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13 days luxury Morocco tour: 13 Days Luxury Morocco Tour: Marrakech, Sahara & Essaouira
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13 days · Luxury, active

13 Days Luxury Morocco Tour: Marrakech, Sahara & Essaouira

A 13 days luxury Morocco tour: boutique riads, kasbah hotels, two nights in a luxury desert camp and three nights by the ocean in Essaouira.

See the day-by-day route
13 days / 12 nightsStarts in MarrakechEnds in MarrakechPrivate tour
Marrakech→Agafay→Marrakech→Aït Benhaddou→Skoura→Dades Valley→Todra Gorge→Merzouga→Ouarzazate→Marrakech→Essaouira→Sidi Kaouki→Essaouira→Marrakech

About this 13 days luxury Morocco tour

Our 13 days luxury Morocco tour combines the Sahara and the ocean in comfort. You sleep in boutique riads, kasbah hotels and a luxury desert camp.

First, a private guide shows you Marrakech, and a balloon flies you over the palm grove. Then you ride a horse at Aït Benhaddou and cycle in Skoura. After that, you walk in the Todra Gorge and spend two nights in the dunes. Next, a buggy ride and a sunset camel ride fill your desert day. Finally, three nights in Essaouira bring a kitesurf lesson or a beach ride. In short, this 13 days luxury Morocco tour is private and on your dates.

Highlights of this 13 days luxury Morocco tour

  • Private guide in Marrakech
  • Hot air balloon
  • Horse ride at Aït Benhaddou
  • Kasbah hotels in Skoura & the Dades
  • Two nights in a luxury desert camp
  • Buggy & sunset camel ride
  • Three nights in Essaouira
  • Kitesurf or beach ride

13 days luxury Morocco tour: day by day

  1. 1day
    Day 1

    Arrival in Marrakech

    We meet you at the airport and take you to a boutique riad in the medina.

    On the road: about 30 minStay: Riad in Marrakech
  2. 2day
    Day 2

    Marrakech with a private guide

    The palaces, the souks and the gardens at your own pace, with a hammam in the afternoon.

    Stay: Riad in Marrakech
  3. 3day
    Day 3

    Balloon & Agafay sunset

    A hot air balloon at sunrise, a free day, and dinner at sunset in the Agafay desert.

    On the road: about 45 min each wayStay: Riad in Marrakech
  4. 4day
    Day 4

    Aït Benhaddou on horseback

    Over the Tizi n’Tichka pass, a horse ride around Aït Benhaddou and on to Skoura.

    On the road: about 5 h with stopsStay: Kasbah hotel in Skoura
  5. 5day
    Day 5

    Skoura bikes & the Dades

    Bikes in the palm grove, then a gentle walk in the Dades Valley.

    On the road: about 2 hStay: Kasbah hotel in Dades Valley
  6. 6day
    Day 6

    Todra Gorge to the dunes

    A walk in the Todra Gorge, then Merzouga and a camel ride at sunset to a luxury camp.

    On the road: about 5 h with stopsStay: Luxury desert camp
  7. 7day
    Day 7

    A full day in Erg Chebbi

    Sunrise, a buggy ride, Gnawa music in Khamlia and dinner under the stars.

    Stay: Luxury desert camp
  8. 8day
    Day 8

    West to Ouarzazate

    A long road day back through the valleys, with stops for lunch and photos.

    On the road: about 7–8 h with stopsStay: Riad in Ouarzazate
  9. 9day
    Day 9

    Back to Marrakech

    Over the High Atlas to Marrakech and a free afternoon at the riad.

    On the road: about 4–5 h with stopsStay: Riad in Marrakech
  10. 10day
    Day 10

    To Essaouira

    Drive to the coast with a stop at an argan cooperative, and sunset on the ramparts.

    On the road: about 3 h with the argan stopStay: Riad in Essaouira
  11. 11day
    Day 11

    Kitesurf or beach ride

    A kitesurf lesson in the bay, or a horse ride on the beach of Sidi Kaouki.

