For a week-long trip starting from Marrakech with a rental car, if you had to choose between these two loops, which one would you go for and why?
1) Marrakech - Ouarzazate - Dades Gorges - Merzouga - Marrakech (map itinerary)
2) Marrakech - Ouarzazate - Dades Gorges - Zagora - Marrakech (map itinerary)
Important info: this is for mid-February, so nights will be cold.
For option 1, we’re thinking of staying in a "solid" hotel in Merzouga rather than camping in a tent without heating (our 10-year-old might not like that ^^). If you’ve got any experience to share about cold winter nights in the desert while camping, that’d be super helpful!
Zagora isn’t worth it in terms of desert—you need to go all the way to Mahmid to reach the dunes.
Search this forum’s engine (top right) for "Mahmid or Merzouga"—you’ll find discussions about the tough choice between the two spots.
Stay in a hostel or a bivouac?
At Merzouga, I really enjoy doing one of each! It lets you take the time to live at the village’s pace instead of just "consuming" the dunes in express mode. Stroll through the palm grove, wander the village, head to Khamlia (the Gnawa village)—all with the dunes always in sight. I love it!
Standard bivouac nights *are* cold, but it’s a very dry cold. The blankets do their job perfectly.
Otherwise, I think the rooms in "luxury camps" have heating (yes, it’s a bit odd...).
Thanks so much! Yeah, it was either the dunes (Merzouga) or more the Draa Valley (so not going all the way to M'hamid, since the route itself seems to be gorgeous).
What do you think about each of the routes in terms of distance for a week? We’ve got the travel times from Google Maps, but I’m not sure if they’re realistic (or if it takes double the time once you’re there).
I’ll keep your preference for the Merzouga route in mind!
Thanks
Don’t trust the travel times shown on Google Maps—they don’t account for the many villages that almost every road passes through, or the mountain curves...
Plan for an average speed of about 50-60 km/h.
What really takes time isn’t just the driving, but all the stops you’ll want to make! :-) It’s beautiful everywhere...
The Draa Valley is stunning, and I think it’s a shame to stop at Zagora. Even if you don’t want to explore the dunes, it’s worth going toward Mhamid (special mention for the village of Tamegroute and the Djane Dar Diafa hostel).
But I know the Merzouga area much better, and I never get tired of the road from Marrakech to Merzouga: diverse landscapes, plenty of interesting stops and visits along the way.
If you’re unsure about a bivouac in the dunes, opt for a night in a hostel first, and you can decide on the spot whether to spend a second night in a bivouac (every hostel has its own dunes camp—you’ll see if your daughter feels like giving it a try).
Thanks! I’d also like to push on to M’Hamid, but we only have a week and the itinerary already feels pretty ambitious, so I think we have to choose between going as far as Merzouga OR Zagora and even M’Hamid—but in that case, we won’t do the desert (not enough time). So it comes down to choosing between Merzouga and the dunes or the Draa Valley all the way to M’Hamid.
That’s a personal choice.
On the other hand, I’d love to hear your thoughts on whether either of these routes is doable in such a short time. I wouldn’t want to get there and realize we could’ve stopped every half hour to discover amazing things!
I’m not really a fan of Merzouga—it’s become a bit of a theme park. Not necessarily unpleasant, but if you're looking for a true desert vibe, you’ll need earplugs...
In November, it gets really cold at night in the desert and the mountains. During the day, it was fine.
Maybe you’ll find some ideas in this travel journal?
There’s also a dune not too far from Zagora. It’s more like the Dune of Pilat than a real desert, but it’s still fun, especially at 10 years old.
Édifices religieux : concours de photos amical d'août 2026
Rubrique Jeux Voyages
C'est le moment de voter !
if you go for Marrakech-Merzouga:
a full week (6 or 7 full days) works really well for this round-trip route.
Ideally 6 nights: 2 nights on the way there, 2 in Merzouga, and 2 on the way back.
