Experience
Morocco’s vibrant soul - from Marrakech’s maze-like souks to the
golden dunes of the Sahara. This bucket list reveals the country’s
most inspiring and unforgettable travel experiences.
Explore Marrakech’s Medina & Jemaa el-Fnaa
Lose yourself in Marrakech’s labyrinth of souks filled with lanterns, leather, and spice scents that linger in the air. By evening, Jemaa el-Fnaa transforms into a spectacle of storytellers, snake charmers, and sizzling food stalls - a living theatre of Moroccan life.
Ride the Sahara Dunes of Merzouga
Golden waves of sand stretch endlessly across the Erg Chebbi dunes. Experience the shifting silence on camelback, sleep in a Berber desert camp under stars so clear they look within reach, and wake to sunrise painting the dunes in fiery tones.
Discover Chefchaouen, the Blue Pearl
This tranquil mountain town in the Rif glows with every shade of blue - from powder to indigo - washing over walls, doors, and steps. Wander its medina, meet local artisans weaving blankets, and breathe the calm rarely found in Morocco’s busier cities.
Journey through the High Atlas & Toubkal National Park
The rugged Atlas Mountains reveal Berber villages clinging to terraced hillsides and trails leading to North Africa’s highest peak, Mount Toubkal. Whether hiking or driving scenic passes, the crisp mountain air and views over valleys are unforgettable.
Roam the Ancient Streets of Fes el-Bali
Fes feels frozen in time - a maze of narrow alleys echoing with artisans hammering copper, the scent of tanneries, and calls to prayer. Its medina, one of the world’s largest car-free zones, is a cultural immersion that reveals Morocco’s scholarly soul.
Unwind in Essaouira’s Coastal Breeze
Whitewashed walls, sea-blue shutters, and the sound of gulls define this laid-back port city. Once a hippie haven, Essaouira’s charm lies in its art scene, seafood grills, and wind-whipped beaches perfect for kitesurfing and reflection.
Explore the Kasbah of Ait Benhaddou
A timeless fortress of red clay rising from the desert, Ait Benhaddou has starred in countless films, from Gladiator to Game of Thrones. Walking its alleys feels like stepping into another era, where caravans once paused on ancient trade routes.
Learn Moroccan Cooking with a Local Family
Step into a traditional riad kitchen and learn to prepare tajine, couscous, or pastilla using age-old techniques and fragrant spices. Sharing food is central to Moroccan hospitality, and the laughter and conversation that accompany the meal are unforgettable.
Relax in a Traditional Hammam
Experience Morocco’s ancient bathing ritual - from steam and exfoliation to fragrant oils that leave you renewed. Public hammams offer a glimpse of local life, while private spas elevate it to a ritual of deep relaxation and cultural connection.
Join a Gnawa Music Performance in Essaouira
The hypnotic rhythms of Gnawa music - blending African, Berber, and Arabic influences - fill Essaouira’s air with spiritual energy. The city’s festival each June draws musicians from across the globe, turning the streets into open-air stages.
Stay in a Desert Camp under the Stars
Far from city lights, the Sahara becomes a celestial dome where silence reigns. After dinner around a campfire, Berber musicians play drums as stars shimmer overhead - a timeless connection between earth and sky.
Join a Berber Market Day in the Atlas Mountains
Weekly souks bring mountain villages alive with colour and exchange - farmers trade goods, herders sell livestock, and stalls brim with spices and textiles. It’s raw, real Morocco at its best.
Visit the Oasis of Skoura
A lush palm grove hidden between the desert and Atlas Mountains, Skoura is dotted with crumbling kasbahs and irrigated gardens. It’s a peaceful escape where time slows and date palms whisper in the breeze.
Discover the White Dunes of Dakhla
A surreal landscape where desert meets ocean, Dakhla offers mirror-flat lagoons and endless dunes sculpted by Atlantic winds. Fewer tourists venture this far south, but those who do find unmatched serenity.