    On the road: about 30 min each wayStay: Riad in Essaouira
  12. 12day
    Day 12

    Essaouira at leisure

    The port, the medina, the art galleries and a seafood lunch by the harbour.

    Stay: Riad in Essaouira
  13. 13day
    Day 13

    Back to Marrakech & departure

    Return to Marrakech airport for your flight.

    On the road: about 2.5–3 h

What’s included in this 13 days luxury Morocco tour

Included

  • 12 nights of accommodation as listed (riads, guesthouses and a desert camp)
  • Breakfast every morning
  • Dinner and breakfast at the desert camp
  • Private transport in an air-conditioned vehicle with driver
  • Pick-up in Marrakech and drop-off in Marrakech (hotel, riad, airport)
  • Camel ride as described in the programme
  • Surf lessons with board and wetsuit

Not included

  • International flights
  • Lunches and drinks
  • Entrance fees to monuments and museums
  • Optional activities (for example quad, buggy or balloon) unless listed
  • Travel insurance
  • Tips for drivers and guides

Draft based on this programme – our team confirms the exact list with your quote.

Where you stay

  1. Night 1Riad in Marrakech
  2. Night 2Riad in Marrakech
  3. Night 3Riad in Marrakech
  4. Night 4Kasbah hotel in Skoura
  5. Night 5Kasbah hotel in Dades Valley
  6. Night 6Luxury desert camp
  7. Night 7Luxury desert camp
  8. Night 8Riad in Ouarzazate
  9. Night 9Riad in Marrakech
  10. Night 10Riad in Essaouira
  11. Night 11Riad in Essaouira
  12. Night 12Riad in Essaouira

Comfort level: Standard + – comfortable riads, guesthouses and a traditional desert camp, chosen by our team. Luxury camps and riads are possible on request.

Best time for this trip

Spring and autumn are best for the desert and the coast. Summer is very hot in the Sahara, and winter nights in the camp are cold even with heating.

  • JanPossible
  • FebGood
  • MarBest
  • AprBest
  • MayGood
  • JunPossible
  • JulAvoid
  • AugAvoid
  • SepGood
  • OctBest
  • NovBest
  • DecGood

What to bring for this trip

  • Smart-casual outfit for the dinners
  • Clothes that cover shoulders and knees
  • Long trousers for the horse ride
  • Swimsuit for the hammam and the pools
  • Windproof jacket for Essaouira
  • Scarf for sand and sun
  • Warm layer for the balloon and the desert evenings
  • Sunglasses and sun cream
  • Refillable water bottle

Booking & payment

How to book
Send your request; we confirm the programme and the price in writing on WhatsApp or by email.
Payment
A deposit secures your booking and the balance is paid on arrival.
Cancellation
Our cancellation conditions are sent with your quote, before you pay anything.
Weather & changes
If the weather stops an activity, we adapt the day or replace the activity.

13 Days Luxury Morocco Tour: your questions

Where do we stay on the 13 days luxury Morocco tour?

Boutique riads in Marrakech and Essaouira, kasbah hotels in Skoura and the Dades, and a luxury desert camp with private tents and bathrooms. We send you the choices for your dates.

Is the 13 days luxury Morocco tour active?

Yes – a balloon, a horse ride, bikes, a buggy, a camel ride and a kitesurf lesson or a beach ride. Each one is optional.

Why three nights in Essaouira?

After the desert, a few calm days by the ocean balance the trip, with time for the beach, the port and the medina.

Do we have a private driver?

Yes, a private driver for the whole tour and local guides in Marrakech and the gorges.

How much does the tour cost?

It is priced on request and depends on the season, the number of travellers and the hotels you choose.

Local team in MoroccoYour trip is planned and run by our own team on the ground.
Private, on your datesOnly you and your travel companions, starting when you want.
Every day can changeAdd a night, an activity or a slower pace – the plan adapts to you.
Answers on WhatsAppAsk us anything before you book: +212 600 643 098.

