I always find myself traveling to places for such a short period of time. Working or studying, I am often constraint with time. But luckily, the explorer in me always gets me going.
Morocco for 5 days? Why not, I directly jumped.
Few years ago, I was lucky to visit Morocco. Although I was only there for such a short period of time, I still had the chance to explore that beautiful country and its main cities. Morocco has so much to offer. When I was there, I was obsessed with the unique architecture, landscapes as well as the generous hospitality the country provides. I left Morocco heartbroken for not having seen more. So, I definitely want to visit again, but if you are short on time and would like to see Morocco, continue reading to follow my fully packed itinerary. Definitely a bit exhausting, but I hope you enjoy the country as much as I did.
I already cannot wait to be back again and immerse myself in this special place.
WHEN TO VISIT
Morocco is a great place to visit all year long. With its mountains, desert, and coastline, it is an amazingly diverse country in terms of climate and provides something to experience any time of the year.
Usually, the most pleasant weather is found during the months of March and April, as well as September and October.
While January is the wettest and coldest month, and July/August are very hot, you will find that they are the least crowded as well. So, if you are looking for calmer, less touristy times, consider going then.
I went in March, and I highly recommend it!
Morocco’s streets
HOW TO GET THERE
There are several airports in Morocco. Casablanca Airport handles the most international flights to the country, so I would recommend getting there. But depending on your preference and the city you would like to start your trip with, you could also fly into Marrakesh or Fez’s airports.
Morocco’s landscapes
HOW TO GO AROUND
If you are going to Morocco on a short timeline and want to explore different cities, I highly recommend hiring a tour guide/ driver that could take you around. The main cities/highlights of the country can be quite far from each other, so depending on which areas you would like to explore, you could also consider taking a flight because driving or taking the train can be time-consuming. When I went, I visited Casablanca, Marrakech, the Atlas desert and Fez, by car. And although I spent so much time on the road, I did not mind it because I was able to see the country while driving.
That being said, if you prefer other means of transportation, you could definitely use a flight or train to go from Marrakech to the desert, Fez or Chefchouen. Flights will be short, around an hour, while trains as long as 6h.
Within cities, local taxis are the best way to commute every day. You could also use the local uber app Careem to move around. I’ve used Careem in the Middle East and I absolutely love that app. It is very easy to use, safe and quick. Get it once you land in Morocco.
WHAT TO DO IN 5 DAYS
Five days only in Morocco? That seems so short! But no worries, follow along my itinerary to maximize your time in that beautiful country.
DAY 1: Tour Casablanca and Marrakech
On your first day in Morocco, spend a few hours touring Casablanca. The city is a large industrial port city, but usually with little interest to tourist, and could be toured in a little time. Head to the Hassan II Mosque, one of the largest mosques in Africa and even the world, hosting around 100,000 worshipers at a time. The mosque is stunning, characterized with Islamic architecture, with very long minaret (~210 meters), and incredible craftmanship.
Hassan II Mosque
Next pass by the corniche, a long strip with many restaurants overlooking the water. Have some time to walk by the waters and grab a quick bite from one of the restaurants there. Next to the corniche, there is an area called “Beverly hills” of Morocco, our tour guide drove us by it mentioning that this is a very wealthy area, with homes costing millions of dollars.
After that, drive straight to Marrakech. The drive is around 3 hours, but totally worth seeing “the red city”. Marrakech is one of the top destinations in the world and a must-see in your life. It is called the red city because of the color of the walls that enclose it. The city offers so much history, culture, shopping, food, and luxury.
Once in Marrakech, head to the Medina, the heart of the city. With its narrow streets and most importantly its square, Jemaa El Fna square, this place will allow you to experience an explosion of colors & scents. The square is most predominantly occupied with juice, food, and clothing stalls. There are also plenty of snake charmers, dancing boys, magicians, and fortune tellers. It is like nothing you’ve seen before. An amusing chaos… i assure you.
