Morocco itinerary – Complete guide with 16 useful tips

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Morocco is a vibrant and diverse country that offers visitors a unique blend of culture, history, and natural beauty. From the bustling souks of Marrakech to the charming blue Chefchouen, there is something for everyone in this North African gem. Whether you’re interested in exploring ancient ruins, tasting traditional cuisine, or simply soaking up the sun, a well-planned itinerary can help you make the most of your time in Morocco. In this complete guide with 16 useful tips, I’ll show you my author’s Morocco 8 days itinerary and we’ll take a closer look at some must-see destinations and experiences to include in your Moroccan adventure.

Is Morocco worth visiting?

Morocco is a place that attracts visitors from all over the world and is a desirable destination for many people. Is it because of its exotic charm, Arabic flavour, colours, scents, different customs, nature? The truth is that Morocco hides something for everyone.

However, before we dive into the magic of Morocco or one of Scheherazade’s tales, let me tell you a bit more about what you need to know and what you should approach with care when organizing a solo trip to Morocco.

Visiting Morocco for a first time?

If you’re visiting Morocco for a first time may you’ll have dozens of questions.

No worries! This Complete Guide with 16 useful tips and lot of tricks is especially for you.

The article contains comprehensive and objective information as well as 16 useful tips and recommendations that will answer your questions:

When is the best time to travel to Morocco, is it dangerous in Morocco, how to get around in Morocco, what budget to allow, what clothes to wear, is it allowed to drink alcohol in Morocco and much more.

You’ll also get tips on renting a car, buying an E-sim, tips for accommodation, information about activities and attractions.

*This 8 days Morocco itinerary, the places to stay, the dishes to try, the attractions I recommend are my personal choice and the advices and tips are based on my personal experience.

When is the best time to visit Morocco?

The best time to visit Morocco is in early spring (March-April) or autumn (September-November). The weather is warm, even hot at times, but there are no extreme temperatures yet. Be aware that it gets chilly in the evenings, especially in the desert and around the coast.

How many days are enough to travel Morocco?

I highly recommend to stay at least 2 weeks in Morocco but if you don’t have that much time the optimal I the optimal length of stay I chose in relation to the flights and places I wanted to visit is 8 days. So in this article you’ll find my 8 days Morocco itinerary.

 

How to get to Morocco?

The options are two – by plane or by plane and ferry if you come from Еurope

Тo Morocco by plane

Air travel is the easiest and most convenient way to travel to Morocco. Note, however, that there are no direct flights from some places in the world to Morocco and you will need to connect at another airport. The main airports in Europe that offer flights to Morocco are Madrid, Barcelona, Malaga, Milan, Rome, Lisbon, London. From these airports you need to make a connection to the airport in Morocco where you have chosen to land. How you combine the flights depends on the days of travel, the route, the budget.

Flights from Morocco

Departure options from Morocco are Agadir, Marrakech, Fez, Tangier, Casablanca or Rabat to a European airport of your choice following the same combination.

Check best flight prices

*How much did our plane tickets cost? See p.16 Budget.

Travel to Morocco by plane and ferry

If you are coming from Europe you can also choose the option of plane and ferry from Malaga, Tangier or Tarifa.

 

How to get around in Morocco

Оne of the most important things is to think about how you will get around the country.

The way you choose to travel to Morocco on your own highly determines the preparation of the entire itinerary, as well as the purchase of airline tickets afterwards.

Here are the different ways to get around:

Morocco itinerary by rental car

Getting around by rent-a-car is undoubtedly the easiest, most convenient and preferred way for me. With rent-a-car you are not dependent on the weather, you are not chasing a schedule and you have the freedom to veer off the route whenever you want. If you opt for this option, I would advise you to book in advance so you don’t waste unnecessary time at the car rental desk.

Important!

Read the small print!

