G Adventures Morocco: An honest tour review

Planning a trip to Morocco and considering jumping on a G Adventures tour while you’re there? I recently did the G Adventures Morocco Deserts & Beaches tour and had the time of my life, despite making the rookie mistake of visiting in August! Here’s all you need to know about travelling Morocco with G Adventures.

Morocco is one of those epic bucket list destinations, one that might have been on your travel vision board or that makes a constant appearance on your social feed. If you’ve been dreaming about visiting North African gem but want to explore with the safety and logistical support of a tour, then a G Adventures Morocco tour might be right up your alley.

I visited Morocco in August 2023 and opted for a top-rated tour with G Adventures called Deserts & Beaches, an 11-day trip for 18-to-thirtysomethings that combines the best of the desert, the bustling souks and the dreamy seaside.

P.S. If you’re looking for shorter, longer or all ages tours, I’ve listed other top-rated G Adventures tours further down this blog post.

It can be tricky to navigate the different tour options available in other countries, so I wanted to throw together a super detailed G Adventures Morocco tour review to let you know what to expect, share the highlights and prepare you for your upcoming Morocco trip.

G Adventures Morocco review: A quick summary

Tour itinerary: Deserts & Beaches is a whirlwind mix of the busy souks of Marrakech, the otherworldly Sahara Desert and a couple of laidback coastal gems, with some historical ruins and mountain villages thrown in for good measure. There is an extended version of this tour that includes northern Morocco (blue city of Chefchaouen + Casablanca and Fes) which I really wanted to do but it was booked up!

Tour guide (or Chief Experience Officer/CEO as G Adventures calls them): Yacine was a superstar, a local legend who had been working for G Adventures for many, many years and who was extremely passionate about his job and his country.

Tour group: As the tour was a segment tour (we did two of the three segments) our group changed half-way through, but both groups were small (12-14 people), mostly people in their mid-to-late 20s with a few outliers, and mostly people from the UK, USA and Australia.

Accommodation: This service level on this tour is ‘basic’, the lowest level of G Adventures tours (next is ‘standard’, then ‘upgraded’), but everywhere we stayed was comfortable enough and clean. Most were simple hotels and there was one homestay in the mountains and a surf hostel.

Activities: A good mix of included guided tours plus free time with some optional add ons like a hammam spa, cooking class and Berber village visit.

You can see the full tour itinerary and details on the G Adventures website >>

All you need to know about travelling Morocco with G Adventures

Who are G Adventures?

G Adventures is a world-renowned tour company known for its sustainable, locally-focused small-group travel experiences. They focus on authentic experiences that also benefit local communities, with a strong emphasis on cultural immersion and adventure. They’re based in Canada but they operate globally.

Why choose a G Adventures tour in Morocco

G Adventures tours stand out from the (crowded) group tour market for a number of reasons:

• They focus on small groups, usually 10-12 travellers but a maximum of 16
• They welcome solo travellers and don’t charge you a single supplement if you’re happy to share a room with a likeminded solo traveller (or you can pay extra to have a private room)
• Their guides are always locally-based, so you’re learning from actual experts rather than someone who’s been trained to guide in 20 different countries and multiple continents
• They really make an effort to connect you with local communities, through using small accommodation, visiting rural communities, including cultural experiences and more
• They’ve been at the forefront of animal welfare in tourism for many years, and they vet any wildlife-related activities thoroughly

G Adventures tours genuinely impact the local community

One major ethical dilemma many travel companies experience is ‘economic leakage’, which refers to tourism dollars being spent in a destination that then leaks out to other economies. This happens when tour companies use suppliers that aren’t local, like staying at a big chain hotel or booking activities organised by an international company rather than a local operator.

G Adventures has an incredible tool in place to minimise and report on their economic leakage, called the ‘Ripple Score’. The Ripple Score shows you the percentage of money G Adventures spends on locally-owned services like hotels, restaurants and transportation.

The Deserts & Beaches Ripple Score is 100, meaning 100% of the services used to create the tour (all accomm, transport, food and activities) are locally-owned. I think this is amazing!

