Morocco: Marrakech, Fes, the Atlas & the Sahara
The souks and riads of Marrakech, the medieval medina of Fes, Berber villages in the High Atlas, a night under the stars in the dunes of Erg Chebbi, and the stone desert of Agafay.
- Best time to go
- March to May and late September to November. Summer is very hot inland (often above 40°C in Marrakech and the desert); December to February has mild days but cold nights, especially in the desert and mountains.
- Flying from India
- No non-stop flights. One stop via Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi or Jeddah to Casablanca or Marrakech, usually 12 to 16 hours in total.
- Visa for Indian passports
- Indian ordinary passport holders can apply online for a Moroccan e-Visa through the official ACCES Maroc portal before travel. Apply at least a few weeks ahead with your bookings and return ticket.
- Currency
- Moroccan dirham (MAD), which cannot be taken out of the country. Cards are accepted in hotels and larger shops; use cash in the souks.
Morocco at a glance
Marrakech is the usual starting point: the snake charmers and food stalls of Jemaa el-Fna, the maze of souks, the Bahia Palace, the Majorelle Garden and the peace of a riad courtyard. Fes, Morocco's spiritual capital, has the largest car-free medieval medina in the world, with leather tanneries, craftsmen's quarters and the Al Quaraouiyine mosque-university, founded in 859. The Roman ruins of Volubilis are an easy day trip.
From Marrakech, roads climb into the High Atlas to Berber villages around Imlil below Toubkal, North Africa's highest peak. The great desert journey crosses the mountains past Aït Benhaddou and the Dadès and Todra gorges to Merzouga, where camels carry you into the dunes of Erg Chebbi for a night in a luxury camp. For a shorter escape, the Agafay stone desert and the Ourika Valley are within an hour of Marrakech.
Must-see
- Jemaa el-Fna and the Marrakech souks
- Majorelle Garden
- The medina and tanneries of Fes
- A night in the Erg Chebbi dunes
- Aït Benhaddou
Food to try
- Tagines and couscous
- Pastilla (sweet-savoury pie)
- Harira soup
- Fresh mint tea
- Msemen flatbread and orange juice from the square
Where to shop
- The Marrakech souks
- Leather from the Fes tanneries
- Argan oil from women's cooperatives
- Berber carpets and kilims
- Painted ceramics and tagine pots
Where to Stay
Areas and styles of stay we book most often. We shortlist specific hotels once we know your dates and budget.
Marrakech medina
Riads around courtyard gardens
Restored traditional houses inside the medina, built around tiled courtyards with fountains or plunge pools, with roof terraces for breakfast and sunset. Larger palace hotels sit in gardens just outside the walls.
Erg Chebbi, Merzouga
Luxury desert camps
Tented camps among the dunes with proper beds, private bathrooms and dinners by the fire, reached by camel or 4x4.
High Atlas, Imlil valley
Mountain kasbah lodges
Lodges built in traditional style above Berber villages, with terraces facing the peaks, walking trails from the door and local cooking.
Signature Experiences
Moments we build Morocco journeys around
Majorelle Garden
The cobalt-blue villa and cactus garden created by Jacques Majorelle and restored by Yves Saint Laurent, with the YSL Museum next door. Go at opening time.
Bahia Palace
A 19th-century palace of painted cedar ceilings, zellige tiles and courtyards, built for a grand vizier in the heart of the medina.
The Fes tanneries
Watch hides being dyed in stone vats at the Chouara tannery from a leather shop terrace, then explore the craft quarters of Fes el-Bali with a licensed guide.
A traditional hammam
A steam bath, black-soap scrub and argan oil massage, in a restored historic hammam or a private riad spa.
The Ourika Valley
A green valley an hour from Marrakech, with riverside villages, an argan cooperative and a walk to the Setti Fatma waterfalls.
Moroccan cooking class
Shop for spices in the souk, then learn to make a tagine, salads and bread with a local cook, ending with lunch on a riad terrace.
Planning Your Journey
Timing, routing and what our specialists tell every Morocco traveller
When to visit
March to May
Spring: green valleys, blossom in the Atlas, warm days and comfortable desert nights.
June to August
Hot inland; better for the coast and mountains. Desert trips are best avoided at midday.
September to February
Autumn is ideal; winter brings clear, sunny days, snow on the Atlas and cold desert nights.
Getting there and around
International
Fly into Marrakech and home from Fes or Casablanca, connecting via the Gulf or Europe.
Between stops
Marrakech to Imlil about 1½ hours; Marrakech to Merzouga a full day or two by road through the mountains; Fes to Merzouga about 7 hours; Marrakech to Agafay about 45 minutes.
Insider notes
Use a licensed guide in the medinas
Fes and Marrakech are easy to get lost in. A licensed guide saves time and keeps unofficial guides away.
Fly or break the journey
Marrakech to Fes is about seven hours by road. Fly, take the train via Casablanca, or travel through the desert over several days.
Dress for comfort and respect
Light, loose clothes covering shoulders and knees are best, and a scarf helps in the sun and in religious sites.
Ramadan changes the rhythm
During Ramadan, many restaurants close by day and evenings are lively. Sights stay open; we adjust timings.
Morocco: Common Questions
Yes. Indian ordinary passport holders can apply for an e-Visa online through the official portal before travel. We provide the bookings needed for the application.
Plan your Morocco journey
Speak to a specialist.
Share a few details and one of our Morocco specialists will get in touch, usually within a working day.
Journeys from here
Itineraries that include Morocco
Journey · Culture & Heritage
Morocco's Imperial Cities & Atlas
Journey · Desert & Culture
Erg Chebbi Luxury Desert Camp
Journey · Desert & Wellness
Agafay Stone Desert & Atlas Escape
Ready to plan Morocco?
Tell us your dates and who is travelling. We reply with a costed, day-by-day plan you can change as much as you like.