Worthwhile stops along the way: Ait BenHaddou, Skoura, the Dades Gorge, Tineghir.
For the return trip, you could take a different route via Nkob and Agdz.
I can’t give you much advice on that stretch—I don’t know it well enough.
In one week, you have to choose—either Merzouga or Mhamid.
Personally, I’d go for Merzouga. It’s accessible by car, and there are several interesting spots along the way. The return trip is quicker via the southern route Almif–Nkob. A really nice stop is Camp Serdrar near Tazzarine. From there, a new road (still not marked on maps) lets you reach the Draa Valley at Zagora.
hi there
one week isn’t much, but it’s enough to do the stunning route: Marrakech, Aït Benhaddou, Dades, Merzouga, and back via Nkob and the Draa Valley!
personally, I’m staying at the Oasis hostel in Hassilabied, 3 km before Merzouga!
way more peaceful! Right at the foot of the dunes and next to the oasis!
spend a night in a bivouac—it’s always an amazing experience!
there are always blankets!
have a great trip
francia
le mérite d'un homme réside dans sa connaissance et dans ses actes et non point dans la couleur de sa peau ou de sa religion!
Khalil Gibran
I’ve been going to Merzouga for 20 years. I’ve also seen the changes—some not so great—in this area. It’s clear I won’t see the Milky Way like I did 20 years ago, nor will I hear that sweet nighttime silence in the middle of the dunes. Even the hostel professionals have lost some of their spontaneity: for the most part, their activities have become very professionalized, with a well-oiled organization.
I went on a bivouac in 2021—I hadn’t been in 7 or 8 years.
And I tried the luxury bivouac... NEVER AGAIN!
Taking "dream" photos in the dunes was really complicated. In fact, I let go and opted for photos that showed the reality: quads and 4x4s far outnumbering camels (and much noisier, of course), questionable safety since some drive like maniacs, tire tracks from quads and 4x4s everywhere in the dunes. At sunset, there’s a constant back-and-forth of 4x4s looking for the best spot for the view (and as a result, 4x4s parked at the top of every dune...).
Those who edit promotional flyers about the dream night in the Merzouga Desert must be using old or doctored photos...
But I still go to Merzouga—to see friends in the village and to enjoy the area (dunes, palm grove in Merzouga, but also Rissani, Khamlia...). During the day, Merzouga is relatively quiet; most tourists are still on the road, not yet arrived. And honestly, my favorite moments in Merzouga over the past 20 years have been in the village, with the dunes as a permanent backdrop. And that’s just fine with me.
For someone who wants to "experience" the desert at a more natural pace, I’d recommend Mauritania or Algeria instead. But it’s also more demanding in terms of organization (and cost). Otherwise, well... Merzouga for a quick desert experience has become perfect (unfortunately for the area).
I’ve been going to Merzouga for 20 years. I’ve also seen the changes—some not so great—in this area. It’s clear I won’t see the Milky Way like I did 20 years ago, nor will I hear that sweet nighttime silence in the middle of the dunes. Even the hostel professionals have lost some of their spontaneity: for the most part, their activities have become very professionalized, with a well-oiled organization.
I went on a bivouac in 2021—I hadn’t been in 7 or 8 years.
And I tried the luxury bivouac... NEVER AGAIN!
Taking "dream" photos in the dunes was really complicated. In fact, I let go and opted for photos that showed the reality: quads and 4x4s far more numerous than camels (and much noisier, of course), safety very questionable since some drive like maniacs, quad and 4x4 tire tracks everywhere in the dunes; at sunset, a constant coming and going of 4x4s looking for the best spot for the view (and as a result, 4x4s parked on top of every dune...).
Those who edit promotional flyers about the dream night in the Merzouga Desert must be using old or doctored photos...
But I still go to Merzouga—to see friends in the village and to enjoy the area (dunes, palm grove in Merzouga, but also Rissani, Khamlia...). During the day, Merzouga is relatively quiet; most tourists are on the roads, not yet arrived. And really, my favorite moments in Merzouga over the past 20 years have been in the village, with the dunes as a permanent backdrop. And that’s just fine with me.
