Tour guides Morocco

5 ideas for guided tours in Morocco

• Chefchaouen

  

  Chefchaouen is a blue paradise in the northwest of Morocco, about 100 kilometers from Tangier. This charming little town has a stunning medina, a maze of quiet alleys with whitewashed walls and houses painted in bright azure blue.

  Begin your visit at the lovely Uta el-Hammam Square, near the Kasbah and the mosque — the beating heart of the city where locals gather to sit, talk, and enjoy a drink. Chefchaouen is beautifully framed by surrounding mountains.

  A peaceful walk leads to the small spring of Ras-el-Ma, where women still wash clothes by hand, and then gently climbs along paths scented with fig trees.

  From the top, you’ll be rewarded with a panoramic view of the entire Rif region. Returning to the town, you’ll once again feel the laid-back atmosphere and the soothing calm that make Chefchaouen so unforgettable.

• Ait Ben Haddou

  

  This small town in southern Morocco lies 180 km from Marrakech and just 30 km from the center of Ouarzazate. Ait Ben Haddou is known for its distinctive fortified architecture, called a ksar — a collection of earthen houses and buildings in warm ochre tones, all surrounded by defensive walls.

  The village rises on a hill in the heart of the beautiful Assif Ounila Valley, dotted with date palms and bright green patchwork fields. When the sun hits the walls, the whole site takes on a majestic glow — no wonder it has been used as a backdrop for so many films!

  The Aït Ben Haddou Palace, dating back to the 17th century, once housed nearly 100 families. It still preserves several features, including the old mosque and the main granary where grain was stored.

• Fez

  

  Fes is located in northern Morocco, about 180 kilometers from Rabat. It is the country’s second-largest city, divided into three distinct areas: the modern districts built by the French, the royal enclosure, and of course, the Medina — the largest in the world, also known as Fès el Bali.

  This is a true labyrinth, where getting lost is inevitable — and that’s precisely part of its charm. Just be cautious of people offering to guide you to shops that are supposedly “too beautiful to miss.”

  A licensed Moroccan guide can help you avoid such hassles. The Medina isn’t just a massive souk for tourists, it’s the beating heart of the city, where locals go about their daily lives.

  This historic core of Fes dates back to the late 8th century and has barely changed since. You’ll still find old bread ovens, traditional hammams, and countless artisan workshops.

  Make sure to visit the vast Chouara Tannery, the madrasas (religious schools), and ancient mosques such as Al Quaraouine — which doubles as a university and is considered the oldest one in the world still in operation, dating back to 877.

  Beyond the Medina, Fes hides many other treasures: beautiful palaces, some transformed into riads where you can stay, the lush Jnan Sbil Garden for a peaceful break, and the El Qolla Hill with the ruins of the Marinid tombs, offering the best panoramic views over the city.

• The valley of Dades

  

  Along a road where the scenery shifts between lush oases, fruit orchards, and red-hued mountains, the impressive Dades Gorges reveal themselves, about 120 kilometers from Ouarzazate.

  This is a vast canyon, plunging up to 300 meters deep in places, attracting travelers for scenic treks — or, for the more adventurous, rafting and climbing. The journey often begins in Boumalne.

  About 30 kilometers further, you’ll reach the small village of Aït Arbi, where strange rock formations known as “monkey fingers” stand out against the sky. From here, you can follow the Dades River along a winding road, with the rock colors shifting from deep red to pale white as you climb.

  Along the way, you’ll pass many ancient kasbahs — including the famous El Kabbaba, Amerhidi, Ben Moro, Dar Aïchil, and Dar Aït — reminders of the region’s turbulent past. Four dramatic gorges follow one another, the tallest being Tissadrine. Continue on this breathtaking panoramic road, and you’ll eventually reach the remote village of M’Semrir, the perfect ending to the journey.

• The dunes of Erg Chebbi

  

  An erg is a vast expanse of dunes, constantly reshaped by the wind. The Merzouga dunes, also known as Erg Chebbi, are among the most spectacular and perhaps the largest in the Sahara. They are located in southeastern Morocco, not far from the Algerian border.

  Setting out on a trek with a local guide across the dunes of Erg Chebbi is the ultimate desert experience, a dreamlike adventure. Spending a few days here feels magical — far from everything, cut off from the world, surrounded only by immense dunes, some rising up to 150 meters.

  You can get close by 4×4, then continue on foot or by camel to climb the dunes. Spending the night in a desert camp lets you feel the profound silence of the Sahara and witness the breathtaking spectacle of the sunrise over this vast, majestic landscape.