Ultimate guide to travelling Morocco 🇲🇦

✈️ FLIGHTS

There are various options for flights to various cities in Morocco from the UK. Direct flights are available from major airports such as London Heathrow, Manchester, and Birmingham to popular destinations like Marrakech, Casablanca, and Fez.

✈️ Examples of great-value flights:

Morocco is the perfect destination for some winter sun, and flights seem cheaper when avoiding summer (this is perfect, since certain Moroccan cities can be uncomfortably hot in summer!)

Pirate tip(s):

🚀 You should first decide your itinerary so that you know the best place to fly into and out of. You could explore the south, the north or discover the diverse landscapes of the whole country if you have enough time.

✈️ It's usually cheapest to book a return ticket, but Morocco is a long country, so if you're planning on exploring the north and the south of the country. Definitely consider booking one-way tickets into one airport and out of another. It may cost you another couple of pounds upfront, but it'll save you time and money on the bus or train back to the city you landed in.

🎒 I did my entire 1-month trip with a "personal item" and a 10kg small cabin bag, as I mostly packed conservative summery clothes (even in November). If you're going in the late autumn or winter months, I'd definitely recommend taking a warm jacket or coat with you for the evenings, especially if you plan on visiting the Sahara Desert!

📆 ITINERARIES

There are plenty of Moroccan cities to explore, whether you head to the north, the south or want to discover the whole length of the country. Depending on how long you're planning on being away for, I'd stick to one area of Morocco, otherwise you could end up travelling between each place more than enjoying the destinations themselves.

1. Northern Moroccan Adventure

I'd recommend flying into the bustling city of Casablanca to explore iconic landmarks, like the Hassan II Mosque, before heading to the imperial city of Rabat, where you can wander through the Kasbah of the Udayas and visit historical sites, such as the Royal Palace.

Next up, you should visit Fez - a city renowned for its ancient Medina (now a UNESCO World Heritage Site), vibrant souks and historic mosques. Next you'll head way up north. You've probably seen the famous, picturesque blue city of Chefchaouen all over Instagram and for good reason - it is definitely a must-visit on any tour of northern Morocco.

Finish your trip in Tangier, a coastal city with impressive views of Spain and Gibraltar across the Strait of Gibraltar (on a clear day). It's easy to fly out of Tangier or even take the FRS Ferry from Tangier to Tarifa in Spain to continue the adventure!

✨ This is the ultimate Morocco itinerary for those wanting a cultural and spiritual exploration of this incredible country.

2. Journey South to the Sea

Begin your southern exploration in Marrakech, immersing yourself in the vibrant souks of the Medina and visiting impressive landmarks like Bahia Palace and Koutoubia Mosque (this isn't open to tourists though).

Continue your journey to the desert gateway of Ouarzazate and Aït Benhaddou, aka the "Hollywood of Morocco," (or as I like to call it, Mollywood) to appreciate the unique Moroccan desert. If you want to get the full desert experience (I would definitely recommend it), you can head east to the town of Merzouga in the Sahara Desert, where you camp under the stars, ride camels across the dunes, and watch stunning sunrises.

After the desert, venture into the serene Atlas Mountains (I recommend Imlil or Aroumd), where you can go hiking (and even summit North Africa's highest peak - Mount Toukbal) and visit traditional Berber villages.

Finish your adventure by going west towards the coast. There are various coastal towns which appeal to different people depending on your interests. Essaouira is a charming port city protected by 18th-century ramparts, known as a great spot for kite surfing. Down the coast are Imsouane, a tranquil hippy-dippy village known for great waves, and Taghazout, another excellent surf spot with a cool younger crowd looking for a relaxing beach break. Fly out of Agadir to save you the 3-hour journey back to Marrakesh.

✨ This is the ultimate Morocco itinerary for those wanting to experience the variety of what Morocco has to offer - from beaches and mountains to bustling cities and desert.

🏩 ACCOMMODATION

There are lots of accommodation options available in all Moroccan cities, from hostels to hotels to traditional riads.

There are plenty of hotels and riads that are well-priced, especially not in peak season. As well as staying in private-rooms in hostels (so that I would make friends more easily), I also stayed in riads (found on Airbnb) because they were so reasonable - a luxury I don't often have as a budget traveller. In fact, I stayed in one of the nicest hostels I've ever stayed in in Marrakesh. So there are plenty of options no matter what your budget.

