Morocco 'Al-Maghrib' Photography Tour 2027

Dates

What is included in the 17-day itinerary?

What is not included?

Level of physical difficulty: 2 out of 5

Itinerary

Morocco Photo Travel Tour (10-Day with an optional 7-day extension to the Sahara Desert  

Join us on an immersive 10-day journey through Morocco’s iconic landscapes, rich culture and ancient cities, with an optional 7-day extension to the Sahara Desert

Morocco is one of our favourite destinations to explore and photograph, offering an incredible diversity of landscapes, cultures, people and architecture. From the winding alleyways and colourful souks of ancient medinas to the dramatic landscapes of the Atlas Mountains and the vast desert of the Sahara, Morocco provides endless opportunities for photography.

This Landscape & Travel Photography Tour gives you the opportunity to learn all the inside tips and techniques you need to capture stunning landscapes, people, architecture, street scenes and nightscapes as we slowly explore the diverse and captivating landscapes of Morocco.

Plan on spending the evening in Marrakesh on arrival. This will allow you time to get some rest before the tour begins and also ensure that we can leave on time for the start of our Moroccan Tour.

Day 1 – Marrakech Arrival

Welcome to Morocco

Arrive at Marrakech International Airport, where a private driver will meet you for your transfer to our accommodation in the heart of the medina. This evening, we’ll come together for a welcome dinner, giving everyone a chance to meet, relax and talk about the exciting week ahead.

Some guests prefer to arrive a day early to allow time to recover from jet lag and minimise the risk of missing the start of the tour due to unexpected travel delays. If you’re arriving early, please let us know and we can arrange additional accommodation and airport transfers for you.

11 Nov. Thursday / Overnight: Marrakech – Dinner included

Day 2 – Marrakech

Gardens, Souks & Moroccan Street Food

We’ll start our photography adventure in La Ville Nouvelle, Marrakech’s modern city, with a visit to the wonderfully photogenic Jardin Majorelle. Originally created by French artist Jacques Majorelle, the garden was later rescued and restored by Yves Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Bergé. The vibrant cobalt-blue buildings, striking yellow accents, lush vegetation and sculptural cacti provide endless opportunities for colour, composition and detail photography.

We’ll then return to the medina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most atmospheric parts of Marrakech. Its maze of narrow streets and bustling souks provides an extraordinary variety of photographic subjects, from colourful textiles, carpets and ceramics to traditional Moroccan lamps, architecture, doorways and the people who bring these streets to life.

Later this afternoon, we’ll meet a local guide for a Moroccan street-food experience, sampling some of the local specialities while photographing the food, vendors and lively atmosphere around us. This will also be a great opportunity to practise street and environmental portrait photography, learning how to work respectfully and confidently around people and busy environments.

12 Nov. Friday / Overnight: Marrakech – Breakfast & Dinner included

Day 3 – Marrakech

Palaces, Architecture & Jemaa el-Fnaa. We’ll begin the day exploring some of Marrakech’s beautiful historic architecture, including Bahia Palace, a magnificent 19th-century palace filled with courtyards, intricate tilework, carved wood, ornate ceilings and beautiful architectural details.

We’ll also explore other atmospheric locations around the medina, which may include Dar el Bacha – Museum of Confluences, the Secret Garden and other hidden courtyards and architectural gems, depending on opening times and local conditions.

We'll focus on composition, symmetry, patterns, textures, light and architectural details, with plenty of opportunities to slow down and look beyond the obvious. As the afternoon light begins to soften, we’ll return to Jemaa el-Fnaa, the famous central square and beating heart of Marrakech’s medina. As daylight fades, the square transforms into a vibrant spectacle of food stalls, performers, storytellers, musicians and locals.

This is one of the highlights of the Marrakech experience and offers fantastic opportunities for street photography, environmental portraits and atmospheric low-light images. For those interested, we’ll also photograph the Koutoubia Mosque, beautifully illuminated after dark.

