The Ultimate Guide To Travelling In Morocco

Morocco is a country which draws you in. From the colourful, heady markets that are filled with the rich scents of spices to the vibrant Atlas Mountains as well as the blue city of Chefchaouen,

Morocco is a country which draws you in. From the colourful, heady markets that are filled with the rich scents of spices to the vibrant Atlas Mountains as well as the blue city of Chefchaouen, there is just so much to see in this amazing North African country.

While you will have a great time hitting up the main spots over a couple of days, we highly recommend lingering in Morocco for a week or two so that you can uncover all of the concealed treasures. There are so many amazing, off-the-beaten path highlights to explore in Morocco.

Remember that Morocco is a more moderate country, so it’s important to be aware of your surroundings, particularly as a female traveller.

Become Lost In The Medinas

The medinas are the historical hearts of each city in Morocco: part residential area, part shopping centre, part food market. Here you’ll find twisting as well as turning streets where shops, restaurants, markets as well as homes all line the streets in buildings apparently too close together and too old to remain up much longer.  Word of caution: The Fez Medina is a bit sketchy and unsafe, so do not go too far off the beaten path. Stick to streets with lots of people.

Glamp In The Sahara

So do you want to go to the desert but don’t really want to rough it? We hear you! These days it’s all about ‘glamping’ as opposed to ‘camping’ in the Sahara, allowing travellers to see the shifting sands of those rose-gold sand dunes with no sacrificing all-important creature comforts.

Specialists can organise overnight stays and multi-day trips. The journey takes approximately 12 hours from Marrakech and eight from Fez. The long drive is a worthwhile experience in itself— en route you’ll pass crumbling citadels, mud-built Berber villages, lush valleys in addition to palm groves.

When you get there, you can expect a Nomad-style tent, with a proper bed and a lot of blankets for the cold nights, and a nice bathroom with steaming-hot water thanks to solar panelling. Gourmet breakfasts with eggs as well as fresh fruit fuel that days which are hiking, sand-boarding, and camel riding, before a sumptuous, home-cooked dinner as the setting sun paints the sky and the Milky Way starts to appear.

Djemaa El Fna

All over the place in Djemaa El Fna, Marrakesh’s central square you’ll see drama in progress. The halqa and hoopla (street theatre) have been non-stop here ever since the 11th century. Until a couple of decades ago, it hosted a daily food market for mountain traders. Now the whine of snake-charmer pungi flutes hits full throttle by mid-morning, and the show doesn’t really kick off until sunset when restaurants fire up their grills, cueing musicians to tune up their instruments.

Trek Through The Torda Gorge

This gorge is one of the most recognised in the world and has become very popular with travellers looking to hike the canyon. It’s a challenging hike however if you’re looking for something truly different and outdoorsy in Morocco, don’t miss out on this.