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10 things to do in Morocco if you want to travel to the desert, ride a camel, wander around confusing medinas, and have tea with Berbers.
That fantasy had come true as I gazed out over the Sahara one morning, awestruck by the rhythmic, undulating dunes of the desert. I was ecstatic to be where I had imagined myself to be beneath the same stars thousands of kilometers away as I rode a camel to the location where I would gaze at a million stars that night.
I spent two weeks seeing Morocco as part of Intrepid Travel’s Best of Morocco tour, indulging in copious amounts of couscous and mint tea, going on hikes, and taking in the country’s sights and sounds.
Morocco was an incredible and rewarding experience. It batters your senses and is full of surprises. If you’re looking for reasons to go, here are some highlights from my trip:
1. Camel Trekking in the Sahara
I wish the traditional camel caravans from Morocco to Egypt were still in operation, but I was content to spend one night outside. Turns out that riding a camel for an hour isn’t all that comfortable, but camping with Bedouins, witnessing the stunning colors of the desert up close, and stargazing without any light pollution made it all worthwhile. When the wind calms down in the desert, there is a strange silence, and sitting outside and taking in the scenery gives you a great sense of tranquility.
Fun fact: While I was in the desert, it poured. One of the most violent lightning storms I’ve ever witnessed was there. The lightning turned night into day, and the thunder sounded like a million bombs going off. Even though it hadn’t rained all year, that night the sky briefly opened up to let all of her rage out. Surreal.
2. Hiking the Atlas Mountains
We spent a lot of time in the low, medium, and high regions of the Atlas Mountains, which make up the majority of Morocco (it’s difficult not to). My favorite moment was when we crossed the High Atlas range and ascended for an hour to get at a little farmhouse where we spent the night with a local family (who cooked us the tastiest tagine dinner and Berber omelet of the trip).
We had plenty of time to climb and explore the neighborhood because we arrived early and left late the following day. I enjoy hiking, so I relished the chance to venture out into the wilderness, traverse dry riverbeds, and take in the distant views of Mt. Toubkal, the tallest mountain in North Africa. The camel trip was my other favorite experience.
3. Getting Lost in the Medinas
Each Moroccan city’s medina, which combines a residential sector, a retail district, and a food market, has a rich history. Here, you’ll find winding lanes lined with homes, marketplaces, businesses, and restaurants that appear to be too old and near to one another to last for much longer.
The medinas were nirvana for someone who enjoys getting lost. I spent hours roaming among them, taking right turns, going the wrong way, and eventually finding my way after passing through plazas and streets that somewhat reminded me of home. They were a maze I enjoyed attempting to navigate while sipping tea, chowing down on delectable fare, and taking in the sights.
Do not stray too far from the established route because Fez is a bit seedy and hazardous. Keep to populated areas of the streets. I experienced a few near misses with pickpockets and prospective robbers.
4. Exploring Volubilis
Volubilis, a significant commerce hub and the southernmost town during the Roman era, is one of the best preserved (and least seen) such remains in the entire globe. I discovered it to be devoid of visitors, undeveloped, and open in a way that allows you to truly get close and view the ruins without being hemmed in by ten feet of barricades and crowded with people. The site feels quite undeveloped because the majority of the city has not yet been excavated. I’ve visited a number of Roman ruins while traveling, but this one is my favorite.
5. Seeing Aït Benhaddou
Even though I wasn’t able to spend much time here, it was nonetheless amazing to walk around this area full of kasbahs. It is the Hollywood of Morocco and has appeared in numerous movies, including Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator, and Game of Thrones. It was the most beautiful ksar (fortified settlement) I had ever seen, which is probably why every movie features it!
It influences how people imagine an old ksar to look. I had fun exploring the neighborhoods and going up the hill for the vista.
6. Enjoying the Beach and Seafood of Essaouira
Essaouira, my favorite Moroccan city, is on the Atlantic coast a few hours from Marrakech and is a well-liked beach resort for tourists, particularly British ones. I adored the laid-back vibe of the city, the absence of pushy touts, the fresh seafood everywhere, and the sea air.
Visit the town’s magnificent fish market, where all the little fishermen sell their catch for the day. Check out the surrounding tiny fish shops in the main square afterward for incredibly cheap fresh seafood that has been grilled.
My friends and I “splurged” on a meal here; the four of us split a lobster, eight tiger prawns, two fish that weighed more than a kg, and half a kilo of squid for a total cost of $75 USD. Tea, bread, salad, and drinks were provided with everything. (We dined there every day; subsequent meals cost roughly $15 USD.) For the best fish, check out stalls #5 and #11!
7. Visiting Marrakech
Marrakech was all I had imagined it to be: a contemporary fusion of Moroccan and world culture, with the widest variety of mouthwatering international cuisine (try PepeNero for Italian and Latitude for a Med-Moroccan fusion), and stunning medina architecture.
Marrakech was the most diverse city on the tour, but lacking the grit and edge of the rest of the country.
The frantic tempo revealed a city and individuals who were always moving. Tens of thousands of people go there at night to dine, shop, get henna tattoos, listen to musicians and storytellers, and watch magicians in the famed Jemaa el-Fnaa square, which is actually the chaotic scene everyone describes (and snake charmers during the day). It’s one of the busiest yet most interesting spots in the nation to observe people. I’m still in awe of how large and packed it was! (Compare it to the unimpressive Saadian Tombs, which is an attraction I would avoid because they are basic, the grounds are small, and it was simply boring overall.)
8. Eating Lots of Couscous and Tagine
I was a little “couscoused out” towards the conclusion of my two weeks there. Having said that, I plunged right in and tried to eat as much of it as I could since I enjoyed the flavors, the geographical difference, and learning how labor-intensive each meal was to make. My very favorite Moroccan food was tagine, which is prepared in a clay pot with meat, dates, almonds, cumin, turmeric, cinnamon, and saffron.
The Berber omelet, made with egg, tomato, onion, and herbs and cooked in a clay pot as well, is another dish that should be tried.
9. Drinking Mint Tea
That time I spent in Morocco was the most tea I’ve ever consumed. Locals substitute cups of mint tea in a nation where “drinking a beer” is not a thing. Even pouring it properly requires skill; the teapot should be held as high as possible. I loved watching soccer with the locals while enjoying this sugary, minty delight in the tea shops. At least two pots were consumed each day by me. What a drug that stuff is!
10. Hearing the Call to Prayer
I have visited Muslim-majority nations in Southeast Asia before, but I have never been to or heard the call to prayer in an Arab Muslim nation. The call’s melodious quality had a certain allure, and at five in the morning it served as an excellent alarm. It was a fascinating cultural experience to see people swarm to the mosque dressed in white for prayer.
Morocco is a fantastic travel location. It was challenging, stressful, chaotic, and overwhelming at times, yet despite all the travel-related pressures, it was a place where I felt out of place and truly somewhere new and different. Along with everything else in Morocco, I adored that sensation.