13 Nov. Saturday / Overnight: Marrakech – Breakfast included

Day 4 – Marrakech to Essaouira

From the Red City to the Atlantic Coast. Leaving Marrakech behind, we’ll travel west towards the Atlantic coast and the relaxed fishing port of Essaouira. After arriving and settling in, we’ll begin exploring this wonderfully photogenic coastal town. The historic harbour, colourful fishing boats, old Portuguese ramparts, fortified walls and narrow streets of the medina provide a huge variety of photographic opportunities.

Essaouira has a very different character from Marrakech, with the Atlantic Ocean, fishing culture and strong coastal light adding another dimension to our photography. Later in the afternoon, we’ll make our way towards the beach to photograph sunset over the Atlantic, looking for opportunities to work with silhouettes, reflections, movement and the warm evening light.

14 Nov. Sunday / Overnight: Essaouira – Breakfast included

Day 5 – Essaouira

Fishing Boats, Markets & Street Photography. Today is dedicated to photography in Essaouira. We’ll start at the harbour, where fishermen work among dozens of distinctive blue fishing boats, repairing nets, unloading their catch and preparing for another day at sea. This is an excellent environment for documentary and environmental photography, with plenty of opportunities to photograph people at work, colourful details, textures and the character of the harbour.

After lunch, we’ll continue exploring the medina, wandering through its narrow streets and alleyways in search of interesting compositions, doorways, architecture, local shops and street scenes. And, of course, we’ll keep an eye out for some of the hundreds of cats that have made Essaouira their home! Throughout the day, we’ll have plenty of time to work on composition, storytelling, working with available light and approaching street photography subjects respectfully and confidently.

15 Nov. Monday / Overnight: Essaouira – Breakfast included

Day 6 – Essaouira to Casablanca

Casablanca – Markets & Hassan II Mosque. This morning we’ll leave Essaouira and travel north to Casablanca, Morocco’s largest city and commercial capital.

After arriving, we’ll visit the local seafood market, where we’ll have lunch and explore the colourful stalls, fishermen and vendors. Later, we’ll visit the spectacular Hassan II Mosque, one of Morocco’s most impressive architectural landmarks and one of the largest mosques in Africa.

We’ll take an official tour inside the mosque, giving us the opportunity to photograph its extraordinary architecture, intricate details, geometric patterns, carved surfaces and enormous interior spaces. Outside, the mosque’s dramatic position overlooking the Atlantic provides further opportunities for architectural and landscape photography, particularly as the light begins to soften towards the end of the day.

16 Nov. Tuesday / Overnight: Casablanca – Breakfast included

Day 7 – Casablanca to Fes via Volubilis

Roman Ruins & the Road to Fes. Today we’ll travel towards Fes, with several interesting photographic stops along the way. We’ll stop for lunch in the historic town of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, one of Morocco’s important pilgrimage towns. Its whitewashed buildings, narrow streets and hillside setting provide plenty of opportunities for photography and a glimpse into everyday Moroccan life.

In the afternoon, we’ll continue to the remarkable Roman ruins of Volubilis. This ancient archaeological site contains beautifully preserved temples, houses, columns and municipal buildings, as well as some exceptional Roman mosaics. We’ll take our time exploring the site, looking for opportunities to combine the ancient architecture with the surrounding Moroccan landscape and changing afternoon light. We’ll then continue to Fes, our base for the next three nights.

17 Nov. Wednesday / Overnight: Fes – Breakfast included

Day 8 – Fes

Fes el-Bali – The Heart of the Medina. Today we begin exploring Fes el-Bali, the ancient medina of Fes and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Often considered the cultural and spiritual capital of Morocco, Fes is an extraordinary photographic environment. Its maze of narrow, car-free streets is filled with beautiful fountains, palaces, madrasas, workshops, traditional architecture and countless details waiting to be discovered.

We’ll begin with one of Fes’s most famous – and certainly most colourful and atmospheric – sights: the Chouara Tannery. From a nearby rooftop, we’ll have a bird’s-eye view over the famous dyeing vats, where leather has been processed using traditional techniques for centuries. The vivid colours and geometric patterns make this a particularly rewarding location for photography. After lunch, we’ll continue exploring the medina, allowing ourselves plenty of time to wander, observe and photograph the constantly changing scenes around us.