Choose the airport where you are landing as your starting point for renting the car and return it to the airport from which you are departing. It may come out a little more expensive, but it’s many times more convenient. Full insurance is an absolute must! This ensures that the high deposit you pay when you sign the contract will be returned to you. This is how things usually work in Europe, but is it the same in Morocco? See below.

*The car we had booked for our self-drive trip to Morocco didn’t initially mention a deposit and insurance, which made me a little uneasy. It was only at the Agadir airport when signing the contract that the officer mentioned that a deposit had to be paid. We paid, signed the contract, but on departure I remembered that insurance was not listed anywhere. We demanded to pay full insurance which cost us the extra 20 euros per day. It turned out that when you pay full insurance, the deposit is waived – great news! Hitting the crazy Moroccan city traffic swarming with cars, motorbikes, rickshaws, carts afterwards, I was convinced that full car insurance was not only the best solution, but an absolute necessity.

Tip

Pay a full insurance!

How much our rental car cost and how to drive in Morocco can be found in section 16 Budget and section 12 Driving in Morocco respectively.

By train

If travelling by rent-a-car is not an option for you, you can choose to travel by train. Here you will find the coverage and timetable of the Moroccan Railways.

By bus

Want to travel like a real Moroccan? Then opt for getting around by bus. CTM is the main bus company in Morocco, and here you’ll find timetables and fares.here.

Hire a car with driver

A very popular option is to rent a car with a driver who is also a guide. Prices and conditions.

Day trips from base accommodation

The preferred option of many tourists who do not want to change the place they are staying. Use a selected place to stay as a base, e.g. Marrakech or Fez, and book different excursions from there. The practice is for drivers to pick you up from the hotel or riad where you are staying and take you back there. A good option is to book in advance to avoid going to the tourist offices and the cumbersome procedures involved. You can check prices and book excursions in advance here:

Day trips from Marrakech

Day trips from Fes

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How to organize your Morocco itinerary when travelling to the country for a first time

Of course, both the length of stay and the must-see places you want to visit have an impact on route preferences. Be guided by these, don’t compromise your wishes. My top 4 places based on which I organized this solo trip to Morocco were Marrakech, Ait Benhaddou, Sahara Desert and Chefchauen, with my wish to leave the Blue City for last. Eventually I added Ourzazate and Fez to these, and the many canyons we passed through, the Atlas Mountains, valleys and gorges completed the trip in an exciting way.

I am often asked how exactly do I choose the places to visit? The answer is quite simple – some people are attracted by history, others are culinary tourists, and I choose my places purely for photography. If a place can’t intrigue my lens, I just pass it by.

Here is my author’s 8 days Morocco itinerary:

Agadir – Marrakech – Atlas Mountains – Ait Benhaddou – Ourzazate – Dades and Todra Canyons – Merzouga – Ziz Valley – Fez – Chefchauen Akchour Falls – Tangier

Where and how to book accommodation for your Morocco itinerary?

After the plane tickets, it’s time to book the nights. Morocco offers a variety of accommodation options. You can stay in a luxurious expensive hotel, a low budget hostel or a local riad. With the hotels and hostels you are aware of, I won’t dwell on them. Those of you who know me or follow my posts know that I am not a fan of hotels and always recommend staying in a traditional place to get the most of the lifestyle and culture of the region we are visiting. So I’m going to suggest some alternative places to stay.

Important!

Links to the places I highly recommend you can find in A perfect 8 days Morocco itinerary

Riads

Staying in the local riads, you will immerse yourself in the culture, habits and customs of the local people. Riads are usually located in the medinas, are traditionally furnished and have all kinds of amenities. Before you book, however, be sure to look at the reviews and read the comments on the places you’ve earmarked so you won’t be disappointed. Study the location well on the map, the distance from the sites you want to visit, think about how you will get to them and only then book.

Recommendation:

Choose riads that have a roof terrace and enjoy the spectacular views.

Bivouacs

The bivouacs are usually located in the countryside, away from the city. They are individual houses and tents set around a large courtyard. Outside the bivouac itself there are separate pitches for campers and caravans. The cabins have amenities, and the hosts offer dinner.

