Morocco Photography Tour
Morocco Photography Tour is the Experience and the contrast of the iconic cityscapes of Marrakech and Essaouira with the Draa Valley, remote Saharan dunes and mountains. We run our Morocco photography tour during the period of the new moon to maximise opportunities for night photography.
Morocco Photography Tour Itinerary
Day | Highlights | Overnight |
Day 1 | Arrival to Marrakech, overnight in the Medina | Marrakech |
Day 2 | Travel from Marrakech across the High Atlas to Agdz | Agdz |
Day 3 | Travel to the Erg Chigaga and the Berber desert camp | Erg Chegaga |
Day 4 | Day at leisure in the dunes of Erg Chigaga | Erg Chegaga |
Day 5 | Travel to the Canyon landscape near Foum Zguid | Foum Zguid |
Day 6 | Travel from the Sahara to Ait Ben Haddou | Aït Benhaddou |
Day 7 | Travel to Essaouira via the High Atlas mountains | Essaouira |
Day 8 | leisure Day in Essaouira | Essaouira |
Day 9 | Travel to Marrakech airport or Medina | Departure |
Day 1 – Arrival to Marrakech, overnight in the Medina
Morocco Photography Tour start at your Riad in the Medina of Marrakech . We head straight out to explore the various areas of the colourful Medina. Through the narrow alleyways we make our way to the Museum of Photography to get some inspiration for our trip. Then we head up to the rooftop to photograph the Marrakech skyline with the Atlas Mountains in the distance.
At sunset we spend time around the Jmaa el Fna square. Then we return to our Riad for a typical Moroccan dinner and debrief before tomorrow’s journey.
Day 2 – Travel from Marrakech across the High Atlas to Agdz (via Telouet Kasbah)
Aim to depart from Marrakech by 08:30am. Driving hours approx. 6 hours (excluding visits en-route). We drive from Marrakech over the High Atlas Mountains towards the Draa Valley. En-route we make stops to photograph the various views of the mountains. A telephoto lens will be helpful in capturing the layers of the mountains as they are lit by the sun. Around noon we visit the Telouet Kasbah and explore its interior. We photograph the different architectural styles intermixed in this Kasbah before heading down the unspoilt Ounila Valley to Ait Ben Haddou. This time it’s only a short visit to this picturesque Ksar. We have lunch and do some scouting for when we return on Day 6. Our destination today is the beautiful Hara Oasis Lodge, which is located in the midst of a vast palm oasis bordering the Draa Valley. It’s a magical place and great to relax after our long drive. The Hara Oasis provides some unique viewpoints from within its compounds. With a telephoto lens we can photograph both sunset and sunrise directly from the lodge. More viewpoints are down at the riverside.
Day 3 – Travel to the Erg Chigaga and the Berber desert camp
Today we have a long drive ahead of us (approx. 5 hours excluding stops en-route) to reach the highlight of our tour, the Erg Chigaga dunes. We stay for two nights in a remote Berber desert camp in the midst of the erg. This location offers endless opportunities to photograph the Erg Chigaga. We climb different dunes to get great views of the surrounding sea of sand. The first evening we head to the highest dune in the area. Here we can photograph in all directions as the sun sets behind the horizon and the colours of the desert transform from gold, to red, to blue.
Day 4 – Day at leisure in the dunes of Erg Chigaga, with option to visit a nomad family
Optional time in the car approx. 1 hour. We head out 2.5 hours before sunrise to photograph the Milky Way rising over the dunes, then watch as the morning light slowly transforms the desert. A wide-angle lens will be our tool of choice to capture as many stars as possible. During the day we have the option to visit a nomad family and learn about their way of life in the desert. In the afternoon, we start to prepare for our second sunset shoot in the Sahara desert. We will have the chance to photograph dromedaries in the dunes before riding back on them for our final dinner at the desert camp.
Day 5 – Travel to the Canyon landscape near Foum Zguid
With time allocated for photographing the mountains near Lake Iriqui, the Jebel Bani and Madouar, driving hours will be approx. 2.5 hours from the Erg Chigaga dunes. Another morning shoot concludes our unforgettable stay in the Erg Chigaga dunes. Afterwards we have some additional time to enjoy the silence of the Sahara desert until we head towards the mountainous landscape near Foum Zguid. These spectacular cliffs and mountains have rarely been photographed. By wild camping close by, we will have the opportunity to get some unique photos during both sunset and sunrise.
Day 6 – Travel from the Sahara to Ait Ben Haddou UNESCO
Driving hours approx. 3 hours (excluding stops en-route). After photographing sunrise in the wilderness of Morocco we head to Ait Ben Haddou. Here we have some time to relax in our beautiful hotel and then explore the interior of the Ksar itself. We meet up to photograph sunset down at the river to get the iconic photo of Ait Ben Haddou.
Day 7 – Travel to Essaouira via the High Atlas mountains
Driving hours approx. 7 hours (excluding stops en-route). We head to the viewpoint we scouted on day 2 to photograph sunrise and get yet another iconic photo of Ait Ben Haddou. Then after breakfast we have a long, yet varied, drive ahead of us to finally reach the Atlantic Coast. We spend the evening in Essaouira, its Medina and remparts, and photograph the beautiful coastline into blue hour.
Day 8 – Day at leisure in Essaouira
We have different options to photograph sunrise. Then after breakfast it’s time to explore the beautiful alleyways of Essaouira and dip into some street photography. Unlike Marrakech, Essaouira is much more relaxed and an easier place to practise street photography. We enjoy a final sunset shoot before heading to dinner in Essaouira.
Day 9 – Travel to Marrakech airport or Medina
Driving hours approx. 3 hours.We conclude our trip with a final breakfast before we head back to Marrakech airport. We drop participants at the Marrakech airport, or in the Medina (for those not departing today) end of your Morocco Photography Tour .
Enjoy the best possible vacation for your family
