We explored Morocco for five weeks and enjoyed the rich cultural experience of food, architecture, natural beauty and friendly people. Our youtube research of hard sell and annoying con artists has not been our experience, rather it has been one of genuine people out to make a living, with a smattering of the con, which, with a bit of common sense, is easy to avoid. To read about our experiences in the cities we explored, click on the links below.
Marrakech. This is a crazy, manic, energetic city, with the Medina area full of over-priced goods. The Medina is huge and navigationally challenging. There is a constant push from the stall owners to sell and window shopping can often end up with them yelling at you if you don’t buy anything. The big square gets busy quickly in the morning and a recommendation – don’t buy or eat from any of the stalls that set up. The grill stalls in the evenings are a total rip-off and the food is dismal.
Sahara Desert and Atlas Mountains. From Marrakech we did two tours. One day tour into the high Atlas Mountains to see a Berber Argan Oil cooperative and waterfall, and a two night trip into the Sahara Desert. Both were great value and the excursion into the Sahara to ride camels across the famous Erg Chebbi sand dunes are bucket list memories.
Essaouira. A beach resort city three hours from Marrakech, Essaouira is cool and an escape from the heat and mania of the red city. This is a great place to chill and if you are into water sports such as kite surfing, this city, known for it’s windiness, is the place to be.
Rabat. The current capital of Morocco, Rabat (the white city) is modern, with a cosmopolitan feel. The Medina is small, but easy to navigate and the stall owners don’t hassle you. You are politely asked to look and your smile and no thank you are accepted graciously. Rabat is the home of a mosque that was started in the 12th century which was planned to be the largest in the world, but it was never finished.
Fes. With the oldest Medina in the world, dating back to the 9th century, Fes is charming. The Medina is clean and interesting – not as difficult to navigate as Marrakech, but with more than 900 hundred hilly streets, it is fun to explore. We also did a day tour from Fes to Meknes and the Roman ruins of Volubilis.
Chefchaouen. The blue city. Quite possibly the prettiest city in the world. This is a must see Moroccan city and we enjoyed our four days here, absorbing the atmosphere and beauty. The Medina is small and very pretty – there are photo opportunities around every corner. You don’t need to take the paid for photo spots that the instagrammers take – take your own unique photos and share them with the world.
Tangier. Set in the north of the country, and just 14 miles across the strait from Spain, Tangier has a hip vibe, with a history of writers and movie stars living in the city. The Medina is lovely and has the best prices for goods we have seen. It is also nice to be able to window shop and not be hounded to buy. The waterfront and the new city all look very liveable.