What our travellers say

TA5.0 ●●●●●
Moroccan Active Adventures on Tripadvisor
●●●●●

A holistic experience

Booking a trip with Moroccan active adventures gave us the most memorable new years celebration of our lived. Our guide Mouhssin was especially talented at turning down deserted mountain/desert roads and finding beautiful riads…
A
Read all reviews on Tripadvisor

Activities on this trip

Read more about each experience – what to expect, who it is for and what to bring.

Quad & buggy ridesQuad & buggy ridesDay 7 – A full day in Erg ChebbiDetails →Camel & horseback treksCamel & horseback treksDay 4 – Aït Benhaddou on horsebackDetails →Desert camping & stargazingDesert camping & stargazingDay 7 – A full day in Erg ChebbiDetails →Hot air balloon rideHot air balloon rideDay 3 – Balloon & Agafay sunsetDetails →Cycling & mountain bikingCycling & mountain bikingDay 5 – Skoura bikes & the DadesDetails →Hiking & trekking adventuresHiking & trekking adventuresDay 5 – Skoura bikes & the DadesDetails →

Optional activities

Add one or more of these to your 13-day trip. They are not included in the price – ask us and we add them to your programme.

4x4 & off-road safarisOptional · extra4x4 & off-road safaris4x4 tour around the dunes and nomad familiesSee the activity →Surf & kitesurf experienceOptional · extraSurf & kitesurf experienceSurf lesson on the AtlanticSee the activity →Kite surfing lift-offOptional · extraKite surfing lift-offKitesurf lesson in windy EssaouiraSee the activity →Authentic culinary experiencesOptional · extraAuthentic culinary experiencesCooking class or food walk in the medinaSee the activity →Wellness and relaxationOptional · extraWellness and relaxationTraditional hammam and spa timeSee the activity →Windsurfing adventureOptional · extraWindsurfing adventureWindsurfing sessionSee the activity →
Quick request

Request this 13-day trip

Fill in the form and press send: your request comes straight to our team’s inbox (or WhatsApp, if you prefer) and we reply with the full programme and a clear price.

  • No payment to send a request
  • Private tour on your dates
  • Or write to us: +212 600 643 098

More ideas for 13 days in morocco

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See all 8 ideas for 13 days

A similar trip, shorter or longer

All Morocco itineraries, 4 to 30 days · Luxury tours · Small group tours · Women only tours · Activities · Travel tips · About our team

Quad & buggy rides
Land adventure

Quad & buggy rides

On this trip: Day 7 – A full day in Erg Chebbi

Quad biking Marrakech style means leaving the city noise behind in minutes: dusty palm grove tracks, Berber villages and the rocky hills of the Agafay desert, with the Atlas Mountains on the horizon. Our guides ride in front, set the pace to the slowest rider and stop for photos and mint tea. You do not need any experience – we show you the controls and do a short practice loop before we leave.

Where
Marrakech palm grove (Palmeraie), Agafay desert, Merzouga dunes
Duration
1 hour to 6 days
Level
Beginner friendly, no experience needed
Minimum age
Drivers usually 16+; younger children ride as buggy passengers
  • Desert right next to the city
  • Quad or buggy, your choice
  • Real landscapes, not a track
See the full activity page
 Camel & horseback treks
Land adventure

Camel & horseback treks

On this trip: Day 4 – Aït Benhaddou on horseback

Camel trekking Morocco’s Sahara is the slow, quiet way into the desert: a line of camels led by a guide on foot, swaying over the orange dunes of Erg Chebbi near Merzouga as the light turns soft. Most of our guests ride at sunset to a camp in the dunes and come back at sunrise. It is calm, not sporty – anyone who can sit on a saddle for an hour can do it.

