How to Rove Morocco in 10 Days (or Less)

Morocco is a sizable country with as much diverse landscapes as people. Both, moreover, are worth discovering. However, with the 50 (or more) hour work weeks upon us, we're lucky to get one to two weeks of holiday or vacation time. If you give yourself a couple weekends, plus one work week, you can see all the splendor Morocco has to offer. A bit shaped like California with similar waters and topography, Morocco can be done in Ten Days or Less.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• An in country tour operator helping set it all up previous to your arrival (see Resource box below)
• A taste for adventure
• A little knowledge of French or Arabic
• Knowledge how to shop (see my other articles)
• 10 days to spare

1. DAY ONE:
   You'll need to book a flight to Fez, Sais Airport. Though small, it is an international airport. If you're talking to airline customer service, give them time to find it. Delta books you all the way through from New York to Casablanca and onward to Fez. Otherwise (and if it's high season), you can fly to Europe and take discount carrier to Fez--from all sorts of places like Paris and Frankfurt. Get from the airport to Fez proper by taxi (around 150 dirhams).

2. 
    
   Two Morocco Women

   DAY TWO:
   You'll have a whole day to explore Fez. It's an Imperial City with sites such as the Kairouine Mosque, spice market, tanneries and leather market, pottery quarter, henna market, woodcrafters, metal workers, and Koranic schools and old hotels. Try staying in the old medina, which is a World Heritage site and one of the oldest and still thriving medieval cities in the World!

3. DAY THREE:
   Take your private transport and head to Errachidia, in the south of Morocco. This will take you about 6 to 8 hours driving time, though the distance seems short, there's legs of this journey that are on mountainous roads.

4. 
    
   Two Camels (Butt to Butt)

   DAY FOUR:
   Following breakfast, you'll take your driver and guide to the Ziz Valley. This place is still sort of undiscovered. Here, you'll explore his village to see the sustainable agricultural practices in the area, which is famous for dates and royal dates. You'll walk around the valley for a couple hours, have lunch at a local families house and move on.
   
   You'll head onward to Merzouga. The drive to the desert is take about two hours. Once in Merzouga, you can hop on a camel and ride into the sahara (2 hours) and dine and camp under the silouette of dunes and canopy of stars.

5. 
    
   You Atop A Camel

   DAY 5:
   Today, you should take your private transport 4x4 to the Dades Gorge. If you'd like to stop for a few hours at the Todra Gorge, you can walk through the gorges, rock climb or have tea and a snack at the local cafes. The day is long but flexible.

6. 
    
   A Henna Artist's Design

   DAY SIX:
   Today, pass through Ouarzazate--Morocco Hollywood--and have lunch. You'll move on with your driver towards Ait Ben Haddou, where you'll see the famous town on the hill, used in many movie backdrops. There are accomodations, but not a lot, so you should go on to Marrakech and join the fun in the square at Jemma El Fna--snake charmers, Henna Artist and craziness abounds!

7. DAY SEVEN:
   Today you'll stay and have fun in the desert sun at Marrakech.
   Here, you can visit the Koubba Baadiyn and the Ali ben Youssef Koranic School, or the Badii & Bahia Palaces and the Saadian Tombs. Go through the covered markets and souks and wheel and deal for crafts, presents and souvenirs.

8. DAY EIGHT:
   You should head out in the early morning to make it to Imlil, in the High Atlas Mountains. Here, you'll have lunch and take a day hike around the valley. Mt. Jbel Toubkal is in the distance. This is the starting point for many hiking tours up North Africa's highest massif. You'll return to Marrakech this same evening to enjoy dinner on the square.

9. DAY NINE:
   Today, you'll head out by transport to Essaouira, Morocco's windy city (town really). After a few hours of driving, you can walk along the beach and visit Jimmy Hendrix's Castle in the Sand. You can windsurf, kite surf or surf here too. Later, you can eat fish at the restaurant on the port or in the local fish market. The latter has not only atmosphere but great deals and food.

10. DAY TEN:
    Have breakfast in Essaouira on top of your riad. After some departing gifts and a walk on the beach, you'll head back to Marrakech for an early-evening fly out to your departing destination.

11. DAY ELEVEN:
    
    There is no day eleven unless you stay. Otherwise, I'd been fibbing to you this whole time.

Tips & Warnings

• Morocco can be done in ten days, though if you're doing it on your lonesome, it may be difficult to get transportation. A Morocco tour operator can set up all the in country itineraries to make your stay cheaper, smoother and seamlessly fun.
• Try to get more than 10 days if you can. If so, visit the north of Morocco, which has varying degrees of difference to the south.

Resources

• Morocco Tours
• Morocco Family Trip