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.
I love being at the coast around Taghazout, Tamraght, Imsouane and Essaouira, as those places are some of the best for local food, have super friendly people, and you can surf every day if there is swell. They also have nice coffee places.
For a different experience and some calm days, I stayed at Scarabeo Camp between Taghazout and Marrakech in the Agafay Desert. It has a unique dinner experience and is really calm and perfect for watching the stars and stargazing.
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.