Where
Merzouga (Erg Chebbi), Agafay desert, Marrakech palm grove
Duration
1 hour to 6 days
Level
Easy, no experience needed for camels
Minimum age
Children ride with an adult; ask us for small kids
  • The classic Sahara moment
  • Local camel men
  • Slow travel
See the full activity page
 Desert camping & stargazing
Land adventure

Desert camping & stargazing

On this trip: Day 7 – A full day in Erg Chebbi

Sahara desert camping in Morocco is about one evening you will not forget: arriving at a camp hidden between the dunes of Erg Chebbi, climbing a ridge for sunset, eating tagine by the fire while drums play, then lying on a rug under more stars than you thought possible. Our camps near Merzouga range from simple nomad-style tents to comfortable tents with real beds and private bathrooms.

Where
Merzouga (Erg Chebbi dunes), Agafay desert near Marrakech
Duration
1 to 3 nights
Level
Easy, for all ages
Camp types
Nomad-style, standard and luxury tents
  • Real dunes
  • A sky full of stars
  • Choose your comfort
See the full activity page
 Hot air balloon ride
Air adventure

Hot air balloon ride

On this trip: Day 3 – Balloon & Agafay sunset

A hot air balloon Marrakech flight is the quietest way to see Morocco wake up. You leave the city in the dark, watch the burners light up the envelope, and lift off just as the sun climbs over the Atlas Mountains. Below you, red-earth villages, olive groves and dry riverbeds turn gold, and on clear winter mornings the snow on the High Atlas shines on the horizon.

Where
Countryside outside Marrakech (launch site set by the pilot each morning)
Duration
About 1 hour in the air, 4-5 hours door to door
Start time
Very early pick-up, before sunrise
Level
No experience needed
  • Sunrise over the Atlas
  • Silent, slow flying
  • Rural Morocco from above
See the full activity page
 Cycling & mountain biking
Land adventure

Cycling & mountain biking

On this trip: Day 5 – Skoura bikes & the Dades

Mountain biking Morocco’s High Atlas means riding mule paths between Berber villages, rolling down terraced valleys and stopping for tea where the trail meets a walnut grove. Our guides know the tracks around Marrakech, the Ourika and Imlil valleys and the Agafay hills, and pick routes that fit your level – from easy dirt roads to longer climbs and technical descents.

Where
Agafay desert, Ourika and Imlil valleys (High Atlas), Dades and Todra gorges
Duration
Half day to multi-day tours
Level
Easy to challenging – routes chosen for you
Bikes
Mountain bikes and e-bikes, helmet included
  • Mountains near the city
  • Village trails, not empty parks
  • Huge variety
See the full activity page
 Hiking & trekking adventures
Land adventure

Hiking & trekking adventures

On this trip: Day 5 – Skoura bikes & the Dades

Hiking Morocco’s High Atlas is a walk through a lived-in landscape: terraced fields, walnut trees, flat-roofed Berber villages built from the same red earth as the mountains, and mule paths that people still use every day. Our local mountain guides grew up around these valleys. They choose the route, set a steady pace and arrange lunch or a night in a village house.

Where
High Atlas (Imlil, Ourika, Toubkal), Dades & Todra gorges, Merzouga dunes
Duration
Day hikes to 5-day treks
Level
Easy valley walks to challenging summit treks
Minimum age
Valley walks for families; Toubkal for fit teens and adults
  • Real mountains near Marrakech
  • Toubkal, the big one
  • Village life on the trail
See the full activity page
 4x4 & off-road safaris
Land adventure

4x4 & off-road safaris

Optional extra: 4x4 tour around the dunes and nomad families

A 4x4 tour Morocco style takes you where normal cars cannot go: around the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes, across the black stone plains near Merzouga, up rough mountain tracks in the Atlas and down into dry riverbeds where nomads still water their flocks. You sit back with an experienced local driver who knows the pistes, the weather and the best places to stop.