18 Nov. Thursday / Overnight: Fes – Breakfast included

Day 9 – Fes

Architecture, Markets, Street Life & Sunset Over Fes. We’ll start early with some architecture photography, visiting one of Fes’s beautiful historic madrasas before the crowds arrive. This is an opportunity to slow down and concentrate on the details – geometric patterns, symmetry, arches, textures, tilework, carved wood and the interplay of light and shadow.

From there, we’ll head into the medina for a relaxed photography walk through the narrow streets and alleyways. We’ll look for interesting doorways, colourful walls, murals, traditional fountains, local vendors and everyday street scenes. We’ll also visit a local fruit and vegetable market, where the vibrant colours, textures and interaction between vendors and customers provide wonderful opportunities for people and documentary photography.

Before dinner, weather permitting, we’ll make the short drive to the viewpoint near the Merenid Tombs, high above the old city. From here, we’ll have a spectacular panoramic view across Fes, making it an ideal location for sunset and blue-hour photography. After returning to the medina, we’ll have the opportunity to photograph the famous Blue Gate (Bab Bou Jeloud) after dark, experimenting with low-light techniques and the illuminated architecture.

19 Nov. Friday / Overnight: Fes – Breakfast included

Day 10 – Fes Departure

End of the Main Photography Tour. After breakfast, we’ll say our goodbyes to those finishing their Moroccan photography adventure today.

Private transfers to Fes Airport or back to Marrakech can be arranged on request.

For those continuing with our 7-Day Sahara Tour Extension, the adventure continues south towards the desert.

20 Nov. Saturday / Overnight: N/A – Breakfast included

7-Day Sahara Tour Extension

Day 10 – Fes to Erfoud

Through the Middle Atlas Mountains. We’ll say goodbye to Fes and begin our journey south, travelling through the spectacular Middle Atlas Mountains towards Erfoud. Our first stop will be Ifrane, often referred to as the “Switzerland of Morocco” because of its alpine-style architecture and mountain setting.

We’ll continue into the surrounding cedar forests, where we’ll have the opportunity to photograph the Barbary macaques that inhabit the area. From the forests, we’ll continue towards Erfoud, our base for the night and gateway to the Sahara.

20 Nov. Saturday / Overnight: Erfoud – Breakfast included

Day 11 – Erfoud to Nkob via Rissani

Markets & Rural Morocco. Today we’ll visit Rissani, a fascinating local town located just a short drive from Erfoud. Our visit coincides with market day, giving us an authentic opportunity to experience and photograph everyday life in rural Morocco. The town is known for its traditional markets, spices, livestock and local produce.

We’ll spend the morning photographing the colourful market stalls, spices, architecture and local vendors, with plenty of opportunities for street and environmental portraits. From Rissani, we’ll continue towards Nkob, a small rural town known for its traditional mud-brick kasbahs and dramatic desert surroundings.

21 Nov. Sunday / Overnight: Nkob – Breakfast included

Day 12 – Nkob to Zagora via Tamegroute

Traditional Pottery & Desert Landscapes. Leaving Nkob, we’ll continue south towards Tamegroute, a small village famous for its distinctive green-glazed pottery and long-established pottery traditions. This will be another opportunity to photograph local artisans at work, as well as the colourful ceramics, traditional workshops and details of village life.

We’ll then continue to Zagora, an important gateway to the Sahara and our base for the evening.

22 Nov. Monday / Overnight: Zagora – Breakfast included

Day 13 – Zagora to the Sahara

Into the Sahara – M’hamid el Ghizlane & Erg Chigaga. From Zagora, we’ll drive south towards M’hamid el Ghizlane, a small desert town located on the edge of the Sahara. Here, we’ll leave the minibus behind and transfer into private 4WD vehicles for the journey into the desert. The drive to our camp takes approximately two hours, crossing increasingly remote desert landscapes and vast expanses of sand.