Why choose to stay in a bivouac instead of a hotel?

Because of the atmosphere, the silence, the freedom. There are tables, stools and mattresses under the canopies in the courtyard of the bivouacs, among palm trees and fruit trees, where you can sit comfortably.

Peacocks roamed freely in the bivouac where we stayed in Ourzazate. It was magical.

Recommendation:

Order your host’s dinner, buy a bottle of wine /In section 14 you will find information on where to buy alcohol in Morocco/ and indulge in sweet talk until midnight under the starry Moroccan sky.

Camp in the desert

My first desert visit was to Peru, but I had long time dreamed of camel caravans and the orange sands of the Sahara desert. The atmosphere in the evening and welcoming the sunrise in the morning were some of my best experiences in Morocco. Don’t be amazed, and be sure to book a night in one of the campsites. Plan your time so that you arrive in time for sunset, the campsite hosts will take care of everything else. Campsites offer all sorts of amenities, and some are super luxurious. We opted for a slightly pricier than average option with a gorgeous dinner and breakfast included. We were terribly pleased with the service, the food, the atmosphere with the songs by the fire after dinner.

Recommendation:

More information and contact details of the camp I highly recommend and other suggestions you can find in A perfect 8 days Morocco itinerary

What is mandatory to do after landing at the airport in Morocco?

• Purchase a Sim Card if you have missed out on purchasing Е-sim in advance.
• Hire a car or arrange a means of transport if you have not done so in advance /see point 3/
• Exchanging currency or withdrawing money from an ATM if you do not have it with you. /see point 9/

Purchasing E-Sim or a prepaid SIM card. Internet and Wi-Fi in Morocco.

I highly recommend purchasing E-sim. It will spend you time and you can use it right away after landing.

The internet network in Morocco has good coverage and is practically everywhere. If you didn’t purchase E-sim in advance I recommend buying a prepaid sim card at the airport / look for a sign with Orange on it /. The staff do everything you need – insert the card in your phone, deactivate the one you are using, give you the number that will be active in Morocco. Prices are 10 euros for 10GB and 20 euros for 20GB. You can also buy a pre-paid card from one of the Moroccan operators in the mobile phone shops, but if you’re going to use GPS, you’d better not take any chances and make sure you get one at the airport.

Wi-Fi is everywhere in hotels, riads, hostels, desert camps, most restaurants, gas stations.

Currency, money exchange, how to pay?

The currency of Morocco is called the dirham. 10 dirhams is equivalent to 0.92 EUR or 1.03 USD, but to make it easier for you, divide by 1, it’s not much difference.

Do you exchange dirhams in advance, exchange on the spot or withdraw from an ATM?

There is no clear answer to this question. If you don’t want to waste time, exchange money in advance. If you do decide to exchange on the spot, there are money exchange desks everywhere. I chose the option of withdrawing dirhams from local ATMs with a Revolut card. Note that ATMs have withdrawal limits of 1000, 2000 or 3000 dirhams, depending on the ATM you come across. The fees they charge are in the range of 22 dirhams or 2 euros for a 1000 dirham withdrawal or 35 dirhams around 7 euros for a 2000 dirham withdrawal.

How to pay? I advise you to pay with local currency or card. This is valid for all places in the world. Of course in some places you can pay in Euros or Dollars without a problem, but it is not clear the rate at which they will convert them for you. Be careful! Moroccans like to profit from everything.

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Security – is Morocco dangerous?

I wouldn’t say it’s dangerous, but be cautious! Carry your money, cards and documents in a safe place. Keep your phones. Avoid shoulder bags that can be easily pulled. There are an awful lot of people in the medinas, getting through is difficult, and when a person is coming at you pushing a cart of produce, a horse or a donkey, it is virtually impossible. And it is at just such a time that it is very easy for thieves to take advantage.

