Private Morocco tour: how to choose the right operator

The short answer

A good operator for a private Morocco tour gives its company name, address and commercial register number, describes in writing what the price includes, has genuine reviews and a fixed contact person. Your vehicle belongs to your group only, your driver speaks your language, and long distances such as Marrakech–Merzouga are split over two days.

Search for a private tour and you will find hundreds of offers: big tour companies abroad, booking platforms and many local agencies. Prices and services vary widely. The questions below help you compare offers honestly, ours included.

8 questions to ask any operator

1. Is the tour really private?

Private means only you and your companions are in the vehicle, and the driver stays with you for the whole trip. Some cheap “tours” are actually shared minibus tours with fixed departure times. Ask directly.

2. Does the driver speak your language?

On long stretches through the Atlas and into the desert you spend many hours with your driver. If you share a language, you understand what you see and can tell them your wishes directly. For the medinas of Fes and Marrakech, an official, licensed city guide is worth it.

3. Is the operator officially registered?

Ask for the company name, the address and the commercial register number. Serious operators publish them in the legal notice of their website. Ask about professional liability insurance as well.

4. What exactly is included in the price?

Get the services in writing: vehicle with fuel, driver, nights, which meals, camel ride and desert camp, pick-up and transfers. Ask what is not included too, for example lunches, drinks, entrance fees or tips.

5. Where will you sleep?

Hotels, riads and kasbahs differ a lot. Ask what kind of accommodation it is and whether breakfast and dinner are included. In the desert, ask whether the camp has private tents for your group.

6. How long are the driving days?

Morocco is bigger than many people think. From Marrakech to Merzouga it is about 550 kilometres, 9 to 10 hours of pure driving. A good programme splits this over two days, with a night on the way, for example in the Dades Valley.

7. What do other guests say?

Read reviews on independent platforms such as Tripadvisor or Google, especially the newest and the detailed ones. Look at how the operator responds to criticism, too.

8. Who is your contact person?

Before and during the trip you need someone who answers quickly, ideally in your language and on a channel you use, such as WhatsApp.

Checklist

• Company name, address and commercial register number in the legal notice
• Private, air-conditioned vehicle for your group only
• A driver who speaks your language
• A written list of services: what is included and what is not
• Type of accommodation and meals
• Realistic driving days, long distances split up
• Genuine, recent reviews on independent platforms
• A fixed contact person before and during the trip

Warning signs

• No company name, no address, no legal notice
• No written description of the services
• A price far below every other offer
• Pressure to pay everything immediately
• Merzouga as a day trip from Marrakech: at about 550 kilometres each way, it cannot be done

How we work at Med Marokko Reisen

So that you can check us with this list too, here are our answers:

Frequently asked questions

Local operator or tour company at home?

A tour company in your home country may give you the protection of your local package travel law. With a local operator like us you book directly with the team on the ground: personal contact, flexible routes and no middleman between you and the people who travel with you.

Do I need a guide as well as a driver?

For the medinas of Fes and Marrakech we recommend an official, licensed city guide, and we are happy to book one for you. On the road between places, your driver explains the country and its people.

Can I change the route?

On a private tour, yes: beforehand while planning, and often on the way too. For your own ideas we offer the tailor-made trip.