Is Morocco safe?

If you’re staying in the main tourist-friendly areas (everywhere the tour goes), are aware of potential scams and respect local laws and customs, Morocco is generally safe.

The bustling souks, just like any busy city street or market around the world, can be a harbour for pickpocketers so keep your belongings secure. The same goes for scammers, shopkeepers might encourage you to come to their secret back room for better deals which might be a way to get you to buy higher-priced goods, or someone might tell you they have a short cut through the souks and take you away from the crowds where they might steal your bag. These situations are rare and I haven’t witnessed them myself, but they are something to be cautious of.

The good thing about travelling Morocco on a tour is that while you’re with the group you won’t have to worry about anything like this, and your local guide will let you know anything to be aware of during your free time if you’re heading out alone.

I spent a few days travelling solo in Marrakech before and after the tour and I felt safe as a solo female traveller, however I did experience discomfort with staring, a taxi driver who tried to let another customer into the car during my ride to get extra money, and unwanted messages on Instagram from people who found me through geotagging my story locations (luckily I never tag in real-time!). I’m fairly certain none of those situations were actually dangerous or had any malicious intent, but it’s still not enjoyable to experience and just something to be aware of.

As always, take out comprehensive travel insurance before travelling to make sure you’re covered for any medical issues, travel delays or lost/stolen belongings on your trip. I use Covermore New Zealand (they’re available in Australia too) and they’ve been faultless during the 22 months in total I’ve had policies with them, otherwise SafetyWing is a great option for digital nomads and frequent travellers all over the world.

What about the Marrakech earthquake?

There was a devastating 6.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Morocco in September 2023 which caused damage in Marrakech and the Atlas Mountains, and sadly killed more than 2000 people.

While natural disasters can strike anywhere at anytime, and there’s no way to avoid them, this was a rare occurrence in Morocco and certainly wasn’t expected. The damage in Marrakech was quickly cleaned up and the country’s tourism industry has made it clear that they are more than happy to welcome tourists again.

The best way to protect yourself in terms of natural disasters is to get a comprehensive travel insurance policy that covers you for travel disruptions and additional costs that arise due to the disaster.

Doing a tour in Morocco vs. travelling independently

While Morocco can be navigated independently, a tour offers a streamlined, stress-free experience that can save a tonne of time and might end up saving money too.

Here’s a little breakdown of the pros and cons:

Morocco tour pros:

• All transportation organised for you
• Like-minded travellers to hang out with
• Expert local guide to show you around
• No logistics to deal with
• Well-planned, tried and tested itinerary
• Suggestions for best things to see and do in each stop
• Some free time to do your own thing
• One upfront price to cover most aspects of the trip

Morocco tour cons:

• Fast-paced with limited time in each place
• Lots of time spent in the bus as you’re travelling long distances over only 11 days
• Not much time to yourself

Travelling independently pros:

• Travel at your own pace
• You could do it cheaper with lower-level accomm/food/activities
• Flexibility to change your plans
• No early wake ups (unless you want to!)

Travelling independently cons:

• Inter-city transport can be tricky to organise (and expensive for private transport)
• Research and planning can take hours and hours
• Language barrier can make planning a challenge
• Logistics in a country like Morocco aren’t as straightforward as Europe or North America
• Prices really add up and you might end up spending more than you expected
• Not as much of an opportunity for ethical local immersion without paying a lot

I personally love a good combination of tour + independent travel, I like using a tour to help me get my bearings and get an insight into local culture and then might try and add on 4/5 days at the end to do my own thing, or I’ll come back for a second visit and do that independently.

Can I travel solo with G Adventures in Morocco?

You sure can! G Adventures offer a safe and welcome environment to meet new people and make friends, and their groups always have at least a few solo travellers (usually more). I had a friend join me on this particular trip but about half of our group were travelling by themselves.

Solo travellers have the option to pay a single supplement if they want their own private room, or they can pay the normal price and they’ll get matched up to room with a solo traveller of the same gender.

When is the best time to visit Morocco?

