South Morocco #5 – Marrakesh & The Sahara Desert

Transportation from Spain to Morocco and back is not included in this package. You will need to book your own flights and send us the flight details. With these details, we will happily arrange your airport pick-up and drop off in Morocco at no extra charge.

Ryanair has the best prices and ideal flight times for this Morocco trip! We recommend looking at their available flights through Skyscanner so you can compare.

Important Things to Keep in Mind:

• You will need to fly in to Marrakesh.
• Plan to arrive to Marrakesh on Wednesday, November 27th* (We recommend the Ryanair flight FR6721 landing in Marrakesh at 9:05)
• You have 2 options for the flight back:
  • 1. Plan to leave Marrakesh on Sunday, December 1st (We recommend the Ryanair flight FR6722 leaving Marrakesh at 7:25)
  • 2. Plan to leave Essaouira on Sunday, December 1st** (We recommend the Ryanair flight FR6115 leaving Essaouira at 17:25)
• Send all your flight information and questions to [email protected].

*There are flights arriving to Marrakesh later on Wednesday that you are welcome to book, however please keep in mind that our tour of the city will take place in the early afternoon and you will miss it. If you choose a later flight we will provide an airport pick up but package prices will not change even if you miss the tour.

**Flights are usually cheaper if you decide to fly out from Essaouira. You’ll need to book the “Essaouira Transfer” add-on below so we can organize your transfer there.

IMPORTANT: Please be aware that it is NOT possible to fly out on Saturday night because we will not be back from the desert before 21:00.

Find the right flight for you and we will arrange the shuttle in Morocco. If you have any questions, just shoot us an email to [email protected].

Click here to see a visual map of our route through South Morocco!

Day 1: Marrakesh (Wednesday)

We’ll meet in the morning at Marrakesh’s airport. Once the group is together we will head to our hotel to drop off our bags. Afterwards, we’ll start our day with an amazing walking tour of bustling Marrakesh. This is where we will explore the market place (known as the Medina), learn Moroccan health secrets at a local pharmacy and discover the amazing Jemaa el Fnaa square.

After the tour you’ll have free time to explore the city, pick up some souvenirs and enjoy the delicious Moroccan cuisine. In the evening your Citylife guides will arrange an optional dinner experience for you. If you do not join you are free to wander the plaza and enjoy the many available options!

Day 2: Marrakesh – Atlas Mountains – Ait Ben Haddou – Rose Valley (Thursday)

Our day begins with a hotel breakfast (included) so we can fill up before heading out! This day we will be passing through Ouarzazate, also known as the “Door of the Desert” and the the Atlas Mountains. We will stop in Tizi n’Tichka for some amazing panoramic picture opportunities and continue South following the 6km track that leads to the village of Ait Ben Haddou, famous for its Kasbah (which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Where several famous movies and series, such as Gladiator and Game of Thrones were filmed. Then we will continue to the Rose Valley were our accommodation will be waiting for us. Dinner for this evening will be included at our hotel.

Day 3: Rose Valley – Todra Canyons – Sahara Desert (Friday)

After a complimentary breakfast, we’ll continue on a route filled with beautiful scenery and unforgettable Kasbahs (Islamic Fortresses), each one unique from the next. We will then arrive at one of the most iconic places in the South of Morocco: the Todra Canyon. Cliff walls of epic proportions and immense beauty surround the channel of the River Todra; it’s a climber’s paradise!

Time to head to the Sahara desert. After selecting some traditional Berber gear from our favourite local shop, we will take our essentials and head to our Berber camp just at the entrance of the desert. We will take our camels out to the dunes where we will have the chance to sandboard and catch the sunset over the Sahara before heading to dinner at the camp. You can climb the dunes near the camp with a warm cup of tea and enjoy the peace and quiet of the desert and relax after the adventure-filled day. Finally, we’ll be spending the night in typical Berber tents, under a spectacular canopy of stars.

On this day, you’ll have the chance to hop on a quad (ATV) and take the dunes for a spin. It’s an optional add-on, but if you’re up for a little adventure, it’s a perfect way to feel the desert air on your skin. Imagine cruising over the sands with your friends, the sun setting behind you.

