How do you bring a group to Marrakech?

Most European groups fly direct: Madrid is under 2 hours, Paris and Geneva or Zurich about 3 hours, London about 3 hours 30, and New York about 9 hours. From other cities, guests connect via the European or Gulf hubs. Once they land, private transfers take them to the city, and the event site in the Agafay desert is 40 minutes from Marrakech.

Flight times from key cities

Madrid: less than 2 hours, with direct flights.
Paris: about 3 hours.
Geneva and Zurich: about 3 hours.
London: about 3 hours 30.
New York: about 9 hours.

For any other city, guests travel via the European or Gulf hubs. We do not quote a duration for those routes, because it depends on the connection chosen.

Direct flights or hubs

Direct flights keep the group together and reduce the risk of missed connections, which matters most for a guest list of 100 or more. Hubs open the door to guests from far-away cities, at the cost of longer and less predictable journeys. A practical approach is to give guests from direct-flight cities a recommended flight and to offer guests from elsewhere two or three suggested routes via the hubs.

From the airport to the city

Plan an airport reception: a named greeter, a clear meeting point and a private vehicle for each group. Arrivals are rarely simultaneous, so keep a table with names, flight numbers and landing times. Guests then settle in their hotel or riad in Marrakech before the event.

From the city to the desert

The Long Table Marrakech is on the Agafay plateau, 40 minutes from Marrakech. Private transfers from Marrakech are included in the offer. The final stretch is by 4x4 track, so the vehicles are chosen for it. There is no phone use on site, so guests are briefed in advance on how the evening unfolds, and return transfers take everyone back to their door.

Staggered arrivals: how to handle them

Choose a main arrival day and a short window of one or two days around it.
Assign a point of contact for each wave of arrivals.
Offer an informal welcome in the city for early arrivals, so nobody waits alone.
Keep the event day itself free of late airport runs.
Share one document with the full arrival schedule.

Choosing the arrival day

Pick the arrival day with the flight schedule in mind, not only the event date. Guests from cities with direct flights can land the same morning, while guests connecting via a hub often need the night before. Leaving a free afternoon between landing and the event gives everyone time to settle, rest and meet the group before the evening on the plateau begins.

Group logistics advice

Remind each guest to check their own travel document requirements well before departure.
Ask guests to share flight details at registration, not in the last week.
Group guests by origin city for transfers wherever possible.
Keep a written fallback for delayed flights.
Give guests a short practical message before they travel: dress, what the evening includes, and who to call.

Key points to remember

Madrid is under 2 hours, Paris, Geneva and Zurich about 3 hours, London about 3 hours 30, New York about 9 hours.
Other cities connect via the European or Gulf hubs.
Private transfers and a clear arrival schedule matter more than the flights themselves.
The site is 40 minutes from Marrakech, reached by 4x4 track.

Frequently asked questions

Are there direct flights to Marrakech?

Yes, from several European cities, including Madrid, Paris, Geneva, Zurich and London, with the flight times listed above.

Do you organise the transfers?

Private transfers from Marrakech to the site and back are included. Airport and hotel logistics are planned with you at the brief.

How far is the site from the city?

Forty minutes from Marrakech, with the final part on a 4x4 track.

Can guests arrive on different days?

Yes. Staggered arrivals are common, and we help plan them around a single event evening.

Where to go next

For the wider planning picture, read our guide to private events for 30 to 300 guests and the 200-guest venue page. For weddings, see destination weddings in Marrakech. Then send us your brief, or write to table@thelongtablemarrakech.com.