The Essence of Morocco: My 8-day Everchanging Journey
Morocco is not what most people picture when they think about Africa but Morocco does provide an absolutely different and equally amazing experience on the continent. I had the pleasure of escorting a group to a whirlwind look into this North African nation. I only wish I had more time to continue exploring this extraordinary country.
With Visit Morocco as our DMC and host, we were able to spend 8 amazing days navigating the different aspects of Moroccan landscape, wildlife, and culture. Our round-trip itinerary from Casablanca included Fez, the Sahara, snowy mountains, ancient Berber cities, and Marrakech. Through winding alleys of medinas, sampling the food stalls that locals favorite, meeting the artisans, and supporting local non-profit associations, I was able to experience the true essence of Morocco. Instead of arranging the usual suspects in an average Moroccan itinerary and peering in as an outsider, Visit Morocco immersed us into Morocco and the warm welcome of its people.
Day 1 | Casablanca, The Modern Morocco
We started by taking a tour of Casablanca. As the main international hub, Casablanca is the financial and modern center of Morocco. The tour included Hassan II Mosque which is the largest mosque in all of Africa, the old city area, Mohamed V square, and the flower markets. And as we traveled throughout, we saw the pristine art-deco architecture indicative to Casablanca. For those who want to experience contemporary Morocco and the accoutrements of a modern city, this is the hip ‘it’ metropolis.
From here we traveled north to Fez. We had left late in the day and thus were not able to see noteworthy destinations along the way. If I could go back, I would include a visit to Rabat, the capital of Morocco and stop in Meknes. Meknes is the renowned wine region of Morocco.
Day 2 | Fez, Artisans of Food Culture and Wares
We started the following day in Fez. Fez quickly became one of the highlights on our trip. It is the center of Moroccan cuisine and contains the largest medina in Morocco which is also the largest pedestrian only area in the world. Our guide took us through the narrow streets of the medina that tourists rarely see and shared the best food stalls that Fez has to offer. The dizzying maze of narrow walkways, hidden tunnels, and sign-less junctions reminded me of the importance of a great guide. The Fez food-tasting tour showcased the variety and complexity of Moroccan cuisine. We sampled a variety of honeys, sweets, traditional soup, meats, and even went behind the scenes to see how traditional breads are baked. The food throughout the entire trip was some of the best, consistently delicious food I have ever had. At points, the food was an emotional experience that moved my very soul.
Fez also boasts itself as the artistic capital of Morocco. We saw the sights, the tact, and smells of working artisans, including visits to the copper smith, dyers, and famous tanneries of Fez. Did you know that the graduation hats of present day are inspired by Fez hats? That Fez was one of the first scholarly hubs of the world? We visited a 14th century theology school as well as the oldest university in the history of humanity founded in 857AD, Al-Qaraqyyin.
Day 3 | To the Desert and All the Stops Along the Way
The next day, we departed to take the long drive to the desert camp. Make no mistake, this is a very long drive and a very long day. But the trip is punctuated by an amazing variety of stops and ever-changing scenery. First stop was in the charming ski town of Azrou that looked as if it was transported from Bavaria covered in a fresh layer of snow. Passing through evergreen forests and snow topped mountains, we paused next for the Barbary Apes. Actually, they are macaques, but still, this tailless monkey lives in the mountains among the rocks of the Atlas Mountains! The scenery and environment changed dramatically again as we headed down to the foothills of the mountains and the Sahara Desert before us.
Arriving in Merzouga, we transferred into 4X4 vehicles for the transfer into the great red sand dunes of the Sahara. Bouncing along through the dunes, the drivers really enjoyed the squeals and laughter of the group as we plowed into sand and teetered sideways on sand dunes. As we headed over the dunes, we finally saw our next form of transportation, camels. We had arrived just in time for a sunset camel ride to the Merzouga Luxury Tented Camp. Riding on the crest of the dunes, we watched the sunrise color the dunes. The only sounds were that of the dull rhythmic pattering of soft camel hooves and the occasional belting of the camels. We arrived into the secluded tented camp lit only by dim Moroccan lamps and candlelight surrounded in a sea of sand dunes.
Fun Fact: The camels in Morocco are not camels at all. They are dromedaries. A camel has two humps and a dromedary has one hump.
And don’t worry. Our tented camp was nothing like actual camping; four poster beds, electricity, en-suite bathrooms, and covered in Moroccan carpet. After a traditional Berber dinner, we were treated to a performance by local musicians in front of a fire. After the show, the lights are snuffed out and the stars come out. All of them. I personally recommend walking a little away from the camp and to lay against a sand dune. In less than 20 minutes of star gazing, I saw a light show of shooting stars.
Day 4 | To Ouarzazate Via Erfoud, Tineghir, and Todra Gorges
I woke up in my heated tent, grabbed a cup of coffee and headed into the dunes to watch the sun rise from behind the dunes before eating breakfast and heading out to start our journey to Ouarzazate. The scenery was ever changing as we stopped by Erfoud, a medieval irrigation system, the lush oasis of Tineghir, and through the Todra Gorge. The most surprising stop of the day was also the first, Erfoud.
Visit Morocco had arranged a visit to the Macro Fossiles Kasbah. I believed this would be a blip in my memories of Morocco as I am not a geologist nor a paleontologist, but it was vastly more interesting than I assumed. Morocco is one of the most geo-diverse countries in the world and the region around Erfoud was once a great shallow sea. Fossils can be found in perfect condition from as far back as 450 million years ago. At Macro Fossiles Kasbah, we were taken through the process of finding and shaping fossils into the beautiful sculptures and specimens on display. It was an amazing behind the scenes look from quarry, to finding, to extracting the ancient creatures within. For those who are really interested, Visit Morocco can arrange for you to go to the quarries, identify the fossils and excavate a piece of earth’s history that not only predates man but mammals as well!
