Morocco Photography Tour: 15 Days From Casablanca
A private Morocco photography tour built around the shot, not just the sight — astrophotography over the Merzouga dunes, street photography in the souks of Fez and Marrakech, portraits with Berber and nomad families, and a full coastal chapter at Essaouira, Safi, and Oualidia.
This Morocco photography tour is a private, 15-day, 14-night route that starts and ends in Casablanca. It's built specifically around photography, not just sightseeing: astrophotography under the Merzouga dunes, street photography in the souks of Fez and Marrakech, architecture shots in Fez's medina and tanneries, and portrait opportunities with Berber and nomad families in Bou Tharar and Khamlia. The route also covers Chefchaouen, Volubilis, the Todra Gorges and Dades Valley, Ait Ben Haddou, and a full coastal stretch through Essaouira, Safi, and Oualidia. It suits photographers at any level who want Morocco's full range of subjects — desert skies, medina architecture, portraits, and coastline — in one trip.
Astrophotography at Merzouga. Two nights near some of the clearest, darkest skies in the Sahara.
Street photography, golden hour included. Fez and Marrakech's souks, scheduled around the light rather than a fixed itinerary.
Real portrait access. Nomad families in Bou Tharar and Khamlia, met through a local guide, not a staged photo stop.
A dedicated coastal chapter. Essaouira, Safi, and Oualidia — a stretch of coast most Morocco Meander routes don't cover.
A Glimpse of the Journey
Atlas Mountains
Fez Tanneries
Merzouga Dunes
Desert Camp Night
Bou Tharar Valley
Ait Ben Haddou
Essaouira
ChefchaouenBuilt around the shot, not just the sight
Every stop on this route was chosen for a specific kind of photography. Here's how photographers tend to use it.
Astrophotographers
Two nights at Merzouga under some of the darkest, clearest skies in the Sahara, ideal for Milky Way and star-trail work.
Street & Documentary Photographers
Fez and Marrakech's souks, scheduled with golden-hour light in mind rather than a fixed sightseeing slot.
Landscape Photographers
The Todra Gorges, Dades Valley rock formations, Skoura's palm groves, and the shifting light of the dunes.
Architecture Photographers
Volubilis's Roman ruins, Fez's Bab Boujloud gate and medersas, and the fortified kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou.
Portrait & Culture Photographers
Guided, respectful access to Berber and nomad families in Bou Tharar and Khamlia, and Gnawa musicians along the way.
Beginners & Hobbyists
No technical prerequisite — the itinerary structure and light-aware pacing benefit any skill level with a camera or phone.
Begin Your Morocco Photography Tour
Send us your travel dates and group size. Ismail or Mustapha will reply personally, usually within 24 hours, with a route and a private quote.
- Private, air-conditioned deluxe mini-van or 4x4, with professional driver-guide
- 14 nights in cozy accommodation, half-board at key stops
- Two-way airport transfer & daily hotel pick-up
- Camel ride, ATV ride & sandboarding in the Erg Chebbi dunes
Priced by group size and choice of accommodation. Tell us your dates below and we'll send a private quote — no obligation.
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Fifteen days of light, landscape, and story
Casablanca to Casablanca, through the north, the Sahara, the kasbah route, and the Atlantic coast.
Arrival In Casablanca
We start at the Hassan II Mosque, its minaret and intricate detailing set against the Atlantic — a strong first travel-photography subject. The afternoon's golden-hour light is well suited to street photography in Casablanca's busy avenues.
Casablanca → Ouazzane → Chefchaouen
The drive through Ouazzane's rolling hills and farmland offers landscape shots along the way. We arrive in Chefchaouen, where the blue-washed buildings against the Rif Mountains make for immediate street photography.
Explore Chefchaouen
A full day in the maze of blue-painted streets, working the subtle shifts in shade of blue, plus the Kasbah and Plaza Uta el-Hammam. Lonely Planet calls the town "one of the most photographed towns in Morocco", and the pace here favors intimate, unhurried shots over quick coverage.
Chefchaouen → Volubilis → Fez
We visit the Roman ruins of Volubilis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site whose columns and mosaics "contains essentially Roman vestiges of a fortified municipium", ideal for wide-angle architecture shots.
We continue to Fez, a city built for both architectural detail and street documentary work.
Fez Guided Tour
A guided day through Fez el-Bali, a UNESCO World Heritage Site National Geographic describes as "a living, earthy (yet car-free) town". The Chouara tanneries and the Bab Boujloud gate are two of the city's strongest photographic subjects.
Fez → Azrou → Midelt → Merzouga
We cross the Middle Atlas through Azrou's cedar forests, home to wild Barbary macaques, then Midelt, as the landscape transitions from mountains to open desert — a strong stretch for landscape work.
We reach Merzouga by evening, at the edge of the Sahara.
Merzouga Desert → Khamlia → Nomad Families
A full day and night for the Sahara: the shifting dunes by daylight, then astrophotography under some of the clearest skies in the world, with the Milky Way visible from camp. We also visit Khamlia village for Gnawa music and a nomad family for portrait opportunities.
Merzouga → Todra Gorge → Dades Valley
We stop in Rissani for market and documentary shots, then the Todra Gorges, where towering cliffs and narrow passageways make for dramatic architecture-of-nature compositions.
