Morocco Itinerary 5 Days
Planning a short trip to Morocco? If you’re heading to this incredible country for a few days, here’s what you should do to make the most of your trip. In this 5 day-itinerary in Morocco, you’ll get the best – as well as a fun Sahara desert experience.
Before we dive into this itinerary – you should know that we did this trip with Morocco Traveling. This agency organized our Morocco tour so we didn’t have to organize anything. We could sit back, relax and make the most of it. It made our trip very easy, fun and positive. I would highly recommend it.
Day 1: Marrakesh
Most people heading to the Sahara will probably have to stop by Marrakesh. This city is also known as the “red city” for its vivid colors. The whole city is actually pink and it’s absolutely beautiful. There’s not so much to do around Marrakesh, but it’s likely to be your departure point for your trip to the desert.
In my case, I landed at Marrakesh Airport which was ideal for my trip to the Sahara considering I was going to visit Morocco for a short period of time (5 days).
After checking in at Riad Mouna, we went to explore the Square Jamaâ El-Fna. In this square, you can find restaurants as well as merchants who sell food and drinks. You’ll see snakes, monkeys, donkeys, tuk-tuk, motorbikes – it’s a very busy square. If you’re staying in Marrakesh longer – read more about where to stay in Marrakesh.
The square is surrounded by markets (also called Souks). As you walk across the tiny streets, it’s very easy to get lost, so make sure you download an offline map before you venture into the markets. After a couple of hours of walking around, taking photos, while observing the locals and shopping, we decided to head to the Café de France to have a bite. The views from the rooftop were excellent. On the horizon, you can spot the Atlas mountains.
Then, we went for dinner in another area, called la Place des Ferblantiers. There were a few restaurants with rooftops around. We picked one and we enjoyed the views during the sunset.
Day 2: Marrakesh to Rose Valley
On our second day, we woke up early to start our journey to the Sahara. We stopped many times along the way to enjoy the viewpoints and appreciate our surroundings. On the way to the Sahara, we went through the high Atlas mountains.
We also visited the famous village Ait Ben Haddou where many movies were filmed. We had lunch in this area while admiring the views. We made a quick spot in Ouarzazate and then we finally reached our destination – the Rose Valley. This region is known for its rose festival.
When we reached our Riad, we were welcomed with tea and snacks. We then relaxed in the garden and we had a nice dinner. In fact, this dinner was full of delicious dishes – our favorites in Morocco.
Day 3: Rose Valley to the Sahara Desert
Once more, we had a few stops along the way. We stopped in Dades Valley as well as Todra Gorges. We also stopped in a Berber village to buy clothes and to try typical outfits. It was a funny experience.
After many hours driving in direction of the Sahara Desert, we finally started to see the sand dunes. It was quite impressive. I’ve been sand dunes before, but these ones were like “next level”. We kept driving and driving in the direction of the desert. When we reached our destination, we saw the dromedaries waiting for us. These sand dunes are located in Erg Chebbi.
Before you read the following part, I’d like to share some thoughts with you. I’ve been wondering myself if it’s ethical to ride camels/dromedaries. In many places in North Africa, as well as Australia, camel riding seems to be a popular activity amongst tourists. It brings money to the local communities and it adds to the “experience”. So if you are wondering, I did it – and I did feel bad about it. In the meantime, I enjoyed the experience, but if you aren’t sure about riding a camel, you can read more about it here to help you make a decision. Also, you can check the camels first before choosing to ride one – does the camel look healthy and well taken care of, how old is he, etc. Answers to these questions could help you make a decision. I was feeling a bit uncomfortable about this, and now that I educated myself about it, I know what to look for next time. In fact, I might skip it next time. I’d rather go explore the dunes on a quad bike or give a go to sandboarding again.
So – yes – we did ride dromedaries. We reached the top of a sand dune, and we sat to watch the sunset. The views were stunning, the sand dunes were impressive and – we had the best time. We also had the opportunity to try sandboarding. Let’s just say that the boyfriend was better than me.
