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.
Hi,
What do you mean by "the Oriental"? Eastern Morocco?
But which part exactly? Midelt, Erfoud, Merzouga, or Figuig?
Just so you know, the High Plateaus route that more or less follows the Algerian border from Oujda to Bouarfa is pretty monotonous and doesn’t have much to offer—except for Figuig way down south, which has a gorgeous palm grove.
Besides landing in Marrakech, I don’t see a better option. There is an airport in Ouarzazate, but it’s hard—if not impossible—to find direct flights, and it’s better to land in Marrakech if you plan to rent a car. After that, there are plenty of routes—more or less classic and more or less long—to get to the east... Col Tizi n'Tichka, Ouarzazate/Zagora, Foum Zguid/Tata, Erfoud/Rissani, Merzouga, Figuig. You should plan an itinerary to get an idea of how long the stages will be. Paved roads are now widespread, but there are still tracks—some can be used carefully by tourist cars, while others are only passable by 4x4s.
There are Morocco specialists here who can advise you on choosing a route, but first, you should start by making some personal choices that the experts can then refine.
Good evening..
Is there no longer an airport in Oujda? It’s closer to Figuig than Marrakech..
Good evening,
Yes, there certainly is, but it’s not very practical for various reasons.
Direct flights? Cost?
And indeed, if the goal was to go directly to Figuig, Oujda could be interesting, but the "direct" road isn’t very appealing. I took it once for a quick return to catch a ferry to Spain—there’s absolutely nothing to see on that route except stretches of alfa grass and flocks of sheep.
About Figuig: I really liked this oasis, but it’s remote and completely off the tourist trail. It also makes the journey much longer, so you need to have plenty of time.
Most tourists head to the Erfoud/Merzouga area to see the dunes! It’s worth a visit, but it doesn’t compare to the great ergs in Algeria! Or Mauritania?😉
I don’t know Mauritania.
haha Merzouga horror
Erfoud a dump
M'Hamid a den of touts
I only know Algeria through my family’s memories
I’m putting off my trip there because I’ll cry
Mauritania is vast, its desert accessible without a guide, the Tagant is almost as good as the Hoggar I think, the Assaba is untouched and magical, and the Hodhs—I won’t even get started...
Go for it, it’s the rainy season, everything’s green everywhere...
In September, the *guetna*, the date harvest...
And then Morocco, with the 2030 World Cup prep, total chaos...
Oujda Airport is served by Transavia from Paris, but I think there are only 1 or 2 flights a day. As Djalma mentioned, Marrakech is much better connected. Saying it's chaos in Morocco because of the 2030 FIFA World Cup is really reductive—I spent a week hiking in the Moroccan desert in May, east of N'Kob, and didn't notice anything unusual... The Figuig oasis is definitely nice, but there are just as many great spots elsewhere, and honestly, the road to get there isn’t exactly thrilling. ..
Oujda Airport is served by Transavia from Paris, but only 1 or 2 flights daily, I think. As Djalma said, Marrakech is much better connected
One or two daily flights—that’s a lot, I assume you meant weekly?
Milorde’s post is pretty brief, but thanks to her, I learned something new: Morocco has an administrative division called the Oriental (I had no idea about this name), covering the entire eastern part of the country, bordering Algeria, roughly from Nador on the Mediterranean to Figuig in the south. And as Partirester suggested, the airport serving this whole region is Oujda. I don’t know where Milorde lives, but from Toulouse, there are direct low-cost flights to Oujda with Transavia (from Paris too, probably?). If her goal is really to visit this region, then Oujda is where she should land.
I crossed the Oriental in a single day, from south to north, from Boudenib/Bouarfa to Melilla to catch a ferry to Almería (Spain). I didn’t see much—just vast, flat expanses covered in alfa grass, where large flocks of sheep graze, much like on the other side of the border in Algeria, from Sebdou to Béchar.
In my opinion, not many tourists visit this part of Morocco, except for the beaches in the north between Nador and the Algerian border. That doesn’t mean it’s not worth visiting, though. There are probably some interesting spots once you leave the straight, monotonous north-south highway. Far to the south, Figuig is definitely worth staying a few days—there are several ksour, including Ich, right next to the Algerian border, and a stunning oasis that’s likely very rarely visited. My trip to this area was quite a while ago (1975), so I’m not entirely sure about the current visitor numbers.
I hope there’ll still be a few people who can give Milorde some tips. There are regulars here who know Morocco well—I’m thinking of Groschats.
