A Week in Morocco:
My Experience, Tips, and Advice
I went to Morocco in the fall of 2023 with zero expectations and came back with sand in my shoes, mint tea running through my veins, and a head spinning with stories I’m still unpacking. One minute I was quad biking through a palm grove on Halloween; the next, I was sipping tea with Berbers beneath a sky that looked way too star-filled to be real. The whole trip was beautifully chaotic. It was loud, colorful, unpredictable, and somehow exactly what I needed.
If you’re thinking about your own North African adventure filled with desert dust and endless mint tea, here’s how mine unfolded, along with the things I wish I’d known, what actually mattered, and how to survive the Medina without getting run over by a moped.
Saturday, October 28 → Planes, Trains & the Infamous FlixBus
The journey kicked off in Menton, where I’d been living in the south of France with my friends Dan and Maya. We took the Zou Train to Nice. It was easy, punctual, and surprisingly smooth. a promising start to our curious adventure ahead.
From Nice, things quickly went downhill when we hopped onto an overnight FlixBus to Marseille, a city that seems permanently trapped in charmingly neutral chaos. Somewhere during the overnight shuffle, daylight savings kicked in, which felt like a personal attack on our already-confused bodies.
Side Note: RyanAir gives precisely zero care if your boarding pass vanishes or your internal clock implodes. Triple-check your flight times and baggage dimensions, or face consequences like me: a lovely surprise fee for my backpack being oversized. Lesson learned… whether I’ll risk it again remains TBD.
Sunday, October 29 → A Randomly Perfect Spain Detour
After a questionable night on Marseille Airport’s cold, unforgiving floor (I’m never doing that again), we caught an aggressively early flight to Valencia. Flying to Morocco from Spain turned out to be way cheaper than directly from France, and I’m always down for a good budget detour.
Travel Hack: When hopping between continents, always check nearby countries for cheaper routes. Bonus points if you snag a new city to explore along the way.
Valencia was unexpectedly magical. Orange trees lined the sunny streets, colorful tiled balconies displayed clothes drying lazily in the breeze, and everyone seemed blissfully unrushed. We wandered the old town, danced through the squares, savored delicious dishes, sipped wine in the sun, and embraced the art of simply existing.
Later that night, we boarded our 10:15 PM flight to Marrakech, landing just past midnight. Despite total exhaustion, the excitement of stepping into a new country kept the adrenaline flowing.
Pro Tip: On long-haul journeys, stash a comfy hoodie or scarf in your carry-on for unexpected airport naps. Plan at least one nice meal or sun-filled break to keep your sanity intact.
Monday, October 30 → Marrakech: A Thousand Years of Spicey Energy
We landed after midnight, stepping into the chaos of Marrakech airport arrivals, where our hotel driver stood calmly waiting with our names on a sign. This guy seemed completely unfazed by our chaotic, post-transportation madness. This was just another casual Monday night for him.
We checked into the lovely Riad Salma de Groot, snuggled deep within the Medina, the ancient heart of the city. If you haven’t been, picture a maze of narrow streets where motorbikes whip by way too close, stray cats confidently stroll past, and mysterious doorways lead to who-knows-where. It’s sensory overload, and I was instantly obsessed.
The riad itself was an oasis of calm: beautiful tiles, warm lighting, and the soft fragrance of orange blossoms. After the Medina’s chaos, stepping inside felt like entering another world.
Medina Survival Tips:
Don’t trust your GPS; it’s lost too. Ask local shopkeepers or kids who navigate these alleys like absolute pros. Just make sure they look at least a little bit trustworthy.
Avoid eye contact with snake charmers unless you’re looking for trouble.
“La, shukran” (no, thank you) is your magic phrase… use it generously.
Agafay Desert: Sahara Energy, Minus the Long Drive
We booked a sunset camel ride and dinner in the Agafay Desert via GetYourGuide and it was absolutely worth it. Within an hour, we’d traded Marrakech’s chaos for the wide-open calm of Agafay. It's smaller and rockier than the Sahara but still magical enough for those dreamy desert vibes.