Moroccans have a nasty habit of screwing with you. They talk to you in different languages and if you pay attention to them, they stick to you. They constantly offer their services, but they don’t do it selflessly, they always want money. Their fantasy is limitless.

*In Fez a well dressed man, seeing me with the big camera, introduced himself as a photographer from National Geographic. He pulled out a huge bunch of keys with an offer to get us into the mosques where they don’t allow tourists. The tattoo artist in Marrakech, on the other hand, wrote my name in Arabic on my shoulder, and for several days afterwards I was continuously asked to go to restaurants or buy something from the stalls on the streets. Be careful how and with whom you communicate.

Languages spoken in Morocco

Contrary to popular belief that Moroccans speak only Arabic and French, one of their main languages is Berber. Spanish is also spoken in Marrakech, Tangier and along the coast, and not a few people communicate fluently in English.

Driving in Morocco

The roads in Morocco are nice. Many of them have been repaired recently and are pleasant to drive on. Add in the ever-changing scenic landscape all around and the pleasure is even more complete. The only bad stretch we encountered was the first 50km from Chefchauen towards Tangier. There the road is so rutted on both sides that it has literally become one lane.

Recommendation: respect the limits!

Traffic police officers are often deployed around the junctions and especially near the settlements. Their presence is indicated by speed limit signs – 60, 40, 20, followed by a stop sign. You are obliged to stop and wait until you are specifically given permission to proceed. You may also be pulled over for inspection. On what basis they choose who to stop, I have no idea.

*One car we drove in a pack along the route from the desert to Fez had no luck and was turned away several times.

Attention!

Hitchhikers waving empty water bottles are often seen on the way to the desert. Some are so cheeky that they literally throw themselves in front of the car. Go around them, but don’t stop!

In populated areas, driving is on the jungle principle. Motorbikes, rickshaws, bicycles, cars, carts pop up everywhere and everyone drives as they know how. Be careful!

Tip:

The distances in Morocco are great. If you don’t like travelling for a long time, then consider the route.

Food, drinks and water

At first glance, Moroccan cuisine looks delicious. Keep in mind, however, that I’m not a foodie, I’m fickle, and I have a hard time writing about food. However, I will give information about some of the traditional dishes that are on offer:

Couscous

It has nothing to do with the couscous we know. Moroccan couscous is fine as sand and dry. It is cooked in a clay pot and comes in different variations – vegetarian, with chicken and vegetables, lamb, veal, seafood. Note that the portions are huge, one serving can easily feed three.

Tajine

I liked the tajine better than the couscous. It is prepared in a clay pot with a conical lid that tapers towards the top. The dish can be meat or vegetarian. In a meat tajine, the portion includes a large piece of meat – chicken, lamb or veal. Vegetables are arranged around it like soldiers, letting their flavors in and flavoring the meat. It was the most delicious tajine we ate in the desert.

Skewers with meat and various side dishes

There are a lot of variations, you will find something for every taste.

Other type of food

If you don’t fancy traditional Moroccan cuisine, there are restaurants everywhere serving European cuisine, pasta, pizza, fish and whatever else you can think of. Moroccans are the kings of burgers. We tried burgers both in an expensive restaurant and in some unknown village where we had stopped for a break. Both were scary delicious. Many places also offer junk food. You won’t go hungry for sure.

Drinks

Be sure to try the mint tea and the freshly squeezed juices, they are divine. They come in all kinds of fruits and different combinations in between. I highly recommend pomegranate juice, it’s my favorite. Experiment with the lemonade too. I was very pleasantly surprised by the lavender lemonade I had in Fez.

Coffee in Morocco is good, flavorful, strong. Some places may serve it to you with cinnamon or other spices.

Water

Tap water is not drinkable, you must buy bottled. If you’re driving, stock up on a few stacks. You can safely brush your teeth with tap water, nothing will happen to you. I’ve also consumed drinks with ice, never had a problem.