I can tell you when not to visit Morocco, and that would be August! I was there from the end of July to mid-August and we were constantly melting, it was over 40°C every single day aside from the coastal destinations, we hit 49°C in the Sahara Desert 🫠 and Marrakech was 43-45°C when we were there.

The heat does make it tricky to enjoy yourself because you can’t really be outside in the sun during the day, which limits your time to explore.

If you’re from somewhere hot and/or can handle the heat then it might not phase you, but if you aren’t used to those levels of mercury then it’s best to avoid July and August especially.

Mid-March to June and September to Mid-November are the milder seasons, these bring pleasantly warm weather and avoid the heavy rainfall of mid-Nov to mid-March.

In saying that, my first time in Morocco was a week in December and there was no rain at all, you just can’t predict the weather!

G Adventures Morocco tour review: Deserts & Beaches full review

The Deserts & Beaches itinerary

Day 1: Marrakech

Day 2: Marrakech to Todra Gorge

Day 3: Todra Gorge to Merzouga

Day 4: Merzouga to Aït Ben Haddou

Day 5: Aït Ben Haddou to Aroumd

Day 6: Aroumd to Marrakech

Day 7: Marrakech

Day 8: Marrakech to Taghazout

Day 9: Taghazout

Day 10: Taghazout to Essaouira

Day 11: Essaouira to Marrakech

Highlights from our G Adventures Morocco tour

I’ve included a more detailed review of the tour summary at the bottom of this blog if you want to read it, but if you just want to know the trip highlights then here’s a little bullet point list for you:

• Meeting our group and going out for our first (of many) tagine dinners in Marrakech
• Seeing the city of Tinghir, an oasis of thick palm groves bordered by rocky cliffs
• Staying in a low key ‘auberge’ (a small hotel) in the Todra Gorge with an incredible pool and view
• A relaxing walk through Todra Gorge before the sun got too hot
• Watching sunset from the top of a sand dune in the Sahara Desert
• Learning about Berber culture and history with a visit to a traditional nomadic village
• Hiking to our homestay in the Atlas Mountains
• Free time in Marrakech to visit museums, shop the souks and dive into local cuisine
• Staying at an ultra chill hostel in Taghazout
• Learning to surf!
• Working by the seaside on Taghazout during free time
• Having a traditional Moroccan hammam in Essaouira
• Epic night out on our last night

Alternative G Adventures Morocco tours

If you want to add on northern Morocco, check out the Culture & Colours 17 day tour.

If you just want to do the seaside portion you can book the Waves & Market Stalls tour, for the northern part only you can book Blue Cities & Bustling Marrakech, or for just the desert you can book River Canyons & Camels.

If you’re older than 39 (and therefore not able to book the 18-to-thirtysomethings tours) there’s a top-rated 15 day tour for all ages with a similar itinerary or a bunch of other all ages options.

What was the tour group like?

Our group was fantastic, a great mix of personalities! Most people were in their mid to late 20s but there were some on both ends of the 18-39 spectrum, mostly from the USA, UK and Australia but with some Europeans in there too.

What was the guide like?

Yacine was amazing, he’s been working for G Adventures for years and he’s a brilliant ambassador for them in Morocco. He’s from the High Atlas Mountains but was extremely knowledgeable about everywhere we visited, he graciously shared his culture with us, gave us great recommendations for our free time in various places, and ensured we were comfortable and happy throughout the trip.

Local guides can truly make or break a trip and Yacine took ours to the next level, I’m so glad to have met him and hope to see him again in Morocco in the future!

What was the accommodation like?

The accommodation on this tour was simple but it was still very clean and comfortable enough for our short stays. Most rooms had air con aside from the Atlas Mountains homestay (which was cooler as we were higher up) and most had WiFi, sometimes patchy, but okay for basic social media scrolling and email checking.

I particularly loved the gorgeous auberge in the Todra Gorge, the laidback surf hostel in Taghazout and the dune-side hotel in the Sahara.

What was the bus like?