For someone who wants to "experience" the desert at a pace that suits it, I’d recommend Mauritania or Algeria instead. But it’s also more demanding in terms of organization (and cost). Otherwise, well... Merzouga for a quick desert fix has become perfect (unfortunately for the area).
Murielle
Okay, thanks Murielle, but what we’re looking for is different. I don’t see myself just enjoying the village with the dunes in the background, and we don’t have friends in the village ;)
On the other hand, we travel a lot, and everywhere we go, we avoid tourist traps. We’re obviously tourists ourselves, but not the "American-style" kind. For example, it wouldn’t occur to me to ride a quad in the desert. What you describe with the 4x4s and quads scares us, especially since we’ve changed our plans and will be going in April (peak season)!
The desert south of M’Hamid appealed to us more for that reason, but you have to drive all the way there and then another 2 hours from the last village to the dunes. That’s not really compatible with our 7-day schedule.
But I’ll start another thread because not only are we going in April, but we’ll also have 10 days. I hope to get your insights from everyone on our next post ;) Thanks
On the way out: Skoura and Tinghir.
On the way back: Dadès Valley and Ait Benhaddou.
Might as well take the opportunity to explore a few sites along this route.
Hello.
Without any hesitation, avoid Merzouga!
A great idea is to head to Mhamid (MRK, Aït Ben Haddou, Zagora) after getting in touch with Phil, who has a fantastic campsite just before Mhamid. He’ll organize a two-day trip for you with a night in the Chegaga desert (it’s not a touristy thing) and then you’ll head back up to MRK.
Phil is incredibly committed to the local community—he runs his place in a remarkable way and has nothing to do with the "money-grabbers" in Merzouga or some of the other "hotel owners" in Mhamid.
Phil is active on this forum (@Distran), and his campsite, "Esprit Désert," is in Oulad Driss, just before Mhamid and near the stunning abandoned village of Bou Nou (worth visiting).
You can find his contact details online.
PS: Just to clarify, Phil is French, so communication is easy.
Qui boit l'eau d'une terre étrangère doit en suivre les coutumes (proverbe Mongol)
The desert south of M'Hamid appealed to us more for that reason, but you have to drive all the way down there and then another 2 hours from the last village to the dunes. Not really compatible with our 7-day timeline.
Hi there,
That’s exactly why I mentioned the benefit of pushing on to Mhamid if you’re heading to Zagora.
See you soon on your other thread! :-)
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Bonjour
Nous pensons nous rendre en Égypte durant la période 25 janvier/ 15 février 2027 . J'ai cherché les dates du Ramadan et trouvé des sites qui annoncent le 8 février et d'autres qui annoncent le 18 février... Ou est l'erreur?
Merci
Christian
Avant toute chose: un grand merci à tous ceux dont on peut savourer les posts éclairés, marrants, vivants, dépaysants... Un bonheur de trouver de si jolies plumes sur ce forum, qui m'ont donné une foultitude d'idées et d'adresses pour préparer notre voyage.
Notre projet: sillonner le Maroc du 2 novembre au 4 déc. Nous aurons notre propre véhicule (Renault GrandScenic 2011, en très bon état), embarqué avec nous de Sète à TangerMed. Retour depuis Nador.
Notre profil: 75 et 62 étés, donc vieux mais contents de l'être, en très bonne santé. Habitués au voyage - c'est même toute notre vie. Amis des beaux paysages, des vieilles pierres, de l'artisanat soigné et des road trips. Ce sera mon 3e séjour au Maroc, mais le 1 et 2 remontent à 20 ans et 17 ans. Je ne suis jamais allée plus au nord que la ligne Essaouira-Marrakech (mais plus au sud, oui). Quant à mon mari, expat toute sa vie y.c. en pays musulmans, c'est sa première fois au Maroc.
