Morocco Gay Group Trip: Marrakech to the Sahara Desert
9 Days, 8 Nights
Sept 28th - Oct 6th, 2027
About This Trip
Join SideQuests founder Matthew on a 9-day LGBTQ+ group adventure from the spice-scented alleys of Marrakech to a glamping camp in the Sahara. You'll cook a tagine in an 18th-century palace, hike a red-rock canyon in the Dades Valley, ride camels into a desert sunset and wander a UNESCO-listed kasbah town that has starred in more movies than most actors.
This trip is equal parts adventure and slow travel. Long drives through the Atlas Mountains are broken up by tea stops, canyon walks and nights in riads that feel like hidden courtyards. The pace is relaxed, with plenty of free time to wander, shop or nap, and the group stays small so it feels like traveling with friends rather than a tour bus.
Then it's back to Marrakech for a hammam and one last dinner together. Read all about it below.
Groups of 8 to 20 Travelers!
2 Nights in the Sahara!
Deposit: $750 (just 25% down)
$2,999
2027: Sep 28 - Oct 6
Marrakech - Sahara Desert - Ait Ben Haddou
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A hands-on cooking class at the Moroccan Culinary Arts Museum, an 18th-century palace inside the medina, then lunch on the terrace featuring everything you made. In the afternoon a local guide takes us through Majorelle Garden, Bahia Palace, the Koutoubia Mosque, the souks and Jemaa el-Fnaa Square.
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Share mint tea and pastries with a local family in the Dades Valley, then take a guided canyon hike along the Dades River and through narrow rock passages beneath the famous Monkey Fingers rock formations.
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Two nights at a desert glamping camp near Merzouga, with a sunset camel ride across the dunes, dinner in the main tent with live music, a full free day to explore and a sky full of stars.
Tour Highlights
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A guided walk through one of Morocco's best-preserved fortified clay villages, a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the old caravan route, finishing at the kasbah summit for the view.
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Back in Marrakech, unwind with a traditional hammam: steam, scrub, mint tea and time at the pools. Then it's one last dinner together before we say goodbye.
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8 to 20 like-minded LGBTQ+ travelers, most of them traveling solo. Matthew brings the welcome happy hour, daily reflections and an optional LGBTQ+ Community and Connection Workshop that turns a group of strangers into your people.
What’s Included?
Pricing:
25% deposit to book. Airport transfers are added in your traveler portal about 30 days before departure.
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Traveling solo and want the extra space? We get it, not everyone wants to share. Add a private room for all 8 nights. Private rooms are limited and first come, first served, so book early if you want one.
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Arrive a day early to beat the jet lag and ease into the medina before the group meets. Includes an extra night at our Marrakech riad.
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Not ready to leave? Stay one more night at our Marrakech riad for a last wander through the souks before you fly home.
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Private transfers to and from Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK). Pricing varies, and you can add them in your traveler portal about 30 days before departure.
Not sure which add-ons you want? No worries! Extra nights and airport transfers can be added in your TrovaTrip traveler portal closer to the trip.
Add-Ons:
Only a 25% deposit is due to book, and Affirm payment plans are available. Your deposit is 100% refundable while your spot is pending. Once the trip is confirmed, cancellations 91 or more days out receive a future trip credit for the deposit (minus a $100 fee, valid one year) and a refund of anything paid beyond it. Cancellations 90 days or less before departure are non-refundable. We strongly recommend travel insurance with trip cancellation coverage.
This trip is booked and paid through TrovaTrip, our booking partner, and their booking terms apply.
Navigation:
Tour Highlights · What’s Included · Pricing · Itinerary · Your Host · FAQ · About · Hotels
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Welcome to Morocco! Arrive in Marrakech and settle into our riad in the medina. In the early evening we'll meet in the lobby at 5:30 PM for a welcome happy hour, then head out for our first dinner together. By dessert, nobody will feel like a stranger.
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A local restaurant about 15 minutes from the hotel, ordering à la carte. Drinks are on your own.
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A traditional riad in the Marrakech medina, our home base at the start and end of the trip.
