Morocco Travel Itinerary
In this post I am going to share the Travel Itinerary I made during my last trip to Morocco, in about a week.
Morocco has a bit of everything, and there are endless possibilities. Depending also on your personal preferences and season of the visit. But this should give you a good starting point at least!
And you can find all you need to know about planning your visit the country on my post about Morocco
Starting the Moroccan Adventure
We started our trip from Tetuán, in the north east of the country. And explored the city for just about a couple of hours, the time to get by foot from the airport to the bus station.
The first impact was quite different from what I was expecting from Morocco. Featuring fancy modern houses and clean and tidy streets. But luckily it was just a peculiarity of the airport area.
Having more time to explore the city, also the Medina of Tetuàn seems to be something to don’t miss out.
Quite short visit, but long enough to quickly discover the kindness of its people:
We got free food from the first shop were we stopped and ask about all the different kinds of bread he was selling! With the suggestion to jump on the other side of the road and get a coffee from his friend. Probably the strangest I’ve ever had (and I’m pretty used to drink espresso!)
Way to Chefchaouen
Fist real stop of our Trip was the city of Chefchaouen, better known as the “blue town”
lately got really famous all over instagram and all the social networks.
We got there by bus in about a couple of hours, for 35 MAD.
The town is located a little bit in the moutains. The bus station is in the newer part of the town, and from there you have to walk (or well, take a taxi, for the lazier kinda travellers) going uphill for about a couple of kilometres.
As accommodation we found a tiny but really nice apartment just outside the medina’s walls. For about 12 euros per night.
What to do in Chefchaouen
The main attraction of the town is just wandering around its tiny blue streets and take some (many) photo shots at any corner.
Other than that, you can do a little hike to the Spanish Mosque and its viewpoint. Try to don’t miss the sunrise above the whole city from there!
Another popular tourist attraction seems to be the Kasbah located at the bottom of the Medina. But I can’t really say much about it, as I didn’t go there
If you have more time to spend around the town, the surrounding mountains seems to offer some good hikes. Check out some of them here
If someone offers you some chocolate, it’s not what you think!
As soon as we started walking around the town, a guy followed us asking if we wanted some fresh and locally grown quality chocolate. We kindly refused with no much clue of what he was really talking about. But we only lately discovered that many people actually visit the town just to do some.. particular kind of shopping!
So for what it has been my experience, one day in the blue town is enough.
I actually stayed there not even a full day. Just enough for walking and taking some pictures around, catching the sunset and enjoying our first maroccan dinner
A Moroccan soup and a veggie tajine from a guy called Alami. He stopped us in the street when we were looking for our apartment.
And we had that basically sitting in his backyard, while drinking what lately turned out as the best and most authentic Moroccan mint tea of the whole trip. Just way too sweet in my opinion.
The whole thing costed us 80 Dh (about 7 Euros), for two people.
Travel to Fes
After watching the sunrise from our terrace, it was time to hit the road again to Fes. We got there with the CTM bus departing from the bus station around 10am.
We initially tried to get the tickets directly from there, but as we didn’t have enough cash we managed to find a wi-fi and buy them on line. Turned out as the best choice, as we then found out he was trying to charge us almost double the price!
It finally costed 120 Dh per person, for a 5 hours long journey. With two stops in between
Getting to the Medina
If visiting Fes, your main destination is probably the Medina. The bigger (and in my opinion nicer, among the ones I’ve seen) of the whole Morocco!
The bus stop is located in the newer part of the city, at about four kilometres from the old centre. Having the time, and a pretty light backpack (thanks Ryanair cheap flights for that!) we decided to walk from there to the Medina. The first part was interesting, with some street markets and an overview of the Moroccan city life.
After that we just followed the main car road, with noting really nice to see. Until reaching what I lately discovered being the Jewish quarter, and passing by the Jnan Sbil gardens.
Then we walked through a busy market (that I initially thought it was already the medina). Full of clothes and houseware. And where we also had a quick stop to sample another surprising local snack: boiled chickpeas and snails!
Between shops, busy streets and things to see, the way to our accommodation obviously turned out as longer than expected, but we finally got to our riad. And its small entrance hidden in the maze of tiny streets of the Medina.
