Camping in Morocco: Campsites, Van Life and Motorhomes
Morocco has become a go-to destination for camping and van life in recent years: an Atlantic coast lined with surf spots, the Atlas Mountains, and easy ferry access from Europe for motorhomes. Here is how to camp in Morocco, between organised campsites, tolerated informal camping and entry formalities with your own vehicle.
Morocco has organised campsites in almost every region (50 to 150 MAD a night at basic level, 150 to 400 MAD with hot showers and electricity), an active van life scene on the coast between Essaouira and Sidi Ifni from October to April, and straightforward motorhome entry by ferry from Spain, with temporary vehicle import at the border. Wild camping is not explicitly banned outside cities and protected areas, but it remains a local tolerance rather than a codified right: ask permission where possible and avoid private land and military zones. Well-known addresses include Camping Zebra near Marrakech and Camping Amazigh near Ouzoud. For motorhome entry, bring a passport valid 3 months, the original vehicle registration and Green Card insurance: customs issue a temporary import slip at the border, with only one vehicle allowed per person (trailers permitted).
The four ways to camp in Morocco
| Option | Where | Rough budget | Level of organisation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Organised campsite | Everywhere (Marrakech, Ouzoud, coast) | 50-150 MAD/night | No gear needed if rented on site |
| Wild / informal camping | Rural areas, mountains, desert | Free | Full self-sufficiency, own gear |
| Coastal van life | Essaouira to Sidi Ifni | Variable (fuel, occasional campsites) | Converted vehicle, often long-term |
| Organised desert bivouac | Merzouga, Zagora, Agafay | All-inclusive package | Zero organisation, booked ahead |
The last row isn't really camping in the strict sense: it is a packaged tourism product with transport, meals and bedding included. We cover it in a separate guide: sleeping in the desert, bivouac and camps, and the bookable catalogue sits in desert and Sahara excursions.
Organised campsites: where and how much
A basic organised campsite (tent or motorhome pitch, simple facilities) typically costs 50 to 150 MAD a night. Mid-range campsites, with hot showers and electricity, run 150-400 MAD. Well-known, commonly cited addresses include Camping Zebra near Marrakech, Camping Amazigh near the Ouzoud waterfalls, several beach campsites along the Essaouira-Agadir coast, and camps around Merzouga for the desert approach.
Always check locally whether electricity, water and wifi are available if you need them: the offering varies a lot between sites and by season.
Wild camping: what to know
There is no explicit ban on wild camping outside towns and protected areas, and the practice is widely tolerated in rural and remote regions — thousands of travellers and motorhome owners camp freely in Morocco every year without issue. But it is not a formally codified legal right: in practice, camping without permission near a village, on private land or in a military zone remains problematic.
A few common-sense rules that keep you out of trouble:
- Ask permission where possible, especially near a village or visibly cultivated land.
- Avoid military zones and the surroundings of sensitive infrastructure.
- Stay discreet: arrive late in the day, leave early, leave no trace.
- Never settle alone on an isolated beach without having scouted it in daylight.
Motorhomes and van life: the Essaouira–Sidi Ifni coast
The coast between Essaouira and Sidi Ifni has become Morocco's most active van life corridor, driven by the local surf scene. The community is particularly present from October to April, with informal gathering spots near known breaks. It is also the area covered by our guides surfing in Morocco, Taghazout and best spots and the most beautiful beaches in Morocco.
For the mountains, the Atlas offers alpine-style camping, often within easy reach of welcoming Berber villages — see our hiking and trekking in Morocco guide for the most accessible valleys.
Entering Morocco with your own vehicle (motorhome, van)
How to enter Morocco by ferry with a motorhome or van: 5 steps
Most of the vehicle's temporary import procedure happens during the ferry crossing itself.
- Check your passport and vehicle document validityYour passport must remain valid at least 3 months after your entry date into Morocco. The vehicle registration (V5 or equivalent) must be shown as an original, not a copy.
- Take out Green Card insurance valid in MoroccoStandard European car insurance usually does not cover Morocco: international Green Card cover, or a specific policy, is needed before departure.
- Book the ferry crossingMost crossings arrive at Tanger Med, departing from Spain, France or Italy. The advantage of Tanger Med is that temporary customs and immigration formalities are largely handled on board, before arrival.
- Complete the temporary import at the borderOn arrival, customs issue an entry slip stating your details, the length of stay allowed and the vehicle's plate number. Only one vehicle per person is allowed; trailers are permitted.
- Keep the entry slip until you leaveThis document links the vehicle to your passport for the whole stay. Keep it accessible: it is requested again when you leave the country, whatever the exit point.
Safety and common sense while camping
Isolated camping calls for a bit more caution than standard accommodation: always keep a digital copy of your documents, avoid displaying valuable gear, and let someone know your route if you are camping for several days away from towns. For useful numbers in case of need, see our safety in Morocco guide.
If your camping road trip spans several days, also check Morocco road trip 7 days and Morocco road trip 14 days to build a coherent itinerary mixing camping stops and standard accommodation.
Camping outside towns also means staying reachable: download offline maps before you leave, and plan a mobile connection that doesn't depend on a campsite's Wi-Fi.
Car rental for a camping road trip· Discover Cars
Travel insurance for a camping or road trip stay· SafetyWing
FAQ — Camping in Morocco
Is wild camping legal in Morocco?
How much does an organised campsite cost in Morocco?
What documents do you need to enter Morocco with a motorhome?
Where is the best area for van life in Morocco?
Is desert bivouac the same as camping?
Can you bring more than one vehicle to Morocco on the same passport?
In short
Camping in Morocco goes well beyond the organised desert bivouac: affordable campsites almost everywhere, wild camping tolerated with common sense, a genuine van life scene on the Essaouira-Sidi Ifni coast, and relatively straightforward motorhome entry by ferry if your paperwork is in order. The right choice mostly depends on how self-sufficient you want to be and how much time you want to spend away from towns.