We had a mini bus which looked pretty much brand new, with comfortable seats and super strong air con that did its best at keeping us cool in the August heat 🥵

This tour is right for you if…

• You only have two weeks to visit Morocco and want to make the most of your time
• You’re happy to travel at a faster pace to see more places
• You want to experience and learn about local culture
• You’re happy to stay in simple but comfy places
• You’re keen to see Morocco’s main tourist spots to help you figure out where you’d like to return to for longer in the future
• You want to explore without the trickiness of planning the logistics yourself

This tour isn’t right for you if…

• You want to spend longer than two weeks in Morocco and want to explore at a slow pace
• You prefer seeing one or two places in-depth rather than whirlwind trips to 5-6 spots
• You want sleep ins and lots of chill out time
• You want to minimise your time on the road
• You want to be in 4-5* hotels with fancy amenities
• You need WiFi all day every day

Can I plan this itinerary by myself?

You could theoretically replicate this itinerary yourself, but it would either be very expensive if you booked private transport to get between the stops, or it would take a longggg time on public transport.

If you’re travelling in a couple/duo/group then it would be a bit easier, but for solo travellers running short on time in Morocco I think a tour would be a lot easier if you want to visit these places.

As an example, to get from Marrakech to Merzouga you’d either need to rent a car (pricey if you’re solo, potentially a bit nerve-wracking too), take a 12 hour bus (you’d skip Todra Gorge) or get a shared taxi with other travellers, and that’s a long time to share a small car with strangers.

Independent travel in Morocco is possible absolutely, but it does take a lot more planning than in countries with better infrastructure. If you want to do this exact itinerary, a tour would save you a lot of time and hassle!

Things to know before you go to Morocco

Some helpful tips before your Morocco tour:

• Don’t get an eSIM. You can get a SIM card at the airport with super cheap data, only 20EUR for 20GB, which is much cheaper than what the eSIM providers are offering. eSIMs are a fantastic new tool for frequent travellers, I use them in most places I visit, but it’s always good to check the price of a local SIM vs. eSIM to make sure you’re not getting ripped off. All eSIM brands I checked are significantly more expensive than the local options, Holafly was 47EUR for 15 days of unlimited data, aloSIM was 28EUR for just 5GB and even MobiMatter, my go-to aggregator to find the best eSIM deal, was offering 20GB for 63EUR.
• Get a Wise card for easy access to your money while travelling + low fees. A Wise card is an international debit card where you can load multiple currencies, make on-the-spot currency exchanges and withdraw local money with minimal fees.
• Tipping isn’t mandatory in Morocco but it is customary to round up the bill or leave a tip on the table in cafes and restaurants.
• You’ll also be expected to tip your driver and tour guide at the end of your tour, on our tour we all put money into an envelope and most people tipped 5-15EUR per day for the driver and guide to split
• Marrakech isn’t as conservative as you may think, in the markets you’ll see some young local women wearing shorts and singlets, but if you do go out in short, tight or revealing clothing you might be on the receiving end of stares and unwanted attention as it’s not the cultural norm. In Marrakech you can wear whatever you’re comfortable with, just understand that you might get a reaction.
• In smaller, more local places like the Atlas Mountains, Tinghir and the Berber Village it is respectful to cover your shoulders and knees
• Pack lightweight, breathable clothing that is quick to dry, there aren’t many options to do washing (just the two night stay in Morocco in the middle of the tour) so if you need to freshen up your clothes with a sink wash they’ll need to be able to dry overnight
• The two official languages of Morocco are Darija (Moroccan Arabic) and Amazigh (the Berber language), but most Moroccans also speak and understand French. Ask your guide to teach you the basics and impress shopkeepers and restaurant staff with a ‘please’ and ‘thank you’!

G Adventures Morocco Deserts & Beaches detailed itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Marrakech

I had already spent two days in Marrakech before my tour started, staying at the divine Atlas Widan boutique resort about half an hour from the city. It was absolutely perfect, with a huge sun-soaked pool, beautiful rooms and brilliant all-inclusive food. The perfect way to rest and reset after a previous group trip (sailing in Greece!) before embarking on my next 11-day adventure.

I booked a taxi transfer to take me to our Marrakech tour hotel, a basic but fine hotel in a busy area of town.

