Morocco is the perfect place to ride a camel, sleep in the Sahara desert, explore maze-like medinas, drink tea and dance with Berbers. You can rent a motorbike and explore Casablanca or Marrakesh, you can take a boat to Gibraltar for a one-day trip or have a romantic dinner at the famous Casablanca Restaurant. There are so many things to do in Morocco that even if plan your trip for 2 weeks, it will not be enough.
As in almost all of my trips, we rented a car from the airport and we traveled through the whole country. The infrastructure is perfect in the country and highways are free, beautiful souvenir they have received from the French that colonized the area. From the top, these were my experiences from the 14 days trip.
1. Marrakesh
The medina is the historic heart of Marrakesh. It’s split between the residential area, shopping center, and food market. If you are the kind of person who loves to get lost – you are in the perfect place here.
Jemaa el-Fnaa, the famous square is the mess that every one like to describes: thousands of people gathering every night, eating together, shopping at small souvenir shops, getting henna tattoos, and get lost in magicians stories (snake charmers during the day).
2. Ouarzazate & Sahara Desert
Ouarzazate is not a big city or impressive but, thanks to Game of Thrones, who seem to do a good job of the city’s PR, everybody now knows the impressive Ait Ben Haddou. If you plan to visit, please take a local guide as there are a lot of things to find out.
Usually, you should have included this tour in the 2 or 3 days trips to the Sahara Desert. There, you will also be advised where to get a guide and how much it should cost. Don’t forget – in Morocco, you have to negotiate all the time 🙂
We booked a Sahara trip from a local agency near our hotel. The trip included 2 days excursion to the desert with a small stop at Ouarzazate. But be careful, they use to promise a lot of things like private tent and bathroom witch, we didn’t have. Also, the food was poor, I was able to eat only some bread for two days 🙂 But the experience it’s nice, they do small music and dancing performance in the evening for you and you have the chance to meet other travelers from around the world.
Riding a camel for one and a half hour is pretty uncomfortable but, the beautiful color of the desert, camping in the night with Bedouins and sleeping below million stars with no light pollution made it all worthwhile.
3. Casablanca
The center of Medica is like a maze I loved trying to solve while also eating delicious food and searching for the sights.
Start early in the morning with a walk on the Boardwalk of Ain Diab, Casablanca’s seaside area. You can enjoy the view of the Atlantic ocean. There are numerous cafes around, so take a coffee or mint tea and something to eat as you explore the city.
From the boardwalk, it’s a 10-minute taxi ride to your next stop: Hassan II Mosque. This is one of the largest in the world and the largest in Morocco. You’ll need to be dressed respectfully, that means shoulders and knees should be covered.
In the evening, make a reservation at Ricks Café, a reproduction of the bar from the classic Hollywood movie, Casablanca. They have a dress code – try to respect if you want inside. 🙂
4. Tangier
The drive from Casablanca to Tangier is only 3 hours ride. It’s a beautiful journey. Although most visitors come for a day, we decided to stay for 3 days and enjoy the area. There are some lovely boutique hotels to stay at and the cosmopolitan mix of African and European influences will make you fall in love right away. The city is split between the old town (Medina) and a new town (Ville Nouvelle).
Tip: Try the famous Cafe Hafa. The cafe was opened in 1921, the style decor is the same from the 1920s. The cafe has been visited by Paul Bowles and William S. Burroughs, The Beatles and the Rolling Stones.
In the city, you can either walk or take a taxi. In case you decide to go by taxi, try to negotiate the rate in advance. Of course, you can get a guide through your hotel who will take you to all places and tell you the story.
Drive from Tangier to Belyounech
To drive this amazing road you will need only one day but the view is priceless. I swear, it’s one of the best views in the world. The sad point is that you cannot enter Ceuta (Spain territory) with your car because you are allowed to drive it only in Morocco territory. Along the road are beautiful virgin beaches where you can make a batch and just chill.
During the holy month of Ramadan, I don’t recommend coming during Ramadan but, if you happen to be there – just make sure not to eat, drink, chew gum or smoke in daylight and in public, otherwise, you will get a fine. Seriously, if you can avoid it, don’t come here during Ramadan.
Be careful when you’re in a popular area and you’re offered something for free. Nothing is for free! Be aware that everybody work on commission. Be firm and say “no thanks” and try to look confident. A free cup of tea might include looking at a lot of carpets. 🙂