Medina, Marrakech
In the Medina, walk around, engage with strangers, immerse in the Moroccan traditions and head to the souk. The souk is another bustling area, labyrinth-like, full of sellers with an array of goods: from carpets, shoes, bags, scarves, jewelry and even spices. Your eyes are going to be blown.
Souk in Marrakech
While in the Medina, I suggest you have lunch in one of the restaurants around the square, then prepare yourself for an extraordinary desert experience. After lunch, drive to the desert with your tour guide.
When I did that itinerary, the drive from Marrakech to the desert took around 7h, but we stopped and slept in one of the hotels mid-way. One of the perks of long-distance driving is that you get to see a lot. We drove by Al Haouz, a region known by its grandiose Atlas Mountains, one of the most iconic landscapes of Morocco. We spent some time watching the views from the top of the mountains; a highly recommended experience.
The atlas mountains
Otherwise, if you want to skip car-time, choose to fly from Marrakech to the Errachidia, the closest airport to Erg Chebbi desert (around 2h away).
Day 2: Glamping experience in Erg Chebbi
The second morning we continued our drive to Erg Chebbi, one of the most famous deserts to glamp in. It took a few lunch and souvenir shopping stops to arrive there, but we had finally made it.
Once in the desert, I recommend ATV riding in the sand dunes. Although I usually am afraid of such activities, I still did it and really enjoyed it. My friends and I were following a professional ATV rider across the desert. I remember being perplexed and scared about not being able to get out of the dunes. It seemed to me as if we were lost in the middle of the desert with zero direction. I was impressed by the tour guide’s navigation skills.
ATVing in the sahara desert
Next, head to your glamping spot. I recommend signing up for glamping experience in Erg Chebbi. There, you will first be greeted with some mocktails and snacks upon your arrival. The local staff were super nice, and it was great interacting with them. The tents were gorgeous, very clean and elegantly designed. The whole space around our glamping spot was just stunning, with carpets and candles illuminating the space.
Glamping in Erg Chebbi
After resting, head to the dinner provided in your glamping area; it is served in a separate tent. The most exciting part of the whole experience is what comes after dinner: the bon fire. The staff gets everyone seated around a fire pit and starts singing Moroccon songs, using instruments such as the Bendir (drum) and the Nai (flute). Everyone starts singing along and dancing under the stars. It is quite a local experience. I personally loved it.
Bonfire in the desert
Day 3: Camel ride and dinner in Fez
On the third day, wake up in your luxurious tent and enjoy a morning in the middle of the desert. Have breakfast in your glamping space and head to a camel ride experience, usually provided within the glamping package. Having lived in the UAE, I have done a lot of these camel rides, but I still find thrill in doing it. Camels are such cute animals, and the tour guide will make sure the whole group is taking the same route.
Camel trekking in the desert
From there, hop in the car, destination Fez. The car ride is around 7h; which means you will only arrive to Fez by dinner time, but you could chose to fly there.
In Fez, you definitely need to stay in a Riad. Riads are traditional Moroccan houses, hotel-like with rooms, common areas and central gardens. They are the most iconic hotels in Morocco, due to their historical/ cultural significance, and are rarely found in any other country. It is known that Riads came about since ancient civilizations, who liked privacy and did not like to show off, so they preferred to have homes that are simple from the outside, but very elegantly designed from the inside, including a mix of architecture that is surrounding a central garden. The structure of Riads is very inwards, everything happening inside.
There are usually a handful of exquisite rooms in each Riad, making the experience so much more intimate and personalized, as if you are staying at the place of a relative. You will be able to experience the true Moroccan way of living by staying there.
Here are some options of good Riads in Fez: Riad Fes Maya, Riad Layalina, Riad El Amine, Riad Arabesque & Spa.
Interior of a Riad in Fez
Day 4: Explore Fez
On your 4th day, start by enjoying a breakfast in your Riad. Usually these are a fun immersive Moroccan experience with typical Moroccan food & tea.
Then head to the city to explore Fez. There is so much to see and do in Fez, that one day will not suffice, so if you are able to stay longer, opt for that.
