Terms & Conditions

These Terms & Conditions govern all bookings made with The Gates of Sahara (“we”, “us”, “our”), a brand of Marrakech Eco Tours, a tour operator based in Imlil 42152, Al Haouz, Morocco, operating under Moroccan law. By submitting a booking request, paying a deposit, or making full payment through thegatesofsahara.com, you agree to these terms on behalf of yourself and all members of your group.

Our website is available in English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, and Arabic as a courtesy. In the event of any conflict between translations, the English version prevails.

We offer private desert and cultural journeys in Morocco — Sahara tours, imperial-city tours and day trips — departing from Marrakech, Agadir, Casablanca, Rabat and Tangier, plus a small number of shared departures. Full details — route, inclusions, exclusions and duration — are listed on each journey’s page.

Where a journey shows “Price on request”, it has no published price: the price is the one we quote you in writing, and nothing is owed until you accept that quote.

• A booking is confirmed once we have received your deposit and sent you a written confirmation by email.
• A deposit is required to secure your booking, normally 20% of the tour price. The exact amount is shown on the journey page or on your invoice, and that figure is the one that applies.
• The remaining balance is paid on arrival, at the start of your journey, in cash (euros or Moroccan dirhams), or by bank transfer before the date. We do not accept card payments.
• Last-minute bookings are accepted on the same terms, subject to availability — the deposit secures the dates and the balance is paid on arrival.
• The deposit is paid by PayPal or by bank transfer. We send you the payment details by WhatsApp or email once you confirm your booking; please send us a screenshot of the payment once it is made. Any PayPal or bank fees for sending a payment are paid by you. If fees are taken from a payment so that we receive less than the amount due, the difference is added to the balance paid at the start of the trip. We never receive or store your card details.
• Prices are displayed in your chosen currency (EUR, USD, GBP, or MAD) for convenience; the contractual price is agreed in writing on confirmation. Exchange-rate fluctuations are your responsibility.
• Group bookings of 6 or more persons may be subject to a custom quote — contact us before booking.

Cancellation by you

14 days or more before departure

Full refund of all payments made, including your deposit, less transfer fees.

Less than 14 days before departure

A cancellation fee of 50% of the total tour price applies. Anything you have paid above that is refunded, less transfer fees.

No-show

No refund. The full tour price is charged.

All cancellation requests must be made in writing to info@thegatesofsahara.com. The date we receive your written cancellation determines which tier applies.

Refunds and transfer fees

Refunds are subject to transfer fees: any PayPal or bank fees charged for sending a refund are deducted from the amount we refund. This applies to every refund, whoever cancels.

Cancellation by us

We reserve the right to cancel a journey due to insufficient bookings, severe weather, safety concerns, political instability, natural disaster, or force majeure. In such cases you receive a full refund of all payments made to us, less transfer fees. We are not liable for additional costs you incur (international flights, accommodation, visas, travel insurance, etc.).

We will accommodate date-change requests where possible, subject to availability and with at least 14 days’ notice. A date-change administration fee of €25 per person may apply. Itineraries may be modified by our guides and drivers on the day for reasons of safety, weather, road conditions or logistics. No refund is given for itinerary modifications made in good faith for these reasons.

• You must hold a valid passport and any required visas for Morocco prior to travel.
• You must obtain adequate travel insurance, including medical cover and emergency evacuation. We strongly recommend this for every desert and multi-day journey.
• You must disclose any medical conditions, dietary requirements, disabilities, or mobility limitations relevant to your journey at the time of booking.
• You must follow your guide’s and driver’s instructions at all times. They may modify or end an activity if necessary for the safety of the group.
• Any participant whose behaviour endangers others or is deemed inappropriate by the guide may be removed from the journey without refund.
• You are responsible for the safety and security of your personal belongings throughout your journey.

By completing a booking, you confirm that you and all members of your group are in suitable physical health for the journey selected. Desert journeys involve long days on the road, including mountain passes over the High Atlas, heat in the daytime and cold at night, camel rides on uneven sand, and nights at camps a long way from the nearest hospital. Tell us about any condition that could be affected by these when you book. We accept no liability for injury or illness arising from failure to disclose relevant medical conditions prior to booking.

What is included and excluded is specified on each journey’s page. Unless explicitly stated as included, the following are excluded from all prices: international flights, Morocco entry visa fees, travel insurance, airport transfers (unless specified), personal spending money, meals not listed in the journey description, tips and gratuities for guides and drivers, and single-room supplements.

We ask all travellers to respect the places and communities they visit — leaving nothing behind in the desert, respecting local dress codes in medinas and villages, asking before photographing people, and supporting local economies by buying from local artisans and businesses where possible.

We take all reasonable steps to ensure the safety and quality of the journeys we operate. However, we are not liable for:

• Death, personal injury, illness, loss, or damage arising from circumstances beyond our reasonable control (force majeure, extreme weather, natural disaster, civil unrest, pandemic)
• Loss of or damage to personal belongings during a journey
• The acts or omissions of third-party suppliers (accommodation, transport) where we act as agent rather than principal
• Any costs you incur as a result of cancellation or modification (flights, hotels, visa fees, etc.)

Our maximum liability to you in any circumstance is limited to the total price paid for your journey. Nothing in these terms excludes liability that cannot be excluded under applicable Moroccan law.

Our guides may photograph or film activities on your journey. Where you are identifiable in an image, we will ask for your permission before publishing it on our website or social media, and you are free to decline without giving a reason. You can also tell your guide at any point that you would rather not be photographed.

If you change your mind after giving permission, email us at info@thegatesofsahara.com and we will remove the image from our own channels. Images already shared or reposted by third parties may be outside our control.

The text, design, and code of this website are the property of Marrakech Eco Tours. You may not reproduce, distribute, or use them without our express written permission. Some photography is licensed from third-party libraries and remains the property of the respective photographers under those licences.

If you have a complaint during your journey, raise it with your guide or driver immediately so we can address it in real time. If unresolved, submit a written complaint to info@thegatesofsahara.com within 28 days of the end of your journey. We will acknowledge within 5 business days and respond in full within 14 days.

These Terms & Conditions are governed by the laws of the Kingdom of Morocco, and disputes are subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of Marrakech.

If you are a consumer resident in the European Union or the United Kingdom, this does not deprive you of the protection of mandatory consumer-law provisions in your country of residence, and you keep any right you have to bring proceedings in your local courts.

We may update these terms from time to time. The date at the top of this page reflects the most recent revision. Your continued use of the website, or any booking made after a revision, constitutes acceptance of the updated terms.

Journeys booked through this website are sold under the name The Gates of Sahara and operated by Marrakech Eco Tours, a tour operator based in Imlil 42152, Al Haouz, Morocco, trading since 2010.

Email info@thegatesofsahara.com · Telephone +212 653 936 003

Questions about these terms, or about a booking you have already made, can be sent to either of the above. We reply within the hour (8:00–20:00 Morocco time).