Explore the Ruins of Volubilis
This ancient Roman site near Meknes tells a story of empires long gone, with mosaics, columns, and olive presses remarkably intact. The views over rolling hills enhance its haunting beauty.
Trek the Paradise Valley near Agadir
Carved by turquoise pools and palm-lined gorges, Paradise Valley lives up to its name. It’s a slice of nature where locals picnic, swim, and cliff-jump in the warm months.
Wander the Village of Imlil
Gateway to Mount Toubkal, Imlil blends mountain air with Berber hospitality. Stone paths wind between mud-brick houses, and trekking trails begin right at your doorstep.
Step into the Hidden Medina of Tetouan
Less touristed than Fes or Marrakech, Tetouan’s medina is a UNESCO treasure where Andalusian and Moroccan cultures intertwine. Its whitewashed alleys and artisan workshops make it quietly captivating.
Stay in a Desert Castle Hotel
Converted kasbahs in southern Morocco offer rooms within fortress walls - think candlelit courtyards, antique doors, and desert silence. It’s part fantasy, part history, and entirely atmospheric.
Attend a Moroccan Tea Ceremony
Tea-making in Morocco is theatre - mint leaves, green tea, and sugar blended, poured from a height, and shared among friends. Watching the ritual is as soothing as drinking it.
Join the Fantasia Horse Festival
In towns like Meknes and Tissa, skilled riders in traditional attire gallop in unison, firing muskets in choreographed bursts. The festival is loud, smoky, and thrilling - a living link to Morocco’s warrior past.
Shop the Fossil Souks of Erfoud
The Sahara hides fossils from ancient seas, polished into art and furniture. Fossil markets in Erfoud and Rissani display ammonites and trilobites millions of years old - part museum, part marketplace.
Marrakech
• Visit Jardin Majorelle and the Yves Saint Laurent Museum.
Insider Tip: Go early morning before crowds arrive.
• Experience a rooftop dinner overlooking the medina.
Best Way: Reserve in advance for sunset seating.
• Explore the Bahia Palace and Saadian Tombs.
Good to Know: Both close early - plan for mid-morning visits.
Fes
• Take a guided medina tour including the tanneries.
Insider Tip: Bring a scarf or mint sprig for the tannery scent.
• Visit Bou Inania Madrasa and Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque.
Best Way: Hire a local guide to explain historic context.
• Shop for zellige tiles and brass lanterns.
Good to Know: Bargaining is expected - do it with humour.
Essaouira
• Join a surf or kitesurf lesson on the windy beach.
Insider Tip: Morning sessions have steadier winds.
• Stroll the art galleries in the medina.
Best Way: Many are free to enter - browse and chat with artists.
• Enjoy freshly grilled sardines at the port.
Good to Know: Prices are by weight - agree before ordering.
Do’s / Recommended Activities:
• Hike Mount Toubkal (4,167m) - North Africa’s highest peak.
Tip: Best attempted May–October with a licensed mountain guide.
• Surf in Taghazout, Morocco’s laid-back surf village.
Good to Know: Ideal waves roll in from September to April.
• Quad bike through the Agafay Desert near Marrakech.
Tip: Sunset tours offer the best views and light for photography.
• Trek through the Todra Gorge near Tinghir.
Good to Know: Bring water shoes for river sections; early morning avoids crowds.
Do’s / Recommended Experiences:
• Join a couscous Friday meal with locals.
Tip: Fridays are sacred for couscous - many riads host communal lunches.
• Explore artisan workshops in Fes or Marrakech.
Good to Know: Many welcome visitors; buy directly from makers for fair prices.
• Visit a local women’s argan oil cooperative near Essaouira.
Tip: Watch how nuts are hand-crushed and oil pressed - a truly authentic experience.
• Attend the Marrakech International Film Festival.
Good to Know: Usually held in December, it brings global glamour to the Red City.