Tipping in Morocco — baksheesh — is woven into daily life, not a surcharge aimed at tourists. Handled well it is quiet, genuine and modest. Handled badly it turns loud and awkward for everyone. Here is exactly what we tell our trekkers, with real numbers, including the people you only meet up a mountain valley.
Mountain guides & tour guides
A licensed Moroccan guide has years of training and exams behind them, and a High Atlas mountain guide carries real responsibility for your safety on the hill. For a full day, the local norm is US$15–25 per guest per day, handed over at the end in a folded note or envelope. On a multi-day trek or driver-guide trip, US$10–20 per guest per day is generous and well received — pool it and give it at the finish.
Drivers
A one-off airport transfer: US$3–5. A full day with a private driver: US$10–15 per group. On a multi-day route — Marrakech out to the trailhead at Imlil and back, for instance — plan US$10–15 per day from the group as a whole, handed over at drop-off.
Riad, hotel & gîte hosts
- Porters: US$1–2 per bag.
- Housekeeping: US$2–3 per night, left on the pillow.
- Riad or mountain gîte host: US$5–10 at the end of the stay if they sorted taxis, meals and local advice.
- Breakfast staff: round up the tab or leave 10 MAD.
Restaurants & cafés
Service is usually already on the bill. Round up or add 5–10% for good service. In a casual café or a roadside village place, leaving the coins is normal. At a proper sit-down restaurant, 10% is generous.
Sahara crews, muleteers & camel handlers
After a night in the dunes, pool US$10–15 per guest and pass it to the camp manager to split between cooks, musicians and tent staff. Camel handlers appreciate US$2–3 directly. On a mountain trek the muleteers — who haul your kit and often do the cooking — sit in the same bracket: pool and hand it over at the end of the route.
Hammam, cooking class & workshop hosts
A private hammam ritual: 50–100 MAD per therapist. A half-day cooking class with a chef in a private home: US$10 per guest. Artisan workshop hosts (zellige, weaving, leather): US$5–10 per guest on top of the booking fee.
Cash, currency & etiquette
- Tip in cash always — card tips never reach the staff, and up in the mountains there is no card to begin with.
- Moroccan dirhams (MAD) work best. Small dollar or euro notes are accepted; coins from outside the Eurozone cannot be exchanged.
- Pass notes folded or in an envelope, and don't count them out loudly in front of people.
- If the service genuinely fell short, leaving nothing is acceptable — staff understand it.
- Don't tip at every turn. Handing money to unsolicited helpers in the medina only invites persistent following.
The quick reference table
| Service | Suggested tip |
|---|---|
| Full-day mountain or tour guide | US$15–25 / guest / day |
| Multi-day trek / driver-guide | US$10–20 / guest / day |
| Airport transfer driver | US$3–5 |
| Riad / gîte housekeeping | US$2–3 / night |
| Riad / gîte host (end of stay) | US$5–10 |
| Restaurants | 5–10% on top |
| Sahara camp crew (per night) | US$10–15 / guest |
| Muleteer / camel handler | US$2–3 |
| Hammam therapist | 50–100 MAD |
Frequently asked
How much do you tip a mountain or tour guide in Morocco?
For a licensed full-day guide, US$15–25 per guest per day is the local norm. On a multi-day trek or driver-guide trip, US$10–20 per guest per day is generous and warmly received — and a hard-working High Atlas mountain guide who has carried the day on the trail sits firmly at the top of that range.
How much do you tip a driver in Morocco?
A one-off airport transfer: US$3–5. A full day with a private driver: US$10–15 from the group. On a multi-day chauffeured route — say Marrakech out to a trailhead and back — US$10–15 per day from the group is standard.
Do you tip in riads, hotels and mountain gîtes?
Yes, and small sums go a long way. Figure US$1–2 a bag for porters, US$2–3 a night for housekeeping left on the pillow, and US$5–10 at the end for the riad or gîte host who sorted out taxis, meals and arrangements.
How much do you tip in Moroccan restaurants?
Service is usually already on the bill. Round up or add 5–10% for good service. In a simple café or a village roadside place, leaving the coins is normal and welcome.
Should you tip in cash or by card?
Cash, every time, and ideally in Moroccan dirhams (MAD) — which matters all the more in the mountains, where card machines simply do not exist. Small dollar or euro notes are accepted but harder for staff to change, and coins from outside the Eurozone cannot be exchanged at all.
Do you tip Sahara camp staff, muleteers and camel handlers?
Yes. After a desert overnight, pool around US$10–15 per guest and hand it to the camp manager to share. Camel handlers appreciate US$2–3 directly, and on the trekking side the same goes for the muleteers who move your kit and cook your meals up the valley.
Planning a trip?
We'll take the guesswork out of tipping.
Every Atlas Trekking Co. itinerary comes with a one-page tipping cheatsheet — guides, muleteers, drivers and camp crews all covered — and your trip lead is on hand throughout to make it effortless.
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