Start by strolling in Fes el Bali, the walled part of Fez, walking through its alleys and small street. Visit the Chaouwara Tanneries, the largest leather workshop in the city. You will be able to see the countless round stone vessels filled with dye & liquids. Try to go in the morning when these vessels are still covered with colorful dye.
Chaouwara Tanneries
Then walk around the Al-Attarine souk, a market with variety of local spices, fruits, nuts and much more. Here also you will be splashed with an array of colors and scents. Nearby the market, you will find the Al-Attarine madrasa, which is an establishment that served as a school to train Islamic scholars and elites. The interior architecture of the madrassa is stunning, highly sophisticated with a lot of mosaic work, carved décor, sculped wooden and calligraphic inscriptions across the tiles. The Madrassa is located next to Al-Qarawiyyin mosque, one of the oldest universities in the world, and another landmark in Fez, so if you have time, it is a nice highlight to see.
Streets of Fez
DAY 5: Visit Chefchaouen, the Blue Pearl of Morocco
On your fifth day, plan on going to Chefchaouen, the Blue Pearl of Morocco. Chefchaouen is one of the most touristy and popular spots in Morocco particularly due to its beautiful landscapes and blue-painted houses and streets. It is around a 3h drive from Fez, using a local driver, but a bit longer if you opt for the bus. You could also sing up for a guided day-trip to Chefchaouen if you are on a tight schedule.
The main reason Chefchaouen is very attractive is its beautiful streets. So the number one thing to do while there is wander around its alleys; literally every house and every corner is painted in blue. Some say blue represents the color of the sky, heaven and the Mediterranean sea, other believe this color was used to keep mosquitos away. Today, locals continue on painting their houses blue mainly to keep the tradition and attract tourists.
As you stroll around the streets of Chefchaouen, head to the Medina where you will find souks and small shopping stores. There you can shop garments, blankets and other local colorful accessories. Even just walking around the souk is breathtaking, the color palettes formed from the garments overlaying the blue walls is incredible.
Streets of Chefchaouen
During lunch time, head to the main square, Plaza Uta El-Hammam, surrounded by many restaurants and cafes. Indulge in a traditional Moroccan meal along with some tea while enjoying the plaza’s atmosphere. In the square you will also find an old fort: the Kasbah. Previously, this fort was used as a prison, but today it is turned into an ethnographic Museum, filled with artifacts, clothing, instruments that narrate the history of Chefchaouen. You could also climb the tower for beautiful views of the city.
Next, head to the Spanish Mosque, a beautiful building isolated in a hill in Chefchaouen. The mosque was constructed around 1920 but was never actually used. It is around a 30mins hike, but the views on top are totally worth it. I would recommend going during sunset hours as the colors of the city will be shinning through the golden rays of the sun, but be aware that there might be more crowds at that time of the day.
If you plan on staying for more than one day in Chefchaouen, you should definitely try to explore the nature surrounding the city. There are a couple of hikes in the high mountains of the Rif:
The Talassemtane national park – A national park in the Rif region created to conserve the wildlife of the area. This park has so much to see and many hiking destinations such as the village of Akchour and El Kalaa.
Waterfalls of Akchour – Around 33km from the center of Chefchaouen, a site known for its beautiful waterfall, pure green nature, and water sources.
Jebel Al- Kalaa- A rather tough hike up the Kalaa mountain, one of the highest peaks of the Rif. This hike will take you 6-8h and might be challenging since the path is not very well laid out, so I would recommend having a guide with you. But from the top the views are incredible and totally worth it!
Nature around Chefchaouen
After spending some time in the beautiful Chefchaouen, head back to Casablanca (assuming your flight is from there). The easiest way is to get by car; the ride will be around 5h, but you could also take a 3h flight from Tangier.
As you arrive to Casablanca and before leaving the country, I recommend having a meal at the Rick’s café. This place was designed to recreate the bar made famous from the movie Casablanca. The décor is traditional but gorgeous, the food is characterized by an abundance of sea food, and the atmosphere is very relaxing with nice background music. Definitely a great way to end your Morocco trip!
I hope you enjoyed!
