Last year we took an amazing trip to Morocco. I'm not going to lie; it was one of the best trips of my life, but there are some things I would have loved to know before going, like restaurant recommendations, the best riad to stay in, and how to get into the desert.
Keep reading, I'll tell you everything!
Prepare to Travel
Internet:
The first thing you need to consider is that before you arrive, you need a phone plan to communicate, view maps, and more. We recommend using HolaFly, an e-SIM that provides unlimited internet for as many days as you need. It's much cheaper and works much better than your phone roaming.
Visa:
No visa is required to travel to Morocco. Just your passport. But still check before your travel.
What to Bring:
It'll be hot, so pack light and comfortable clothes. I recommend taking only a carry-on suitcase, as all the riads are inside the medina market and you'll have to walk through the market pulling your suitcase to reach your hotel, so don't carry too much. I travelled with only these clothes in a carry-on suitcase:
1 pair of shorts
2 dresses
1 pair of sneakers
1 pair of sandals
5 tops
2 light pants
1 hat
1 scarf
But well, I'm WAY too practical when it comes to traveling 😅. What's important to consider is that you'll be walking a lot, so wear comfortable shoes.
If you plan to go to the desert and ride a dromedary, wear lightweight pants to make this journey more comfortable.
Some Important Terms:
Riad:
Riads are traditional Moroccan houses or "palaces". Most hotels in Marrakech are located within a riad. All riads have an interior courtyard or garden, and their architecture is designed to protect from the heat.
Medina:
Medinas are walled cities in the Arab world of North Africa. In Morocco, the medina is especially important because it's the original core of the city, filled with centuries of history.
The medina is where all the commercial and cultural activities of the city take place and is full of markets, mosques, palaces, and riads.
Souks:
Souks are traditional Arab markets. Get ready to get lost in a world of textiles, spices, ceramics, jewelry, and handcrafts.
Prepare your wallet, and yes, just for this, I would think twice the carry-on suitcase because you'll find lots of things to buy that you will want to fit into your suitcase.
But, if you follow my advice to pack light with a carry-on, it will work perfectly and fit all your purchases. If not, you can buy a suitcase at the souk itself and only pay for the return documentation.
Mosque:
A mosque it's a sacred space where the faithful gather to perform their daily prayers known as salah.
Inside, there's a prayer hall that usually includes a mihrab, a niche in the wall indicating the direction of Mecca.
During certain hours of the day (5 times a day, to be exact), you'll hear the "adhan" or "azan", which is the call to prayer recited from the mosque, summoning the faithful to perform their daily prayers. The person who performs the adhan is known as the muezzin.
This trip is truly a cultural experience!
Salam Aleikum:
"As-salamu alaykum"
It means "peace be upon you".
You can say it to bid farewell to someone, or when leaving a place as a gesture of gratitude and wishing someone a good day and peace.
How to Get There and Where to Stay
Fly to Marrakech: Marrakech is not the capital of Morocco, but it's one of the most important cities. The capital of Morocco is Rabat, but buy your ticket to Marrakech-Menara Airport (RAK). From Marrakech, you can travel to other cities and, especially, experience the desert. 🐪✨
Riad Danka.
We stayed at Riad Danka, and after chatting with some people on the trip, we realized that we were really lucky to stay at this riad, mainly for two reasons: hospitality and transportation.
Transportation:
When you make your reservation at this riad, they offer a pick-up service from the airport for just €20.
It's important to consider that most riads are located inside the souk (market), so cars cannot enter and drop you off at the riad's door. They will leave you at the entrance of the square, and you'll have to walk through the market with your suitcases until you find the riad, with Google Maps in hand.
Fortunately, Danka Riad sends someone to the entrance of the market to meet you, guide you, and help you with your suitcases to the riad's entrance.
When we talked to other travelers, not all riads do this. Some of our new friends had to wander around the souk for a while before finding their riad.
Hospitality:
The truth is that, overall, everyone in Morocco is super hospitable, kind, and friendly. It's important to note that it's a country that practically lives off tourism, so Moroccans speak many languages and are extremely friendly, as long as you are too.
At our riad, Simo was the hotel manager and became our best friend. Simo welcomed us and made us feel at home at all times. He guided us and accompanied us to all our dinner reservations so we wouldn't get lost, and he also picked us up to take us back to the riad.
