Morocco wasn’t a place high on my travel list. Actually, it was barely a blip on my radar, but, when a friend casually threw out Morocco as an option when planning our next adventure, I was inspired. At that moment, Morocco sounded charming and mysterious. And the trip didn’t disappoint! When I began to plan, I wanted to experience as much as possible without feeling rushed within our 8 day timeline. Our 8 days did not include our flight days, so, if you’re scheduling this trip around work, you’ll likely want to book an evening flight to Morocco and add at least one more day off for the return flight home.
8 Day Itinerary for Morocco:
Days 1-2 – Marrakesh
While in Marrakesh, we chose to stay in a riad. I know, I know. What’s a riad? I wasn’t sure myself until I researched the trip. It’s a traditional Moroccan house with an interior courtyard or garden. Think of a riad as similar to a bed and breakfast.
We selected Riad Nafis, and we couldn’t have been any happier with our choice! From breakfast served on the rooftop terrace to the incredibly accommodating staff, it was a truly magical experience. I’m actually not sure when the staff slept as they always seemed to be underfoot ready to assist us in anything we needed!
We arrived in Marrakesh that evening, so, by the time we got to our riad, we chose to spend the evening settling in and relaxing. When we booked our stay, we also reserved a dinner at the Riad Nafis so that we could enjoy a traditional Moroccan meal on our first night.
On the following morning, we adventured out with a guide for a half day city tour. The architecture, colors, wood working, and tile work in Marrakesh were simply stunning! We also thoroughly enjoyed our time the exploring the souks. When shopping in the souks, you had to barter as there were no set prices. If you paid what the shopkeeper was asking, then you were paying way too much! I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about bartering, but it turned out to be a fun game by the end!
We traveled to Morocco in April, so the weather was beginning to be quite warm. By the time our tour was over, we opted to return to our hotel for a refreshing nap to avoid the killer heat. After walking the area with our guide, we were better able to navigate to and from our hotel independently, so we ventured out into the souks again for shopping and dinner later that afternoon. We spent the rest of our evening in the souks.
It was amazing how different the Jemma el-Fnaa Square was at night compared to the day. The musicians and food stands all popped up at dusk, and the Square became very crowded and lively.
Days 3-6 – Sahara Desert Tour
On the first day of our Sahara Desert tour, we traveled through the High Atlas Mountains via the Tichka Pass where we passed several Berber villages along the way. From what our guide told us, most of the inhabitants of the Berber villages traveled into Marrakesh or other big cities for bartering and then return home with their goods.
We also stopped at kasbahs such as AitBenhaddou and Telouate. If you’re a Game of Thrones fan or a fan of the movies Gladiator or Prince of Persia, then you might recognize AitBenhaddou! While touring AitBenhaddou, we came across an artist using oils and fire to create beautiful paintings on the spot. It was fun to watch, and I came home with three for my own walls!
We continued on to finish our day in Skoura among the palm groves. We stayed overnight in a lovely kasbah. While on the kasbah’s rooftop enjoying drinks, we began to hear music getting louder. We stepped to the ledge just in time to see a van with a band riding on the top. It was so incredibly random and wonderful! Kevin was quick with the camera and captured the moment. We ended our evening with dinner in a Berber tent.
Our second day of the tour included stops at the El-Kelaa Mgouna (the valley of the roses), known for its apricots and roses, and Tinghir, where we visited the Toudra Gorge.
We then traveled on to the Merzouga desert. When we arrived, we rode camels into the sand dunes and watched as the sun set. It was very windy while in the sand dunes, so I used my shawl to wrap around my nose and mouth. Kevin didn’t have a shawl, so he just ate sand.
We slept in a Berber tent not far from the edge of the sand dunes. When I woke up the next morning, I ran my hand across my face. That’s when I realized I was covered in sand! The wind had blown sand through the sides of the tent overnight. We had a good laugh and a much needed shower before breakfast. Following breakfast, we made the long drive back to Marrakesh.
Day 7 – Marrakesh
We spent our morning touring the Jardin Marjorelle, which is a beautiful botanical garden. We again avoided the heat of midday at our riad before further exploring the souks that afternoon.
Day 8 – Essaouira
On our final full day in Morocco, we opted for a day tour into the coastal town of Essaouira. Along the way, we saw one of the funniest things…GOATS IN A TREE! Apparently, these tree goats love the nuts on the argan trees, so they climb up for a snack.
After traveling a bit further past the goat tree, we arrived in Essaouira, a relaxing city with beautiful ocean views. We’d highly recommend this as a day trip! It’s a great place to shop, have a mint tea, and relax!
We really wished we had time to fit in Chefchaouen, a city known for its blue buildings. If you can stretch your trip to 10-11 days (not including days traveling to/from Morocco), then Chefchaouen would be a great spot to add in!
If you’re looking for more information on Marrakesh, then check out our tips for a fabulous experience in Marrakesh!