The beautiful nation of Morocco is located in the north of the African continent and is a place that any traveler will never forget because there is alot of things to see. Have you ever experienced such extreme contrasts in one place—snow-capped mountains, lush forests, the blistering Sahara Desert, ski resorts, street sellers, fortune tellers, snake charmers, and opulent riads—in one country?
If not, you must immediately travel to to see alot of things Morocco! That’s why we made the decision to take a road trip across this incredible nation, where you can discover just about anything!
Fez
We spent a few days in this city, which served as our trip’s initial stop. A city of artisans and tanners with a thousand-year heritage is Fez. According to some estimates, the medina, or historic center of the city, has 6,000 streets; however, no one is certain of the exact number. By the way, it’s one of the world’s biggest pedestrian areas. There is no end to your wandering, and the navigation will do you no good. There are so many hustlers and street vendors in the city. They will approach you and try to sell you something if you even peek at it.
From the first second, Fez had us spellbound. Walking through the streets amidst the spices and strewn linens is like entering a different universe entirely, just like in the movie “Clone,” remember?
Although Rabat is now the capital of Morocco and is the top places to visit and see, Fez still aspires to be referred to as the nation’s cultural center. It is astonishing how little Medina has altered since the Middle Ages.
It is easy to find lodging because there is a broad selection of riads (such as hotels or guest homes) for all tastes and budgets. Fez is also a great location to sample the regional food. There are numerous eateries and cafes on the streets where patrons aren’t hesitant to test the meal or sip tea.
the Chefchaouen Blue City
One of Morocco’s most well-known tourist destinations is Chefchaouen, which is distinguished by the buildings’ varied blue and blue coloration. It is situated in the country’s extreme northwest.
Numerous myths explain why this city is blue. One of them claims that after leaving Spain in 1492, the Jews of Andalusia started painting their homes a sky-blue color.
After that, the custom merely kept on. The second tale is that the city’s own citizens, who for years welcomed hordes of refugees, started painting their structures blue as a representation of harmony and tolerance. In any event, Chefchaouen currently draws hundreds of thousands of visitors due to its distinctive color and architecture, and we were among them.
River Ziz.
Another lovely area to stroll through and snap pictures. Driving down the road, we happened to spot a lookout point, and that’s how we discovered it. We made the right choice to look, so we did! Awe-inspiring views may be seen from the river Ziz’s summit.
Ifrane, an Alpine Village
While most international visitors want to see the Sahara Desert’s sand dunes or get lost in a city’s medina, Moroccans visit this strange settlement and refer to it as the “Switzerland of Africa.”
Ifrane, which is situated in Morocco’s Middle Atlas at a height of 1713 meters above sea level, Because the city was constructed by the French, it has a strong European influence. The best ski resort in Morocco is thought to be Ifrane, where locals and international visitors alike enjoy unwinding.
Gorge of Todra
The Todra Canyon, a well-known tourist destination in Morocco and is best place to see too, is situated in the High Atlas Mountains in the country’s eastern region. Tinghir, where you can also stay, is the town that is nearest to it. The final 600 meters of the canyon, which is over 40 kilometers long, are its most stunning section. The Berber tribes who live in the canyon’s vicinity, transport goods on donkeys all day, and sell tourists trinkets do so from inside of their tents.
Climbers love the Todra Gorge because the walls there can reach 400 meters in height in various spots. Hotels of 2 to 3 stars are available here for overnight stays. You can at least have a snack if you don’t intend to stay the night. It is best to visit the canyon in the morning when the sun is shining on the slopes of one of the walls. It immediately becomes cold here in the evening as soon as the sun starts to sink below the cliffs.
Erg Chebbi and Merzouga
This is the location to visit if seeing the Sahara Desert was a travel objective. Merzouga is positioned directly at the point where the desert starts. From Fez, it is around 500 kilometers. It’s hot, dusty, and congested at Merzouga. All excursions begin here—on camels or in jeeps—and many people who cross the Sahara on their own by car or motorcycle also spend the night here.
Erg Chebby is a stunning desert that is always shifting due to the wind. The sand dunes can reach a height of 150 meters. Sunset time is really gorgeous.
We parked our car in Merzouga, waited for the camels, and went to look at the limitless dunes when the sun was already dropping because we were going to spend the night in the desert tents.
Merzouga sahara desert
Sleeping in the desert while on a trip across Morocco is the greatest Thins to see! Do you have any experience camping in the Sahara Desert? Furthermore, with all the comforts! Just the name alone makes me think of Aladdin or the geography textbooks I used in school. The level of enthusiasm is beyond words; it’s probably just impossible! Dinner, campfire dance, and an amazing starry sky. The finest memory we have from Morocco is this, which we urge everyone to try!