Day 1
Welcome to Marrakech
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After an included breakfast, we'll spend the morning in a roughly four-hour cooking class at the Moroccan Culinary Arts Museum, an 18th-century palace inside the medina, learning to make tagines and other Moroccan staples. In the afternoon a local guide shows us the highlights of Marrakech, and the evening is yours.
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We'll eat everything we cooked on the museum's rooftop terrace.
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A local guide leads us through Majorelle Garden, Bahia Palace, the Koutoubia Mosque, the souks and Jemaa el-Fnaa Square (about 1 to 1.5 miles of walking).
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Grab dinner with whoever you've clicked with, then join the optional group reflection.
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Marrakech.
Day 2
Cooking Class and the Medina
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After breakfast we'll drive about 6.5 hours over the High Atlas Mountains to the Dades Valley, with a lunch stop along the way. It's a long day on the road, broken up with stops and some of the most dramatic scenery of the trip.
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An easy guided walk through the old town and kasbahs, then mint tea and pastries with a local family.
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At the hotel.
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Dades Valley, our base for the canyon walk and Dades Gorges hike.
Day 3
Mint Tea and the Road to Dades
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After breakfast, a short transfer takes us to the trailhead for a guided hike through the Dades Gorges, one of the most dramatic stretches of red rock in Morocco. The afternoon is free, and tonight Matthew hosts the optional LGBTQ+ Community and Connection Workshop.
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About 3 to 5 miles with roughly 820 feet of elevation change, following the river past the Monkey Fingers rock formations and through a few narrow passages. Rated moderate to challenging.
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Lunch and free time on your own. Nap, wander or find a terrace with a view.
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Dinner at the hotel, with the optional LGBTQ+ Community and Connection Workshop before or after.
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Dades Valley.
Day 4
Red Rocks and River Trails
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After breakfast we drive about 5 hours to the edge of the Sahara, stopping for lunch on the way, and arrive at our desert glamping camp near Merzouga in the afternoon. Then it's out into the dunes for a sunset camel ride and dinner under the stars.
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About 1.5 hours across the dunes as the sun goes down (220 lb rider weight limit).
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Dinner in the camp's main tent, followed by a live music show.
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Desert glamping in the Sahara.
Day 5
Sahara Glamping and a Sunset Camel Ride
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A full free day in the Sahara. Explore the dunes, relax at camp, read in the shade or do absolutely nothing. Tonight is all about the stars.
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All three meals are served in the camp's main tent.
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Sahara Desert.
Day 6
A Free Day in the Desert
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After breakfast at camp we drive about 6 hours to Ait Ben Haddou, with a lunch stop on the way. This fortified clay village on the old caravan route is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and we'll explore it on foot with a local guide.
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A guided two-hour walk through the fortified village, finishing at the kasbah summit for the view (about 1 to 1.5 miles).
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The evening is free. Grab dinner with the group or a few new friends.
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Ait Ben Haddou.
Day 7
Ait Ben Haddou
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After breakfast we drive about 4 hours back to Marrakech, stopping for lunch, with a free afternoon for last-minute shopping in the souks. Then it's time to unwind with a traditional hammam before our farewell dinner.
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About 1.5 hours of steam room, exfoliation and mint tea, plus time at the pools. Hammam sessions are separated by gender and the pool area is mixed. Bring a swimsuit and flip-flops.
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À la carte at a local restaurant. Drinks are on your own.
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Marrakech.
Day 8
Hammam and Farewell in Marrakech
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One last breakfast together, then check out and head home with a camera roll full of dunes, kasbahs and new friends. We recommend flying out of Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK). Not ready to leave? Add a post-trip night in Marrakech.
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At the riad before you head to the airport.
Day 9
Farewell, Morocco
Meet Your Host
Hi, I'm Matthew, founder of SideQuests Travel and one half of @michaelandmatt. I'm a travel writer and photographer based in Portland, Oregon, and I'll be hosting this trip myself.
I've hosted LGBTQ+ group trips across Greece, Thailand, Japan, Costa Rica, Peru, Iceland and Austria, and I build every one of them around a single idea: come solo, leave with a group.
