 9 (Essaouira)
- Early start; drive north to Essaouira (about 6.5 hours from Tafraoute).
- Arrival mid-afternoon. Capture harbor life: blue boats, fishermen, gulls.
- Sunset shoot at the ramparts or the beach with camel silhouettes.
- Visit the Essaouira Medina:
- Blue-and-white architecture, local artisans, atmospheric alleys.
- Sunset shoot overlooking the Atlantic. Capture the golden glow over the ocean, with fishermen silhouetted against the waves.
- 2 Overnights in Essaouira.
- Day 10 (return to Marrakech)
- After breakfast return to Marrakech
- Last chance for quick medina shots if time allows before heading to the airport (depending on individual flight times).
- Depart Morocco
Inclusions:
- Welcome/Farewell dinners
- Most breakfasts and dinners
- Guided camel trek in the desert for sunset shoot
- Lodgings
- Certified local leader and guides with years of experience
- 3 nights in the desert (2 fixed camp and 1 wilderness)
- Double occupancy
- Breakfasts at lodgings
- Private group transportation (3 people per vehicle)
- Local insurance/taxes for the group (not personal insurance)
Exclusions:
- International flights to and from Morocco
- Personal trip/medical/evacuation insurance
- Lunch and dinner (other than as noted above)
- Visa (if required) – US citizens do not require a visa
- Tips and gratuities (local guides, drivers, and leader)
- Alcoholic beverages
- Hotel services (laundry, room service, etc)
- Personal services (spas, massages, etc)
Trip Insurance
All participants are strongly advised to purchase travel protection insurance. Travelinsurance.com offers many different options from various vendors and allows for product comparison.