C'est lui qui conduit. Il est très expérimenté, prudent, pas forcément rapide, mais habitué à la conduite dans tous les états (et Etats, yc les plus créatifs sur la route). Mais je ne veux pas le fatiguer et il ne conduit plus de nuit (et on sera en novembre).
J'ai pris le parti de lui faire voir un peu de tout en faisant un road-trip par de belles petites routes, avec des trajets en moyenne de 180-200 km/jour (sauf si autoroute, mais ce sera rare), régulièrement entrecoupés de jours de pause. Je compte une vitesse de 40 à 50 km/h, plus arrêts/visites sur le trajet.
Comme j'ai bien tout lu plein de posts, j'en arrive à des questions assez précises.
1) En provenance directe de Rabat par autoroute, nous préférons zapper Marrakech*. Néanmoins, il faudra bien dormir quelque part autour. On partira le lendemain direction Skoura. Quelqu'un aurait-il une adresse bien positionnée pour ce trajet, év. à l'est de Marrakech ? Nous recherchons idéalement dans une petite ville, facile à se garer, un hébergement propre (minimum) au confort moyen (ou plus si ça se trouve), un peu chauffé et si possible joli et/ou sympa - mais il s'agit avant tout de bien dormir, de se laver à l'eau tiède (idéalement chaude) et de dîner correctement.
(*Explication du "no-go" à Marrakech: certes c'est malheureux, parce qu'il y a de bien belles choses dans cette ville, mais je crois que l'ambiance ne va pas nous plaire - c'est un euphémisme pour "nous rebuter" / "nous faire fuir" / "nous traumatiser". Pas parce qu'il y a trop de monde et qu'on veut se distinguer des touristes, alors qu'on en fait partie, mais parce que le henné forcé sur votre main qu'on attrape, ou passer 10' tous les quarts d'heure à dire "non merci" à un guide, qui est autant guide que moi trapéziste, nous connaissant ça va nous faire du mal. Or, le pays est bien assez vaste et beau, et notre temps bien trop court, pour aller gâcher nos souvenirs quelques jours à peine après l'arrivée. Et je ne veux pas insulter l'avenir en braquant mon paisible époux, sinon il exigera de faire demi-tour et Sète en novembre, ça ne m'emballe pas plus que ça).
2) Quelle route direction Skoura (en 2 jours) ? Je vois 2 possibilités: soit par le col du Tichka, avec nuit à Telouet avant de rejoindre Skoura, soit par la R307/N23 depuis Demnate, avec nuit vers Megdaz avant descente à Skoura. Alors: col du Tichka ou R307/N23 ? J'ai un petit (grand) faible pour la 2e option, même si je sais que l'autre route est très belle aussi. Evidemment, avant de décider, on se renseignera sur la météo et l'état actuel de la R307/N23 - d'ailleurs, quelqu'un sait où obtenir l'info sur l'état de la route ? Mais même en admettant que la route "passe" bien, n'est-elle pas en soi un peu trop pénible ? Bref, est-ce bien raisonnable ? Si une bonne âme veut bien partager son expérience, mille merci d'avance.
Voilà, j'en ai assez écrit. Je laisse les autres questions pour d'autres posts. Encore merci à ceux qui ont eu la patience de me lire et à ceux qui pourront répondre. Joyeux dimanche à tous
Avec nos deux ados, nous allons passer deux semaines au Maroc à la fin décembre-début janvier. Ce sera notre premier voyage plus "dépaysant", bien que nous ayons visité plusieurs pays jusqu'à maintenant. Vu l'abondance d'infos, je suis plutôt overwhelmed avec la préparation que ce voyage exige et j'avoue être un peu perdue quant à évaluer ce qui est réaliste de visiter ou pas en 2 semaines 😕 Tous vos conseils, retour d'expériences et suggestions sont donc ici les bienvenus!
