Desert Hikes in Morocco

Seven unforgettable days on the Imperial Cities tour from Casablanca a journey that took us across Morocco’s most iconic destinations: Rabat, Chefchaouen, Fez, the Sahara Desert, and Marrakesh. From the very beginning in Casablanca, standing in front of the incredible Hassan II Mosque set the tone for what was to come — a trip full of contrast, culture, and constant discovery. Each stop along the way felt completely different, yet seamlessly connected into one incredible experience. What made this tour so special wasn’t just the places we visited, but how it felt to travel through Morocco. One day we were walking through calm coastal cities, the next we were getting lost in ancient medinas, and then suddenly we were crossing vast desert landscapes as the sun set over the dunes. Every day brought something new, and no two moments ever felt the same. Some of the most unforgettable memories came from the experiences in between, sharing long drives through changing landscapes, stopping for spontaneous photo moments, discovering local food along the way, and watching Morocco slowly reveal its diversity hour by hour. The highlight for me was definitely the Sahara Desert, riding camels at sunset and spending the night under a sky full of stars felt completely unreal. Ending the journey in Marrakesh was the perfect finish. The energy of the city, the colours, the souks, and the rooftop evenings made it the ideal place to reflect on everything we had experienced over the week. What stayed with me most is how much variety Morocco offers in just seven days, landscapes, cultures, traditions, and moments that feel worlds apart, yet all connected in one journey. If you’re considering this tour, I can honestly say it’s one of the most rewarding ways to experience the country. It’s not just about seeing Morocco, it’s about feeling it, living it and remembering it long after you’ve returned home.

I got down to Marrakesh with a rival company also doing Spain and Portugal along the way. But the area this Intrepid tour went, was the Morocco I always wanted to see. I mention this as the Sahara and southern Morocco is very different to the top half of the country. The highlight was riding camels (that looked to be well taken care of unlike horses you see in Marrakesh, donkeys and mules in other parts). We only had five people in total on this tour, but everyone got along really well. Surprisingly all but Essaouira had air-conditioning, granted not all worked, but I wasn't anticipating it much. It is very hot in Marrakesh and the camp in the Sahara. Some of the accommodation wasn't great and I didn't see what the point of wasting a day travelling to Tata was, since there was nothing there. There's a lot of long travel days in the chartered bus (and public bus to Marrakesh at the end). Day 2 (well 3 since they ridiculously count the meet anytime day where you do nothing as a day), we drove through places in the desert where Star Wars and other movies were filmed but the guide never said, if you look out the window on your right, that's Tatooine, or anything like that. So that was disappointing as it was the main reason I did this trip over the 3 day one. I mean we saw the places but never knew it at the time. We did visit the site of Gladiator and saw the set prop from Game of Thrones left behind at Benhaddou, which was an interesting town, although we drove by plenty more buildings that looked like that towns' in the days that followed. The hike from Imil to Arournd was just walking up a dirt road, we could have just driven all the way, there since we were being constantly passed by vehicles including ones the same size as the bus. Seemed to be more of a gimmick so mules could take our backpacks to the hostel like place. Tieta Tagmoute started off witnessing an old guy have an argument with our local guide and take out his anger by beating a donkey. The place turned out to be interesting with the keymaster bank, but was actually better because another old guy basically bullied keymaster and our guide to see his place on the way. I guess to get a cut of the money. But his place had a lot of cool photo opportunities. Best local guide was in Tafraoute, who was entertaining and told us a lot about culture and everything else. Even joined in the performance at the lunch at the local Berber house there. As did our Intrepid guide, Oulaid by the way who was a very nice guy and good guide by the way. He listened to our feedback along the way and would adjust future stuff such as having a picnic at the beach rather than a terrible cafe the day before. Overall it was a great tour, just needed a few improvements. Not enough time in a few places, and way too much time others. It did seem to die off a little once we got to Essaouira where too much free time made it seem like the tour finished a few days before it did since you do very little with the guide. Local bus where you sit next to locals and don't all sit together doesn't help with that feeling either.

Certainly the bespoke tour agency in Morocco! I had an incredible experience in Morocco, all thanks to this agency. From the very beginning, Mustafa was excellent in communication and made sure to customize the trip based on our interests and what we truly enjoy doing. When we arrived, we were warmly welcomed at the airport by our driver and guide, Youssef, who greeted us with a friendly smile. From that moment on, he ensured we didn’t miss a thing and fully immersed us in Moroccan culture, cuisine, and daily life. As a Berber from the heart of the Sahara Desert, Youssef brought an authentic and personal touch to the journey. Spending a full day in the Sahara was a real highlight. Even though we visited in June and temperatures were high, Youssef smartly tailored the schedule so we could relax by the pool during the hottest hours. We did all the desert activities: camel ride, ATVs, and sand-boarding, during the cooler times in the morning and at sunset, which made the experience much more enjoyable. All the riads were thoughtfully chosen and top-notch, but the desert camp was something truly special. We had never experienced such warmth and enthusiasm from people anywhere else in the world. The food at the camp was easily the best we had in Morocco, even though all the meals throughout the trip were excellent, the camp’s cuisine stood out. We’re incredibly grateful to Youssef and Escorted Morocco Tours for crafting such a personalized and unforgettable Moroccan adventure.