On this Southern Morocco journey information, I share our journey route of south Morocco together with the most effective riads in Marrakech, mountain climbing the very best mountain in North Africa and taking a visit to the Sahara desert.
I’ve dreamed of staying in a Moroccan riad since I used to be a bit of woman. I used to look at TV exhibits the place they’d present you the entire most lovely riads in Marrakech. They’d stroll across the souks filming the gorgeous lanterns and drink mint tea from the silver teapots. I used to be infatuated with the thought of travelling to Morocco after that.
This 12 months, my dream of travelling to Morocco got here true. We took a visit to Southern Morocco and travelled across the south for 3 weeks. Morocco was a difficult nation to journey. That wasn’t one thing the TV exhibits had ready me for. We backpacked between totally different cities and villages, staying in riads and refuges, and we additionally travelled on Eid (not beneficial). It was in contrast to anyplace else I’ve been earlier than and an actual tradition shock.
Let’s get began with our Southern Morocco journey information.
Southern Morocco Journey Route
We began our journey in Marrakech and travelled in a loop across the south of Morocco. We went from cityscapes and rocky mountains to abandon dunes and sandy seashores all inside 3 weeks of travelling Morocco. The journey loop could possibly be taken both method spherical. If you happen to plan to do a desert tour to the Sahara then it’s simpler to rearrange this leaving from Marrakech, although it will also be organized from Ouarzazate.
Marrakech (2 days)
The perfect issues about Marrakech are the riads and the roof terraces – the 2 issues that take you away from the chaos of Marrakech’s streets. The is superb however dodging the motorbikes and bicycles always flying round you at lightning velocity via the slender streets of the souks (markets) and the frequent hassling of locals making an attempt to make 20 dirhams by providing you with instructions to locations you don’t wish to go is exhausting. In Marrakech, my recommendation is to make use of most of your journey funds to e book a pleasant riad the place you may escape the warmth and the chaos of the streets when it’s essential to.
Issues to do in Marrakech: Jemaa el-Fnaa is the primary sq. in Marrakech, cross via at night time when it’s buzzing with road meals stalls and native distributors, however don’t keep too lengthy. The sq. is a vacationer entice and never a spot you’ll wish to spend a lot time. Bahia Palace and El Badi Palace are the 2 palaces in Marrakech, each are lovely. The Saadian tombs are close by to right here. We additionally actually appreciated visiting the Ben Youssef Mosque with its ornate tiling. Don’t overlook to take a look at the souks, the native markets spiralling via the coated streets within the medina the place you should purchase baggage, sneakers, clothes, lamps and different trinkets.
Greatest riads in Marrakech: We booked to remain at mid-range riad Riad Dar Sindibad in Marrakech. This riad is secondary to the primary, very lovely luxurious Riad Spa Sindibad which we had been fortunate to be upgraded to freed from cost once we arrived. Our keep at Riad Sindibad was superb and we’d extremely suggest it. The second time we stayed in Marrakech, we stayed at Riad Chez L’Africain. We couldn’t imagine how lovely it was and at reminiscent of cheap worth! In contrast to most riads, Riad Chez L’Africain was very straightforward to search out and well-located close to to the Saadian tombs. Get £25 off your first Airbnb stick with this hyperlink.
Greatest eating places in Marrakech: Marrakech’s finest rooftop restaurant is Cafe Atay. Eat their vegetarian couscous on the terrace at sundown. Different good eating places embody Bakchich Cafe and Bazaar Cafe (serves alcohol).
Imlil and Jebel Toubkal (2-3 days)
Imlil is a village within the Excessive Atlas Mountains of Morocco. It’s 2 hours south of Marrakech and might be reached by bus and taxi, or instantly by a grand taxi. Imlil is a typical base for mountain climbing within the Atlas Mountains and to surrounding Berber villages, although you may fairly fortunately come for a weekend to benefit from the views. We stayed in Imlil earlier than tackling Jebel Toubkal, the very best mountain in North Africa at 4,167m excessive. Toubkal is without doubt one of the hottest treks within the space, however the ascent is troublesome and just for hikers with a minimum of common to good health.
Greatest guesthouse in Imlil: Decided to get a room with a view, I dragged Luke up the gravel slopes of Imlil out of the village to search out Gite Tizi Mizik. After we arrived, we met Hassan the proprietor and as we didn’t e book forward, we did some pleasant bargaining to knock down the worth of the room. The guesthouse has an attractive separate non-public annex with a bed room, rest room, lounge and small kitchen and balcony. The value was 200 dirhams (already a superb worth for such a pleasant room!), however we negotiated right down to 150 dirhams as there weren’t different visitors on the time. We had dinner on the guesthouse twice and each instances had been served superb, contemporary tagines. Skip the breakfast right here although because it’s very fundamental, dry bread and jam. If you wish to e book upfront, you will get cash off your Airbnb reserving right here.