Our tour officially began in the early evening with a welcome meeting to meet our fellow travellers in the hotel lobby, before we caught the local bus to Jemaa el-Fnaa for a group dinner. The dinner was optional but everyone came and made the most of our group outing, getting to know our new travel buddies. A hearty tagine dinner was 9-11EUR which is the normal price for restaurants right on the square.

After dinner some people headed back to the hotel for an early night while some of us braved the main square to get a feel for Marrakech at its most bustling. It was a sensory overload, in the best way possible, just be sure to hold on to your bag!

The day started with a hotel breakfast of breads, dips, jams and eggs, then we made the most of the early morning coolness and walked through the Todra Gorge, where we saw families start to set up their tents for a day of fun at the stream. This place gets paaacked during summer as it offers a rare reprieve from the harsh desert sun and heat.

We drove further into the desert via some notable stops to buy a headscarf (for heat/sun/sand purposes) and authentic Moroccan coffee, before we reached our final stop on the edge of the Sahara Desert. Our hotel was literally steps away from the sand dunes!

This was one of the hottest days of Morocco’s summer, I saw 46°C on my phone but our guide said it hit 49°C 🫠 so on arrival he suggested we just hit the pool for the whole afternoon. None of us complained!

Once the sun had dropped down and the temperature cooled off, it was time to head out onto the dunes on camelback for sunset. G Adventures has strict rules around any animal-related activities (domesticated animals like camels, horses etc. must be well cared for, contact with any non-domesticated wild animals is a no-go) so you can be confident that this activity and the supplier has been vetted.

We didn’t get much of a sunset through the heat haze unfortunately but it was still epic to run around the dunes, then we rode back to the hotel for a delicious dinner, a campfire session and another swim before bed.

Day 4: Merzouga to Aït Ben Haddou

Some of the group woke up for a Sahara desert sunrise, but I’m not a morning person (upside down emoji) so I enjoyed a bit of a sleep in before our optional morning activity, a 4WD trip through the dunes to a Berber village.

First we walked around a community garden and learnt about the process behind growing things and accessing water in such harsh conditions, before we drove to a nomadic camp for Berbers, the indigenous North African ethnic group that live in scattered communities across the Sahara and beyond. It was fascinating!

Many Berbers these days live and participate in modern society, but some communities (like the one we visited) are truly nomadic with no fixed address, no modern technologies and no connection to institutions like banks or formal identification systems.

After a mint tea with a lovely Berber family we moved on to our final stop of the morning tour, a music show put on by the Gnawa people of Khamlia Village, an ethnic group from sub-Saharan Africa who were brought to Morocco as slaves in the 15th/16th centuries but who still have their own distinct culture, music and traditions.

After the optional tour was over we went back to the Sahara hotel to grab our stuff and hit the road towards Aït Ben Haddou, passing loads of desert kasbahs on the way.

On arrival we had an optional (but cheap) cooking class in the auberge kitchen to learn the art of making the perfect tagine, and we all enjoyed our creations for dinner. Except me, I was on camera duty!

Day 5: Aït Ben Haddou to Aroumd

Our hotel was a short walk from the historic kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou, a UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site with buildings that date back to the 17th century, but it’s been an important site for Morocco’s trade since the 11th century. You might recognise it from movies like the Mummy, Prince of Persia and Game of Thrones.

Seeing this spot early in the morning was ideal, there’s not much shade and the sun would’ve been intense from 10am onwards, but we managed to explore and learn about the history before it got too hot.

We got back to the van just in time to escape the heat and made our way towards the Atlas Mountains, where our next overnight stay was nestled up in the hills. There’s no road access here for the van so we parked down the bottom, left the suitcases in the van and put an overnight bag into a car, and hit the hiking trails while the car drove our stuff up via some precarious mountain roads.

The walk was about 45 minutes and 100m elevation on a gravel/dirt track, it definitely got our heart rates up (especially in the heat) but it wasn’t too challenging!