It's a real daily life in Paris. I got to know Figuig well because I worked for 4 years at the hospital in Béchar, and back then the border was open, which allowed us to cross into Morocco via the Algerian border post at Beni Ounif and then Figuig. I think the region is still off the tourist trail, but I haven’t been back. One thing’s for sure—when hiking, don’t get too close to the border with Algeria, which is right there!
For eastern Morocco, you’ve got three airports: Fès, Nador, and Oujda.
The first has the advantage of offering the most direct flights from Europe, the second the fewest, and the third is the most “chill.”
If you plan to rent a car, you’ll have more options in Fès.
I don’t know the prices—I’ve always driven down, picking up my passengers along the way.
Oujda has stayed off the major tourist trails, and I think its medina is worth a visit.
To get to Figuig, the road is a bit monotonous. The only thing to see is the old Tendrara station on the never-finished Mediterranean-Niger line.
An alternative is to go to Debdou (only one guesthouse, Dar Sbylla) and cross the Rekkam plateau to Matarka, then choose between heading to Anoual—partly via an unpaved but very drivable road—or Bouarfa by road.
Between Anoual and Bouarfa, don’t miss the engraving sites of Grand and Petit Ghilem.
In Bouarfa, there’s only one hotel: Clim Oriental.
You can reach Figuig by passing through Ich, a somewhat forgotten ksar at the foot of the Algerian border.
Don’t hesitate to accept a guide’s offer to visit it—they’ll likely invite you to lunch at their place for a small fee, of course.
From there, it’s easy to reach Figuig via a partly paved road that passes by the Sfissef dam.
Figuig is worth stopping for its ksours, palm grove, and irrigation system—best explored with a guide.
A few guesthouses are available. My favorite is Nanna’s house in the Zenaga ksar. Zineb, the manager, has guided us every time.
Afterward, head back west—at least 6 hours of not-so-exciting road until you reach the Merzouga dunes.
Back then the border was open, which allowed us to cross into Morocco via the Algerian border post at Beni Ounif and then Figuig.
yeah, I’ve done that route once for a crossing through Algeria: Beni Ounif, Bechar, Adrar, Reggane, Gao, Mopti, Bamako... The other times I went north via Ahfir.
Great trip! And thanks to Marabamu for reminding me of forgotten names and places I actually passed through. Anyway, it seems they really know this region well.
I assume you’re renting a car? In that case, you’ll need to arrive and depart from the same airport.
We don’t know if you’ve already visited other regions of Morocco.
I’d recommend landing in Fes. That would let you do a loop: Fes-Errachidia-Figuig, and return via Figuig-Bouarfa-Ain Beni Mathar-Fes (or the reverse).
The eastern region can get pretty boring pretty fast: the roads are long, and the landscapes aren’t very varied. It’s wise to avoid taking the same route twice. Doing the outbound (or return) trip through the Atlas Mountains (from Fes to Errachidia) will give you a nice change of scenery.
But the eastern region is still worth seeing—precisely because it’s so different from the rest of Morocco. And Figuig is really cool to visit.
Oujda seems better located than Fes, but it would force you to take the same route for both legs of your trip. In that case, you’d risk getting seriously tired of it.
Hi Murielle, why do you say you have to arrive and leave from the same airport?
You can easily arrive via Marrakech and leave from Tangier or any other airport.
Of course, it costs extra, but it can be practical to avoid traveling the same uninteresting route twice.
Thanks so much to everyone for sharing your opinions and tips. We’ll weigh the pros and cons and make our choice. I really appreciate it—I wasn’t expecting this many replies!
Hello, my husband and I will be in Egypt this coming November. Cairo seems more challenging to explore without a guide, and we’ll be there for 3 full days. Would anyone have the name of a guide?
Thanks!
Hi there!
I’m heading to Dakhla at the end of October for about two weeks as a backpacker.
Without renting a car or booking pricey excursions, what are the best ways to get around and explore?
I’ve heard that the small taxis only cover limited routes outside the city center, and the local buses might be tricky...
Thanks to anyone who knows the area and can share their tips for nature and culture in this up-and-coming destination!
Laurence
Hi, I’m planning a 10-day trip to Morocco starting on 12/30 with my parents, and I’d love your thoughts on the itinerary. Since I’m traveling with my parents, who are 78, I’m trying to keep train rides between cities short. I’d like to start with 4 days in FES (with Meknès nearby), then head to Casablanca for 2 days, and finish with 4 days in Marrakech, including a day trip or overnight stay in Essaouira. Thanks for your input!
