Morocco for two

Honeymoon in Morocco

Riads in the medinas, camps in the Erg Chebbi dunes, the Atlantic at Essaouira and lodges in the High Atlas, with three itineraries and the months to aim for.

A riad courtyard in the Marrakech medina. Photograph: calflier001, CC BY-SA 2.0

Best months: Mar–May, Sep–Nov
Desert: Erg Chebbi, Agafay
Coast: Essaouira, Oualidia
Itineraries: 7, 10 and 14 days

Why Morocco for a Honeymoon

Morocco packs a lot into a short distance. In a week you can sleep in a medina riad, in a camp in the Sahara dunes and in a lodge in the High Atlas, and end on the Atlantic coast.

Many trips start in Marrakech and head out from there to the desert, the mountains or the sea. Below: ten places to choose from, hotels couples ask about, things to do together, three itineraries and when to go.

Ten Places for a Honeymoon

Each gives the trip a different setting. Most itineraries combine three or four.

Marrakech medina: Riads, hammams, gardensOld courtyard houses turned guesthouses, many with a plunge pool and a roof terrace.
Erg Chebbi: A night in the Sahara dunesCamps among the dunes near Merzouga, from simple tents to suites with their own bathrooms. Camel rides at sunset and a sky full of stars.
Essaouira: The Atlantic, walledA walled port with ramparts, a fishing harbour and galleries in the medina. The sea wind keeps it cooler than inland.
High Atlas: Kasbahs and mountain lodgesLodges in the valleys south of Marrakech, with walks between Amazigh villages. Hikers in Toubkal National Park need a licensed guide.
Fes: Palace riads in the medinaConverted mansions in a UNESCO-listed medina: zellige, carved cedar ceilings and marble fountains in the courtyards.
Oualidia: A quiet lagoonA small village on an Atlantic lagoon between El Jadida and Safi, known for its oyster farms.
Chefchaouen: The blue town in the RifBlue-washed lanes, the sunset from the Spanish Mosque on the hill, and day trips to the Akchour waterfalls.
Dades & the Valley of Roses: Rose fields and a gorgeThe fields around Kelaat M'Gouna grow the Damask roses used for Moroccan rose water; the harvest is in April and May. The Dades Gorge is nearby.
Agafay: A stone desert near MarrakechAbout 40 minutes from Marrakech, with camps facing the Atlas: a night in the desert without the long drive to the Sahara.
Tangier: On the Strait of GibraltarCafé terraces looking across the strait to Spain, and a long history of writers and artists.

White tents of a desert camp at the foot of a dune near Merzouga, lit by a low sun — A desert camp at Merzouga. Photograph: Isabeldianamadrid, CC BY-SA 4.0

Hotels and Riads for Couples

Long-established properties, by place. Rates change with the season, so check with each hotel.

Marrakech: La MamouniaThe city's grand palace hotel, set in large gardens just inside the medina walls.
Marrakech: Royal MansourGuests stay in private riads, each with its own courtyard, rather than in hotel rooms.
Marrakech: La SultanaA hotel made from several joined riads in the Kasbah quarter, next to the Saadian Tombs.
Marrakech: AmanjenaAman's resort of pavilions on the edge of the city.
High Atlas: Kasbah TamadotRichard Branson's Virgin Limited Edition hotel near Asni, in the foothills about an hour from Marrakech, with Berber tent suites and an infinity pool.
Fes: Riad FèsA Relais & Châteaux riad in the medina near Bab Bou Jeloud, with a pool, a spa and a roof terrace.
Oualidia: La Sultana OualidiaA small hotel on the edge of the lagoon, with a pool, a spa and a seafood restaurant.

For a wider choice, see our guides to Morocco's luxury hotels and luxury travel.

Things to Do Together

Dinner in the riad
Many riads cook for their guests and serve dinner in the courtyard or on the roof. Ask a day ahead.
Sunset camel ride
Ride into the Erg Chebbi dunes as the light goes, and arrive at camp for mint tea and dates.
Hot-air balloon over Marrakech
Sunrise flights drift over the palm groves towards the Atlas foothills, with breakfast after landing.
Hammam together
Black soap scrub, rhassoul clay and argan oil. Public hammams separate men and women, so for a couples' session book a private hammam at a hotel or spa.
A night in a desert camp
Dinner in the dunes, music around the fire, and the stars. Some camps bring out a telescope.
Cooking class
Shop for spices in the souk, then cook tagine, couscous and pastilla. Several riads and cooking schools in Marrakech run classes.
Photographs together
Hire a local photographer for an hour in the blue lanes of Chefchaouen, on the dunes or in a riad courtyard.

7-Day Classic Honeymoon Itinerary

Marrakech, the Atlas, the Sahara and the coast in a week.

Day 1 · Arrival in Marrakech
Transfer to a riad in the medina and mint tea on the roof terrace. An evening calèche ride through the palm groves, then dinner at the riad.
Day 2 · Marrakech
A morning hammam together. The Majorelle Garden and the Bahia Palace, then the souks for leather, ceramics and spices. Sunset from a roof terrace facing the Koutoubia.
Day 3 · The Atlas
Transfer to a lodge in the High Atlas or the Ourika Valley. Tea in an Amazigh village, an afternoon walk through the walnut groves, dinner by the fire.
Day 4 · To the desert
Over the Tizi n'Tichka pass, stopping at Aït Benhaddou and the Dades Valley, to a camp at Merzouga. A sunset camel ride into the Erg Chebbi dunes.
Day 5 · The Sahara
Sunrise over the dunes. A 4x4 drive around the erg or a slow morning at camp; stars and Amazigh music around the fire at night.
Day 6 · Essaouira
Travel to Essaouira and check into a riad in the medina. The ramparts and the galleries, and fish at the harbour as the sun sets over the Atlantic.
Day 7 · Departure
Breakfast at the riad, a last walk on the beach or in the medina, then back to Marrakech for your flight.

