Total Days: 9 days | Accommodations: Riads | Traveled with: A friend | Transportation: Walking within the cities, otherwise cars, trains, buses | Type of Trip: Site-seeing, admiring Moroccan art and designs, and some very good meals | Highlights: Riads, Medina mazes and an overnight in the Sahara
Prepare to be dazzled! The tiles, the colors, the jewels. It’s all very impressive – but it’s also easy to get sucked into a Marrakech and Fes trip and this wouldn’t be doing the country justice. This itinerary includes a longer road trip to the Sahara and shorter visits in Chefchaouen and Tangier for a more diversified look at Morocco.
DAY 1
At a glimpse: Exploring the Marrakech Medina
Travel agenda: Upon arrival in Marrakech, you will want to get some cash! The Dirham is a closed currency so there’s no chance of getting it before you land in Morocco. From the airport, hop in a short 15-minute taxi ride (shouldn’t be more than 80MAD) to the Marrakech Medina. As cars aren’t allowed, have your hotel/riad direct or guide you to the appropriate streets.
Now the fun begins! Drop your luggage off at your riad, a traditional house with a courtyard and garden, and set off to explore. The Jemaa el-Fna Square and nearby Kasbah Mosque are the two landmarks to orient yourself. Grab lunch around the square – any surrounding rooftops will have a similar menu and view. Enjoy your first tagine and couscous!
Then take a city tour, for example Highlights and Hidden Gems of Morocco. It is the best introduction to a new city, with a local who can provide recommendations and tips for the rest of your visit.
Tip: Ask to see the manufacturing side of the Medina markets, usually where the locals buy goods.
Make a reservation for dinner at Nomad, a popular Moroccan restaurant with a modern flair. On the way out, walk through Jemaa el-Fna Square for dessert, as it transforms into a nightly food market in the blink of an eye. Then head back to the riad to catch up on sleep!
DAY 2
At a glimpse: A day in Marrakesh and a posh evening out
Travel agenda: Your riad accommodation should include breakfast and I hope you are hungry! Breads, jams, yogurt, fruit, eggs options, juices and olives – along with coffee and/or tea. Sometimes both. After fueling up, walk to the nearest main street outside of the Medina to grab a taxi. A 15 minute ride away is the Jardin Marjorelle, Yves Saint Laurent’s former home, studio and garden. Get your camera ready because the background offers endless photo taking opportunities.
Tip: Book your tickets online and early in the morning to avoid the long line!
Take a taxi back to the city and prioritize a few of the following: Dar El Bacha Museum with a stop for tea/coffee at Baccha Coffee, Palácio da Bahia, Saadian Tombs and Medersa Ben Youssef.
Tip: Le Jardin Secret is great if you didn’t make it to Jardin Marjorelle and Dar Si Said is only worth stopping at if you didn’t visit De El Bacha Museum.
Tonight, don your favorite outfit for two of the best hotels in the world. First up, is a cocktail at The Royal Mansour. Not far from the Kasbah Mosque, the grounds of the hotel are worth a walk around. Then enjoy a cocktail in the art-deco bar.
Next, walk 10 minutes to La Mamounia, yet another hotel with some very impressive accolades. Dinner is at Le Marocain, with a prix fixe menu of elevated Moroccan classics. For a drink after, Le Bar Majorelle has the best vibe and a welcoming band.
DAY 3
At a glimpse: A long drive with some mediocre stops
Travel agenda: After breakfast, get ready for a journey. Today is not a spectacular day, but if you want to go to the Sahara it’s a necessary evil. Opt for a smaller 3 day group tour to the Merzouga Desert from Marrakech to Fes. Our tour with Sahara Camel Trips was fantastic and customizable depending on our interests and mood.
The drive winds through the Atlas Mountains, with stops at scenic overlooks and Kasbahs, or fortresses. It’s a full day drive but the landscape is beautiful and unexpected. Driving through the smaller towns also offers a glimpse into the life of the locals. Ait Ben Haddou is the best stop of the day. It requires a short hike but the fortified village, souvenir shops and river crossing are unique. Nearby are the movie studios, a good stop for the film buffs.
Tip: If you’re in a smaller group or on a private tour, ask your driver to take you to the local spots for lunch! Otherwise, you will get stuck at the pricier tourist trap restaurants.
The destination for the night is the Dades Valley, an interesting drive through – not interesting enough to explore. Get some sleep instead!
DAY 4
At a glimpse: A drive with destination Sahara Desert!
Travel agenda: Hate to break it to you, there’s a lot more driving today. Some highlights include the Todra Gorge, a perfect time to stretch your legs and walk along the river. There are also several interesting palm tree oases.
