Morocco is a country that’s bustling with rich culture, ancient history, and warm, welcoming people. From the vibrant colors of the markets in Marrakech, to the smooth waves of sand in the Sahara Desert, there is a lot to marvel at and uncover in this North African country.
To begin your Moroccan journey, start off in one of the most popular cities in the region, Marrakech. Here the locals are used to many tourists and are thus more liberal with their rules. Alcohol, although frowned upon in other areas of the country, is available nearly everywhere here. Similarly, shorts and tank tops can be worn without worry, and English is spoken by a large percentage of the population.
Take a trip to Jardin Majorelle for some time in tranquility. This museum and garden was made famous thanks to French landscape painter Jacques Majorelle, who worked in the property’s art deco studio and spent 40 years designing the garden and its surrounding area. The garden began cultivating in 1924 and is now home to over 300 species of plants from five different continents. Once you’re done frolicking through the magical garden, check out Majorelle’s former studio, which displays 600 Moroccan artifacts that include jewelry, textiles, musical instruments, traditional dress, and more. Fun fact: French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent actually purchased Jardin Majorelle to preserve the vision of Jacques Majorelle, and made it open to the public.
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Yves Saint Laurent first travelled to Marrakech in the 1960s and was instantly influenced by the bright colors of dress worn by the people. He spent a lot of his time in the city to draw inspiration for his designs, and he even reinvented some traditional Moroccan style of dress such as the jellaba (loose hooded cloak), the jabador (matching tunic and pants), and the tarboosh (a red felt hat with a tassel), which went on to be worn all over the world. Because of this, Yves Saint Laurent has his own museum right in Marrakech. Stop by the Musée Yves Saint Laurent to appreciate collections of haute couture clothing and accessories. There’s also a 150-seat auditorium, research library, bookstore, and café.
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Mosques are very important in Moroccan culture due to the Islam religion of the majority of the population. The largest in Marrakech, Koutoubia Mosque, is a must-see. Its architecture has set trends for buildings in Spain, and even elsewhere in Morocco, like in the capital: Rabat. Five times a day you can hear the muezzin (a person at the mosque appointed to lead) calling Muslims to prayer from the top of the mosque’s minaret.
For the next sight on your trip, you’ll feel like Indiana Jones as you explore the Saadian Tombs. These tombs are the only remaining relics of the Saadian dynasty, which lasted from 1524 to 1659. One of the sultans of the period, Ahmad El Mansour, ordered the construction of these tombs. El Mansour didn’t do modesty, importing luxurious materials like Italian Carrara marble, and gold honeycomb muqarnas (designed plasterwork) to ensure his tomb’s beauty. Many other rulers and members of the Saadian dynasty are buried here as well and their tombs are decorated with colorful tiles, Arabic calligraphy, and poetic engravings. The tombs were actually sealed off by the succeeding and current dynasty, Alawite, whose sultan, Moulay Ismail, wished to erase all memory of the Saadian dynasty in the early 18th century. It wasn’t until 1917 that the tombs were rediscovered, replenished, and made available to the public.
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Pull out your wallet and get ready to bargain as you navigate one of Marrakech’s souks (An Arab market). Souks have been tradition in the country, but especially Marrakech, since the beginning of time. Travelling merchants and traders would come into the city daily to trade and purchase goods. Start at Djemaa El Fna, the city’s main square, and make sure you have a map with you, as navigating the souks can cause you to get lost. As you investigate and shop throughout the souks, you’ll find vibrant and aromatic spices, handcrafted pottery, traditionally woven Moroccan carpets and rugs, colorful lamps and lanterns, wallets, shoes, traditional Moroccan clothing, jewelry, toys and much much more. You might want to bring an empty suitcase or a large bag to collect your findings!
When you’re satisfied with your purchases, head back to the aforementioned Djemaa El Fna. The sun has set and the nightly shows are about to begin! Each night in the square, a variety of shows can be watched which include some bizarre ones like slapstick comedy acts, acrobats, musical performances, snake charmers, monkey trainers, and more. After watching the shows, you can get a henna tattoo, people watch, or purchase a snack from one of the many food stands.