During our road trip in Morocco in November/December, we’re planning to spend a night at the Hassilabied dunes around November 10th.
We don’t want to sleep in a camp, go on a camel trek, or do a 4x4 tour—we just want to stay right at the foot of the dunes so we can walk around on our own, on foot, at sunrise and sunset. It seems like Hassilabied is better located for this (closer to the dunes) than Merzouga.
Do you know of any clean accommodation with hot water, not too rustic but not too "bling-bling" either, and—most importantly—ideally located right in front of the dunes?
Thanks so much for your tips!
Fran
Hi, we're looking for a guide to show us around Essaouira.
We're 11 adults and don't want to go through an agency. If you have a contact to help us discover this city, that would be great!
Thanks
Here’s a first draft for a 14-night itinerary during the Christmas break with two teens. We’re especially fond of hiking (nothing too extreme, though), which is why we’re drawn to the south.
- Marrakech (2 nights)
- Aït Ben Haddou (1 night)
- Dadès (3 nights, though we’re thinking of doing a day trip to the Todra Gorge on one of those days)
- M'hamid (1 night)
- Erg Chigaga (1 night)
- 4 nights to slot in
- Marrakech (2 nights)
Okay, I realize this involves a lot of driving, and we’re still debating the return route since we’d like to avoid the Tichka Pass in January, but going through Taroudant seems like it would add *a lot* of time. 😕
If you’ve got other suggestions for an itinerary with great hikes, I’m all ears!
Also, the 4 nights total in MRK isn’t really our preference, but since we’re arriving/departing super early from overseas, we’d like to be a bit rested before the long flight.
Another question:
For hikes (aside from the desert one), is it better to have a guide with us, or are the trails well-marked?
We're heading to Egypt in a few days, inspired by many of your travel journals (thanks especially to Franck!).
We’ll spend a short day exploring Cairo before an evening departure, with our luggage in tow. We’re traveling light, but it’s still not very practical...
Does anyone know if baggage storage/lockers are easy to find, and if so, do you have any recommendations?
Thanks!
I’m currently planning several trips to Morocco (Marrakech, Draa Valley, Merzouga) and I’m wondering about the reliability of data connections outside major urban centers.
Here’s what I’ve observed on the ground so far:
- In cities (Marrakech, Agadir, Fez), 4G is excellent, including in the medina riads.
- On the Tizi n'Tichka road and toward Ouarzazate, coverage remains decent, with a few dead spots here and there.
- In Saharan areas (Merzouga, Chegaga), the connection becomes patchy: some camps get great reception, others none at all.
My specific questions:
1) On your recent trips, which operator (Maroc Telecom, inwi, Orange) gave you the best coverage in the Atlas and Sahara?
2) Have international eSIMs seemed as reliable as a local Moroccan SIM, or have you noticed a difference in speed in rural areas?
3) While trekking or driving a 4x4 in the desert, have you come across completely dead zones despite theoretical coverage?
I’m happy to share my own coverage notes if it helps, and I’ll gladly answer any questions about Morocco—I know it well.
I'm looking for a travel companion for a road trip in southern Morocco at the end of March 2027.
Duration: 15 days.
Departure from Marrakech.
Car rental and Airbnb accommodation.
Budget: 1200 €.
Itinerary to plan together
I’m heading back to Egypt for the first time in 30 years this July. Last time, I was 20, and we spent two weeks traveling on a shoestring as backpackers.
I’m wondering about a "cruise" on a felucca from Aswan—mainly to avoid being stuck in an air-conditioned tourist bubble (we’re already spending our first week in that setting with our diving club). We’d like to explore the most interesting stretch of the Nile between Aswan and Luxor. Do you have any thoughts on this option, tips, or maybe some contacts?
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,
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!
I’m just a few days away from my trip to Marrakech—I’m leaving from November 13th to 20th and bringing my parents along! I’d love to plan my stay as best as I can, and I’m sure the forum crew can help. So, here are my questions:
- Where’s the best place to exchange money without getting ripped off? The owner of the riad where we’re staying told us to avoid doing it at the airport because it’s really expensive and to do it in the medina instead, near Jemaa el-Fna square.
- Which traditional hammams do you recommend that are reasonably priced? How much should we budget for one? That’ll help me plan my expenses.
- What are some nice restaurants in the medina?
- I’d also like to know roughly how much to expect for a tea, a meal, a taxi, a djellaba, and babouches. I don’t want to get overcharged and would like to know what to expect.
- What are the must-do activities and places to visit?
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?
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?
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.
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
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
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! !😉
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