As a general market guide, a shared 3-day desert tour from Marrakech typically costs roughly 900 to 1,500 MAD per person, while a private mid-range tour usually runs about 1,200 to 2,500 MAD per person per day. Luxury trips cost more. Group size, season and hotel level change the price most.
Typical price ranges at a glance
The figures below are broad ranges seen across the Moroccan market, not quotes from any one company. They move with fuel prices, exchange rates and demand. As a rough conversion, 10 MAD is close to one euro or one US dollar.
| Type of trip | Typical range per person | What you usually get |
|---|---|---|
| Shared group day trip from Marrakech | Roughly 200 to 400 MAD | Seat in a minibus, driver, fixed stops |
| Private day trip from Marrakech | Roughly 400 to 900 MAD, based on two to four people | Own vehicle and driver, flexible timing |
| Shared 3-day Merzouga desert tour | Roughly 900 to 1,500 MAD | Minibus, basic hotel, standard camp, dinners and breakfasts |
| Private mid-range multi-day tour | Roughly 1,200 to 2,500 MAD per day | Private 4x4 or minivan, driver-guide, good riads, comfortable camp |
| Private luxury tour | Often 3,000 MAD per day and up | Top riads and kasbah hotels, luxury camp, extra activities |
Per-person prices on private tours assume two people sharing a room. International flights are never included.
What drives the price up or down
- Group size: the vehicle, fuel and driver cost the same for two people as for six. Four friends sharing a private tour often pay little more each than on a shared one.
- Accommodation level: this is the largest variable. The gap between a simple guesthouse and a high-end riad can be several times the nightly rate.
- Type of desert camp: standard camps have shared bathrooms; luxury camps have private bathrooms, proper beds and often heating.
- Season: spring, autumn, Christmas, New Year and Easter are peak periods. Summer in the desert and mid-winter outside the holidays are usually cheaper.
- Distance: Marrakech to Merzouga and back is over 1,100 km. Routes that finish in a different city add the cost of the vehicle returning empty.
- Vehicle: a 4x4 costs more than a minivan and is only necessary for some off-road sections.
Private or shared: what you pay for
Shared tours are cheap because up to 16 or 17 people split one minibus and the route is fixed. You stop where the driver stops, for as long as he stops, and hotels are basic. For a solo traveller on a tight budget, that is a fair trade.
A private tour buys control: your own departure time, photo stops on request, a driver-guide who explains what you are seeing, and a choice of hotels. Families with children and anyone who dislikes long days on a bus usually find it worth the difference. Browse the private Morocco tours for the kinds of routes available, or read public transport versus private tours for a fuller comparison.
What is usually included, and what is not
Most multi-day tours in Morocco are sold on a similar basis, but always check the written inclusions.
Usually included:
- Transport with fuel, tolls and an English-speaking driver
- Hotel or riad nights with breakfast
- Dinner on nights outside the big cities, including the camp
- Camel ride to or from the desert camp
- Pick-up and drop-off at your hotel or the airport
Usually extra:
- Lunches, typically 80 to 150 MAD at roadside restaurants
- Soft drinks, bottled water and alcohol
- Monument entrance fees, often 10 to 100 MAD each
- Local city guides in Fes or Marrakech medinas
- Optional activities such as quad biking, sandboarding or a 4x4 dune excursion
- Tips and travel insurance
Sample budgets by trip length
Using the mid-range private band above for two people travelling together, here is what the tour portion of a trip tends to total per person. Treat these as orientation only.
| Trip | Rough total per person |
|---|---|
| 3 days, Marrakech to Merzouga and back | 3,500 to 7,500 MAD |
| 5 days, desert and kasbahs | 6,000 to 12,500 MAD |
| 7 days, imperial cities and Sahara | 8,500 to 17,500 MAD |
| 10 days, grand tour | 12,000 to 25,000 MAD |
To see what each length covers, compare the 3-day desert tour from Marrakech to Merzouga with the 10-day grand tour of Morocco from Marrakech. The longer trip costs more in total but less per day, because driving is spread out and city days need less fuel.
Daily spending money on top of the tour
For lunches, drinks, entrance fees and small tips, most travellers on an organised tour spend roughly 200 to 400 MAD per person per day. Shopping is separate and entirely up to you.
Tipping is customary. A common guideline is 100 to 200 MAD per day for a private driver from the whole party, 20 to 50 MAD for camel handlers and camp staff, and about 10 percent in restaurants. Cash is essential in the south, where card machines are rare; withdraw dirhams in Marrakech, Fes or Ouarzazate before heading to the dunes.
How to keep the cost down without spoiling the trip
- Travel with three or four people and share one vehicle.
- Choose shoulder months such as early March, late May, early June or November.
- Mix levels: mid-range hotels on the road, and spend the extra on one night in a better desert camp.
- Start and finish in the same city to avoid one-way charges, or accept the surcharge and save a full day of driving.
- Book direct with a licensed local agency and ask for an itemised quote.
- Be wary of prices far below the ranges above; savings usually come from overcrowded vehicles, remote hotels or shopping stops.
Our checklist on how to choose a Morocco tour company lists the questions to ask before paying a deposit.
Frequently asked questions
Is it cheaper to book in Morocco or in advance?
Shared tours can be booked on arrival for similar prices. Private tours and good camps sell out in peak season, so booking ahead protects quality more than price.
Do children pay full price?
Policies vary. Many hotels and camps discount young children sharing with parents, so mention ages when you ask for a quote.
How much deposit is normal?
A deposit of around 20 to 30 percent is common practice in the market, with the balance paid on arrival. Confirm the cancellation terms in writing.
Can I pay by card?
Some agencies accept cards or online payment for the deposit. Balances are frequently settled in cash, in dirhams or euros.
For an exact figure for your dates and group, send the details through the contact page and Discover Morocco Tour will reply with a free custom quote within 24 hours.