Private vs Group Tours in Morocco: Pros and Cons

We run both formats, so here's the frank version rather than the sales version. Shared tours are better value and genuinely sociable. Private tours cost more for couples but buy you control — and for families or groups of four, the price gap narrows to almost nothing.

The cost difference, honestly

On a shared departure, the vehicle and driver cost is split across six or more travellers. On a private tour it's split across your group alone. That's the whole story.

Which means the maths changes completely with group size. On our 3-day Merzouga tour, shared starts around €99 per person. Private for two starts around €295 each — but private for four drops to around €235 each. For a family, private is often the obvious choice.

Departure dates

This is the practical difference most people meet first. Shared tours run on published set dates — ours depart Monday, Wednesday and Saturday for the 3-day Sahara route, weekly for the 5-day, and once or twice a month for the longer circuits. Private tours run on any date you choose.

Reputable operators also set a minimum group size, so ask what happens if a departure doesn't fill. We confirm at least 14 days ahead and offer you another date, a discounted private upgrade, or a full refund.

Flexibility

This is where private earns its price. On a private tour you can:

• Start on any date, not just scheduled departures
• Leave at 7am or 10am, as you prefer
• Stop for photographs whenever you want
• Spend an extra hour in Aït Ben Haddou and skip a shopping stop
• Adjust the route mid-trip if something isn't working

On a shared tour, none of that is possible — the group and the schedule set the pace. For most travellers that's fine. For photographers, families with small children, older travellers, or anyone with dietary or mobility needs, it matters a lot.

The social side

This cuts both ways, and it's worth being honest about. Shared tours are genuinely one of the better ways to meet other travellers — the desert camp evening around the fire, in particular, tends to bond a group quickly. Many solo travellers choose shared specifically for this.

The flip side: you don't choose your companions. A group with mismatched energy — or one person who is always late — shapes the whole trip. It's usually fine. Occasionally it isn't.

Who each format suits

Choose a shared small-group tour if…

• You're travelling solo or as a couple on a budget
• Your dates are flexible enough to match a departure
• You'd like to meet other travellers
• You're happy following a set schedule

Choose a private tour if…

• You're a family, or a group of three or more
• Your dates are fixed and don't match departures
• You're travelling with children, or with anyone who needs a gentler pace
• You want to shape the route around your own interests
• You value privacy and quiet at the end of a long day

Both formats are available across our range, from the 2-day Zagora trip up to the 15-day Complete Morocco tour. If you're still weighing up the numbers, see our Morocco tour cost guide.

Frequently asked questions