Day 4: Sahara Desert – Marrakesh (Saturday)

After an unforgettable night in the desert we start with an early climb to the closest dune, to catch a glimpse of the sun rising over the dunes. Then a filling breakfast before we kick off a day on the road as we head back to Marrakesh.

Important: Our drive back to Marrakesh will take the entire day. This means we won’t get back to Marrakesh before 21:00. Please keep this in mind before making any plans for this evening.

Day 5: Marrakesh/Essaouira – Return to Madrid (Sunday)

If you booked the recommended early flight leaving Marrakesh, you will be brought on time at the airport. For the others, your final day begins with an early breakfast at our hotel, fueling you up for the last day in Morocco.

If you booked the Essaouira Transfer, we’ll make sure you arrive on time at the airport for your transfer, ensuring you board your flight with a heart full of unforgettable Moroccan experiences.

Those who booked a flight back from Marrakesh or the extra night add-on will stay in Marrakesh. Airport shuttles will be provided for your departure flights that day.

Check out our South Morocco Route Map:

Included in Price:

• Airport Pick Up & Drop Off in Morocco (as explained in the “Meet us There” tab)
• All transportation in Morocco
• 3 or 4**** Hotel accommodation in Marrakesh with breakfast included (2 nights)
• Hotel in the Rose Valley with Buffet dinner & breakfast included 
• Night in Berber tent in the Sahara Desert with Buffet dinner & breakfast included
• Guided visit of Marrakesh
• Guided visit of Ait Ben Haddou (Kasbah)
• Visit to a traditional Moroccan pharmacy
• Visit to a traditional scarf shop
• Camel ride in the Sahara Desert (1 camel per person)
• Sand boarding in the Sahara Desert
• 2 dinners & 4 breakfasts
• Local Moroccan guide throughout the trip
• Citylife representatives throughout the trip
• All taxes included

Not Included in Price

• Anything not mentioned in “Included in Price”
• Optional Moroccan dinner with music on the first night
• Flight to and from Morocco
• Transfer to Essaouira (you have to book the add-on if you need that transfer)

*If you wish to arrive one day before or stay one more night you can book the Extra Night add-on in addition to the basic package. Find the right flight for you and we will get you to the airport.

All of our overnight stops through South Morocco will be will be at hotels with the exception of the luxury camp in the Sahara desert. Room assignments will be determined based on the information that you provide us when signing up.

Group Name

When signing up for this trip you will see the option to indicate a “group name”. This is where you can inform of about who you would like to share a room with. We will always do our best to keep your group together.

If you have purchased a ticket without indicating a group name, we will assume that you are ok with being placed in a room with someone you may not know. If this is not the case, please reach out to us at [email protected] to inform us about your roommate request.

We have planned this trip’s itinerary around the most affordable flight options that are available.

Those who wish to arrive earlier or stay in Marrakesh for one more night are welcome to book our Extra Night add-on in addition to their Basic Package ticket. We will arrange an additional night for you at one of our group’s hotels for the price of 50€. This price includes:

• 1 night at our group hotel
• Breakfast at the hotel (depending on when your flight leaves)
• Airport transfer

IMPORTANT: If you do choose to stay an extra night with us, please send your flight details to [email protected] so we can prepare the shuttle accordingly.

Please make sure you have your passport with you. It also needs to be valid for at least 6 months from the moment you enter Morocco!

You don’t need a visa (your passport is sufficient) if you are from the European Union, Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Dominican Republic, Gabon, Guinea, Hong Kong, Iceland, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Japan, Kuwait, Libya, Liechtenstein, Macao, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Niger, Norway, Oman, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Russia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America.

If you are NOT from the European Union or one of the countries listed above, we are glad to assist you with the visa application process. Please send an email to [email protected] for further assistance.

Citylife offers a basic travel insurance package with every trip that can be purchased as an add-on to your ticket. The insurance is provided by Innovac in partnership with Europassistance and will cover basic medical emergencies for the duration of the trip.

Do you Need to Take the Insurance?

It is not mandatory to take this specific insurance that we offer, but please keep in mind that it is your responsibility to make sure that you are travelling with proper coverage. If you decide not to take the insurance, we will consider that you are covered by another policy.

For a complete breakdown of the coverage that the insurance provides, please select the following links:

• Insurance Breakdown in English
• Insurance breakdown in Spanish