Everything is extremely well-organized, including the luxurious tents with hot water and toilets, delicious dinner and breakfast, sandboards for riding the dunes, and pleasant company.
Both camels and jeeps are options. Or you could ride camels there and then drive through the sand dunes on the way back. Sincerity be damned, we actually preferred it when traveling by automobile, although in this case, it all depends on your driver’s desire to transport you “with a breeze”.
There are numerous offers and numerous organizations that arrange these overnight stays, but don’t cut corners. Make sure to read the reviews before selecting the best choice. You should budget about $120 for two people to rent a luxury tent with dinner and breakfast. There are possibilities for $20, but the experience won’t be the same because of the “backyard amenities,” to use a metaphor.
Mountain hiking in the Atlas Range
Morocco has many hiking-friendly areas to choose from. The Atlas Mountains are a significant landmark and never-ending. There are a ton of hiking paths, ranging in length from day hikes to short hikes.
The High Atlas region, where we spent the night with a local Berber family, was our favorite. They recommended several lovely sites for us to spend the day.
Meknes
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Meknes is one of the populair things to see in Morocco imperial cities and is situated in the north of the country. There are many things to see and buy as mementos in the city, which is frequently referred to as the “Moroccan Versailles.” You can explore magnificent mosques and palaces, the Bab-El-Mansour Gate, and a host of other sights in Meknes.
The old medina and the new part of the city are separated. We chose to spend the night at a stunning riad in the ancient town since we think it is much more intriguing (guest house). There are numerous cafés and restaurants in Meknes where you may eat both traditional Moroccan food and European food.
You may find handcrafted carpets, Berber silver, clothing, and footwear in the old town. If you want to purchase something, make sure to barter; it’s the norm here!
Monkeys called moths live in cedar trees.
There are cedar forests nearby Ifrane, a village in the Middle Atlas. There exist berber monkeys, often known as tailless macaques or magots. The only macaque that does not reside in Asia is this one.
We simply drove to this woodland, parked the car there, and went for a stroll. Fortunately, there were no other tourists around. We had plenty of time to view macaque families as a result. They stayed away from us and didn’t request any food from us. If you visit in winter, you will find snow in the forest, which is also extremely lovely.
The cities of Ait Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate
Would you like to work on The Mummy, Gladiator, or Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time sets? All of these images, as well as others, were captured in Ait-Ben Haddou. Additionally, Ouarzazate is home to the renowned Atlas Film Studio.
On the left bank of the river Ouarzazate, which rises in the High Atlas and eventually disappears in the sands of the Sahara Desert, is the town, or more accurately a walled village, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The caravan road used to pass through this area in antiquity, and weary travelers would stop there like in an oasis.
These days, the village’s distinctive multi-tiered architecture and red-clay structures draw tourists. Here, the winding streets resemble a maze. Visitors are welcome at any time in the town.
Valley of Draa
The Draa, often known as the “gate of the desert,” is the longest river in a wonderful things to see in Morocco, flowing from Ouarzazate to Zagora. The Draa valley is an extremely lovely location since it contains traditional Berber towns in addition to the lush greenery of the oasis.
Because of the rich fertility of the soil in this area, henna, fruits, and vegetables have been traditionally grown on agricultural terraces. The Draa valley’s most picturesque area is roughly near the center. The lower portion is nearly dry, whereas the top portion is overly hilly. The Draa River Valley is immediately to the north of Marrakech if you are traveling toward the Sahara Desert by car. Take note of this beauty!
Marrakech
Driving through this city will prevent you from experiencing much of Moroccan culture. In addition to its mosques, cathedrals, and gardens, the city’s main square, Djem El Fna, also draws large numbers of tourists. It has a very unusual atmosphere and is constantly bustling with people. There are street vendors, artists, acrobats, dancers, fortune tellers, and food stalls.
It is worthwhile to spend at least one day in Marrakech to explore the key sights. There are numerous hotels and riads to suit every preference, as well as a profusion of eateries where you may sample authentic Moroccan cuisine.
Casablanca
Located on the Atlantic Ocean shore, this city is the biggest and most populated things to see Morocco. The Hassan II Mosque is Casablanca’s top tourist destination. It is one of the biggest mosques in the world and the biggest in Morocco. 10,000 artists and decorators worked on it, along with 2,500 builders.
The commercial hub of Morocco is Casablanca, which mimics European towns and even includes a business district with skyscrapers. Even though technology is there, the city maintains its traditions and draws tourists from all over the world in addition to businesspeople each year.
- Note: It is hard to see everything in Morocco in just two weeks. We would establish a general schedule of the places we wanted to go. In actuality, though, we frequently paused to observe and take pictures of anything! There are attractions around every corner, including breathtaking canyons and mountains as well as intriguing ancient settlements and magnificent architecture! We will undoubtedly return to this country, perhaps even more than once.