Morocco is distinguished by its Berber, Arabian and European cultural influences. If you go north towards Tangier, you will find that the town has so many similarities to Andalucía. Travel towards Marrakech and the Arabian influences take over.
Morocco is so much more than Marrakech! Yes Marrakech is stunning, but the country's culture and history cant be missed - whether you are strolling through the narrow streets of a medina, shopping for spices in a busy souk, or following a tour guide up a remote Berber village.
Our route
On paper it looks intense, but if you like roadtrips, this is actually one of the most doable routes. We travelled with my grandmother and we were keen on not spending too long in the car every day, so we deliberately planned it in such a way that the driving wasn't too much.
Day 1: Casablanca
Day 2: Casablanca - Rabat
Day 3: Rabat - Meknes
Day 4: Meknes - Volubilis - Fez
Day 5: Fez
Day 6: Fez - Chefchaouen
Day 7: Chefchaouen - Tangier
Day 8: Tangier - Marrakech
Day 9: Marrakech
Day 10: Marrakech
Day 11: Marrakech - Ouarzazate - Zagora
Day 12: Zagora - Ouarzazate - Marrakech
We started our roadtrip in Casablanca, Morocco’s commercial capital and largest city, where Mohammed V Square lays claim to some of the city’s most impressive architecture. The city also boasts the majestic Hassan II Mosque, and the gardens, and terrace cafes overlooking the Atlantic Coast.
We then moved on to Rabat, which is more the administrative capital of Morocco - where we started with the impressive Mohammed V Mausoleum: the burial ground of the two kings – Mohammed V and
Hassan II; and Hassan Tower, the landmark of Rabat and one of the oldest mosques ever.
We then went on to another imperial city which is Meknes, home to the impressive 18th century Bab Mansour, the ornamental gate to the imperial city of Meknes built by Sultan Moulay Ismail. Meknes also has a Royal Palace (which we just passed by) and ended up at Moulay Ismail’s massive personal stable & granary for his 12,000 horses.
Up next - the impressive Roman ruins of Volubilis, as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the best preserved Roman ruins in this part of Northern Africa. Listen to your certified local guide explain about life in the Roman Empire as you peer into old bathhouses, marveling at the still-present mosaic floors and
gazing up at the towering marble pillars!
Then we get to Fez - start with exploring the world’s largest medina dating back to the 9th century
walking through its alleys and small streets. The medina has many artisans’ quarters, such as the brass, copper and wedding adornment souks. The carpenters, bakers and butchers also have their area of the medina that they call home.
A highlight in Fez for us was a visit to the famous Fez tannery, where you can get a panoramic view over the men hard at work treating and dying the different hides. The smell was overpowering so we didnt stay long, but it was interesting to see how a tannery works!
From Fez we moved on through to the Rif Mountains which is the heart and location of the quiet blue and white washed city of Chefchaouen. This was the highlight for me personally - I mean how gorgeous is this?!
Spend the day wandering the blue washed narrow alleys of the friendly medina. Visit the walled fortress of the Kasbah contains beautiful gardens, near which is the small museum and art gallery that houses the rich culture of the Rif Mountains. From the rooftop of the Kasbah you can see a spectacular panorama of the blue and white washed houses, tiled roofs and tiny balconies. After exploring the medina, walk in the nearby hillsides with the wonderful and magnificent waterfalls. The town offers many native handicrafts that are not available elsewhere in Morocco, such as wool garments and woven blankets.
Next, drive towards Tangier - an ancient town located at the point where the waters of the Mediterranean and the Atlantic meet. The surrounding mountains provide a magnificent backdrop to this intriguing city, the gateway to Africa from Europe, which has always been an international melting pot. Take a tour of Tangier and explore the bustling medina, and city surrounds, and enjoy the stunning vista where the Mediterranean and Atlantic oceans meet. About 12km from Tangier lies a headband, ideal for admiring the Atlantic Ocean, but ensure you stop on the way to visit the Hercules Cave. According to legend, this mythical Greek half-god rested here after digging the Strait of Gibraltar! Finally, stop by Cape Spartel where the Atlantic and Mediterranean meet.
Then head to Marrakech by overnight train (or a long scenic drive) to spend a few more days in this charming city. Wander around the medina of Marrakech; visit the Koutoubia Mosque and admire its towers; wander around the Majorelle Garden, a botanical garden with its varied plants; the 16th century Saadian Tombs, all decorated in colorful mosaic tiles; the 19th century Bahia Palace with its beautiful eastern Architecture.
At this point you can either return home, or - spend a night or two camping in the Sahara! Start the day early by crossing the High Atlas via the Tizi N’ Tichka pass, driving along the zigzagging road, and enjoy the views over the Berber villages of Imouzzar valley. Explore one of the most preserved villages in the south
of Morocco, Ait Benhaddou, a fortified village from the 15th century, built for Caravan traders coming from Timbuktu to Andalusia via Marrakech and Tangier. The village served as a backdrop for several international movies including the Gladiator, Ali Baba, Ben-Hur, Lawrence of Arabia etc.
Next, head to Ouarzazate to visit Taourirt Kasbah with a short break at the entrance of the city on a hill to see the cinemas studios & old decorations. Continue to Zagora via Agdez and through Draa valley.
We started the camel ride about 1km from Zagora, enjoying the sunset along the way while riding towards our nomadic camp in the Nekhla dunes. How stunning was this sunset?! The camp itself was basic but had everything we needed. Waking up to the sunrise next day was unreal!
Note: Nekhla dunes is not a full desert like Merzouga but allows for a lovely desert camping experience. If you have more time, do make it to Merzouga dunes instead!
As always, more pictures below xx
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