Tipping in Morocco — baksheesh — is part of the social fabric, not a tax on tourists, and on a desert trip it matters most for the people who make the dunes happen: the driver who handles the long Atlas crossing, the camel handlers, the camp crew who cook and play music under the stars. Done well it's discreet, sincere and small. Here is what we tell our guests, with real amounts.
Desert guides & driver-guides
A licensed Moroccan guide goes through years of training and exams. For a full-day licensed guide in a gateway city, the local norm is US$15–25 per guest per day, handed over in an envelope or folded note. For the multi-day driver-guide who takes you all the way to Merzouga or Erg Chigaga and back, US$10–20 per guest per day is generous and well received — pool it at the end of the trip.
Transfer drivers
For a one-off airport transfer, US$3–5 is enough. For a full day on the road, US$10–15 per group. On a multi-day desert run across the Atlas and back, plan US$10–15 per day from the group as a whole, handed at drop-off.
Riad & gateway hotel staff
- Porters: US$1–2 per bag.
- Housekeeping: US$2–3 per night, left on the pillow.
- Riad manager / front of house: US$5–10 at the end of the stay if they arranged your desert transfers, dinners and recommendations.
- Breakfast staff: round up the breakfast tab or leave 10 MAD.
Roadside restaurants & cafés
Service is usually included on the bill. Round up or leave 5–10% for good service. At the roadside places on the desert route and in casual cafés, leaving the coins is normal. In a fine-dining restaurant, 10% is generous.
Desert camp crews & camel handlers
This is where your tip counts the most. On a dune overnight, pool US$10–15 per guest at the end and hand it to the camp manager to share among the cooks, musicians and tent staff who keep the camp running off-grid. The camel handlers who lead you across the sand appreciate US$2–3 each, directly.
Hammam, cooking class & workshop hosts
Many guests add a gateway-city experience either side of the desert. For a private hammam ritual, 50–100 MAD per therapist. For a half-day cooking class with a chef in a private home, US$10 per guest. For artisan workshop hosts (zellige, weaving, leather), US$5–10 per guest on top of the booking fee.
Cash, currency & etiquette
- Always tip in cash — there are no card terminals at a desert camp, and card tips don't reach the staff anyway.
- Carry enough small MAD notes before you leave the gateway city; ATMs disappear past Erfoud and Zagora, so you can't top up near the dunes.
- Moroccan dirhams (MAD) are best. Small US dollar or euro notes are accepted; coins from outside the Eurozone cannot be exchanged.
- Hand notes folded or in an envelope, and don't count loudly in front of people.
- If service was poor, it's acceptable to leave nothing. And don't tip unsolicited helpers in the gateway medina — it only encourages aggressive following.
Desert-trip tipping at a glance
| Service | Suggested tip |
|---|---|
| Full-day licensed gateway guide | US$15–25 / guest / day |
| Multi-day desert driver-guide | US$10–20 / guest / day |
| Airport transfer driver | US$3–5 |
| Riad housekeeping | US$2–3 / night |
| Riad manager (end of stay) | US$5–10 |
| Restaurants | 5–10% on top |
| Sahara camp crew (per night) | US$10–15 / guest |
| Camel handler | US$2–3 |
| Hammam therapist | 50–100 MAD |
Frequently asked
How much do you tip a desert tour guide in Morocco?
For a full-day licensed guide in a gateway city, US$15–25 per guest per day is the local norm. For the multi-day driver-guide who takes you all the way to the dunes and back, US$10–20 per guest per day is generous and well received — pool it at the end of the trip.
How much do you tip the driver to the Sahara?
For a one-off airport transfer, US$3–5 is enough. For a full day on the road, US$10–15 per group. On a multi-day desert run across the Atlas and back, plan US$10–15 per day from the group as a whole.
Do you tip in riads and desert camps?
Yes — small amounts go a long way. US$1–2 per bag for porters, US$2–3 per night for housekeeping left on the pillow, and US$5–10 at the end of the stay for the riad manager who arranged your desert transfers. At the camp, pool a tip for the crew (see below).
How much do you tip in Moroccan restaurants?
Service is usually included on the bill. Round up or leave 5–10% on top for good service. At the roadside places on the desert route and in casual cafés, leaving the coins is normal.
Should you tip in cash or by card?
Always cash, and ideally in Moroccan dirhams (MAD) — out at the camps there is no card terminal anyway. Small US dollar or euro notes are accepted but harder for crews to change. Avoid coins from outside the Eurozone; they cannot be exchanged.
Do you tip the desert camp crew and camel handlers?
Yes, and it matters most here. Pool around US$10–15 per guest at the end of a dune overnight, handed to the camp manager to share among the cooks, musicians and tent staff. The camel handlers who walk you into the dunes appreciate US$2–3 each, directly.
Planning a desert trip?
We'll handle the tipping etiquette for you.
Every Sahara Desert Adventures itinerary comes with a one-page tipping cheatsheet — camel handlers and camp crew included — and your trip lead is on call throughout to take the awkwardness out of it.
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