What to do in Fes
You can easily spend days just wandering around the maze of streets of Fes’ Medina.
While trying any sort of food and doing some shopping.
But other than that you can:
- visit a Tannery: Fes is the capital of the leather production, and one of the main attractions are its tanneries. You can see how the leather is coloured and turned into bags, clothes, shoes and pretty much anything else you can find in the shops from one of the many terraces overlooking the city. Most of them are free to visit, you just have to pass through their shop (generally more expensive than the ones outside, in case you plan to buy something) and tip the guide.
And probably the guy who showed you their entrance, as they are generally quite difficult to find.
Take a picture in front of The Blue Gate. The most famous (and impressive) among the entrances of the Medina
Catch the sunset above the city. A popular spot seem to be the Marinid Tombs located a short hike from the centre. Just be careful after dawn: everyone said the place is safe to visit only during daytime, when the police is around.
If you are more lazy (or even just short on time) another option is getting to one of the many rooftops and enjoy the view from there
Travel to the Sahara Desert
Travel from Fes to Merzouga
After the busy Souks and city life, is time to enjoy the calm of the desert. The best place to do that seems to be Merzouga. A tiny town (or well, a brunch of houses) at the door of the Sahara desert.
It is relatively easily reachable by bus from Fes and Marraketch. The first option is definitely the easier, as there is a night Supratour bus leaving Fes at 8 pm, and getting to the desert around 6 am.
For some reasons, planning and make happen the desert trip turned out as the trickiest part of the whole journey. So I decided to write a dedicated post all about it
Way to Marrakech
The next and last stop of my short journey was the crazy city of Marrakech. After a bit of struggle trying to find a way to get there from Merzouga, I decided to get there directly.
Catching an apparently inexistent overnight bus from the nearby city of Rissani.
The main route connecting the two cities goes a bit into the mountains, and stretches for about 560 kilometres. The only two buses drive that only during daytime, leaving from the desert area around 8 in the morning to reach the city only about 12 hours later. Making stopping along the way possible only if you are willing to spend the night there and continue the journey on the following day.
If you don’t have the time or possibility to go all the way to Merzouga but still want to have a little desert experience, you can head to Zagora instead.
Another desert gateway located at only about 360 kilometres form Marrakech.
For what I read the dunes and sand colours there as not as impressive as in Erg Chebbi. But they offer pretty much the same kind of activities, and it’s still an option worth considering.
If you have the time, willingness and freedom to travel (either with a little tour or your own vehicle) there are some apparently worthy stops to consider along the way to Marrakech.
Starting from Merzouga, you could visit:
The Todra Gorges
reachable by the nearby town of Tinghir. They are a popular destination especially among Rock Climbers. Thanks to the high and easily accessible rocky walls of the canyon. But is it also possible to enjoy some hikes around.
The Dades Valley and gorges
Another canyon crossed by a windy and scenographic road, passing through rocky walls, palm trees oasis and the local fortesses called Kasbah.
Ouarzazate and the famous Atlas studios.
Set of movies like The Gladiator, Star Wars and Game of Thrones, just to name a few. For what I’ve heard the Studios themself are pretty touristy and worth the stop only if you are a fan of the thing.
Ait Ben Addou
A 30 kilometres detour from Ouzarzate, but more authentic and stop-worthy. The Unesco World Site is basically and old fortified village immersed in the desert. Sunsets and Sunrises here are known as some of the best of Morocco.
As said above, the touristy Marrakech as been the last stop of my trip. Roaming around the medina, I have seen just so many advertising of roundtrip desert tours, either to Merzouga or Zagora. With all the activities and stops along the way included, and for a cheaper price than what we ended up spending to just sleep in Merzouga and going to Marraketch. I cannot say if they where a bit of a rip, but for what I’ve heard they always hide other expenses and mandatory tips. But still, they will save you from all the planning effort.
Exploring Marrakech
Since I finally decided to skip all the stop along the way, I ended up staying in Marrakech for three whole days. Still unsure if that was going to be way too much or not enough, as I’ve heard very contrasting opinions about the city.