Simo gave us a special tour of the market to do some shopping, and it was truly the best experience thanks to him.
Danka Riad includes a typical Moroccan breakfast accompanied by mint green tea, typical of Morocco, and juice.
I'll leave you a little video of the delicious breakfast:
Where to Eat in Marrakech:
We had just a few days in Marrakech, but the three places we went to were very close to the riad and had excellent service and delicious food!
NOMAD:
This place is just around the corner from Danka Riad, so it's perfect for dinner. Just don't forget to make a reservation since it gets busy!
The drinks are delicious, remember that in Marrakech it's not allowed to sell or drink alcohol, so all their drinks are super refreshing, delicious, and alcohol-free.
We ordered a tuna tartare, chicken tajine, and the nomad burger 👌🏼
L'Mida
Our friend Simo made a reservation for us at this restaurant, with a spectacular terrace and an incredibly amazing atmosphere for dining. The service was excellent, and the food delicious. We highly recommend this place!
CAFÉ DES ÉPICES:
We had breakfast here on our last day of the trip. The café is right in front of the spice market, so we suggest you take a stroll around there as well. This place is owned by the same people who created NOMAD, and it didn't disappoint us at all. It's very peaceful and beautiful, just what you're looking for to have a pleasant breakfast. Although we didn't get to sit on the terrace, the interior was very charming, and the food was delicious and traditional!
How to Get to the Desert:
Well, to begin with, the desert is a 10-hour drive from Marrakech. Yes, that's right, it's not exactly close. But it's an unmissable, once-in-a-lifetime experience that's totally worth it. Besides, the 10 hours don't feel long because you make several stops over several days.
We went on a 3-day tour that included all hotels, tours, transportation, and most meals (dinners and breakfasts).
This is the tour we took: "3-Day Excursion to the Merzouga Desert" through Civitatis.
The tour was in Spanish, and honestly, we loved it. It was totally worth it to take this trip and experience life outside of Marrakech.
The price of this tour is around €200/$220 USD.
Note: This is the price for the "superior" fee tour, which means better hotels, better meals, and a desert camp with beds and a private bathroom.
There's a standard rate available at a lower price, but we recommend going for the "superior" rate as the price difference isn't much, but the difference in the quality of the trip definitely is!
Dromedary Ride and Desert:
Interesting fact: in Morocco, there are no camels 🐫, they are dromedaries 🐪 (with a single hump).
The dromedary ride is part of getting to know Moroccan culture, as for generations, Berber tribes have been traversing the desert on dromedaries for centuries.
It's important to remember that these are still animals, so be respectful and careful when mounting them.
Getting on and off the dromedary can be quite an experience, so hold on tight!
It's also important to mention that the ride lasts between 45 minutes and 1 hour, and after a while, your butt may start to ache, and your legs might start tingling. But halfway through the journey, amidst the dunes and the magical landscape surrounding you, you make a stop to watch the sunset and recharge before getting back to the dromedary ride.
Without a doubt, it's one of the best experiences.
Finally, to top off the arrival at the camp, we had a delicious dinner: typical Moroccan food like chicken curry and beef tagine.
The camping tents were incredible, with lighting, private bathroom, and a bed.
But do remember to bring a sweater for the night, as the temperature drops and it can get chilly.
We singed and dance around the bonfire before getting into the darkness of the desert to watch the stars.
Never in our lives had we seen so many stars; it was as if we could see the Milky Way just like a National Geographic photo.
Just seeing that sky made the entire trip worthwhile. ✨🌌
Please, don't miss out on it!
The complete cultural and life experience is worth every second and penny invested.
It's a journey we would repeat many times over.
If you have any questions, leave them in the comments section or write to us at mailderoot@gmail.com, and we'll try to help you as much as we can.
We hope that our recommendations will help you have an unforgettable time in Morocco.
It's important to mention that there are many other tours and important cities like Fez and Casablanca.
We only had a few days, but we were left wanting more.
If you've already been and have other recommendations, share them with the Root Community in the comments.
Salam Aleikum ✨🐫🌞
Don't forget to check out the Root postcards from this trip here:
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