With our two teens, we’re heading to Morocco for two weeks at the end of December and beginning of January. It’ll be our first trip that’s more "off the beaten path," even though we’ve visited several countries before. Given the overwhelming amount of info, I’m feeling a bit swamped with the prep this trip requires, and I’ll admit I’m a little lost when it comes to figuring out what’s realistic to visit in two weeks 😕 So, all your tips, personal experiences, and suggestions are more than welcome!
- Which places should we prioritize during this time of year? (I’ve read that some spots are less accessible in winter?)
- What’s the best way to get around? (rental car, train, private transport, buses, etc.? — just a heads-up, we’ll have a few suitcases!)
- In terms of "safety," are there any areas to avoid?
- Any recommendations for reliable local tour companies (beyond the big names like "Get Your Guide") that offer excursions or private transport to help us explore the country?
- A doable 2-week itinerary that lets us enjoy the country’s diversity without having to change accommodations every two days?
good evening
I imagine you’ll get plenty of answers...
But it’s hard to respond since you don’t say where you’re landing—Mohamed V Airport in Casablanca? You could rent a car or take a flight to Agadir. Normally, the weather’s great there all year, and winters are mild. Just an idea, like any other...
With luggage, it’s best to be self-sufficient.
Agadir’s really nice—the souk is incredible, the seaside promenade is well-developed, and it’s a city that wants to be modern and university-focused but has kept a lot of working-class neighborhoods...
For other destinations from Casa (Ouarzazate), there’s a high chance of snow at this time of year. Nights are cold, and mountain passes might be tricky if it snows—unless you’d rather explore the Mediterranean coast via Meknes, Fes, and Chefchaouen or head inland through Khenifra, Beni Mellal, Imilchil, Rich, and Midelt.
All of MOROCCO is BEAUTIFUL (in my opinion), but in two weeks, to see its diversity, I think changing accommodations every two days is necessary. Just my two cents in response to your question about a possible itinerary...
But from Agadir, there are some lovely destinations:
inland—Taroudant, Tafraoute,
along the coast—Massa (a bird reserve), a detour to Sidi Wassay, the coastal road, and Aglou (a bit too touristy but with miles of beach), Mirleft, Sidi Ifni, and why not Guelmim, the Tighmert oasis, Fask, Taidalt, heading east to Amtoudi, Akka, Tata, Tissint, Foum Zguid, Foum el Oued, Taznakht, Taliouine, and back to Agadir via Aoulouz and Taroudant...
Or head further east from Foum Zguid to Zagora, Tazzarine, Alnif, Tinghir, Skoura, Ouarzazate, then back up through Agdez, Taznakht, Taliouine, Taroudant, and Agadir.
Or from Agadir, head up to Essaouira and explore the coast (Imsouane, Sidi Kaouki).
Safety-wise, I don’t see any areas to avoid. Moroccans are welcoming, and Morocco is one of the most tourist-friendly countries in the world (20 million visitors in 2025).
I wouldn’t go to Marrakech (arnakesh) unless you want a crowd bath.
At this time of year, you’ll see thousands of camper vans on the roads...
I didn’t make this up...😉 And I’m not being extreme.
Plus, in Marrakech in December, it can get really cold at night...
And hey, everyone’s got their own opinion...😉
Thanks for the feedback!
It would definitely be helpful to clarify that we’re arriving AND departing from Marrakech! Unfortunately, the options are still pretty limited when flying out of Quebec.
For the cold, since we’re Canadian, it’s not something that really bothers us—we’ll manage! ;)
We’re more into hiking, landscapes, cities in moderation, history—basically a mix of all that.
Also, if you’re telling me that driving is relatively simple and safe, I think that’s what we’ll go for. Long road distances don’t scare us either; driving 5-6 hours in a day isn’t an issue, the kids are older ;)
Is a route heading north (up to Chefchaouen) with a return via Merzouga to spend a few days in the desert realistic? Is it possible to drive through the Atlas in December-January, or are the roads snowy?
I don’t quite agree with what was written earlier... Marrakech is still worth visiting.
Anyway, when it comes to Moroccans and people in the Maghreb in general, we really love lively places.
There’s so much to see in the old city.
Snobbery is a major flaw of Westerners, especially the French.
In the rest of the world, being alone and having an individualistic mentality is unthinkable.
Let’s just say that crowds are in the genes of people from the rest of the world.
For a winter trip and for the landscapes, I’d still lean more toward the south than the north.
Don’t forget Marrakech.
