Top Photo Opportunities in Morocco

From Deserts to Medinas

Morocco is a place where colour, texture, and human energy fold into each other in a unique – and uniquely photogenic – way. Whether you’re drawn to glowing desert dunes, the colorful patchwork of traditional markets, or the quiet street scenes of ancient towns, Morocco delivers and delights. On our annual photo tour to Morocco, we make full use of the medley of photographic treasures, and take you on an adventurous expedition. Here are some highlights of a photographic journey in Morocco. 

All images by Emil von Maltitz

Marrakech: Layers of Light and Life

Marrakech’s old city is a maze designed to surprise you. The medina’s narrow lanes catch shifting beams of sunlight, creating fleeting pockets of contrast, a dream for photographers who like to chase light. The souks are perfect for detail shots: hand-woven rugs, copper lanterns, and the reflection of colour on a merchant’s face. Step onto a rooftop at dusk, and the call to prayer rolls over the terracotta skyline like soft thunder – an atmospheric moment for silhouettes and long exposures.

Chefchaouen: The Blue City

Every corner of Chefchaouen feels purpose-built for a camera. Its famous cobalt walls aren’t just photogenic; they also reflect light in surprising ways. Early morning brings soft tones that flatter portraits; by mid-afternoon, the blue takes on an almost electric glow. Look for shadows, small doorways, and residents going about daily routines – they bring rhythm and humanity to an otherwise still composition.

Fez: Tradition in Texture

Fez is where Morocco’s history still feels tactile. The tanneries, with their geometric dye pits, look almost surreal from above. From the narrow alleys of the medina to the mosaic-lined courtyards of the madrasas, every frame is about repetition and pattern. Light behaves differently here; softer, filtered through centuries-old latticework. Use that to your advantage when shooting portraits; it gives skin a natural, warm tone.

The Sahara: Silence and Scale

Out in the Sahara, it’s all about scale. The dunes shift constantly with the wind, reshaping the landscape minute by minute. Sunrise and sunset are the obvious shooting times, but twilight, that short window after the sun disappears, often gives the most subtle gradients of gold and violet. Try wide shots to capture the endless curves, and tighter frames to play with the abstract shapes created by wind patterns. If you stay overnight, bring a tripod; the stars here are almost overwhelming.

Casablanca: Modern Lines and Ocean Light

Often seen as Morocco’s cosmopolitan heartbeat, Casablanca offers a different kind of visual story; one of modern edges meeting Atlantic light. The city’s broad boulevards and art deco architecture give photographers a chance to play with symmetry and clean lines. The Hassan II Mosque, rising dramatically above the sea, is a must: at low tide, reflections shimmer on the wet shoreline, creating mirror-like compositions at sunrise and sunset.

The Atlas Mountains: Earth and Sky

The Atlas range offers a completely different rhythm. Villages built from clay seem to grow directly from the mountainsides, and every bend in the road opens a new panorama. Photographers will find variety, from snow-dusted peaks in winter to sun-bleached ridges in summer. Play with foreground interest: a lone goat herder, terraced fields, or the lines of an ancient kasbah wall. These details give scale and context to the vastness around them.

Photographing Respectfully

Photography in Morocco is as much about empathy as it is about exposure settings. Always ask before photographing people, especially in rural areas or religious spaces. A respectful smile and a simple greeting in Arabic or French go a long way. When photographing markets or craftsmen, consider offering to send them the image afterwards – it turns a brief exchange into something more meaningful.

Light, Patience, and Perspective

Morocco rewards patience. The best images often appear in the quiet pauses, when the light shifts, or when a busy scene briefly empties. Spend a few minutes in one spot instead of chasing everything at once. Watch how light moves across a doorway, or how shadows fall on tiled walls. Morocco’s beauty isn’t just visual; it’s atmospheric. Capturing that means tuning in to its rhythm rather than rushing through it.

So What’s a Photo Tour All About?

If this sparked your travel mojo and photography inspiration, see if our Morocco photo tours might be a good fit for you. We travel in small groups and present you with an itinerary that’s fully designed around photography; we make sure to get to the right places at the right time of day, and take our time to get that stunning shot. You’ll be guided by a professional photographer, who will share his knowledge along the way and help you sharpen your skills, whatever level you’re at as a photographer.