Some people told me it was the best and most fun part of Morocco. Some others to don’t even go there because it is insanely touristy and everyone just tries to rip you off. Even throwing snakes and monkeys on your head and asking for money after that.
For me it was not that bad. Sometimes vendors were a bit annoying, but I found it overall more entertaining than irritating.
I was even a little disappointed by the quietness of the place, as I was expecting it as something incredibly crazy!
The Medina and the main Plaza
The busy main station is located around 10 minutes walk from the Medina
Our first impression was actually pretty weird, as we reached the main market plaza, Jamaa el Fna around 8 am. And it was completely desert. I almost thought to be back in Merzouga!
Luckily, after a couple of hours (and a very local brekkie in a very local place: fava beans soup with fresh bread, a boiled egg, and an unmissable glass of mint tea) everything started to open. Beginning from the eateries.
It is actually fun to see how the same shops completely change face and menu depending on the time of the day. Morning is bread (of any possible kind), soups and eggs time. My favourite!
Even the plaza starts to get a little busier, with some vendors, hennee tattoo artists and loads of smoothie shops. But the very crazy time is the late afternoon, when all the restaurants begin to open.
It is almost impossible to walk between the plaza’s stalls without being stopped at every step by someone showing their menu and supposedly fresh ingredients. And in literally any possible language (so don’t even try to say that you don’t understand).
One of the funniest moments was when one of them started to sing an Italian song. Immediately followed by all the vendors around.
I always like to see how, even in the midst of all their chaos, Moroccan Medinas are so well organised. With dedicates districts of food shops, leather stuff, carpets, clothes.. and those messy tiny eateries one in front of the other
The Medina, with all its shops and tiny streets is really something you can spend days getting lost around. Even if I probably found the one in Fes nicer.
If you are planning to buy something, I also found the prices to be a little lower than in the other cities I have been to.
And if you are looking for a corner of Relax in without leaving the city, the offer of Spas and Hammams in the city is pretty much endless! I’ve talked a bit about my personal Hammam experience at the end of my post
Daytrips from Marrakech
being very touristy, Marrakech offers just way too many one or multiple days tours to the desert or the surrounding places. Most of them also easily reachable with the public transports. Some of them are:
Essaouira
The closest place where to get some beach vibe on the Atlantic coast. Try some fresh seafood and explore (one more) medina.
The public bus leaves from the Gare Routiere at 9 and 11 am and from Essaouira around 5pm. Each journey takes about three hours and costs 80 Dh.
The town is also worth a longer visit, if you have the time and luck with the weather
The Ourika Valley
Located 30 kilometres south of Marrakech, the Valley is mostly known for the village of Setti Fadma and its seven waterfalls. It is not really a place I suggest to visit, with all those weird restaurants literally inside the river and the not so remarkable falls. But it was still was nice to go for an hike out of the city.
We got a day tour there offered by our kind host for 13 euros. But at the very last I decided it was going to be more fun to get there like locals do. And the 3 hours journey (each way) actually turned out as the most interesting part of the day.
So the place itself felt like a bit of a tourist trap for me. And the amount of “guides” willing to show us the “dangerous way” to the waterfalls only made everything worse.
But I obvoiusly made it to the top without asking anyone or having to pay for that. Too easy!
Getting to Setti Fadma as Locals do
I spent a whole evening looking for a way to get there with no results, but then I found it:
Local bus n.7 to Ourika, the main town of the valley. A 45 minutes journey for 7 Dh. And a little time there brunch with the cheapest and best soup and wonder a little around the shops.
An off-road van to Setti Fadma getting more and more full at each stop. A 10 kilometers journey through the mountains lasted more than one hour. And for 10 Dh each.
Jumping on one of them was on my list since the beginning of the Moroccan trip. But definitely something I’m not too keen to experience again!
Other stops around Morocco
The bustling city was the last stop of my quick trip to the country.
But if you have more time there are just too many other beautiful destinations. Some of them are:
Casablanca, especially known for its huge Mosque. Agadir with its surfing waves. The Atlas Mountains for the most adventurous.
And so much more!
Thank you for taking the time to read this post!
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