Aït Ben Haddou (1/2 day)
Aït Ben Haddou is the kasbah made well-known because the filming location for Gladiator and a part of Sport of Thrones Season 3. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage website and a well-liked stopping level for vacationers taking a visit to the Sahara desert (extra about these excursions within the Sahara desert part under). The village is a cluster of purple earthen buildings which was initially constructed within the seventeenth century. It was inhabited by Berbers and Jews, however now solely the Berbers stay dwelling inside. It is because there’s no water or electrical energy inside Aït Ben Haddou. You possibly can stroll round Aït Ben Haddou in an hour.
Sahara Desert (2-4 days)
The Sahara desert can’t be missed out of this Morocco journey information as a result of it’s a well-liked journey for a lot of travellers. Although we often want to journey independently, attending to the desert from Marrakech is a mission. The desert is a great distance from any city that may be price stopping in and never a cushty journey to do by bus. There are three choices for desert excursions in Morocco:
- 2-day desert tour to Zagora
- 3-day desert tour to Merzouga
- 4-day desert tour to Erg Chigaga (additional out from Zagora)
The excursions go away both from Marrakech or Ouarzazate, although actually there’s no cause to go from Ouarzazate until you’re not going by way of Marrakech. The preferred desert tour is the 3-day one to Merzouga the place the dunes are supposed to be smoother and the sand finer. Nevertheless, not desirous to spend so many hours driving nor within the desert, we opted for the 2-day tour to Zagora.
The tour makes a cease at Aït Ben Haddou on the primary day, earlier than driving via the Draa Valley to succeed in Zagora. You then take a camel experience to the desert camp. Be aware that the camels aren’t at all times properly handled on the excursions, however are almost at all times included within the tour package deal. If you happen to’re going additional out into the desert, you may go by 4×4. These are arguably not higher as 4x4s can disrupt native vegetation and wildlife within the space. On the Zagora journey, the camel experience solely lasts for 1 hour so it’s attainable to stroll in the event you want to not experience the camels (I walked on the way in which again after seeing poor therapy of the camels).
Essentially the most superb a part of the journey is the in a single day keep on the desert camp. The camp is made up of huge black tents with fundamental beds in a circle. They’re out within the desert dunes, although not very removed from the closest street into city. Within the center, there are rugs laid out the place you drink tea, chat and hearken to drumming from the Berbers. The purple moon adopted by the clear night time sky and vibrant stars is an unimaginable sight.
On the way in which again, the excursions make a short cease at Ouarzazate earlier than the lengthy drive again to Marrakech. We jumped out right here and left the tour to proceed our loop of southern Morocco.
Are Sahara Excursions Value It?
Sahara desert journeys are the Moroccan expertise that almost all travellers have on the prime of their Moroccan journey itinerary. For me, that really wasn’t true (I used to be all concerning the riads). We ended up going on the final minute as a result of we had just a few days spare and since so many individuals had insisted that it was the most effective factor to do in Morocco. Although I loved the journey loads, I wouldn’t be pressured to incorporate it in your Morocco journey route.
The excursions are largely driving lengthy distances to succeed in the desert and the situations and therapy of the camels is usually not good. Nevertheless, in the event you’re eager to see Aït Ben Haddou and go to the desert, then the excursions enable you to take action a lot faster and simpler than organising it independently. From that perspective, they’re worthwhile.
Be aware that the prices of the excursions fluctuate between firms however in our expertise, it didn’t matter. We had been picked up from our resort however 10 minutes later dumped on a roadside with a crowd of different vacationers who had come from varied minibuses. The drivers then proceeded to type vacationers relying on which tour they had been on (herding goats) and blended everybody up. The folks on our minibus all booked via totally different firms. We had been once more separated out on the desert to totally different camps. The camps are all in a row (you may see the subsequent one from yours) and all look the identical from the surface.
Ouarzazate (1 night time)
Ouarzazate is nicknamed “the door of the desert” because it’s the stopping level for excursions heading into the Sahara desert. We hadn’t deliberate to cease in Ouarzazate however ended up doing so as a result of we had been exhausted by the point we obtained right here after mountain climbing Toubkal and going to the desert in fast succession. It’s an attention-grabbing metropolis however the one vacationers right here are usually filmmakers filming at close by manufacturing studios and at Ben Haddou. It signifies that you’ll see only a few foreigners while right here, and it additionally signifies that the eating places are all native locations and low cost.
Eating places in Ouarzazate: Not going to lie, however there received’t be any restaurant you’ll be wild about consuming at. My recommendation is to go to the primary sq. (not often my recommendation, however on this case it’s the one place to search out eating places) and decide wherever has locals consuming there. We ate at a small restaurant referred to as Galerie d’Artwork Café (the chef can be an artist) in the primary sq. the place different locals had been consuming after the 12-year previous daughter who had wonderful English talked us in. They, oddly, served pizza which was fairly good by Moroccan requirements and I ate a salty vegetable couscous. Habous subsequent door has a superb bakery the place you should purchase msemen (Moroccan sq. bread) and, surprisingly, croissants.