On this trip, that looks like a welcome happy hour on night one, daily reflections, an optional LGBTQ+ Community and Connection Workshop in the Dades Valley and a host who knows everyone's name by breakfast. I'll also be the one with the camera that never stops, so you'll go home with photos of yourself in the Sahara, not just of it.
Morocco has been near the top of our travelers' wish lists for a long time, and I can't wait to share it with you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions specific to this trip? Here are some common questions about our Morocco adventure.
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Our trips attract a diverse community, primarily LGBTQ+ travelers in their 20s-60s who are looking for meaningful connections and authentic experiences. We welcome allies and friends of all identities who share our values of inclusivity, curiosity, and openness.
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Groups run from 8 to 20 travelers, plus your host and local guide. Small enough that everyone knows everyone by the time we reach the desert.
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8 nights in riads and a desert glamping camp, 16 meals (8 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 6 dinners), a local guide throughout, all transfers between stops, a cooking class, a Marrakech city tour, the Dades Valley walk and Dades Gorges hike, a sunset camel ride, an Ait Ben Haddou walking tour, a hammam experience and host-led sessions. Flights, airport transfers, visas, travel insurance and tips are not included.
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This trip is booked through TrovaTrip, our booking partner, and their booking terms apply.
If your booking is still pending (meaning the trip hasn't been confirmed yet), your deposit is 100% refundable.
Once the trip is confirmed, cancellations 91 or more days before departure receive a future trip credit for the deposit (minus a $100 fee, valid for one year) and a refund of anything paid beyond the deposit.
Cancellations 90 days or less before departure are non-refundable.
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance with trip cancellation coverage. It really is worth it.
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Yes. You can reserve your spot with a 25% deposit, and Affirm payment plans are available at checkout.
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Yes! Most people do. Between the welcome happy hour, long scenic drives, nights at camp and the farewell dinner, you'll have a crew long before we reach the Sahara. We create plenty of chances to bond with the group, while respecting everyone's need for personal space and independence.
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Not at all! Our trips are great for all experience levels. We’ve got you. Our trips are built with support and guidance baked in, from our group chats and Zoom intros to arrival instructions and packing tips. You don’t need to be a seasoned traveler, just someone ready to say yes.
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We offer both shared and private rooms. Many solo travelers choose to share to save on costs and add to the community experience. Private rooms are limited and available for an additional $606, first come, first served.
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Not at all! Our trips are centered around queer community and joy, and allies are absolutely welcome as long as you’re here with respect, openness, and a good sense of humor.
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It's an Exploration pace: slow mornings, mid-length walks and one real hike, the Dades Gorges (about 3 to 5 miles with roughly 820 feet of elevation change, moderate to challenging). Expect uneven medina streets and sand at camp, so comfortable walking shoes matter. There are several long drives, broken up with stops. The sunset camel ride has a 220 lb rider weight limit.
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We strive to make our trips as accessible as possible and work with travelers on a case-by-case basis. Some destinations have inherent accessibility challenges, but we're committed to finding solutions whenever possible. Please contact us directly to discuss your specific needs.
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Fly into and out of Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK). Plan to arrive on Day 1 by late afternoon, or add a pre-trip night in Marrakech so you can land a day early and settle in.
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The trip begins on Tuesday, September 28th, 2027 with a 5:30 PM welcome happy hour at our riad in Marrakech, followed by our welcome dinner. It ends after breakfast on Wednesday, October 6th, 2027.
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Yes, you'll need a valid passport, and we recommend it be valid for at least six months after arrival. US, Canadian, UK and EU passport holders currently don't need a visa for short tourist stays in Morocco. Entry rules change and depend on your citizenship, so check your own country's requirements before you book. We'll share entry details with the group before departure.
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Plenty of LGBTQ+ travelers visit Morocco every year, and we've built this trip with that in mind. It's important to know that same-sex relationships are illegal under Moroccan law. Enforcement against tourists is rare, but discretion matters: public displays of affection are best saved for private spaces, and your host and local guide will help you read the room throughout the trip. If you have questions about how this affects you, message us before you book.
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Traditional and very relaxing: about 1.5 hours of steam room, exfoliation and mint tea, plus time at the pools. Hammam sessions are separated by gender, partial nudity is normal and the pool area is mixed. Bring a swimsuit and flip-flops.