Day 5 | Ouarzazate: Hollywood and Kasbahs
Ouarzazate is considered the Hollywood of Morocco. It’s desert climate, consistent sunshine, and well preserved kasbahs and villages, make it an ideal location for movie productions. Some of the most recognizable productions include The Gladiator, Lawrence of Arabia, The Mummy, and Game of Thrones.
Unlike Fez and Marrakech, this area has Kasbah style housing instead of Riads. The clay palaces are a trademark of the region. We visited the home of the “Lords of the Atlas”, Kasbah Taourirt and saw how the noblemen of ages past lived. From here we went to explore the UNESCO protected village, Ksar Ait Benhaddou. This is the quintessential vision of Berber architecture.
In the afternoon, we drove the scenic road to Marrakech, the Tiz N’Tichka pass. When touring, two very important elements to a great trip are the guides and the drivers. Visit Morocco had organized a driver throughout and his expert skills made for a smooth, safe, and stress-free experience. Tiz N’Tichka is a century old road through the mountains and down to the plains of Marrakech. The winding road provided spectacular scenery and amazing vantage points. Did I mention Visit Morocco provided a mobile hotspot throughout? We all got a chance to set the scene to our own Spotify playlists.
Day 6 | Marrakech Cooking, Gardens, & Shopping
Marrakech is well known for its buzzing atmosphere, nightlife, open air markets, and for its private cooking classes. Visit Morocco had arranged a truly Moroccan culinary experience that also supported the empowerment of disadvantaged women.
[The Amal Center] offers women from disadvantaged backgrounds a platform where they can enhance their capacities and learn new skills. When trainees are selected, they start a six-month training program to learn all aspects of work in a professional kitchen in order to secure a job. At completion, Amal graduates gain financial independence through their skilled work in restaurants, hotels, riads and private homes.
Amal’s customers and clients are a key source of financial support the training programs Amal runs. When you sit down to an incredible lunch in our restaurant in Gueliz, or learn to make Moroccan tajine alongside our expert chefs, or sign up for our school lunch program, you are making a difference in the lives of the women we train.
-Amal Nonprofit
We worked side by side with the women who aim to improve their own lives as well as their families and got to enjoy a delicious Moroccan meal. Maybe it was because I earned it or maybe because it was cooked over a coal fire but I literally had the best chicken tagine I have ever tasted.
After lunch, we stopped by the most visited sight in Morocco the Marjorelle Gardens. A truly lovely garden with the vibrant chic aesthetics of Yves Saint Laurent and his partner. The gardens are beautiful but it is also VERY crowded. It goes from busy to downright packed. Even though it does never really quiet, it is recommended to go when it first opens or closer to when it closes. For those who want a more intimate experience, Visit Morocco can arrange privatization of the mansion for a quieter Marjorelle experience.
For the late afternoon hours, we headed out for shopping, as you do, in Marrakech. We went to the Zouks within the medina to browse the wares, see the snake charmers and entertainers of Jemaa El Fna Square, and tried our hand at haggling. We were able to take a peek into a special activity Visit Morocco can arrange for the serious shopper. For those who would like to get artisanal goods of the modern Moroccan, beyond the trinkets and classic ceramics, to do more than a bit of browsing, the industrial side of Marrakech is perfect. The industrial area provides shopaholics with modern Moroccan lamps, inlayed wood furniture, and an insider look into how everything is handcrafted with meticulous care. And everything can be shipped so no need for excess luggage!
Day 7 | Marrakech and Casablanca: The Hidden Side to Marrakech’s Old City and Rick’s Café
The guide was paramount to explore the local authentic side to Marrakech. We wandered through the dizzying maze of pedestrian streets and residential areas of the medina. Away from the crowds of tourists, we were able to see the day to day activities of the of the inhabitants of the old city. We passed by medieval mosques and some of the oldest quarters in Marrakech; all the while, we learned the rich history of Marrakech. We even went through the old quarters of the caravans. The area had been repurposed as workshops for artisans who practice the skills of their ancestors.
I really appreciated the juxtaposition of the popular sites of Marrakech and back streets of the locals. Of course, you must see the square and the zouks but seeing Marrakech without the throngs of tourists provided us to an authenticity we would not have been able to navigate on our own.
In the afternoon, we made our way to our point of departure, Casablanca, in time for our final experience, dinner at Rick’s Café. Rick’s Café is a frequently requested restaurant and one of “the things to do”. For those who have not seen the 1942 American classic, Casablanca, Rick’s Café was the setting for the iconic love story between Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. In 2004, the fictional café was brought to life with extreme detail into the ambiance and architecture of the time.
To be candid, I had an assumption that it would be cheesy but it turned out to be a wonderful experience. The food was fantastic and the atmosphere was spot on. The décor and ambiance meticulously replicating a bygone era. Rick’s Café has two seating each evening and only the 9:30pm seating has live music. So please be sure to book in advance!
Summary
Morocco is a beautiful country that absolutely deserves a visit. Its culture, food and variety of surroundings lends this country a truly unique experience; the sea, the mountains, the desert and the beach. A 7-day trip offers only a taste of all that Morocco has to offer. The long drives take up enough time that I would have liked to spend at least another 3 days to soak in the destinations. Yes, the drives can be long, but it was well worth it. The amazing changes in scenery, architecture and culture has only made me want to return to Morocco. And of course, utilize the services of Visit Morocco to create a seamless itinerary.