Taroudant (1-2 days)
Taroudant is the town the place we felt we had essentially the most ‘native’ and ‘genuine’ journey expertise in Morocco. There are only a few vacationers right here, however we selected to cease off within the metropolis on the way in which via to Taghazout. We’re glad we did! Town is surrounded by metropolis partitions stretching for 6km and they’re essentially the most intact in Morocco. I like to recommend biking across the partitions within the early night. In the correct season, you too can use Taroudant as a base for mountain climbing journeys to the Berber villages within the Anti-Atlas mountains.
Greatest guesthouse in Taroudant: We stayed with a neighborhood man referred to as Abassi who we discovered on Airbnb. He has a conventional stone home with a backyard. We had been in a position to make use of his kitchen and prepare dinner tagine with greens we purchased on the native market. Abassi is a tour information throughout mountain climbing season and was a brilliant attentive host. He picked us up once we arrived, confirmed us the most effective eating places on the town and took us biking across the metropolis partitions. An incredible Moroccan breakfast of omelette, freshly baked bread and honey is included. Actual Moroccan hospitality! You possibly can e book Abassi’s place on Airbnb and get £25 off utilizing this hyperlink.
Greatest eating places in Taroudant: There’s actually just one restaurant price consuming at in Taroudant and that’s Café Les Arcades. Our Airbnb host beneficial it and warned us that lots of the eating places in Taroudant aren’t utilizing contemporary greens when cooking their meals, as an alternative of reusing greens from yesterday or extra on account of lack of shoppers. Café Les Arcades does use contemporary produce although. The cafe is positioned on the primary sq., shaded by timber. The opposite place we’d suggest is the espresso cafe Cafe Les Cafes. It’s a male-dominated cafe solely serving espresso, however the espresso is basically good and everybody was welcoming to me once I had espresso there.
Taghazout (2+ days)
Subsequent up on our Morocco journey information, Taghazout. Twenty years in the past it was a sleepy fishing village, however now this seaside city is a surfer’s paradise. In addition to surfers, digital nomads like us are drawn to Taghazout due to the unimaginable coworking house. The blue-and-white painted city has the same look to Essaouira (see under) however is far smaller and jam-packed with surfers. It’s tough across the edges, however nice enjoyable. We stayed right here 1 week, although how lengthy you stays is determined by in the event you surf and in the event you work.
Issues to do in Taghazout: The factor to do right here is surf. You possibly can hire a board for €10 per day or have a surf lesson for €25 for a half-day. The waves are stuffed with newcomers and professionals alike. Luke and I had an superior time studying to surf and located the waves to be newbie pleasant.
Greatest lodging in Taghazout: The opposite factor to do in Taghazout is work. On the town, there’s a coworking house referred to as Sundesk arrange by a German lady referred to as Magda. Luke and I stayed right here working on-line for every week and beloved it. For €40 per night time, you get a double bed room, a scrumptious breakfast on the roof terrace, sea views and 24-hour entry to the workplace. The wifi connection is the most effective in Morocco.
Greatest eating places in Taghazout: We travelled out of season in Taghazout, and like in Taroudant, our host warned that the meals within the eating places was not at all times the freshest. Nevertheless, we discovered some ‘protected’ locations that we actually appreciated. Take a look at Pizza Sizzling, a tiny native pizza place within the sq., the place you will get a pizza for 25 dirhams – many individuals ate right here repeatedly to keep away from the danger of getting sick. If you’d like a beach-front restaurant with a stunning view, go to WOW (World of Waves) Cafe. I beloved this place as a result of they’ve two sorts of inexperienced juice for 25 dirhams a juice. The vegetable tagine right here is superb, although the vegetarian panini is a letdown.
Essaouira (2 days)
Essaouira is a port metropolis with a white-painted medina and a windy seaside. Many individuals take day-trips from Marrakech, because it’s solely 2.5 hours by bus, but it surely’s higher to spend the weekend and calm down. We met up with previous pals and rented an entire riad for the weekend.
Issues to do in Essaouira: Town solely has restricted issues to do, but it surely’s a superb place for some windy seaside days and to wander across the medina searching for native handicrafts. They’ve quirky jewelry on the market right here. Stroll up on the Skala du Port ramparts to get a pleasant view of the town if it’s not too misty. The coastal fortress right here additionally featured in Sport of Thrones. The Sidi Mohammed ben Abdallah Museum has an summary of the historical past of Essaouira and is about inside a reasonably constructing.
Greatest riad in Essaouira: We had been in a bunch of seven so rented the entire Riad Quelig to ourselves. The riad was beautiful and funky inside. Get £25 off reserving a riad on Airbnb.
Greatest eating places in Essaouira: There’s a small sq. of vegetarian and vegan eating places sitting side-by-side, together with Le Corail at Latifa and Shyadma’s Veg Meals. However the most effective meals we ate in Essaouira was road snacks together with msemen (Moroccan sq. flatbread) and khobz (Moroccan pita bread).
Morocco Journey Information
That’s the tip of our Morocco journey information! From Essaouira or Taghazout, you may simply loop again to Marrakech to fly out of Morocco from right here. Nevertheless, there are different airports, together with in Agadir, that additionally obtain flights from Europe. If you happen to’re excited about taking a visit to the south of Morocco, we’d love to listen to about your plans within the feedback!
LIKE IT? PIN IT!