A mix of this and that: Marrakech, Essaouira, the coast, then Taroudant. Head for the desert south—skip the mountain passes except for one not-too-isolated stop—and return to Marrakech.
Maybe M’Hamid instead of Merzouga for the desert.
La rue comme gagne-pain : concours de photos amical de septembre 2026
Rubrique Jeux Voyages
C'est le moment de poster vos meilleurs clichés !
The problem isn't Marrakech.
The problem is more the travelers who are ready to believe anything and everything.
You’ll find the same kind (travelers, that is!) in Paris, on the French Riviera, and pretty much anywhere in the world.
Bottom line: do your research and know how to say no.
I got way more annoyed in Vietnam or Egypt than in Marrakech...
For a (young) woman—not at my current age—in Tunisia.
La rue comme gagne-pain : concours de photos amical de septembre 2026
Rubrique Jeux Voyages
C'est le moment de poster vos meilleurs clichés !
I don’t love Marrakech either, but I’d never tell anyone to avoid going. If you’re only setting foot in Morocco once in your life, a stop in Marrakech seems essential to me.
On the other hand, Agadir—completely rebuilt in the 1960s after an earthquake—lacks the typical, historic character found in many other cities. I like the people in Agadir; the vibe is calm and pleasant. But it’s not the most representative of the country or daily Moroccan life.
For a 15-day trip in the dead of winter (and over the holidays), I agree with Attila’s suggestions.
And yes, there’s no need (it’s even seriously cumbersome) to rent a car just to get around IN Marrakech.
Hi there!
I’ll be landing in Marrakech, and it’s usually not too cold in January (around 18–21°C), though the evenings can be a bit chilly. I’m planning to rent a car and head to the Atlantic coast: Essaouira, Agadir, Tiznit, then continue toward Tan Tan and Tarfaya.
Nous souhaitons partir 10 jours la deuxième quinzaine d'août. Nous n'arrivons pas à choisir entre Maroc et Tunisie!!! Nous avons 25 ans et sommes intéressés…
Cet été nous partons pour le Maroc une semaine et nous ne savons pas trop que choisir entre les 4 formules qu'on nous propose! 1-Circuit sud marocain avec…
C'est une question que je retrouve souvent sans doute parce que moi même j'en fais la recherche. Il est vrai que le sujet peut être très vaste quand le sens…
Travailler, étudier et vivre à l'étranger › Maroc · 14 replies
Émigrant prochainement au Maroc, en famille, et étant de nationalité française, non retraité, je voulais avoir quelques conseils. Je compte partir en voiture…
Voici un premier jet pour un itinéraire de 14 nuits durant les vacances de Noël avec 2 ados. Nous aimons particulièrement les randos (rien de trop extrême non plus), c'est ce qui nous motive à aller vers le sud.
- Marrakech (2 nuits)
- Aït Ben Haddou (1 nuit)
- Dadès ( 3 nuits, mais pensions peut-être faire un aller-retour pour les gorges du Todra l'une de ces journées)
- M'hamid (1 nuit)
- Erg Chigaga (1 nuit)
- 4 nuits à caser
- Marrakech (2 nuits)
Bon, je suis consciente que c'est beaucoup de route et on se questionne encore sur le chemin du retour, puisqu'on aimerait bien éviter le Tichkal en janvier, mais de passer par Taroudant semble énormément rallonger le tout. 😕
Si vous avez d'autres suggestions pour un autre itinéraire incluant de chouettes randos, je suis également preneuse.
Aussi, les 4 nuits totales à MRK ce n'est pas tant que ça nous plait, mais c'est que nous arrivons/repartons très tôt le matin outre-mer donc on aimerait bien être un peu reposé avant le long vol.
Sinon autre question :
Pour les randonnées (outre celle dans le désert), est-il préférable d'avoir un guide avec nous ou si les pistes sont bien balisées?
Hi everyone,
Our trip to Morocco will be from November 3 to 17, in the High Atlas.
Basically, our route would be:
Marrakech - Aït Benhaddou
Skoura - Tinghir - Merzouga
Merzouga via the N12 to Zagora
Zagora - Draa Valley - Marrakech
It seems to be the low season, so I’d love to travel without having to book accommodations in advance. In other countries, pre-booking has restricted us and kept us from visiting unplanned sites. Freedom is important to us, but I’d also like to avoid arriving somewhere and finding nothing available.
What do you recommend? Book ahead or not?
Your advice is always helpful, and thanks to anyone who can shed some light on this for me.
Roberto
First of all: a big thank you to everyone whose insightful, funny, lively, and exotic posts we’ve enjoyed. It’s a joy to find such lovely writers on this forum, who’ve given me tons of ideas and addresses to prepare our trip.
