Morocco can be done on almost any budget. Mid-range travellers spend roughly US$80–150 per person per day; a private southern circuit from Ouarzazate — driver-guide, kasbah stays and a desert-camp night — typically runs US$200–400+ per day depending on season and the standard of camp you choose.
In this guide
Currency and payments
The currency is the Moroccan dirham (MAD), a closed currency you can't easily get before you arrive — withdraw from ATMs in Ouarzazate or Zagora, both reliable, before heading deeper south. Cards work in town hotels and larger kasbah guesthouses, but the Skoura palmery stops, the gorge cafés, the camel handlers' tips and the small Drâa Valley villages all run on cash. Merzouga has only a basic ATM that can run dry, so carry small notes from town.
What things cost
Rough, real-world ranges to set expectations (they vary by city and season):
- Mint tea or coffee: 15–30 MAD; a casual tagine lunch: 60–120 MAD.
- A good riad room: US$60–200+ per night; luxury riads and desert camps far higher.
- A licensed Aït Ben Haddou or Atlas Studios guide: roughly US$10–15 (MAD 80–150).
- Private transfer Marrakech–Ouarzazate over the Tizi n'Tichka: from around US$120+ per car.
- A luxury Sahara camp night at Erg Chebbi or Erg Chigaga: US$150–400+ per person, all-in.
Where the money goes — and how to save
The biggest line items on a private trip are accommodation and the driver-guide; both scale with season and standard. Travelling in the shoulder months, mixing a few self-guided city days with guided excursions, and keeping group sizes efficient (a private car costs the same for two as for four) all stretch the budget without cutting the experience.
Frequently asked
How much does a week in Morocco cost?
A comfortable mid-range week runs roughly US$600–1,100 per person excluding international flights. A fully private, riad-and-driver trip with a Sahara night typically lands between US$1,400 and US$3,000+ per person for the week, depending on season and standard.
Should I bring cash or use cards in Morocco?
Both. Use cards for riads and bigger restaurants, but carry dirham cash for souks, taxis, tips, rural stops and the desert, where cards aren't accepted.
Is Morocco expensive?
It can be as cheap or as luxurious as you like. Street food and guesthouses make it very affordable; private guiding, top riads and desert camps push it firmly into premium territory.
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Planning
Morocco Visa & Entry Requirements
Most travellers — including US, Canadian, UK, EU/Schengen, Australian, New Zealand and Japanese passport holders — enter Morocco visa-free for up to 90 days, whether they land at Marrakech, Casablanca or fly straight into Ouarzazate (OZZ) for the desert. You need a passport valid for at least six months beyond arrival.
Practical
Getting Around Morocco
Morocco has good trains between the northern cities, comfortable intercity buses — and for the south, where the railway never reaches, private drivers. Ouarzazate, the gorges and the Sahara sit well beyond the rail map, so the kasbah road is a driver's-and-bus country. The right mix depends on your route and pace.
Planning
The Best Time to Visit Morocco
Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are the best all-round windows for Morocco, and especially for the southern desert circuit around Ouarzazate — warm days over the kasbah road, cool nights in the Drâa and Dadès valleys, and dune light at its richest before the summer furnace arrives.