7-Day Morocco Photography Tour: Sahara & Nomad Life

The journey begins in Marrakech. After settling into your riad, a relaxed walk through the old medina is the ideal warm-up — the souks, spice stalls and artisan workshops give plenty to work with before the light turns golden. As the sun drops, the route leads toward Jemaa el-Fna, where performers and food stalls create a lively scene, and the rooftop cafés around the square offer good angles for sunset and blue-hour shots.

The road climbs across the High Atlas via the Tizi n'Tichka pass, with Berber villages and wide viewpoints along the way. From there, the ksar of Ait Ben Haddou comes into view — a UNESCO-listed kasbah of mud-brick walls and towers, with plenty of angles worth exploring on foot.

In the afternoon, the route follows the palm-lined Draa Valley toward Agdz, with stops at traditional ksour, ending the day photographing sunset over the palm groves before a night in a guesthouse.

Ait Ben Haddou is called "a striking example of the architecture of southern Morocco" by UNESCO World Heritage

The scenery turns increasingly desert-like on the way to Zagora, with a stop in Tamegroute for its green-glazed pottery and old library — good ground for detail and craft photography, always with the permission of the artisans at work. From M'hamid, the tarmac ends and a 4x4 takes over for the off-road run to Erg Chigaga, crossing stony hammada before the dunes rise into view. Arrival is timed for sunset — the first proper session in the desert, with long shadows and soft golden tone.

The full day is given over to the dunes and to nomadic life. A sunrise session comes first, when the low light brings out texture and contrast in the sand, followed by a camel ride (a 4x4 alternative is available if you'd prefer not to ride) for a different angle on silhouettes and footprints. A visit to a nomad family living in traditional tents follows — tea, herding, and daily routines, approached as a human visit first and a photo opportunity second, with portraits taken by consent rather than assumed.

In the afternoon, the quieter dunes around Iriki offer more minimal, wide-open compositions, before the day closes with sunset and a night given to photography under a clear desert sky, conditions permitting.

One last sunrise session in the Sahara, then the drive continues across Lake Iriki and rocky desert toward Foum Zguid — stark, wide landscapes well suited to images of isolation and scale. A stop in Taznakht, known for its handmade carpets, gives a chance to photograph texture and artisan work up close, with the weavers' permission. The day ends in Ouarzazate, Morocco's film capital, with the option to photograph the exterior of Taourirt Kasbah before resting for the night.

The return route runs through the Ounila Valley, one of Morocco's more photogenic corners, with a stop at Telouet Kasbah — once home to the Glaoui family, and rich in zellij tile work and carved plaster, ideal for interior and architectural shots. From there, the High Atlas offers a last set of mountain and village views before arrival in Marrakech, with the evening left free for any remaining images — alleys, doorways, illuminated riads.

The last morning is yours, shaped around your flight. The Majorelle Garden is a good option for colour and botanical shots (entrance ticket not included, advance booking required), or the quieter parts of the medina for doors, hidden streets and daily life. When it's time, a private transfer takes you to Marrakech Airport.