Finally, the Merzouga Desert is within reach. Most desert tours depart an hour before sunset so you may have to wait for the remainder of your group. Then you are introduced to your camel and up you go! The journey via camel takes about 2 hours but there’s a stop for sand boarding and enjoying the sunset.
Then you will arrive at your desert camp – some luxury tents and others more modest depending on your tour package. Greeted with tea and snacks, you will have time to get your bags and change. Then dinner is served in the main tent, followed by music and dancing around the fire! It is truly a memorable evening.
DAY 5
At a glimpse: Drive to Fes
Travel agenda: Wake up just in time to watch the sun rise over the dunes of the Merzouga Desert. Enjoy breakfast and then it’s a camel ride back to the start — or you can ask to be chauffeured by car!
It’s a long drive today as well, with some fun stops at the Cedar Forest to say hello to the friendly monkeys and a tea in the surprisingly alpine-style town of Ifrane, or “Little Switzerland.”
Once you arrive in Fes, it’s time to wander the Medina and then enjoy dinner at the unassuming (from the front) Riad Laaroussa, an elegant 17th-century palace. And it serves alcohol!
DAY 6
At a glimpse: A full day in Fes, exploring the Medina
Travel agenda: Put your walking shoes on today! Start by making your way to Chouara Tannery. It can get crowded so best to get there early. There’s no direct route, so wander your way through. There are dozens of stores offering the “best view of the tannery. No fee!” Try a couple different stores, and with the help of some mint leaves, you will start to get used to the smell.
Tip: This area is the best if you are in the market for leather jackets and shoes.
From there, meander 5 minutes to Al Attarine Madrasa, a previous school with swoon-worthy tiles. Then it’s a 20 minute walk, just outside of the Medina through the Blue Gate to Jardin Jnan Sbil. The Royal Palace is also nearby, though you can only admire from the gate! Lunch is back in the medina at Mom’s Touch.
After lunch and a short walk away, Hammam Mernissi is an authentic but welcoming-to-visitors hammam. Opt for the traditional scrub and massage. Feeling like a new person with baby soft skin, head back to your riad to change and get ready for a very special meal. Walk to Riad Fes with a refined international menu and a wonderful ambiance.
DAY 7
At a glimpse: Bus to Chefchaouen and an afternoon exploring the blue city
Travel agenda: Purchase bus tickets at least a week beforehand for the 8AM CTM bus to Chefchaouen! It’s a relatively nice bus and the 4 hour drive goes by quickly with a short stop for a bathroom/food break.
From the bus stop, it will be a short petite taxi ride to the Medina. Check in to your riad and then get lunch at Restaurant Hamsa. Then it’s time to get lost! Explore the alleys and admire the variety of blue washed walls, doors and decor. An hour before sunset, check out the activity around the Ras El Mar River. From there, it’s a 20 minute hike to the Spanish Mosque to watch sunset, a tradition beloved by tourists and locals alike.
After, head back down the hill to enjoy dinner at the best restaurant in town with a killer view, Triana. If you are feeling rebellious, walk to Bar Oum Rabie and bring a bottle of wine to the restaurant with you. Ask the host if they will pour it, but be respectful and discreet!
DAY 8
At a glimpse: Morning in Chefchaouen, then a 2-hour drive to Tangier
Travel agenda: Most visitors only do a day trip to Chefchaouen, so this morning you have the alleys to yourself! Stop by the Kasbah, located in the center of the Medina, with a nice garden and views.
After checking out of the riad, take a petite taxi to the grand taxi location. The grand taxis travel between the cities and you will be paired with any others going as well. From here, you can get 2-hour transportation to Tangier. This city you are going to do a bit differently! Instead of basing yourself in the Medina, stay on the coast nearby the Tanja Marina Bay, with views of Spain on a clear day.
Grab a casual but brilliant shawarma at Marina Food. Then take a taxi to Achakkar Beach to hang with the beach camels. It’s not far from the Hercules Caves, though this has tourist trap vibes. Then you can enjoy a leisurely walk to Cape Spartel, where the Mediterranean and Atlantic Ocean meet. From here, take another taxi to Chateau Perdicaris to explore the beautiful gardens and watch the sunset (better than Cafe Hafa!) Dinner is back by the marina, at the locals approved Spanish restaurant El Tangerino.
DAY 9
At a glimpse: Train to Casablanca and then flight home
Travel agenda: Most international flights leave from Casablanca, so in the morning take the 2-hour bullet train from Tangier to the Casa Voyageurs stop in the city. If you have time, take a short taxi ride to the impressive Hassan II Mosque (you will need to book a tour to see the inside!) followed by lunch at Rick’s Cafe, modeled after the movie Casablanca. Cheers to a Moroccan adventure! Then grab a 30 minute taxi to the airport.