This part of the Moroccan Sahara is considerably less developed than the more tourist-oriented Erg Chebbi region, giving us a much stronger sense of wilderness and isolation. After arriving at our desert camp, there will be time to relax and explore the surrounding dunes. For those interested, we can arrange a camel ride this evening, or you can save the experience for the following morning.

As darkness falls, the Sahara will provide an extraordinary setting for nightscape and astrophotography, weather permitting.

23 Nov. Tuesday / Overnight: Sahara Desert Camp – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included

Day 14 – Erg Chigaga

A Full Day in the Sahara

Today is dedicated to photographing the spectacular landscapes of Erg Chigaga. We’ll have plenty of time to explore the dunes, looking for constantly changing patterns, textures, shadows and shapes created by the wind and changing sunlight.

The vast scale and simplicity of the desert make it an ideal environment for working on minimalist landscape compositions, abstract photography and the use of light and shadow. We’ll photograph during the softer morning and afternoon light, with plenty of time to experiment and refine compositions rather than rushing from one location to another. As evening approaches, we’ll return to the dunes for sunset before settling in for another night beneath the desert sky.

24 Nov. Wednesday / Overnight: Sahara Desert Camp – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included

Day 15 – Sahara to Aït Benhaddou

From the Sahara to the Ancient Kasbahs. This morning we’ll return to our 4WD vehicles and begin the journey out of the Sahara towards Foum Zguid. The route takes us through some spectacular and remote desert landscapes, with opportunities to stop along the way when interesting photographic conditions present themselves.

From Foum Zguid, we’ll continue towards Aït Benhaddou, one of Morocco’s most famous fortified villages and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The ancient ksar, built from traditional earthen architecture, has been used as a filming location for numerous major productions, including Gladiator and Game of Thrones.

We’ll spend the afternoon exploring the village, photographing its narrow alleyways, traditional architecture, arches, textures and surrounding landscape. From the higher sections of the kasbah, there are also spectacular views across the surrounding landscape and, on a clear day, towards the snow-covered High Atlas Mountains.

25 Nov. Thursday / Overnight: Aït Benhaddou – Breakfast included

Day 16 – Aït Benhaddou

Sunrise & Ancient Kasbahs. We’ll rise early this morning to photograph sunrise over Aït Benhaddou, when the soft morning light begins to illuminate the ancient earthen buildings and surrounding landscape.

After breakfast, we’ll continue exploring the village at a relaxed pace. Aït Benhaddou is particularly rewarding for photographers because almost every corner offers a new composition. The combination of earthen architecture, dramatic textures, winding alleyways, arches, doorways and changing light provides endless opportunities for both architectural and landscape photography.

From the upper levels of the kasbah, we’ll also look for wider compositions incorporating the surrounding valleys and the distant High Atlas Mountains. This is an ideal location to experiment with layering, perspective, leading lines, light and shadow, while also creating a visual connection between the architecture and the surrounding Moroccan landscape. As the afternoon light develops, we’ll have another opportunity to photograph the kasbah in warmer tones before returning to our accommodation.

26 Nov. Friday / Overnight: Aït Benhaddou – Breakfast included

 Day 17 – Aït Benhaddou to Marrakech & Departure

The Journey Home. After breakfast, we’ll set off for Marrakech, crossing the spectacular High Atlas Mountains on our way back towards the city. The journey takes approximately 4–4½ hours, depending on road and weather conditions.

As the recommended arrival time at Marrakech International Airport is approximately three hours before departure, we strongly recommend booking a late-afternoon flight departing after 5:00 pm, or an evening flight. If you prefer to avoid a long travel day before your flight, we can also arrange an additional night in Marrakech, allowing you to relax and enjoy one final evening in Morocco before departing the following morning.

27 Nov. Saturday / Overnight: N/A - Breakfast included

* This is a sample itinerary, our itineraries are subject to change depending on weather and other circumstance beyond our control. Changes in the itinerary are always made to provide our guests the best possible experience, in a secure and professional way.

Photography Outline

Personal Items and Weather Conditions

Camera Equipment

Tour Extensions