Morocco: the blue city, the souks and a night in the desert
Seven to ten days, three very different Moroccos.
Morocco rewards a trip with room in it. In one week you can wander a blue town in the mountains, lose an afternoon in the souks of Marrakech and sleep somewhere silent under more stars than you knew existed.
When to go
March to May and late September to November. Summer inland is fierce, and winter nights in the mountains and the desert are cold.
How long
Seven to ten days. Start in the north for Chefchaouen, then head south to Marrakech and the desert beyond it. Stay at least two nights in each place.
Chefchaouen
The blue city sits in the Rif Mountains, every wall and stairway washed in shades of indigo. Walk it early, before the day visitors arrive, and climb to the Spanish Mosque on the hillside for sunset over the rooftops.
Marrakech
The souks, the evening crowds and food stalls of Jemaa el-Fnaa, and a riad with a quiet courtyard to come back to. Pace yourself: one neighbourhood a day is plenty.
A night in the desert
The Agafay desert is about an hour from Marrakech: rolling, stony hills, a camel ride at sunset and dinner by lantern light. You get the silence of the desert without the long drive to the Sahara dunes.
Good to know
- Dress modestly. Covered shoulders and knees, and a light scarf, work everywhere.
- Carry cash in dirhams for the souks. Bargaining is expected, and friendly.
- Hire a licensed guide for your first walk through a medina. You will see more and get lost less.
Photographs from our own trips.