We continue to the Dades Valley, a strong location for both landscape and portrait work.
Dades Valley → Bou Tharar Nomads → Skoura Oasis
We visit the remote village of Bou Tharar for guided portrait access to Berber families, then the valley itself, where green fields against barren hills offer strong contrast shots.
We continue to the palm groves of Skoura Oasis.
Skoura Oasis → Ouarzazate → Ait Ben Haddou → Marrakech
We cross toward Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO site UNESCO calls "a striking example of the architecture of southern Morocco" and a familiar backdrop from film productions, offering strong cinematic compositions.
We continue over the High Atlas into Marrakech by evening.
Guided Tour Of Marrakech
The Koutoubia Mosque, the Bahia Palace, and the Saadian Tombs in the morning, then the souks and Majorelle Garden for color and texture. Jemaa el-Fnaa Square at dusk is one of the strongest street-photography settings on the whole route.
Marrakech → Essaouira
We drive to Essaouira, a UNESCO site UNESCO describes as "an exceptional example of a late-18th-century fortified town". We walk the Skala de la Ville ramparts and the medina's artisan workshops before a seafood dinner by the harbor.
Explore Essaouira
A full day in Essaouira's blue-and-white alleyways, working the contrast between the medina and the sea. The town's art scene and coastal light make it one of the route's most relaxed photography days.
Essaouira → Safi → Oualidia → Casablanca
We stop in Safi for its pottery quarter and coastal life, then Oualidia's quiet beaches, before returning to Casablanca — a coastal stretch most Morocco itineraries skip entirely.
Departure From Casablanca
A final walk through Casablanca before your transfer to the airport — fifteen days of desert skies, medina architecture, portraits, and coastline, and a memory card full to match.
What to expect on this tour
Included
- Private air-conditioned modern Deluxe Mini-Van / 4WD
- Professional English-speaking driver-guide
- Two-way airport transfer & daily hotel pick-up
- 14 nights in cozy accommodation
- Daily breakfast & 4 dinners (Merzouga, Dades Valley & Skoura Oasis)
- Luxury tent in the desert camp
- Guided tours in Fez & Marrakech
- Camel ride, ATV ride & sandboarding at Erg Chebbi
Not Included
- Travel insurance
- Tipping
- Extra services: quad, spa & massage
- Personal expenses
- Lunches & dinners not listed under Included
A route scheduled around the light
This Morocco photography tour plans stops for golden hour and dark skies, not just convenience.
Deluxe Mini-Van
A modern, air-conditioned mini-van with room for camera bags and tripods, used for Casablanca, the north, and the coast.
4x4 Vehicle
For the Atlas passes and the desert tracks into Merzouga, we switch to a 4x4 built for the terrain.
Light-Aware Scheduling
Where possible, stops at Chefchaouen, the dunes, and the medinas are timed around golden hour and blue hour, not a rigid departure clock.
An English-Speaking Guide
Your driver-guide helps arrange respectful portrait access with local families and artisans throughout the route.
Every kind of Moroccan light, in one trip
Most Morocco itineraries are built around sights. This one is built around subjects: the blue tones of Chefchaouen, the architectural depth of Fez, the star-filled dark of the Merzouga dunes, the human warmth of Bou Tharar and Khamlia, and the coastal palette of Essaouira, Safi, and Oualidia — a stretch of coast most routes skip entirely.
The pace reflects that too: full days built in for Chefchaouen and Essaouira rather than a drive-through, and desert nights scheduled for dark-sky work, not just a photo stop before dinner. For photographers who prefer a shorter trip, see our general Morocco photography tours page for add-on options on any of our other itineraries.
Planning this photography tour
How long is this Morocco photography tour?
The tour runs 15 days and 14 nights, starting and ending in Casablanca, with two nights in the Sahara Desert at Merzouga for astrophotography.
Do I need to be an experienced photographer?
No. The route and pacing benefit any skill level, from smartphone photographers to professionals, since the value is in the access and scheduling, not instruction.
What should I bring for astrophotography in the desert?
A tripod and a camera capable of manual, long-exposure settings will get the most from the Merzouga night skies. A wide-angle lens is useful but not required.
Is this a round trip from Casablanca?
Yes. Unlike most of our other itineraries, this route starts and ends in Casablanca, covering the north, the Sahara, the kasbah route, Marrakech, and a full coastal stretch back.
What vehicle is used on this tour?
A private, air-conditioned deluxe mini-van for highway and coastal legs, switching to a 4x4 for the Atlas passes and the desert tracks near Merzouga.
Which meals are included?
Daily breakfast throughout, plus 4 dinners at Merzouga, Dades Valley, and Skoura Oasis. Other lunches and dinners are left open.
How much does this Morocco photography tour cost?
Price depends on group size and accommodation level, since the trip is tailor-made rather than a fixed package. A quote is sent within 24 hours of an enquiry.
Where does the tour end?
In Casablanca, with a transfer to the airport on day 15. The route starts and ends in the same city, unlike most of our other tours.
Tell Ismail and Mustapha what you're looking for
This itinerary is a starting point. Share your dates and the kind of photography you want to focus on, and their team will shape a private Morocco journey around it.