Morocco is the most accessible gateway to a completely different world — labyrinthine medinas that haven't changed in centuries, the Sahara Desert two hours from the Atlantic coast, and the Atlas Mountains rising behind ancient kasbahs.
📅 Day-by-Day Itinerary
📅 Marrakech
The Djemaa el-Fna square — snake charmers, storytellers, and the greatest street food theatre on Earth after dark. The souks: leather, spice, and lantern quarters. The Majorelle Garden (Yves Saint Laurent's blue masterpiece). Hammam and a full Moroccan massage.
📅 Atlas Mountains — Imlil
Drive 90 minutes from Marrakech into the High Atlas — Berber villages, walnut orchards, and the trailhead for Mount Toubkal (4,167m), North Africa's highest peak. Overnight at a mountain gîte with a Berber family and incredible tagine.
📅 Sahara — Merzouga
The drive over the Tizi n'Tichka pass and through the dramatic Draa Valley kasbahs. Arrive at Erg Chebbi — the ochre dunes of Merzouga rising 150m from flat desert. Camel trek to a desert camp. Sleep under 10,000 stars. Sunrise from the highest dune.
📅 Fes
The world's largest car-free urban area and the most complete medieval city on Earth. Navigate the 9,000-alley medina with a local guide. The Chouara tannery viewed from a leather shop rooftop — a Technicolor scene unchanged since the 11th century.
📅 Chefchaouen
The blue city — every wall painted in shades of azure and cobalt for reasons still debated. Hike above the town to see it from the hillside. Eat kefta tagine in the main square. Buy hand-dyed wool and locally grown cannabis-laced products are everywhere — your choice.
🏨 Where to Stay
Royal Mansour, Marrakech
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King's personal riad-city — 53 private riads, extraordinary spa
💡 Key tips: Always hire a guide in Fes medina — getting lost is inevitable and some alleys have no exit. Bargain in souks — start at 30% of asking price. Dress modestly in medinas. The best riads are in the medina — book accommodation inside the walls. Ramadan: restaurants are closed during daylight but night markets are spectacular.
