Morocco from the UK: Flights, Holidays and Private Tours
A practical guide for UK travellers: entry rules, direct flights, the time difference, money and school holiday timing, plus three private tour ideas with real prices.
A practical guide for UK travellers: entry rules, direct flights, the time difference, money and school holiday timing, plus three private tour ideas with real prices.
Morocco is one of the easiest long-haul-feeling trips you can take from the UK. The flight is short, there is little or no time difference, and within a day you can go from the souks of Marrakech to the High Atlas. This guide covers the practical side for UK travellers — entry, flights, time, money and timing around school holidays — and then suggests three private trips by length, with real prices.
British passport holders can currently enter Morocco without a visa for tourist stays of up to 90 days, with a valid passport. Rules do change, so confirm with the Moroccan consulate or official government sources before you book flights. Our Morocco visa guide covers the details country by country.
Many UK airports have direct flights to Marrakech, and there are also direct routes to other Moroccan cities. Flying time is roughly 3 to 4 hours, so a morning departure puts you in a riad by mid-afternoon. Routes and operators change from season to season, so check current schedules from your nearest airport before planning dates around a particular flight.
Marrakech is the most practical arrival point for most UK visitors: the classic desert routes, the Atlas Mountains and the Atlantic coast are all within reach by road. If you are arriving in another city, a private tour can usually be arranged to start there instead.
Morocco runs on UTC+1 for most of the year. The UK is on GMT (UTC+0) in winter and BST (UTC+1) in summer. In practice:
There is no jet lag to speak of, which is why a long weekend in Marrakech works so well from the UK.
The Moroccan dirham (MAD) is a closed currency, so you generally cannot buy it at home before you leave. Bring pounds to exchange on arrival, or withdraw dirhams from ATMs in Morocco. Keep cash for the medinas, small shops, taxis and tips, because many places there do not take cards. Our guide to money in Morocco explains ATMs, cards and tipping in more detail.
Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the most comfortable seasons for touring, with warm days in Marrakech and manageable heat in the desert. That lines up well with several UK school breaks:
For month-by-month weather, see our best time to visit Morocco guide, and if you are travelling with children, our family travel guide.
A package holiday usually means a flight and a hotel in one place, often with optional group excursions. That suits a beach or pool week. If you want to see more than one city — the desert, the kasbahs, the mountains — a private tour is usually the better fit. With My Morocco Tours every tour is private, with your own vehicle and your own driver, so you set the pace, stop where you like and are not waiting for a coach of strangers. Pickup is from your hotel or riad on most tours (each tour page confirms).
The other difference is flexibility. You can book flights with whichever airline suits you and fit the tour around them. Our comparison of private and group tours goes through the trade-offs.
Prices below are per person in euros, as shown on each tour page, and fall as your group grows.
With three or four nights, base yourself in Marrakech and add one or two private day trips. Good options include the Atlas Mountains and Imlil Valley (from €95 per person for two, €47 for four), Essaouira on the Atlantic coast (from €90 per person for two), or the Ourika Valley with lunch (from €90 per person for two). Browse all day trips from Marrakech.
The 4-Day Private Sahara Tour from Marrakech crosses the High Atlas, visits UNESCO-listed sites and the Dades Valley, and reaches the Merzouga dunes before returning to Marrakech. It costs €540 per person for two people and €375 per person for four. Add two or three nights in Marrakech either side and it fits a one-week holiday or a half-term.
The 7-Day Private Morocco Tour starts and ends in Marrakech and takes in Rabat, Chefchaouen, a guided day in Fes, the Merzouga desert, the Todra Gorge and Ait Benhaddou. It costs €1,040 per person for two and €730 per person for four, which makes it a strong choice for families or friends travelling together.
| Trip | Length | 2 people (pp) | 4 people (pp) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlas Mountains & Imlil day trip | 1 day | €95 | €47 |
| 4-Day Private Sahara Tour from Marrakech | 4 days | €540 | €375 |
| 7-Day Private Morocco Tour (Chefchaouen, Fes, Merzouga) | 7 days | €1,040 | €730 |
To confirm a tour you pay a deposit of 15% of the total, capped at €600, by PayPal or bank transfer. The rest is paid on arrival in Morocco. Because everything is private, dates are set around your flights rather than fixed departure days.
If none of these fits your dates or interests, send a free custom itinerary request and we will build a route around your flights and school holiday dates. You can also message us on WhatsApp at +212 669 841 106.
British passport holders can currently enter Morocco without a visa for tourist stays of up to 90 days with a valid passport. Rules can change, so confirm with the Moroccan consulate or official sources before you travel.
Direct flights from the UK to Marrakech take roughly 3 to 4 hours. Many UK airports have direct routes, but schedules change by season, so check current flights from your nearest airport.
Morocco is on UTC+1 for most of the year, so it is usually the same time as the UK during British Summer Time and one hour ahead in the UK winter. Morocco moves its clocks back during Ramadan.
The dirham is a closed currency, so you generally cannot buy it before you travel. Bring pounds to exchange in Morocco or use ATMs there, and carry cash for the medinas.
As examples, the 4-Day Private Sahara Tour from Marrakech costs 540 euros per person for two people and 375 euros per person for four, and the 7-Day Private Morocco Tour costs 1,040 euros per person for two. Prices fall as the group grows.