Alcohol in Morocco

Is alcohol sold in Morocco? I know many of you are interested in this question. The answer is – it is sold, of course, but you need to know where to buy. And if you travel with an agency the tour guides know which places to take tourists to consume alcohol, but when traveling to Morocco on your own, you need someone to direct you. I’ll give you the jokers based on personal experience.

Shops

In the Carrefour chain stores, but in the big stores, not in the small markets, there are separate rooms labeled La Cave. They are inside the store or stuck next to it. Different types of hard liquor, wine and beer are available. The price of wine is between 50 and 200 dirhams, which is roughly between 5 and 20 EUR/USD. Beer is expensive, the small 330ml ones are 15-20 dirhams and the big ones 20-27 dirhams (about 2-3 EUR/USD). I didn’t look at hard liquor prices as I don’t consume, but they certainly wouldn’t be low given the wine and beer prices.

There is a little shop in Tangier called Tio Pepe, a tourist’s paradise. It offers hard liquor, wine, beer and… jamon. It’s in the alley to the left of McDonald’s.

The hosts you are staying with can also give you guidance. They usually have information and some offer to supply you directly.

Tip:

buy some alcohol in advance from the Duty Free shop at the European airport. The staff will give you information on how many litres you can take with you on the plane (from Madrid the amount allowed was 2 liters per person).

Restaurants

Some restaurants in big cities also offer alcohol, but not all. You should research in advance which ones they are. In Marrakech you can order wine or beer in all the restaurants around the main square, Jamaa El Fna. The restaurant we had lunch at, which offered a great view of the city, was attracting a clientele with happy hour – 2 small beers for 70 dirhams. In the streets that run around the square, few restaurants offer official alcohol as they don’t have a license. Ask before you sit down. I had white wine and the bottle was under the table. There are also places in the medina in Fes where you can order alcohol, but its pure luck if you find them among the 9,000+ streets.

What do I need to bring with me when travelling to Morocco?

In a nutshell, money, camera, phone, high factor sunscreen, hat/head scarf are your essentials.

If you travel with hand luggage like me, don’t overdo it with the clothes. Wear light, cotton t-shirts, shirts and pants instead of jeans. Make sure you bring a thin jacket, it gets chilly in the evening. The braver ones like me can risk it with shorts and strappy dresses (kill me, I can’t wear long sleeves in the heat). As for cosmetics – bring small cuts or buy locally from a store.

Sneakers or sandals? If you have room, both. If not, better sneakers.

Medication if you take any. If you forget them, don’t worry, there are well-stocked pharmacies everywhere.

Vaccine – You don’t need an extra vaccine.

Repellents – as you judge. I didn’t see any mosquitoes, they love the moisture.

Morocco itinerary – Budget

Is it expensive in Morocco? How much money to bring to Morocco? Everyone’s budget is strictly individual. Decide if you will go shopping, participate in extra excursions or different activities, how will you eat, will you consume alcohol? I, personally, wasn’t guided by a budget beforehand and only did the calculation now for this post.

That’s how much our solo trip to Morocco cost as we didn’t deprive ourselves of anything. The prices are for three – two adults plus an almost adult girl.

• Air tickets – 188 EUR /Destination Sofia, BG – Madrid, SP, Madrid – Agadir; Tanjier – Madrid, Madrid – Sofia. Luggage – we travel with hand luggage /
• Rent-a-car – 400 euro /30 euro + 20 euro insurance per day for 8 days/
• Sim card – 20 euro
• Accommodation – approx 300 euros
• Pocket money – According to Revolut in Morocco I have left 870 euros. This amount includes all expenses for fuel, food, alcohol, cosmetics, entrance to attractions, souvenirs and everything else.

Total: 1778 EUR or about 1977 USD for three, which makes 593 EUR or 659 USD per person for 8 eight days.

I hope this guide was useful for you. If so, thanks to share it.

Please check also A perfect 8 days Morocco itinerary.

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