We reached our mountain gite and settled in to the homestay with a welcome tea and some rooftop chill out time before a delicious home-cooked meal. The homestay had dorm-style rooms so a little different from previous nights, but it was still comfortable.

Day 6: Aroumd to Marrakech

A 45 minute walk back down to our van was a great start to the day, with epic views the whole way, before the drive back to Marrakech for a mid-tour city break.

This was the end of the first segment of the tour so some of our tour group was leaving the following day and we had some newbies joining. To mark the end of that part of the trip we had an amaaazing dinner at a new restaurant called Bistro La Saveur, it was recommended by our guide Yacine after some people from his previous tour tried it out. The food was absolutely incredible, top-quality Mediterranean cuisine, and fantastic cocktails too. It was certainly one of the more expensive options in Marrakech but still great value for the quality.

After dinner we moved on to Skybar Marrakech, a rooftop bar with ridiculously strong drinks and a great sunset view.

Day 7: Full day in Marrakech

Today was a totally free day to do whatever we felt like, but our guide made some helpful suggestions.

I had some extra time in Marrakech at the end of my tour so I wasn’t too fussed about cramming the day with activities, instead we took it slow with a sleep in to recover from the busy travel days before getting back into tourist mode.

We decided to visit Jardin Majorelle, an enchanting 9000sqm botanical garden and a haven amongst the chaos of Marrakech. But beware, this place gets paaacked! We arrived at 10am and there were already huge lines and crowds, if you want to go to take decent photos you really need to get there first thing in the morning.

READ MORE: The perfect two day Marrakech itinerary

There’s a cute little cafe tucked into the gardens where we stopped for a late breakfast, I got Moroccan pancakes with almond butter and honey which were divine, and an ice cold juice to give us some reprieve from the ever-rising Marrakech temperatures.

The street the garden is located on, the aptly-named Rue Yves St Laurent, is jam-packed with gorgeous boutique clothing stores and independent design retailers, perfect if you want to find some unique souvenirs or take something special home. I’ll be coming back here when I own a house (at this rate that’ll be in approximately 45 years).

The new travellers joining our group had arrived by this evening so Yacine organised an optional group dinner for everyone to join after their free time during the day, but I had work to do (*ahem* blogs to write) so I headed to a Carrefour supermarket, stocked up on French cheese and fresh bread, and had my own picnic dinner at the hotel.

Day 8: Marrakech to Taghazout

We hit the road early for a long drive day to the seaside!

Our first stop was a huge supermarket to grab some food for a picnic lunch, which we enjoyed at a roadside petrol station. This was a great call by Yacine because the petrol station food options were super limited, and the line was longgggg.

We made a quick stop to explore the fortified city of Taroudant, known as ‘the Grandmother of Marrakech’ with a very similar look and overall vibe, but far fewer people. The city’s walls are the largest archaeological walls in Africa and third in the world, after the Great Wall of China and the wall of Kumbalgar in India.

After a bit of free time to shop the souks or rest and relax with a mint tea, we got back into the bus to continue the journey to Taghazout, where we were spending two nights at an epic surf hostel.

On arrival the hostel team took us up to the ocean-view rooftop for tea and sweet treats, then we had free time to explore the coastal city, wander the beach and sink a refreshing beer. Dinner was served at the hostel tonight and it was fantastic, a huge spread of homemade dishes packed with fresh veggies and protein to get us prepped for a physically demanding day tomorrow…

Day 9: Full day in Taghazout

It’s surf day! We had the full day in Taghazout and spent the morning down at a nearby surf beach learning the art of catching a wave.

This was so much fun to do as a group, none of us had really surfed before so it started off as an absolute mess of screams and splashes haha but after some practice most of us could at least stand up for a good few seconds. Lunch was picnic-style at the beach made by the hostel, a hearty lentil dish and a bunch of snacks.

After getting out of our wetsuits we had free time the rest of the afternoon. I opted to head to a beachside cafe for the WiFi and work time (the occupational hazard of being a travel blogger) but some of my tourmates hit the beach, rented paddleboards or kayaks, got massages or shopped the markets.