Speaking of food, it’s about time to grab dinner! Head on over to Dar Moha, a restaurant situated in a beautiful riad (A traditional Moroccan home). The riad features a gorgeous pool with intricately designed tiles on the floor, and an idyllic patio dining setting amongst green trees, red carpet, and gold tablecloths. The cuisine here focuses on a new take on traditional Moroccan dishes, spawning mouthwatering creations like grilled chicken-oregano skewers, lamb shank tagine with seasonal vegetables, and apple shakshouka with saffron.
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Enjoy a drink or two to end your night at Bô & Zin, a lounge-style bar that will have you sitting outside staring at the stars. This stylish bar has an exotic garden area for a relaxed setting, allowing you to decompress after an exciting day! A DJ spins tunes on the deck, but sometimes the lounge hosts live music acts. Sit back, relax, and order a cocktail!
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You deserve the best and nothing less and because of that, you should book your stay at Royal Mansour Marrakech. This five-star hotel was commissioned by the current Moroccan king, Mohammed VI, who often hosts his own guests here. You can live like royalty too by booking the luxury Grand Riad for an experience like no other. With four bedrooms, a landscaped garden, and a private swimming pool, how could you go wrong? The spectacular hotel also includes three restaurants, which are overseen by three-Michelin-star chef Yannick Alléno, a three-floor spa, a hammam (a steam bath), many bars and lounges, a garden, and a pool.
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Morocco has so many cities and so much to see that it might feel overwhelming to accomplish it all! You’ve explored Marrakech and all it has to offer, but if you can extend your trip by three days, completing a desert trip tour is simply a must. Book the Marrakech to Fes desert tour with Marrakech Desert Trips. This tour will lead you on a sandy adventure from Marrakech to the city of Fes, all while making significant stops at tourist must-sees.
On your first day, you will drive past the breathtaking High Atlas Mountains to reach the Ksar of Aït-Ben-Haddou, a kasbah (traditional administrative building made from mud and straw) that is famous for having been featured in many films. The Mummy, Gladiator, Alexander, Babbel, Prince of Persia, and even parts of the TV series Game of Thrones were filmed here!
After, you will take a road that will pass through Rose Valley, a region known for its abundance of roses and apricots. Workers in the field pick roses throughout the day to make rose oil, soap, lip balm, deodorant, and other products. Once you reach Dades Valley, you will sleep for the night in a boutique hotel.
On your second day on the magnificent tour, you will complete a four-hour drive to Tinghir Oasis, where you can watch locals farming and herding cattle. The scenery in the area is some of the most striking in all of Morocco, where you can walk past refreshing streams and gaze at scenic landscapes and rich vegetation.
Your tour guide will lead you along a path until you reach the Todgha Gorge (or Todra Gorge), a series of limestone river canyons that are recognized around the world as some of the most marvelous ones to ever exist. The cliffs are more than 500 feet tall on either side; you will feel tiny as you stare up the canyon from the bottom! Next on the itinerary is Rissani, one of the holiest towns in the whole country. The current Alawite dynasty was founded in this city, so it is well-respected and full of tons of history. After a quick tour of the city, you will move on to Merzouga, a village where your camel caravan will be awaiting you.
Finally, you will take off on a camel into the Sahara Desert! Explore the Erg Chebbi dunes as you trek through the soft sands and take pictures. You will watch the sunset from your camel (one of the most notable times to appreciate the Sahara), and then retreat to your Sahara Desert camp, where you will spend the night. Dinner under the stars will be provided while the tours’ local nomads play the drums for entertainment.
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On your third and last day in Morocco, you will embark on an 8-hour drive to Fes, stopping along the way to view some last-minute sights. Once you arrive in the popular city, you can either take the time to explore a bit, or pack up your bags and head back home to the U.S. Whatever you choose, this trip has been the adventure of a lifetime. The Moroccan culture is truly an awe-inspiring, rich one, and it’s no doubt you will be back. For now, lay out that traditional Moroccan carpet you bought at the souk; it will invoke some lovely memories!
By Aaliyah Pasols