- Quels endroits seraient à privilégier à cette période de l'année (j'ai vu que certains endroits étaient moins accessibles en hiver?)
- Préférable de circuler de quelle façon ? (location d'auto, train, transport privé, autobus, etc.? -- à noter que nous aurons tout de même quelques valises!)
- Niveau "sécurité", des zones à éviter?
- Des suggestions de compagnies touristiques fiables (outre les grosses bannières de type "get your guide") qui offrent des excursions, ou encore des transports privés pour nous permettre de découvrir le pays?
- Un itinéraire jouable en 2 semaines sans devoir changer d'hébergement aux 2 jours et apprécier la diversité du pays?
I’m planning a trip to the High Atlas in Morocco and have a few questions for you:
- Why do so many people recommend avoiding international agencies for car rentals? Can anyone explain why?
- Is Booking.com reliable, and has anyone rented a vehicle through their service? There’s a pretty big price difference compared to local Moroccan agencies.
- Is there a detailed road map included in the rental car?
- Is Google Maps enough to get around the High Atlas? This will be my first trip there.
Thanks so much to anyone who can help with this destination I’ve been dreaming about for years.
Have a great evening,
Roberto
hi there, I’m heading to Tunisia 🙂 from April 27 to May 8 with my family. I’ve read through the various discussions about the country, but I’m still a bit unsure🤪: for currency exchange, I saw on the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs website that withdrawing currency with a bank card from ATMs is limited to 200 TND per week. There are four of us traveling by car, so that might be a bit tight! And it’s a hassle to carry a lot of cash, even if I’m not being paranoid! What do you all recommend?
Cheers,
Laurent.
I was wondering if it’s possible to join a group as a solo traveler with local agencies in Djanet for circuits like Tadrart, Essendilene, Sefar, or Tassili?
If you have any agencies to recommend, I’d love to hear about them.
I didn’t find any info on the forum.
Best,
We're planning a 2-week trip in late February/early March for a road trip in the High Atlas with a rental car, and we'd love to avoid booking our accommodations in advance. Is that doable, easily manageable, or risky (are accommodations available, expensive, or not great)? Thanks for your tips!
Annie
Hi,
This autumn, we’re planning to explore the Oriental region and we’re wondering where the best place to land would be. We’ll have three weeks ahead of us and we’ll be renting a car.
Any tips would be much appreciated. Thanks.
Is there an official website or list of certified Egyptologist guides in Egypt? And most importantly, what are the normal prices for a full day or half day? There’s so much scamming and crazy pricing—depending on who you contact, it can range from simple to quadruple!!!!
Thanks
Hi everyone,
We're leaving in early October 2026 and planning to travel from the Aït Bougmez Valley ("Happy Valley") to Skoura/Ouarzazate via Demnate and the R307/N23 route.
Has anyone taken this road recently? Is it passable with a regular car (non-4x4), or is a 4x4 absolutely necessary? Are there any ongoing construction projects or degraded sections to be aware of?
Thanks in advance for your feedback!
Hello,
In September, my wife and I, along with another couple, will be traveling to Tunisia and staying at the Sheherasade Hotel near Sousse.
We’d love to hear your recommendations or tips on places to visit, as well as advice on taxis or other transportation options.
Thanks in advance!
This autumn’s trip should be in Morocco—barring any geopolitical issues between now and then.
After many trips to the south of Fès, I’m giving the north a try.
My plan is roughly to do a road trip loop from Rabat back to Rabat, passing through Asilah, Tangier, Tétouan, Chefchaouen, Akchour, Fès, Meknès, and Volubilis.
That’s a lot of cities.
Probably a bit too many for our taste—we usually prefer more isolated spots...
So I’m looking for tips on little backroads, secluded beaches, half-day hikes, and offbeat places.
If you’ve also got recommendations for accommodation... (We’re open to splurging over 100 € if it’s a real favorite.)
Feel free to think outside the box—this is an open-ended plan! !😉
Hello,
I’m looking for testimonials from Pieds-Noirs who have recently returned to Algeria.
