Those of you who follow me on Instagram know about my recent trip to Morocco. Those of you who read my posts on the FrugalTravelGuy also know that I didn’t have the best time getting there, but I wasn’t going to let a missed flight ruin my time in Morocco.
The 11-day visit was my first. I’m not a fan of bouncing around too many cities and prefer to spend at least a few days in each place, but because I didn’t have much time in the country, I wanted see as much as possible.
Tangier
As soon as our flight landed in Casablanca, my friend and I took a night train to Tangier, a port city in the north. Although not the largest maze we saw on the trip, the hillside medina, or old town, is still a maze of winding alleys. Many people there speak Spanish, so my semi-decent language skills came in handy when haggling with taxi drivers. What really impressed me, though, was the abundance of rooftops terraces all over the city, which isn’t surprising given its slanted position on the shore. The city is best viewed from the top while enjoying chicken tagine or mint tea.
Chefchaouen
Chefchaouen is located in the Rif Mountains, about a three-and-a-half-hour bus ride from Tangier. Perched on the benches, the town doesn’t look like much from the outside. However, once inside the medina, the town is mesmerizing with its many hues of blue on every wall and every door. Every turn allows for another oohh and aahh, and the more corners you round, the more speechless you are at the end of the day. Chefchaouen in general is more relaxed than other Moroccan towns and was definitely my favorite stop.
Fez
Fez’s UNESCO-protected medina is the most confusing part of the city, and you will get lost no matter what. It didn’t help that my Simple Choice Plan from T-Mobile didn’t offer data coverage in Morocco, which meant no Google Maps to rely on when finding your way in the narrow streets. My friend and I hired a tour guide for the day who showed us around the medina, its gorgeous mosaics, a carpet co-op and a tannery where I became I proud owner of two leather poufs (but not without some serous haggling).
Sahara Desert Tour
From Fez, we departed on a three-day, two-night tour that took us to a cedar forest near Azrou where we saw monkeys up close, sand dunes near Merzouga where we camped overnight, Ziz valley and its gorgeous never-ending oasis, the gorges of the Dades valley, the centuries-old Kasbah at Aït Benhaddou where “Gladiator” and “Game of Thrones” were filmed, and Marrakech where our tour ended. We slept in the Sahara Desert, rode camels and witnessed some of the most beautiful mountain scenery Morocco has to offer. I had no idea the country was so picturesque.
Marrakech
After the desert tour, my friend and I spent the rest of our time in Morocco in Marrakech. The hustle and bustle of the town’s main square, Jemaa el-Fnaa, is quite a spectacle. To say that it’s busy is to say nothing. During the day, the square is occupied by snake charmers and monkey trainers. In the evening, the square is occupied by food stalls, street performers and every tourist in Marrakech. I almost got a henna tattoo without even noticing!
Because Marrakech was the last stop, it is also where I put my haggling skills to the test and got most of my shopping done. The souks, or markets, are full of merchandise: teapots, spices, carpets, shoes, jewelry, wooden crafts, ceramic bowls and plates—you name it. You can find it all!
Costs
Morocco is an inexpensive country to travel to, and I didn’t need to use any points to cover any nights. Most lodging at a riad, or a guesthouse, costs around $12 per person. Food is about $5 per meal, and a big water bottle from a shop is about 75 cents. Bus rides between cities are under $10, trains around $15, and taxi rides around $2. Our desert tour was the only large expense compared to the other costs. Depending on how much merchandise your luggage allows you to buy, you can take a frugal trip to Morocco with memories to last a lifetime.
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