The hostel runs an optional yoga class for the group and all of us were keen, so we met up at the rooftop at sunset and stretched our muscles after the hectic surf session this morning.

We had another delicious veggie-heavy dinner, then a cosy campfire at the beach, before hitting the hay.

Day 10: Taghazout to Essaouira

They say it’s all about the journey rather than the destination, and that was certainly true today, with two interesting stops between Taghazout and our next overnight location of Essaouira.

The first was weird and wonderful, goats in a tree! The fruit of the argan tree is a favourite of the herds that live between Taghazout and Essaouira, and they’re agile enough to climb up thorny branches to reach their treats. There’s a bit of debate over this in terms of responsible travel, there have been lots of reports of farmers coaxing or carrying their farm goats into trees to encourage tourists to stop and pay a tip, especially during the drought period.

However, our guide assured us that the climbing is a natural behaviour for the goats who roam the area and the tree we saw was in the middle of nowhere with no farmer to be seen and nowhere to tip, so I’m confident that we saw the real thing rather than a tourist trap.

The next stop was a fascinating argan oil cooperative where we watched the argan nuts being processed and turned into butter, oil and more. There was also a tasting opportunity (and it was delicious!) and a shop selling skincare, haircare and more.

We arrived in Essaouira just after midday, and I immediately fell in love. It was busy but significantly more chill than Marrakech, loads of incredible shops in the souks, narrow alleyways leading you to hidden bars and restaurants, and loads to do!

I joined a few group members to try a traditional Moroccan hammam, an experience I definitely won’t forget 🙃 First we sat in a steam room so thick it was almost suffocating (great for our skin, challenging for our tolerance!), got scrubbed down head to toe, then taken into a romantic three-person room for a brilliant massage.

My travel buddy and I spent our free afternoon discovering funky design shops and searching for cocktails, which we found at an incredible bar called Dar Baba. We had some snacks and a couple of drinks and I’d highly recommend it!

This was our last night of the tour, so the group decided to meet up for dinner at Restaurant Il Mare, which has stunning sunset views over the city walls as well as fresh seafood on offer and a decent drinks menu. The mojitos were flowing, there was live music, it was the perfect end to our 11 day adventure.

We had an early start the next morning with a 7.30am departure to get back to Marrakech so the smart people in the group headed back to the hotel after dinner, while a few of us made the terrible decision to continue the night at Taros, an infamous bar in Essaouira’s old town that hosts DJs and live bands until the early hours of the morning. I think we got home at around 4am.

Day 11: Essaouira to Marrakech

You can imagine how enjoyable this day was after our night out! We all made it to the hotel lobby on time and hopped on the bus for a final drive in the Moroccan heat 🫠 thankfully we had a mint tea stop after not too long on the road (perhaps Yacine could see we needed it!) and arrived in Marrakech around midday.

This was the official end to our trip, so we said goodbye to our brilliant guide Yacine and driver Muhammad, and then a bunch of us went to the only place you really want to go with a hangover… McDonalds. What a way to wrap up our group tour and bid farewell to our new friends!

After the tour

I had another three nights in Marrakech after the tour before heading to my next destination, so here’s a little summary of my solo Marrakech time:

• Stayed at the marvelous Indian Palace Riad, and it was 10/10 magical. Absolutely gorgeous rooms, a hearty and varied breakfast each morning, a dreamy pool and an ideal location within walking distance (or a super quick taxi) to the main square.
• Visited Bahia Palace and Badi Palace
• Took this epic food tour with a local legend, Ali, one of the highlights of my Morocco trip

If you’ve made it to the end of this blog then a) well done and b) you have too much time on your hands! I hope this detailed tour breakdown and review of my G Adventures Morocco tour has helped you make a decision if it’s the right option for you.

If you’re keen to book the tour or want more detailed information, you can check it out on the G Adventures website here.

And if you have any questions then please let me know in the comments. Safe travels!

Disclosure: I partnered with G Adventures to experience this trip free of charge in exchange for coverage on my channels, but they have no say in my editorial content and my review (as always) is completely honest and based on my personal experience. I will always share my true thoughts with you regardless of any business relationship.