Our plan: to explore Morocco from November 2nd to December 4th. We’ll have our own vehicle (a 2011 Renault Grand Scenic, in great condition), shipped with us from Sète to Tanger Med. Returning from Nador.
Our profile: 75 and 62 years young, so old but happy to be, in very good health. Seasoned travelers—it’s practically our whole life. Lovers of beautiful landscapes, historic sites, fine craftsmanship, and road trips. This will be my 3rd trip to Morocco, but the first two were 20 and 17 years ago. I’ve never been north of the Essaouira-Marrakech line (though I’ve gone further south). As for my husband, a lifelong expat including in Muslim countries, it’s his first time in Morocco.
He’s the one driving. He’s very experienced, cautious, not necessarily fast, but used to driving in all conditions (and countries, including the most creative on the road). But I don’t want to tire him out, and he no longer drives at night (and we’ll be there in November).
I’ve decided to show him a bit of everything by taking a road trip along beautiful backroads, with daily distances averaging 180-200 km (except on highways, which will be rare), regularly broken up by rest days. I’m counting on a speed of 40-50 km/h, plus stops/visits along the way.
Since I’ve read so many posts, I’ve narrowed it down to some very specific questions.
1) Coming directly from Rabat via the highway, we’d prefer to skip Marrakech*. Still, we’ll need to sleep somewhere nearby. We’ll head toward Skoura the next day. Does anyone have a well-located address for this route, possibly east of Marrakech? Ideally, we’re looking for a small town, easy parking, clean accommodation (minimum) with average comfort (or better if available), a bit heated, and if possible, pretty and/or nice—but above all, a place to sleep well, wash with lukewarm (ideally hot) water, and have a decent dinner.
(*Explanation for the "no-go" in Marrakech: it’s a shame, because there are truly beautiful things in this city, but I think the vibe won’t suit us—it’s an understatement for "it’ll put us off" / "make us flee" / "traumatize us." Not because it’s too crowded and we want to stand out from tourists (we’re part of them), but because of forced henna on your hand, or spending 10 minutes every quarter-hour saying "no thank you" to a "guide" who’s as much a guide as I am a trapeze artist. Knowing us, it’ll wear us down. The country is vast and beautiful, and our time too short to waste our memories just days after arriving. And I don’t want to ruin things for my peaceful husband, or he’ll demand we turn back—and Sète in November isn’t exactly thrilling either.)
2) Which route to Skoura (in 2 days)? I see two options: either via the Tichka Pass, with a night in Telouet before reaching Skoura, or via the R307/N23 from Demnate, with a night near Megdaz before descending to Skoura. So: Tichka Pass or R307/N23? I have a slight (big) preference for the second option, even though I know the other route is very beautiful too. Of course, before deciding, we’ll check the weather and the current state of the R307/N23—does anyone know where to get info on the road conditions? But even assuming the road is "passable," is it a bit too tough in itself? In short, is it reasonable? If a kind soul could share their experience, a thousand thanks in advance.
That’s all I’ve written for now. I’ll save the other questions for later posts. Thanks again to those who had the patience to read this and to those who can respond. Happy Sunday to all!
Hi, I’d like to head to Morocco next week with my car. I’ve looked online at all the different info about the ferry crossing to Tangier, but I’m finding it really expensive. Is there a way to buy tickets in Spain? Or another way to get the Algeciras–Tangier crossing cheaper? Thanks for any tips or info!
We found a guide who offers the trip from M'hamid to a camp (departure at 3 PM, tea, meal, camel ride, overnight stay, breakfast, and return to M'Hamid by 11 AM the next day via the sacred oasis). He quoted us a price of 380 € for April.
What do you think of this rate?
This might sound like a silly question, but is it common to negotiate the price for this kind of thing (we're booking from France)? It’s still a big part of our travel budget.
Hi there,
We're planning to visit Egypt between January 25 and February 15, 2027. I looked up the Ramadan dates and found some sites saying it starts on February 8, while others say February 18... Where's the mistake?
Thanks,
Christian
Hi there,
We’re a family of 4 with two boys aged 12 and 10 traveling to Egypt in February.
We’re spending 3 days in Cairo to take our time exploring the city and the sites before heading south.
-Is it necessary to have a guide to visit the GEM? Are audio guides available?
-Do you have any contacts for drivers to organize a few transfers (Giza, Saqqara, Airport)?
-Do you know a French-speaking guide who’s friendly, family-friendly, and good at making things exciting, with reasonable prices?
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.
