From the UK and Ireland, Marrakech is a direct flight of roughly three and a half to four hours, with no time difference in winter and just one hour in summer. According to the official airline timetables and airport pages we checked on 26 October 2026, Ryanair flies to Marrakech from London Stansted about twice a day, from Manchester seven to eight times a week and from Dublin four to six times a week depending on the month; Aer Lingus also flies year-round from Dublin, and there are direct routes from Southend, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow and, from November 2026, Newcastle. On the ground, a two-night retreat for thirty people in a 4-star hotel, with a working day, a private riad dinner and a desert quad session, costs roughly €16,500 to €29,900 excluding flights, based on the model behind our budget calculator. Here are the routes, entry rules, budgets and the points that matter for a UK or Irish team.
Planning a company retreat from London, Manchester, Edinburgh or Dublin? Our seminar and retreat planning in Marrakech page explains what we handle on the ground; for a first costing, request a free quote with your dates, headcount and departure airports, and we reply within two working days.
Which airports have direct flights to Marrakech?
The table lists only routes confirmed by an official source (the airline’s timetable, the airport’s own page or press release), checked on 26 October 2026. Flight times are approximate, worked out from published schedules. Schedules change every season: check the days of operation before fixing your dates.
| Departure airport | Airline | Frequency found | Flight time |
|---|---|---|---|
| London Stansted | Ryanair | About 2 a day, year-round | About 3 h 35 |
| London Southend | easyJet | 3 a week, according to the airport | Check schedule |
| Manchester | Ryanair | 7 to 8 a week, year-round | About 3 h 40 |
| Birmingham | Ryanair, TUI | Ryanair 2 a week in November 2026, about 3 a week in April 2027 | About 3 h 40 (Ryanair) |
| Edinburgh | Ryanair | 2 a week, year-round | About 4 h 05 |
| Glasgow | Jet2, easyJet | Listed by the airport; frequency not published | Check schedule |
| Newcastle | easyJet, Jet2 | easyJet from 3 November 2026, 2 a week; Jet2 up to 2 a week, winter 2026-27 | Check schedule |
| Liverpool | Ryanair | Summer only, restarting late March 2027, about 2 a week | About 3 h 40 |
| Dublin | Ryanair, Aer Lingus | Ryanair 4 to 6 a week depending on the month; both year-round | About 3 h 35 |
Flight-search sites also list British Airways from Heathrow and Gatwick and easyJet from Gatwick and Luton, among others; we could not confirm these on an official page on that date, so check them directly. We found no direct flights from East Midlands, Cork or Shannon. Note that several UK airport pages still show Morocco as GMT+1: that is out of date.
For group fares (thresholds, deposits, name deadlines), see our guide to group flights to Marrakech. Flights are booked by you or your travel agent; we do not sell air tickets.
Time difference: almost none
Morocco has been on GMT all year round since 20 September 2026. The UK and Ireland put their clocks forward on the last Sunday of March and back on the last Sunday of October, so Marrakech is on the same time as London and Dublin in winter and one hour behind in summer. Nobody loses a working day to jet lag: with a flight of around three and a half hours, a morning departure lands by late morning or early afternoon, local time, and a first session can start the same day.
For a short format, our two-day seminar programme works with a morning flight out and an early-evening flight home. With two nights, you get a full working day plus an evening event.
Entry rules for UK and Irish travellers
- British citizens: GOV.UK says you can visit Morocco without a visa for up to 90 days for tourism, with a passport valid for at least three months after the date you arrive. It adds that anyone travelling for reasons other than tourism should check visa requirements with the Moroccan Consulate General in the UK: for a business retreat, do that check early.
- Irish citizens: the Department of Foreign Affairs says no visa is required and that passports should be valid for at least six months from the date of entry.
- Mixed teams: the two governments give different passport validity periods, so the simplest rule for a mixed group is a passport valid for at least six months, undamaged. Colleagues of other nationalities should check their own government’s advice.
What does a retreat in Marrakech cost, excluding flights?
The figures below come from the model in our seminar and team building budget calculator, with a 10% contingency. They are in euros; Moroccan suppliers invoice in dirhams or euros depending on the case.
| Scenario | Total budget | Per person |
|---|---|---|
| 12 people, riad, 2 nights, 2 working days, 2 dinners, transfers | €3,900 to €6,600 | €326 to €552 |
| 20 people, 4-star hotel, 2 nights, 2 working days with AV, 2 dinners, transfers | €7,600 to €12,600 | €381 to €629 |
| 30 people, 4-star hotel, 2 nights, 1 working day, private riad dinner with musicians, Agafay quad, transfers and shuttles | €16,500 to €29,900 | €551 to €995 |
| 60 people, 4-star hotel, 3 nights, 2 working days, hotel party with DJ, medina rally, transfers | €34,200 to €56,600 | €569 to €943 |
These amounts exclude flights, alcohol, tourist tax and our fees. Accommodation is the biggest line: for twenty people in a 4-star hotel, two nights come to €3,200 to €5,200 before contingency. In the thirty-person scenario, the private riad (€2,000 to €6,000 in the model) explains much of the spread. For smaller groups, see our guide to a small team offsite of 10 to 20 people, and for the desert afternoon, our page on team building in the Agafay desert.
Invoices and VAT
Services consumed in Morocco (hotel, meeting room, meals, transfers) carry Moroccan VAT whatever the nationality of the paying company: 10% on accommodation, catering and road passenger transport, 20% in principle on the rest. Our article on VAT on a company seminar in Morocco sets out the rates and notes that Moroccan law does not provide for refunding this tax to a foreign company with no activity in Morocco. How these invoices are treated in UK or Irish accounts, and how the retreat is treated for employees, is a question for your accountant; we do not advise on UK or Irish tax. Ask for every quote to show net amounts, the VAT rate line by line and the currency.
When to go
High season in Marrakech runs from March to May and from September to November, when hotels book up earlier. Winter brings mild afternoons and cool evenings, which suits a sunshine retreat; just make sure your dates fall on a day your airport operates, since several regional routes run only twice a week and Ryanair’s Liverpool service is summer-only. Summer is hot in Marrakech. Our month-by-month guide to 2027 flags the periods to avoid.
What Saphyyr Events does
We work in English and French, with you and with suppliers on the ground. We build the programme around your flight times, coordinate airport transfers and staggered arrivals when people fly in from several cities, and a team is on site in Marrakech from the first day to the last. The quote is itemised and free, with no commitment.
Frequently asked questions
Are there direct flights from London to Marrakech?
Yes. Ryanair flies from Stansted about twice a day and easyJet from Southend, according to official sources checked on 26 October 2026. Flight-search sites also list Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton routes, which we could not confirm officially on that date.
How long is the flight?
About 3 h 35 from London Stansted or Dublin, 3 h 40 from Manchester and around 4 h from Edinburgh, based on published schedules. Only your flight’s timetable counts.
Is there a time difference?
None in winter; Marrakech is one hour behind the UK and Ireland in summer.
Do UK citizens need a visa for a business retreat?
GOV.UK says no visa is needed for up to 90 days for tourism, and advises anyone travelling for other reasons to check with the Moroccan Consulate General in the UK. Check before you book.
How much does a retreat for 20 people cost?
About €7,600 to €12,600 excluding flights in a 4-star hotel, with two working days, AV, two dinners and transfers, according to our calculator, or €381 to €629 per person.
To plan your retreat, see our seminar and retreat planning in Marrakech, estimate your budget with the calculator, or request a free quote with your dates, headcount and departure airports.