What private, shared and small-group mean in Morocco
The three terms describe who is in the vehicle with you. Everything else follows from that.
- Private tour. The vehicle and driver are for your party only. You set the start time, the stops and the hotel level. Every tour we sell is private.
- Shared tour. You buy a seat on a minibus with other travellers, usually through a booking marketplace. The route, stops and accommodation are fixed. Most are 2 to 4 day desert trips from Marrakech or Fes.
- Small-group tour. An international company sells places on a fixed departure with a trip leader. The group is smaller than a shared bus, and the hotels are of a higher standard, as is the price.
How much each type costs
A shared desert tour costs a fraction of a private one, and a small-group departure with an international company can cost more than either. The figures below are the ones we could verify in October 2026.
| Private tour | Shared tour | Small-group tour | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Example price | 3 days Marrakech to Merzouga: €500 to €800 per person with us | 3 days Marrakech to Merzouga: roughly $95 to $180 per person on marketplaces | Wilderness Travel: 13 days from $7,395 per person |
| Who is in the vehicle | Only your party | Other travellers, often a full minibus | A set group and a trip leader |
| Pace and stops | You decide, day by day | Fixed schedule | Fixed, planned in advance |
| Hotels and camp | You choose standard, comfort or luxury | Set by the organiser, usually basic | Set by the company, usually higher level |
| Dates | Any start date you choose | Daily on popular routes | A few fixed departures a year |
| Route changes | Open to change until you agree the itinerary | Not possible | Rare |
| Cost for a solo traveller | Highest, one person pays for the whole vehicle | Same low price per seat | Often a single supplement |
| Best for | Couples, families, friends, anyone short of time | Solo and budget travellers | Solo travellers who want company and comfort |
Prices are in the currency each seller uses. Shared tour figures come from GetYourGuide, Viator and TripAdvisor listings in 2026. See Morocco tour cost for every private tour length.
Private costs more for a simple reason: the vehicle and driver are yours. On a shared tour that cost is split between every seat on the bus. On a private tour it is split between your party, so the price per person falls as your group grows. Four friends pay noticeably less each than a couple does, and a solo traveller pays the most.
How the pace differs on the road
The biggest practical difference is control over time. The drive from Marrakech to Merzouga and back is long whichever way you travel: about 330 km on day one, 265 km on day two and 553 km on the return. Nothing shortens that distance.
What changes is how the hours are spent. A shared bus collects passengers from several hotels before leaving, stops where the schedule says, and waits until everyone is back on board. A private driver leaves when you are ready, stops when you see something you want to photograph, and skips a stop that does not interest you. With children, with older travellers or with anyone prone to travel sickness on the Tizi n'Tichka pass, that flexibility matters a great deal.
A private tour can also end somewhere different. Our 3-day Marrakech to Fes desert tour crosses the country one way, which saves the long day back to Marrakech and suits travellers flying out of Fes.
Group size, comfort and privacy
On a private tour the group is whoever you bring. On a shared tour you do not choose your companions or their number, and a full minibus means less legroom and a fixed seat for many hours. Some travellers enjoy the company, and good friendships start on those buses. Others find three long days beside strangers tiring.
Accommodation follows the same pattern. Shared tours use the hotel and camp the organiser has contracted, and you see them when you arrive. On a private tour you pick the level, and the hotel and camp are named in your quote so you can look them up first. If a tent with its own bathroom matters to you, read about luxury desert camps in Merzouga.
Who each type suits
A private tour suits you if
- You are two or more people, so the vehicle cost is split
- You are travelling with children or older relatives
- You have limited days and want every hour to count
- You want to choose your hotels and desert camp
- You want a route that starts and ends in different cities
- You have particular interests, such as photography or hiking
A shared or group tour suits you if
- You are travelling alone and price comes first
- You are backpacking and comfortable with basic accommodation
- You like meeting other travellers on the road
- You are happy with a fixed route and schedule
- You want a set departure date and a trip leader (small-group)
Our honest verdict
Shared tours are fine for budget solo travellers. You see the same pass, the same kasbah at Ait Ben Haddou, the same gorges and the same dunes at Erg Chebbi for a small fraction of the private price. If you are 24, travelling alone and watching every dirham, a shared tour is the right call, and we would say so if you asked us.
A private tour earns its price when there are two or more of you, when your time is short, or when comfort and choice matter. For a family of four, the gap per person narrows and the gain in flexibility is large. For a trip of a week or more across several cities, shared options barely exist and the realistic choice is between a private tour and a small-group departure.
Solo travellers with a larger budget have a third route. A small-group company gives you companions and a leader, at a price above most private tours. Our page on Morocco tour companies lists one such company alongside private operators.
Private tours you can book with us
All of these run for your party alone, on any start date, and each can be adjusted. See the full list on our Morocco tours page.
3-day Marrakech to Merzouga desert tour
The shortest way to reach the big dunes of Erg Chebbi from Marrakech, with Ait Ben Haddou, two gorges and a night in a desert camp.
From €500 per person
3-day Marrakech to Fes desert tour
A one-way crossing from Marrakech to Fes that swaps the motorway for the High Atlas, the Erg Chebbi dunes and the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas.
From €500 per person
4-day Fes to Marrakech desert tour
Fes to Marrakech by the Sahara with a full day at Merzouga in the middle, so the dunes are more than an overnight stop.
From €600 per person
Questions people ask
Is a private tour in Morocco worth it?
For two or more people it usually is, because the vehicle cost is shared and you gain control of the pace, the stops and the hotels. For a solo traveller on a tight budget, a shared tour gives far better value.
How much is a private tour of Morocco per person?
Our private tours cost €500 to €800 per person for 3 days, €1,700 to €3,800 for 7 days and €2,900 to €5,500 for 10 days. The lower figures apply to larger groups in standard accommodation.
How many people are on a shared desert tour from Marrakech?
It varies by operator and by day. Shared tours normally use a minibus and aim to fill it, so expect to travel with a dozen or more people. Check the maximum group size on the listing before you book.
Can a solo traveller book a private tour?
Yes. One person pays for the whole vehicle and driver, so the price sits at the top of the range. Some solo travellers choose it anyway for the freedom and the direct contact with a local driver.
Do you run shared or group tours?
No. Every tour run by Best Morocco Travel is private, with no shared buses and no joining strangers. If a shared tour fits your budget better, a booking marketplace is the place to find one.
Does a private tour include a guide?
Your driver speaks English or Spanish and stays with you for the whole trip. On longer tours a local city guide leads the guided days in Fes and Marrakech. Ask us to confirm which guided days are in your quote.