Where
Merzouga & Erg Chebbi, High Atlas tracks, Dades & Todra gorges, Agafay
Duration
Half day to multi-day private tours
Level
Easy – you are a passenger, no driving needed
Group
Private vehicle for your family or group
  • Reach the hidden places
  • Drivers who know the pistes
  • Private and flexible
See the full activity page
 Surf & kitesurf experience
Water adventure

Surf & kitesurf experience

Optional extra: Surf lesson on the Atlantic

Surfing Morocco means long right-hand point breaks, sandy beach breaks for learning and warm sun when Europe is cold. The coast north of Agadir – Taghazout, Tamraght and the fishing village of Imsouane – is the heart of it, with Essaouira and its windy beaches further north. We organise lessons and surf guiding with licensed local surf schools and instructors, from your first wave to your first point break.

Where
Taghazout, Tamraght, Imsouane, Essaouira
Duration
Half-day lesson to a week-long surf camp
Level
Complete beginners to experienced surfers
Minimum age
Children who swim well, in lessons suited to them
  • World-class point breaks
  • A great place to learn
  • Surf in winter sun
See the full activity page
 Kite surfing lift-off
Air adventure

Kite surfing lift-off

Optional extra: Kitesurf lesson in windy Essaouira

Kitesurfing Morocco means steady Atlantic wind, long beaches and two very different playgrounds. In the far south, the Dakhla lagoon offers wide, flat, shallow water that is ideal for learning and for freestyle. Further north, Essaouira is known for its strong trade winds in spring and summer, with choppy water in the bay and powerful waves on nearby beaches for experienced riders.

Where
Dakhla lagoon, Essaouira and other Atlantic spots
Duration
Single lessons to a full kite week
Level
Beginner courses to independent riders
Minimum age
Set by the school – children need enough weight to control a kite
  • Reliable wind
  • Flat water for learning
  • Waves for advanced riders
See the full activity page
 Authentic culinary experiences
Moroccan experience

Authentic culinary experiences

Optional extra: Cooking class or food walk in the medina

A Morocco food tour is the quickest way into the country’s heart. With one of our local guides you taste fresh msemen pancakes at breakfast, follow the smell of cumin through the spice souk, try harira and grilled meat at the stalls of Jemaa el-Fna, and learn why a tagine needs time. We take you where locals actually eat, not where the menus are in five languages.

Where
Marrakech, Fes, Essaouira, Atlas villages, Merzouga
Duration
3-hour food walk to full-day class
Level
Easy – come hungry
Diets
Vegetarian options on request
  • Street food you would not find alone
  • Markets as a lesson
  • Cooking with real cooks
See the full activity page
 Wellness and relaxation
Moroccan experience

Wellness and relaxation

Optional extra: Traditional hammam and spa time

A Morocco wellness retreat with us is built around your rhythm, not a fixed timetable. Start with a traditional hammam in Marrakech, rest in a riad courtyard with only the fountain for company, stretch on a yoga mat facing the Atlantic, and end with a night in the Merzouga desert where the silence is almost total. We plan the logistics so you can simply let go.

Where
Marrakech, Agafay, Atlas valleys, Essaouira, Taghazout, Merzouga
Duration
Half-day hammam to 7+ day retreat
Level
Easy – all fitness levels
Group
Solo, couples, friends or private groups
  • The hammam ritual
  • Riads made for rest
  • Yoga with a view
See the full activity page
 Windsurfing adventure
Water adventure

Windsurfing adventure

Optional extra: Windsurfing session

Windsurfing Morocco starts with one word: wind. Essaouira is nicknamed the Wind City of Africa, because the trade winds blow along this coast for much of the year, strongest in spring and summer. The wide bay is a good classroom, Moulay Bouzerktoun to the north is a famous wave spot, and far to the south the Dakhla lagoon offers flat water on the edge of the Sahara. We organise lessons and rentals with licensed local windsurf centres and instructors.

Where
Essaouira bay, Moulay Bouzerktoun, Sidi Kaouki, Dakhla lagoon
Duration
2-hour lesson to a week-long windsurf camp
Level
Beginners (lessons) to advanced wave sailors
Minimum age
Children who swim well, with kids’ rigs where available
  • Reliable wind
  • Spots for every level
  • Wave sailing at Moulay
See the full activity page
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