⚡️TIPS & TRICKS

Here are some tips and tricks I wish I knew before travelling to Morocco. If you want to know my tips and tricks for travelling solo, check out our solo travel guide.

Getting around Morocco

The best way to travel between Northern Moroccan cities is by train. They have an efficient, high-speed train called Al Boraq, which connects the main cities in the North - Tangier, the capital, Rabat, and the financial hub of Casablanca.

In the South, the CTM or Supratours bus is the most comfortable and reliable option. They always set off on time and usually go at regular intervals. Try to book it in advance online, but if it says it's sold out - fear not! They keep a certain amount of seats available to purchase in person at the ticket desk of the bus station on the day (they can even be cheaper this way, just make sure you get there early). Depending on the route, it's usually under £10 for a 2-3 hour journey.

Another common way of travelling between cities in Morocco (particulalry in the South) is a shared taxi. This is how I got from Marrakesh to the Atlas Mountains and, on one occasion, how I got from Marrakesh to Essaouira. The taxis are a certain price and it's divided by the number of people who are sharing a taxi. For the cheapest price, you wait until the taxi is full and then you set off. This is a great way for budget travellers to get around, but make sure you go early if you don't want to be waiting around for other travellers to join you. The shared taxi rank in Marrakesh is at Bab Doukkala.

When to visit Morocco

In summer, I'd encourage you to go to the north of Morocco, over the south of Morocco, as it is significantly cooler. If you do go south, avoid Marrakesh which can reach temperatures of 39C and the Sahara Desert, and instead opt for coastal towns, which are likely to have a sea breeze.

In winter, the south will be warmer but also slightly more crowded with European tourists hoping to escape the cold. Although in the day temperatures will be hot, definitely take a light jacket for the evenings and if you're planning on visiting the Sahara take a coat as the temperatures drop significantly at night.

For me, the best time of year to visit any region in Morocco is autumn or spring, when temperatures are reasonable and flights are at their cheapest!

Eating and drinking out

Moroccan cuisine is just delicious, so eating out became one of my top "things to do" in the country. I am a huge foodie, and I suggest everyone eat local food in low-key eateries as well as splurge on some more extravagant meals during their trip.

Having said that, one of my best meals in Morocco was at Chez Omar in Essaouira where my huge couscous dish came to under £3.20.

It's important to note that, being a Muslim country, many restaurants aren't licensed to sell alcohol, so to drink alcohol, you'll need to go to a more touristy restaurant where food is likely to be more expensive. Even in restaurants and bars where alcohol is served, it can be pretty pricey (I'm talking London prices), so don't expect to come for a cheap, boozey holiday. You'll find yourself swapping your pints for Moroccan mint tea in no time...

Scams

Whenever you're in a new country, especially when visiting a big city, it's good to get an idea of the scams that operate in the area. I didn't find Morocco unsafe and most Moroccans are helpful and hospitable people, but I was vigilant and had researched what scams to look out for. Avoid overly friendly locals offering unsolicited assistance, especially if they're offering you directions and telling you a certain road is closed due to a festival or a special market - they will lead you the "correct" way and demand money at the end for helping you, not leaving until they have been paid.

Although it is not a scam, be strong-willed when going into shops and souks (vendors will always try to sell you more and more, if you show any interest) and always haggle, as they expect this. It also helps if you've asked people at your accommodation how much an item that you're interested in should cost approximately, so you know a ball-park figure and don't agree to a very high tourist price. A useful phrase is "la, shukran", which is "no, thank you" in Arabic. You'll find in the busy square women selling henna tattoos,

Pre-book your tours via your accommodation or an online tour operator (like GetYourGuide). If you want to use a local tour operator due to the cheaper prices, make sure to ask them for their website and check their reviews, to make sure they're not fake guides.

Cash vs card payments

Most of the big vendors in the souks in the old Medinas will accept card, as will westernised, touristy restaurants in big cities. However, I found that most local eateries and smaller shops only accepted cash. The Moroccan Dirham is a closed currency, so you won't be able to withdraw any before you arrive. Make sure you take a travel card with good international transaction fees with you to Morocco so you can withdraw cash when you arrive in the country or bring pounds, which you can exchange at a bank or a bureau de change.