There can’t be many left after 65 years of the country’s independence.
I’m planning to go back myself soon to reconnect with my roots... before I pass away...
I’ve started making a few pre-bookings for hotels and apartments to rent in Algiers. At first, I received friendly and welcoming responses. Then, when I mentioned I wanted to stay for two or three weeks—maybe even a month—explaining that my trip wouldn’t be strictly touristy but more of a pilgrimage to the places of my childhood, and that it would likely be a very emotional journey, I expected a positive and warm reaction to my approach. Instead, I suddenly stopped getting replies from the three or four people I’d contacted. So now I’m wondering about the reception former Pieds-Noirs can expect...
Anyone here who can share their experience of returning? I specified “recently” because it seems that right now, diplomatic relations between the two governments are extremely tense, not to say hostile... even if Macron claims otherwise...
Hello,
I’m traveling to Algeria from October 27 to November 16, 2026.
I’d love to hear from anyone who’s been through the process about the accommodation attestation required for the visa application:
- Does it need to cover the entire duration of the trip?
- Is this document mandatory for a hotel to rent a room?
- Is it checked during inspections?
- Is a hotel booking (e.g., via Booking.com) sufficient for the visa?
- If so, does it need to be paid in advance?
I plan to visit several cities and do one or more treks with a guide or agency.
If you have any contacts you’d recommend, I’d be grateful!
Also, I’d love to share this trip with a companion who’s already done some traveling.
We’d organize the journey together, of course.
Thanks for your feedback!
Safe travels to all,
Dom, Dijon, 64 years old
I’m leaving for Tunisia in five weeks for a full 15-day trip. I’ll be arriving in Monastir and departing from there as well.
I’d like to do a route that’s a bit different from my first stay, which was more focused on cities and culture (Tunis, Sousse, Kairouan, El Jem).
I’ll be getting around by public transport.
I’d like to head south toward Tozeur, and I saw that you can take a *louage* from Monastir to Sbeitla (2h30). I imagine it’s not too complicated to get to Tozeur from there afterward? The issue is the return trip to Monastir and safety in Sbeitla.
If this route seems too complicated, I might opt for Djerba instead, which looks simpler.
I’m heading to Morocco in September 2026, and part of my trip takes me through Merzouga. I’m looking for a 4x4 driver-guide to explore the area with my partner and me.
Even though I come to Morocco four times a year, it’s been a long time since I’ve made the trip by car. I need to refresh my knowledge! I’ll be traveling in early October. I have a car that’s about 20 years old. The plan is to cross via Algeciras/Ceuta.
A few questions:
1) Does this crossing still exist? If so, do I need to buy the ticket in advance or on the spot? From whom? Any advice is welcome!
2) What documents are required for the car?
3) If anyone is making the trip around the same time, it could be fun to drive together 😊
Hi there,
I’m looking for some friendly recommendations for places to stay in Marrakech for 3 nights in June 2026.
In the meantime, have a great day, everyone! Thanks so much in advance.
I’m reaching out to gather your thoughts on an itinerary (10 days... or more?) I’d like to do at the beginning of June 🙂.
Just so you know, I’m planning to do this trip solo (25 years old), using only public transport and just a backpack. I’ve already been to Marrakech and climbed Mount Toubkal two years ago...
I’ll be arriving in Tangier.
Day 1-2: Explore the city center, hike around Cap Spartel...
Day 3: Stop in Tetouan
Day 4-5-6: Chefchaouen and a day hike in the Rif Mountains
Day 6-7: Discover the city of Fes (I’ve heard so many great things!!)
Day 8: Stop in Meknes and possibly visit the historic site of Volubilis
Day 9-10: Rabat (I’ve heard mixed things... some good, some bad)
After that, I have the choice of heading back to Tangier for my return flight... or going down to Agadir (also a possible return flight) and extending my trip by 5 days :)
From what I can tell, everything is well connected by bus (CTM) or train (ONCF).