My camel’s name was actually Bob Marley, radiating big “been through a lot” energy. Riding Bob Marley at sunset, with the sky glowing pink and gold, felt surreal in the best way. Afterwards, we shared mint tea and a delicious dinner in a Berber tent, accompanied by live music and an impossibly starry sky. Pure Moroccan hospitality.
Desert First-Timer Tips:
Hydration is key—bring plenty of water.
Stick with breathable fabrics (linen or cotton).
Forget your all-white outfits unless you’re going for a dusty beige look.
Tuesday, October 31 → Halloween Quad Biking (100% Yes)
On Halloween, we booked the most logical thing possible: a quad biking adventure through the palm groves outside Marrakech. Within minutes, we were zipping across desert trails, totally immersed in Fast & Furious energy.
Afterward, sipping mint tea (of course), I felt unexpectedly emotional. Maybe it was a sugar crash, maybe the wind, maybe just realizing how far away from everyday life I was.
We spent the afternoon exploring the souks, surrendering to their confusing charm and endless pathways.
November 1–3 → Sahara Tour
Dan headed home (sadness), and Maya and I joined a three-day Sahara tour from Marrakech to Fes. It turned out to be the trip’s highlight.
Day one brought winding mountain roads through the stunning Atlas range (front seat is your friend if you’re prone to car sickness or don’t want to overheat in the tour van). We visited the UNESCO-listed Ait Ben Haddou fortress, which is famous from Game of Thrones and Gladiator. We felt like we'd traveled back in time. We also got a presentation and purchased scarves for the windy desert. Even if we were an easy target to sell to, it was a good place and souvenir to invest in.
Then came the Sahara, where we rode camels into golden dunes at sunset. Honestly, words fail… it was breathtaking, otherworldly, and completely unforgettable. That night’s camp offered real beds, dancing around fires with strangers, and stars so bright they felt other-worldly.
Days two and three involved gorges, oases, wild monkeys, and amazing roadside meals en route to Fes, leaving us exhausted in the best possible way.
November 3–4 → Fes: Maze, Madness & a Hammam Awakening
Fes hits differently. Older, classily bolder, and completely unapologetically Moroccan. Medina holds 9,000 narrow alleys designed for donkeys… not suitcases.
We stayed at Riad Qamar Fez, a peaceful retreat amidst the peaceful city. The mazes of the streets felt very blissful for me.
Highlights included visiting al-Qarawiyyin, the world’s oldest university founded by a woman (incredible), and the fascinatingly pungent tanneries.
Then came my first hammam. For me, it was a deeply intense, culture shock experience, involving being scrubbed raw by strangers in a language I didn’t understand. It was overwhelming, humbling, and oddly cleansing. If you are a hammam first timer like me, maybe make sure you don’t go to a random local bathhouse in the center and instead listen to the people who work at your riad when they recommend a more western version.
November 5 → Marseille, Laundry & Processing the Whirlwind
An early flight back to Marseille had me sipping espresso by the sea like it had all been a fever dream. Eventually, we returned to Menton, did my laundry, and sat on my floor in stunned silence: Did all that really happen?
Things I Wish I'd Known:
Cash rules! ATMs are rare in medinas; small bills (20/50 dirhams) are essential.
Basics of Arabic! Learn "La, shukran" (no thanks) and "Salam" (hello).
Taxi bargaining! Negotiate prices beforehand or request the meter ("compteur?").
Wi-Fi is patchy! Download offline maps or buy a local SIM.
Food! Don’t miss tagine, harira soup, and street msemen crepes.
Dress modestly! Respect local customs, especially outside major cities.
Desert nights! Pack warm layers; scarves are versatile lifesavers.
BE CURIOUS! Don’t be afraid to ask questions or chat with locals. One time in a taxi, my driver wanted to practice his English, and I needed to improve my French, so we helped each other out along the way. It was honestly lovely—and it showed me how communication is about so much more than just words.
I went to Morocco chasing something new and left with sand-filled shoes, mint tea obsession, and enough stories to last me a lifetime. Would I do it again? In a heartbeat.
Just maybe not with FlixBus.