In Marrakech, tipping — baksheesh — is woven into daily life, not a surcharge on tourists. Done well it's quiet, sincere and modest. Done badly it's loud and awkward for everyone in the room. Here is what we tell our guests about who to tip, when, and how to scale it. We don't print amounts: what feels fair depends on the service and your group, and your trip lead will happily suggest figures before you go.
Private guides
A licensed Marrakech guide has been through years of training and exams before leading you through the souks, and the guide is usually the person travellers tip most generously. Tip per guest, per day, handed over at the end folded or in a small envelope. For a multi-day driver-guide out to the mountains or the desert, pool one tip from the group at the close of the trip.
Drivers
Scale it to the time you spend together. A small note covers a one-off airport transfer. A full day with a private driver around the city or out to Ourika deserves more, from the group. On a multi-day chauffeured route, plan a daily tip from the group as a whole, handed over at the final drop-off.
Riad & hotel staff
- Porters who carry your bags in through the medina: a little per bag.
- Housekeeping: something each night, left on the pillow.
- Riad manager / front of house: a larger thank-you at the end of the stay if they sorted your taxis, dinner bookings and recommendations.
- Breakfast staff on the terrace: round up the tab or leave a few coins.
Restaurants & cafés
Service is usually already on the bill. Round up or add 5–10% for good service. At a casual café or a rooftop on the square, leaving the coins is normal. At a fine-dining spot in the Ville Nouvelle, 10% is generous.
In Marrakech, tipping — baksheesh — is woven into daily life, not a surcharge on tourists.
Desert camp crews & camel handlers
After a night in Agafay or out on the Sahara dunes, pool a tip per guest and hand it to the camp manager to share with cooks, musicians and tent staff. Camel handlers appreciate a small tip directly.
Hammam, cooking class & workshop hosts
After a hammam scrub and gommage, tip each therapist directly. For a half-day cooking class in a Marrakech home or riad kitchen, a tip per guest for the cook is a kind thank-you. Artisan workshop hosts (zellige, weaving, leather) appreciate a tip on top of the booking.
Cash, currency & etiquette
- Always tip in cash. Card tips rarely reach the person who earned them.
- Local currency is best. Small foreign notes get accepted but are harder for staff to change; coins from outside the eurozone can't be exchanged at all.
- Hand notes folded or in an envelope, and don't count them out loudly in front of people.
- If the service was genuinely poor, it's fine to leave nothing — staff here understand that.
- Don't tip at every turn. Handing coins to unsolicited "helpers" in the medina just invites more of them to trail you.
A quick at-a-glance table
| Service | How to tip |
|---|---|
| Full-day private guide | Per guest, per day, at the end |
| Multi-day private driver-guide | Pooled from the group, at the close of the trip |
| Airport transfer driver | A small note |
| Riad housekeeping | Something each night, on the pillow |
| Riad manager (end of stay) | A larger thank-you at check-out |
| Restaurants | 5–10% on top |
| Desert camp crew (per night) | Pooled per guest, to the camp manager |
| Camel handler | A small tip, given directly |
| Hammam therapist | Directly to each therapist |
Related questions: Do you tip in Morocco, and who should I tip?