Another question: Is the vibe in Moroccan youth hostels for meeting people the same as what you’d find in Western Europe?
Thanks in advance for your replies and your kindness! 😊
Tickets for entry to Majorelle Garden are only issued online via an official site
(though there are fraudulent sites out there). On the official site, they ask for legitimate info
(name, nationality, etc.). What made me go "hmm" was the request for both an email address
AND a password (with confirmation). Is this normal?
Thanks for your replies.
Hi there, a group of girlfriends and I are heading to Tunisia. We’d love to know how much cash we should bring for 6 days, considering everything’s already paid for at the hotel. Thanks for your tips!
I’m finalizing the loop I’d like to do in May over 13 days, starting and ending in Essaouira.
We’re planning to rent a vehicle and are pretty active—we’re not really into crowds (that’s why I’ve decided to skip Marrakech).
Here’s my proposed itinerary:
Trip Proposal Summary:
From May 13 (morning arrival) to May 26 (morning departure)
Arrival and departure: Essaouira
Day 1 (May 13): Arrival in Essaouira – Settling in / Exploring / Rest
Day 2 (May 14): Essaouira – Water activities
Day 3 (May 15): Essaouira to Tafraoute (~5h30) – route via Agadir – arrival and first exploration; Question: Is a detour to Taroudant worth considering?
Day 4 (May 16): Tafraoute – Hike in the granite rocks – wild bivouac
Day 5 (May 17): Tafraoute – Aït Mansour gorges – oasis – night in a hostel
Day 6 (May 18): Tafraoute → Foum Zguid (~5h) – transition route – simple overnight or bivouac
Day 7 (May 19): Foum Zguid → Zagora (~3h) – Draa Valley – desert prep
Day 8 (May 20): Zagora → M'Hamid El Ghizlane → Erg Chigaga – departure with 4x4 guide – entering the dunes – bivouac
Day 9 (May 21): Erg Chigaga – full desert day – walking, exploring – bivouac
Day 10 (May 22): Desert → Ouarzazate (~5–6h) – leaving the desert – rest
Day 11 (May 23): Aït Benhaddou – early visit – short hike – overnight stay
Day 12 (May 24): Aït Benhaddou → Telouet – route toward the Atlas – start of trek – bivouac
Day 13 (May 25): Atlas → Essaouira (~5–6h) – end of trek – return to Essaouira (overnight)
Day 14 (May 26): Essaouira – free time + return flight
What do you think?
I aimed for an excursion to the Chigaga desert from M’Hamid because it seems less touristy and allows for a more compact loop. Is that a good idea? Is the drive to M’Hamid maybe too tedious?
Open to your great tips if there’s room for optimization!
A lot of people find it important to stick to their budget when traveling—not to skimp, but to visit as many places as possible since traveling is their hobby.
In this post, I want to share some tips for those coming to Morocco who want their trip to be budget-friendly.
1. Prebook everything: hotels or riads, car rentals, or tours. If you book these in advance, it’ll make your life easier. You won’t have to deal with hagglers or people trying to overcharge you for services that are available online for free. Use platforms like Booking, Expedia, carsrental.ma, Airbnb, and other booking services to get this done properly.
2. Exchange your money to Moroccan dirhams as soon as you land. 1 € is always a little over 10 dirhams, but many people get charged as if it were exactly 10 dirhams per euro.
3. When visiting an old site or the old medina, avoid talking to vendors and shop owners—they’re really good at getting your attention and making you overpay for things.
4. Ask your tour guide to buy things for you. Yes, they do get a commission, but you’ll probably pay way more if you buy something yourself that they can get cheaply.
5. Walk everywhere. You don’t need a taxi for every little trip. Pick a good location and walk—most Moroccan cities are safe during normal hours.
6. Buy your food, drinks, etc., from supermarkets at normal prices. They can’t overcharge you since they scan every product.
