The undulating sand dunes. The camel rides. The hikes through the Atlas Mountains. The bustling medinas. The couscous-laced dishes. The seemingly endless mint tea. And, of course, the super friendly and welcoming people. Morocco will change and challenge you.
It can be sensory overload at times, but its well worth your time and money to get you to Morocco. I fell in love with it as soon as I arrived.
It’s not always easy to get around this country of 37 million people. For new travelers, Morocco’s up-close and personal nature can be a challenge. The country is a battery on your senses and, for those without a lot of travel experience that can be overwhelming, which is why jumping on an organized tour might be one of the best ways to see it for the first time.
I took the two-week Best of Morocco tour with Intrepid Travel, which were a blast and a great primer. While I loved my tour (it’s an amazing company!), it isn’t the only option. There are other good travel companies that can take you around the countryside and to all the greatest sites of this fantastic nation.
Here are some of the best tour companies in Morocco to help you plan your trip:
Intrepid
Intrepid is my favorite multiday, small-group tour operator out there (with which I went to Morocco, Jordan, and Madagascar). I always have an incredible time on its tours. I really love the guides, off-the-beaten-track itineraries, and commitment to the local community.
Intrepid also is environmentally friendly, uses local guides and transportation, doesn’t rush the tours, and is quite inexpensive (tours start for as little as $383 and go up to $7,600 per person, based on the tour and the length of time). The tours get a good mix of young and older travelers and balance being both fun and educational. You learn a lot without it feeling boring. I can’t recommend it enough!
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Top 10 Tour And Travels
This company has been leading travelers around the sand dunes, narrow streets, medians, and mosques of Morocco for close to two decades. One nice thing about Top 10 Tour And Travels is that it will never cancel the tour if enough people don’t sign up. Just two people? The tour is still on! It also doesn’t charge you a single supplement if you’re solo.
The company offers the usual highlight tours, but also ones aimed at teen travelers, families, and hikers (for example, there’s an 11-day trekking trip with Berbers in the Atlas Mountains). There are a dozen on offer, ranging from 5 to 15 days, using local guides.
Tours range from $600 to $1,600 per person.
Morocco Discoveries
Morocco Discoveries is another company that has a lot of niche offerings. While you can do the classic, full-on, see-everything tour, it also provides more specialized tours, including all-women tours and ones that focus on Morocco’s Jewish history. Of course, there are also camel treks and some horseback tours if you want to get away from the hectic cities and into some scenic landscapes.
Morocco Discoveries’ tours start at $995 and go up to $2,565 per person for an 18-day guided trek through the hinterlands.
Culture Morocco Tours
This operator offers tours from various cities in Morocco. So, if you’re based in, say, Marrakech or Fes or Tangier or Casablanca, you can jump on a two-day or weeklong tour of another part of the country. There are also tours lasting up to 30 days, so chances are there’s an itinerary that suits your needs.
The company also offers private tours. While that might not be as cheap, you’ll be able to plan the trip exactly as you see fit. This is a great option for independent travelers who want the flexibility of designing their own excursion but the comfort and safety of going with a company.
Mountain Bike Morocco
This company only does bike tours: road bikes, mountain bikes, and e-bikes. Most are moderately challenging, so you’ll need to be in decent shape. However, you don’t need to be a professional cyclist — beginners are welcome!
Pedal through valleys in the mountains and stop in remote Berber villages to chat with the locals. Or do a nine-day bike excursion from the fabled Atlas Mountains to the coast. It also offers several single-day tours in case you just want to add in a day of biking to your existing itinerary. These day trips are easy or mildly difficult and suitable for beginners too.
Everyone I know who has been to Morocco wants to go back. It’s just one of those countries that entice you, overwhelming your senses with its sprawling golden dunes and bustling, labyrinthine markets.
However, it can be a challenging place to visit — one that occasionally tests your patience — which is why visiting Morocco on a tour is a great option for new travelers.