After the sunset, we headed back to the camp where we were welcomed with tea and snacks. We met a few other travelers and we finally entered our luxury tent. Imagine a hotel room in a tent – and you got it. It was definitely the most luxurious camping experience I’ve ever had. We even had a hot shower as well as a decent toilet. You can find more info about Dihya Desert Camp here.
We had a nice dinner in the camp followed by a bonfire. The staff and our guides played Berber music. It was a nice evening.
Day 4 – The Sahara Desert to Marrakesh
We set our alarm for 5h30am. We were not going to miss that sunrise experience in the Sahara Desert. As we ventured outside our tent, we found a very dark sky full of stars. It was pretty impressive. We walked along the sand dunes with a torch and we sat – waiting for the sun to rise.
It was cold, windy, sandy. We were getting impatient and we were so ready to see the sunrise. We waited for a while. Eventually, the light and the sun showed up.
Then, we walked back to the camp where breakfast was waiting for us. We packed our bag and we were ready – not ready – to hit the road again.
Tip: You should stay in the Sahara Desert for at least two nights. It’s pretty far so it’s worth the longer stay. Also, the desert brings a lot of calm and peace. I wish I had more time to soak these desert vibes in.
The ride back to Marrakesh was long. We stopped for lunch and for coffee along the way. We got to Marrakesh in the evening right on time for dinner.
Day 5: Marrakesh
The last day in Marrakesh also meant that it was our last opportunity for Moroccan food. We had breakfast at the Riad and then we had a nice lunch. We also went for a little shopping session in the market before our departure.
If you’re planning on visiting Morocco, you should keep a few key points in mind. These could help you plan your journey but more importantly, it will help you make the most of your trip.
FAQ – Everything you need to know about Morocco
Do you need a visa?
You should make sure to check if you need a visa to visit Morocco. As a Canadian, I didn’t need a visa to visit Morocco.
Is Morocco worth visiting?
Absolutely! We had the best time visiting Morocco. From food to culture, from mountains to the desert, there’s so much to see in this country.
Is 5 days in Morocco enough?
It was not enough for us. I’ll have to go back to Morocco to see more. (And I can’t wait.)
How many days in Morocco is enough?
Depending on how many cities you’d like to see, you might want to go to Morocco for a minimum of 10 days. Personally, I think that two weeks is a great idea. Distances between cities can be quite big.
Is it safe to travel in Morocco in 2019?
For some reason, Morocco has, sometimes, a bad reputation when it comes to safety. Having a tour was a great way for us to enjoy the country without having to take care of everything. Having a local guide was brilliant - we could learn more about the culture by asking questions. He would also help us to negotiate prices when we wanted to buy things. If you’re a female traveler, you might want to keep in mind that Morocco is conservative, so you should bring clothes to cover yourself. I did this in the cities to avoid unwanted attention. I didn’t feel any disrespect and I also felt more comfortable this way. That being said, I felt safe in Morocco.
When is the best time to visit Morocco?
The best time to visit Morocco is normally before or after the summer as it can get quite hot otherwise. April or May, as well as September to November, is a good time to go to Morocco. Although, there’s no such thing as a bad timing.
BEFORE YOU GO TO MOROCCO
☑ Book your flight: If your flight isn’t booked yet – check out the flights on Skyscanner or via Google Flights. My top saving tip is flexibility. If you’re flexible, you should be able to find a cheaper flight.
☑ Book your accommodation: I always use Airbnb and Booking.com. If you’d rather stay in a hostel, you should take a look at the options on Hostelworld. If you click on the Airbnb link and you don’t have an account yet – you’ll get a $30 discount on your first booking.
☑ Protect your cute face: Oh, you may want to protect your cute face with a travel medical insurance. I would suggest SafetyWing as they offer the best rates, especially for long-term travelers. Otherwise, you can also take a look at World Nomads.
☑ Pack the essentials: You can consult this list when it’s time to pack your bag! Do not leave without a universal charger, a power bank and your passport!
☑ Do you need a visa? If you aren’t sure if you need a visa, it would be a smart idea to take a quick look before you go. You can use iVisa – it’s super useful and easy to use.
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