10-Day Extended Honeymoon Itinerary

Adds Fes, the Agafay desert and more time to slow down.

Day 1 · Arrival in Marrakech
Transfer to your hotel and mint tea on the terrace. An evening walk through Jemaa el-Fnaa, then dinner at the hotel.
Day 2 · Marrakech
A guided tour of the Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs and the Mellah. A hammam in the afternoon and dinner on a roof terrace.
Day 3 · Balloon and Agafay
A sunrise balloon flight over the palm groves, then on to a camp in the Agafay desert for the afternoon. Dinner facing the Atlas.
Day 4 · The Atlas
Into the High Atlas, stopping in Amazigh villages for tea. An afternoon walk in the Imlil valley with a mountain guide, and dinner by the fire.
Day 5 · To the Sahara
Over the Tizi n'Tichka pass to Aït Benhaddou, then through the Dades Valley to a camp at Merzouga. A sunset camel ride into the dunes.
Day 6 · The desert
Sunrise from the dunes. A morning at leisure or a 4x4 drive; sandboarding in the afternoon and the night sky after dinner.
Day 7 · Desert to Fes
North through the Ziz Gorge and the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas, where Barbary macaques live, to a riad in the Fes medina.
Day 8 · Fes
A guided day in the medina: the tanneries, the medieval madrasas and the craft quarters. A ceramics workshop in the afternoon, where you paint a piece together.
Day 9 · Essaouira
Travel to Essaouira and a riad near the sea. The ramparts and galleries, oysters at the harbour, dinner as the sun goes down.
Day 10 · Departure
A last breakfast by the ocean and a beach walk, then back to Marrakech airport, or stay on along the coast.

14-Day Grand Honeymoon Itinerary

Two weeks, with time to stay put in each place.

Days 1–2 · Marrakech
Arrival, a guided walk through the medina, a hammam, the Majorelle Garden and the souks with a guide.
Day 3 · Agafay
A morning balloon flight, then a camp in the Agafay desert. A quad-bike or horse ride at sunset and dinner under the desert sky.
Days 4–5 · The High Atlas
Two nights in the mountains: a guided walk to Amazigh villages, a cooking class and evenings by the fire.
Days 6–7 · The Sahara
Through Aït Benhaddou and the Valley of Roses to two nights in a camp at Erg Chebbi: a camel ride, a 4x4 drive in the dunes, music and stars.
Days 8–9 · Fes
Across the Middle Atlas to two nights in the Fes medina, with a guide, the tanneries and a ceramics workshop.
Day 10 · Chefchaouen
A day trip or a night in the blue town. Walk the lanes and climb to the Spanish Mosque for sunset.
Days 11–12 · Essaouira
Two nights on the Atlantic, stopping for oysters at Oualidia on the way. Sunset on the ramparts, seafood at the harbour, slow mornings on the beach.
Days 13–14 · Back to Marrakech
A last round of the souks and a farewell dinner, then departure on day 14.

Best Time for a Morocco Honeymoon

Morocco works all year, but spring and autumn suit a mixed trip best.

March – May: SpringWarm days, gardens in flower, and the rose harvest in the Dades in April and May. Good for every part of the country.
September – November: AutumnWarm days and cool evenings, with fewer visitors than in spring.
December – February: WinterCool, with cold desert nights and snow on the High Atlas. Good for a fireside mountain stay.
June – August: SummerVery hot in Marrakech (often over 40°C) and in the desert. The Atlantic coast, Essaouira above all, stays comfortable.

Wedding + Honeymoon in Morocco

The legal ceremony
Many couples marry legally at home and hold a symbolic ceremony in Morocco. A legal marriage in Morocco involves a lot of paperwork and takes months, so ask your embassy early.
Venues
Large hotels in Marrakech, La Mamounia and Royal Mansour among them, host weddings; some couples hire a private riad or palace instead, or go up to the Atlas. See the wedding venues guide.
Wedding, then honeymoon
A common plan: a three-day celebration in Marrakech (welcome dinner, ceremony, farewell brunch), then a honeymoon loop through the desert and the coast once the guests have gone home.
Moroccan traditions
Borrow from a Moroccan wedding: a tent for the ceremony, Gnawa or Andalusian musicians, a henna night for the bride, and a feast of pastilla, mechoui and pastries.

Honeymoon Planning Tips

Book early
The best-known hotels and desert camps have few rooms and fill up months ahead in spring and autumn.
Say it is your honeymoon
Mention it when you book and when you arrive. Some hotels and riads mark the occasion.
Leave room in the days
Don't try to see everything. Keep free mornings for long breakfasts, afternoons by the pool and time to wander.
Alcohol
Morocco is a Muslim country, but licensed hotels, restaurants and bars serve alcohol, and most large hotels have a wine list. Morocco makes its own wine, much of it around Meknes. Many medina riads serve none.
Tips and cash
Carry small notes in dirhams for tipping guides, drivers and hotel staff. Large hotels take cards; the souks and small restaurants mostly want cash.