The 7 night / 8 day Morocco photography tour features the people and landscapes of this captivating desert region in a specially tailored guided tour to include a range of different genres. The chosen accommodation is in comfortable B&B’s and hotels serving good food. Their websites are accessible via the highlighted links.
The average drive time is 2-3 hrs a day in a luxury SUV or spacious MPV which is a comfortable ride time allowing more time at destinations. The total distance covered is about 1600km and includes an evening in the dunes. The tour has been tailored to include enough time at locations to produce the images you want to take and cover a range of photographic experiences and settings. It’s not a whistle-stop of key cultural highlights but an in-depth photography tour exploring Moroccan imagery offering exceptional value for money.
Morocco Photography Tour subjects to photograph include Kasbahs, rock formations, mountains, night star trails, field workers, dunes, camels, nomads, musicians & artisans.
Day 1: After setting off from Marrakesh late morning we’ll head over to the High Atlas and the Tizi n Tichka summit on the road to Ouarzazate before arriving at Ait Benhaddou, a journey of about 4 hours, stopping en route to take photos where desired. Ait Benhaddou is the site of the oldest Ksar in Morocco. The Kasbah or Ksar as it’s correctly known still houses many families within its labyrinth of mud-brick walls. We’ll arrive in time for the ‘golden hour’ of light whilst the remote setting offers the chance for some time-lapse star trail night sky photography from the terrace of your auberge.
Day 2: The day is set aside for exploring the village, concentrating on the stunning views around the Ksar and the narrow passageways as well as photographing two families in their homes including their work on a traditional loom weaving Berber carpets. Usually, we have lunch with one family. In the afternoon our tour continues onwards towards Dades Valley, arriving in the late afternoon light to photograph the rock formations here known as ‘monkey toes‘. The auberge for the evening is a short drive further on. 3 hours drive in total.
Day 3: After breakfast, we’ll visit an artisan and his family where you can photograph them at home. Their village is situated at 1800 metres. Then we’ll continue north through villages and over mountain passes giving a true glimpse of High Atlas life. Todra Gorge is our next stop and your hotel location for the night. Here also there are good opportunities for framing stars with rock formations. A 1.5-hour drive.
Day 4: Our location in Todra Gorge is ideal for photographing a nomad family at first light, a short walk or drive from the hotel. After breakfast, we depart back along the road to the main Gorge where you can stop to photograph the overview of the Palmeraie in Todra’s river valley, a maze of date palms that takes you through luxuriant ribbons of palm and olive groves, almond and pomegranate trees and patchworks of tiny crop fields. Thereafter, we’ll continue to the hotel for that evening, one one-hour drive away, and the location for some fabulous photography in a Ksar and village mostly untouched by tourism. This special village offers unique shots of tunnels within the Ksar. This is what we’ll be focusing on in the afternoon followed by a walk around the village in the late afternoon light.
Day 5: An early start in the tunnels with a cooler light and the chance to photograph any curious locals gathered around. Afterwards, it’s the weekly market a short walk away to hone your street photography. Lunch is followed by a portrait workshop photographing a Ksar resident in her mud-brick home.
Day 6: After breakfast, we’ll set off for the dunes at Merzouga first stopping at Rissini for the large weekly market for portrait and street opportunities. We’ll have lunch there before the 40 min. onwards journey to our hotel: Kanz Erremal. We use that as a base for a 4×4 or a camel journey through the dunes to a Luxury Camp. Total journey time 2.5 hours.
Day 7: The morning is tailored for photographing camel trains deep in the dunes at first light. After a portrait session with local musicians, we set off on the road back to Marrakesh overnighting at Skoura and its palmeries, a UNESCO heritage site. Overnight accommodation here is at Chez Laila. The late afternoon is set aside for photographing the ruins of a Kasbah set amidst palm trees. The hotel has a swimming pool so there’s the chance for an afternoon dip. 4 hours drive.
Day 8: It’s a 5-hour journey back to Marrakesh airport.
From the UK, Easyjet and BA are the main carriers to Marrakesh. From the US, flights into Casablanca are also available. We can research these flights for you. Please let us know your flight plans before booking.
The Morocco photography tour is limited to 6 people but mostly we run with 3 or 4 depending on the time of year. All hotels are to a good standard and have private en-suite bathrooms. The price is inclusive of accommodation, breakfast and local fees paid to families and our network of local guides.
Please note the tour needs a minimum of 2 to run. Once this number is reached the tour status will run from available to guaranteed to run and you can proceed with flights. Final payment is only required once the tour is guaranteed. You’ll need about £150 ($210) cash to bring with you to cover lunches and dinners.