Being that we were so close, we decided to hop on a plane and head to Morocco. As we didn’t know much about Moroccan culture, we decided it best to begin our travel as tourists. We flew into Marrakech, and stayed in a riad (traditionally a home for upper class families where all rooms face inward, focusing on a garden or pool in the center ground floor; now they are used as guest houses) inside the Medina for the first two nights.
We spent our first full day in Morocco walking through jemma el-fna, the main market square, and some of the many off-roads filled with souks (markets). We then began a four day private tour from Marrakech to Merzouga, with our guide, Youssef, from Good Morocco Travel Agency.
Here was our 4-day desert trip itinerary:
Day 1: Marrakech to Ait Benhaddou to Dades Valley
- Drive through the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n’ Tichka Pass
- Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ait Benhaddou
- Overnight in the Grand Canyon Lodge in Dades Valley
- Day 1 pictures, here
Day 2: Dades Valley to Todra Gorge to Merzouga Desert Hotel
- Visit the viewpoint of Dades Gorge Road known for its hairpin turns
- Walk through the dramatic Todra Gorge
- Overnight in desert hotel, Dar Morocco
- Day 2 pictures, here
Day 3: Explore the Merzouga Desert
- Walk through a desert oasis
- Visit the Morocco National Auto Museum
- Listen to live Gnawa music
- Visit the “mascara mines”
- Visit a nomadic home and have tea with the family
- Sunset camel trek through the dunes to Moonlight Desert Camp
- Dinner at camp followed by Gnawa music around the camp fire
- Day 3 pictures, here
Day 4: Merzouga to Marrakech
- Sunrise wake-up and sand boarding on the dunes
- Long travel back! Stopped to stretch our legs and visit a local weekly market
- Day 4 pictures, here
Marrakech
Marrakech has been our jumping off point for adventures in Morocco. Like any other city it has older and newer neighborhoods. The Medina, walled old downtown, is full of eight foot wide passageways between the rows of buildings. The center square Jemaa el-fnaa fills with life throughout the day. We observed fresh-fruit smoothy stands, snake charmers, musicians, leashed monkeys available for tourist photos, and a gentleman sitting at a table filled with dentures and single teeth, available for purchase. Down the streets leading off of the main square is a maze of souks, or markets. There are rows of spice shops, leather shops, lanterns, clothing, shoes, etc. The passageways are busy with people walking both directions, people passing through on small motorcycles, people pulling carts, and cats. How have I not mentioned the cats?! There are cats everywhere in Morocco! I wish to say that they are all cute and cuddly, but this is sadly not the case. The overall health of the cats seems to vary by the city. Many of the cats seen walking through the streets of Marrakech seem unhealthy, with visible eye and respiratory infections. There are organizations in Morocco that are working to spread information about animal welfare as well as providing what medical treatment they can.
In July, a friend asked if she and her daughter could meet up with us at our next destination! So for two weeks we will all be at a world school hub together, with other traveling families, called Madrasa Dunya. They flew into Marrakech, we explored the ancient Medina, and were off to the Atlas Mountains!
Check out our photos from Marrakech here!