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Expect warm to hot, mostly dry days, especially in Marrakech and the Sahara, with noticeably cooler evenings in the desert and the High Atlas. Pack light, breathable layers plus a warm layer for nights at camp.
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Lightweight clothing that covers shoulders and knees is respectful in the medina and in villages. Bring comfortable walking shoes for uneven streets and the gorge hike, a hat and sunscreen for the desert, a warm layer for cool nights, and a swimsuit and flip-flops for the hammam. We'll send a full packing list before the trip.
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We strongly recommend it. Look for a comprehensive policy with trip cancellation and medical coverage, since payments become non-refundable 90 days before departure.
About SideQuests Travel
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Hi, I'm Matthew, co-founder of SideQuests Travel. I created SideQuests because I didn't want to just see the world, I wanted to make new friends and build-up my community while doing it. I wanted to see an amazing place in the world and come home feeling changed, so I started hosting trips for people who wanted the same.
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SideQuests runs small-group adventures for LGBTQ+ travelers who want to see the world while actually connecting with others and themselves.
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The moment you book, you're added to the trip's WhatsApp chat and invited to our monthly Zoom calls, so by the time you land, you already know a bit about each person embarking on the adventure with you. On most group tours, you finally click with the others right as everyone packs to leave,
but on our trips, that happens before anyone boards a plane.
We offer optional journal prompts and meditations for those that would like to participate, and a community workshop mid-trip where people share stories and truly get the opportunity to connect on a very real level.
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SideQuests Travel is for everyone who wants a fun, community-focused tour that’s adventurous, welcoming, and transformative.
Every hotel, guide, and operator is vetted through an LGBTQ+ lens ensuring that travel is not only safe, but enthusiastically welcoming.
Come solo, come with a friend, or a partner, and leave with a new group of friends and strengthened sense of community. We're not just building great experiences, we're building a supportive network of people you'll literally want to plan your next trip alongside.
Where You’ll Stay
Where you stay is part of the experience, so we've chosen traditional riads with courtyards and rooftop terraces, plus two nights of glamping in the dunes. Rooms are double occupancy, with a limited number of private rooms available. Final hotels are confirmed about 30 days before departure.
Riad Joudour or similar, Marrakech (3 nights): A traditional riad in the medina, our home base at the start and end of the trip.
Riad Bahammou or similar, Dades Valley (2 nights): Our base for the canyon walk and the Dades Gorges hike.
Golden Camp or similar, Sahara Desert (2 nights): Desert glamping in the dunes near Merzouga, with meals and live music in the camp's main tent.
Riad Maktoub or similar, Ait Ben Haddou (1 night): Our overnight stop by the UNESCO-listed kasbah town.
Testimonials From Our Travelers
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![A man with tattoos and earrings standing at the beach during sunset, looking to his left.]()
“We felt like family just a day or two into the actual trip.”
David, Greece
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![A man standing on a sandy beach during sunset, smiling and looking to his right, wearing a pink short-sleeve shirt with a white leaf pattern.]()
"It’s wild how quickly a group of queer travelers became a little family. From late-night laughs to deep conversations, this trip gave me so much more than I expected."
JJ, Costa Rica
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![Two smiling men, one with blond hair and the other with brown hair and glasses, standing close together with their arms around each other, in front of a decorated building with colorful architecture.]()
"I’ve already signed up for three more trips! I’ve never felt more welcome in a group setting."
David, Thailand
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![Three young men standing on the beach with ocean in the background, smiling and enjoying the moment.]()
"He made sure everyone felt included and was enjoying themselves... He checked in with everyone to make sure we were all onboard with our schedules and feeling good about the trip overall.”
Thomas, Greece
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![A smiling man with dark, wavy hair and a beard, wearing a white shirt, standing in front of a stone wall during sunset.]()
"Matthew created an environment welcoming and safe for everyone (regardless of gender identity or sexuality) to have an amazing trip.”
Sam, Greece
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“Michael and Matt were great at breaking down barriers and helping all feel welcome.”
Kevin, Costa Rica
