An hour from Marrakech's chaos lies total silence: the Agafay desert. Combined with the souks, rooftops and desert camps, it's the perfect 5-day trip — here's my route.
I've shot campaigns in Morocco from the souks to luxury desert camps. It's one of the most photogenic countries I know — if you time your light and know where to escape the crowds.
When to go
Summer is brutal (45°C+). Go October to May — warm days, cool desert nights, and clear light. Ramadan changes rhythms; check dates before booking.
What to do
- Get lost in the souks — early morning, before the tour groups.
- Rooftop sunset in the medina — mint tea, storks and the Koutoubia.
- Camel caravan at golden hour — cliché and completely worth it.
- Dinner under the stars — desert camp dinners are the highlight.
- Day trip to the Atlas — Berber villages an hour from the city.
Photography tips
The souks are a 35mm story: shoot from the hip, ask before portraits, and come back at the same spot at different hours. In the desert, dust is your enemy — change lenses inside a bag.
Blue hour in the medina is criminally underrated: lanterns on, sky still deep blue — fifteen perfect minutes.
