Are Kasbah Trails tours private, or do we join a group?

Every Kasbah Trails itinerary is 100% private — just you, your travel companions, and a dedicated driver-guide in your own vehicle. There are no strangers added to your group and no fixed departure dates to work around.

Can you customize an itinerary, or do we have to book one exactly as listed?

Every trip on this site is a starting point. Tell us your dates, pace and interests on WhatsApp or through the form below, and we'll adjust the route, swap in extra nights, or build something from scratch around what you actually want to see.

What's included in the price of a private Morocco tour?

Standard inclusions are a private air-conditioned vehicle with fuel and tolls, an English-speaking driver-guide for the whole trip, accommodation in riads, kasbahs and a desert camp, the Erg Chebbi camel trek, daily breakfast, local guides in the imperial cities, and all local taxes. International flights, most lunches and dinners, entrance fees, tips and travel insurance are not included.

How much does a private Sahara desert tour cost?

Pricing depends on group size, season, and the level of riad or kasbah you choose, since every trip is quoted individually rather than sold at a fixed group rate. Message us on WhatsApp with your dates and traveller count for an exact quote — there's no obligation to book.

Is Morocco safe to visit, and is a guide necessary for the Sahara?

Morocco is a well-established, welcoming destination for private travel, and the desert routes we run — through Ouarzazate, the gorges and Merzouga — are on paved and well-travelled roads. A local driver-guide isn't strictly required to enter the country, but it makes the long mountain and desert legs far easier, and it's how a camel trek and desert camp get arranged properly rather than booked blind.

When's the best time of year for a Sahara desert tour?

Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) give the most comfortable temperatures for both the High Atlas passes and the dunes. Summer is workable but hot in the desert by midday; winter nights in the Sahara and the mountains can be cold, so pack layers if travelling between November and February.

Which cities can a tour start and end in?

Most itineraries start or end in Marrakech, Fes, Casablanca or Tangier — wherever your flight lands. Filter the tours by city to see what's available, or ask us to build a route between two different cities if you don't see the combination you need.

Travel guide · 6 min read

Morocco in Winter: What to Expect and How to Pack

Written by the Kasbah Trails team

Published June 22, 2026

A blue-painted stairway lined with plant pots in Chefchaouen, Morocco

Winter is an underrated season for Morocco: fewer crowds at every major site, clear desert skies for stargazing, and comfortable daytime temperatures across most regions — with a handful of real cold-weather caveats that are easy to miss if you're picturing the Sahara as uniformly hot.

The Atlas Mountains: it does snow

The High Atlas, including sections of the Tizi n'Tichka pass, genuinely can see snow between December and February, occasionally closing the road for a few hours after a heavy fall while it's cleared. It's rare enough not to derail most trips, but worth checking conditions if you're travelling through in deep winter, since the alternative routes add real time to the drive.

The Sahara: cold nights, mild days

Daytime desert temperatures are often pleasantly mild in winter, warm enough to sit outside comfortably in the sun, but nights at a Merzouga desert camp can drop close to freezing once that sun is gone — see our what to pack guide for the layering that actually helps. The upside is exceptionally clear night skies for stargazing, arguably the best of the year, since winter's dry, cold air holds almost no haze.

The coast and cities: genuinely mild

Marrakech, Fes, and coastal towns like Essaouira rarely drop below single digits even in January, and daytime temperatures are often comfortable enough that a light jacket covers most of the day rather than proper heavy winter wear.

What to actually pack

A proper warm layer for evenings and the desert camp, a light jacket for city days, and closed shoes throughout. Worth knowing before you arrive: riads and older buildings aren't always centrally heated, so evenings indoors can be cooler than the daytime weather led you to expect, even in a city that never got close to freezing outside.

For a wider regional picture of Morocco's winter weather patterns beyond the routes we run, Wikipedia's climate overview of Morocco is a useful starting point before you finalise what goes in the suitcase.