Hi there,

I’m planning to leave Morocco for the summer but want to leave my 4x4 there to avoid exceeding the famous 6-month limit. I’d like to park it in one of the two Spanish enclaves (Ceuta or Melilla). Does anyone know of people or companies that handle long-term parking (preferably secure) in either place? Once the car is parked, what’s the best way to get back to France using public transport? Is the nearest airport Tanger from Ceuta?... How do I get there easily, etc. etc.

Thanks in advance! Dominique

Hi there,

In November-December, we’re planning a 6-week road trip in Morocco, spending two-thirds of the time south of the High Atlas and away from cities. We’ll be staying in gîtes, kasbahs, riads, and the like—no big hotels. Usually, we stay 1–2 nights in the same place.

Six weeks means we’ll need to do laundry at some point, so here’s our question: Can we generally count on finding a washing machine/dryer in these accommodations? Or should we look for a laundromat or *lavandería* (are there any?)?

Worst case, we’ll hand-wash with a tube of detergent, but we’d rather avoid that if possible…

If you’ve got experience with how laundry works in the area, we’d love your tips! Thanks everyone! !

Hi there!

As mentioned in a previous post, we're heading to Morocco in April for 9 days instead of the originally planned 7.

Here's the itinerary I've mapped out to ideally have a complete trip, but I think it might be too ambitious. What do you think? Here's the itinerary (click)

For those who can't open the link: Marrakech (the afternoon of our arrival + 1 day, we’ve already been there without the kids, the goal is not to stay too long) – night Aït Ben Haddou Ouarzazate Skoura – night Oasis de Fint Dadès Gorges Tinghir – night Merzouga – night Zagora – night M’hamid – ideally a night in the desert Agdz Marrakech – night (itinerary via Telouet)

What do you think of this plan? Will it feel too rushed, or is it manageable? Since we don’t know the places, it’s hard to tell if we’ll want to stop everywhere along the way or if there’s enough time to spend at each spot. I’ve included some night-stop assumptions (1 or 2 nights).

We’d love to hear your thoughts! We’re traveling with my wife, a 13-year-old teen, and a 10-year-old. We’ll have our own rental car.

Thanks! !

Hello everyone, I’m currently planning our next trip to Morocco. We really enjoy visiting one or two collective granaries on each of our trips. We’ve seen some already, like the one in Aït Kine, or the one in Tasguent, and of course those in Amtoudi, as well as the cliffside granary of Ifri. There are still many left to explore. I’d love to hear which ones you’d recommend—preferably ones that aren’t too hard to access. I’m counting on you! Thanks

Hi there, I'm heading to Morocco for 10 days as a backpacker, with my car and a tent canvas if needed. Does anyone have great experiences in this country around the Tétouan and Tangier areas? I'd love to spend time with locals, rent a small room, and take part in daily life. If you've got any addresses to share, that'd be awesome! Thanks a million for your replies!!!😉 Christine

Hi there!

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?

Thanks so much for your advice!

Hi there,

Last February, I made a trip using "public transport" from France to southern Senegal via Spain, Morocco, Western Sahara, and Mauritania.

It’s a journey of about 5,000 km, where I took trains (as far as Marrakech), ferries (to cross Gibraltar and then to reach Casamance from Dakar), and mostly buses on the long desert straightaways. I hadn’t planned any stops in advance or booked any hotels, except for the very first train to Spain, which left plenty of room for the unexpected. Why travel by land and sea? In recent years, flight-free travel has been gaining popularity. On social media, posts explaining how to cross Europe by train as quickly as possible go viral. Traveling without flying—and making sure people know about it—has become a great way to earn a badge of eco-responsibility: an essential totem for anyone wanting to prove both their dedication to the ecological cause and the wisdom of slow travel. I haven’t flown in years, and this journey to West Africa could easily be filed under "responsible travel." But it wouldn’t be honest to say that: in reality, it wasn’t really my aversion to flying that motivated this long trek. I see overland travel primarily as a way to experience the world’s geography at a grounded, earthly pace—the pace of the locals. Besides, I’ll be flying back, which disqualifies any claim to being a model of sustainability. So no eco-badge, and no adventurer’s badge either: you won’t find any heroic tales of camel rides in lost lands or mineral train wagons in this account (popular with influencers, the Mauritania iron ore train now attracts tourists from all over the world, turning "the experience" into something you "have to do at least once in your life"). This five-part story, written on the road, has no other ambition than to recount a journey through places and people, and to share the thoughts they inspire in me. As simply and, I hope, as humbly as possible.

I’m posting the episodes here, which you can also find on my blog (with more photos) at the following links:

Episode 1: Spain, from Avignon to Algeciras

Episode 2: Morocco, from Tangier to Tarfaya

Episode 3: Western Sahara, from Tarfaya to Guerguerat

Episode 4: Mauritania, from Guerguerat to Nouakchott

Episode 5: Senegal, from Rosso to Saloulou

To help those who might want to make the same trip, I’ve also put together a summary of the route with recommendations—you can read it at the end of the story and on the blog: From France to Senegal Without Flying: Route and Itinerary Recommendations

Happy reading, and safe travels!

Hello VF friends! We’re planning to leave Marrakesh by rental car—this will be our second trip to Morocco. While we want to revisit some places, we also hope to explore new regions. Here’s the start of our itinerary, which could take 2 to 3 weeks. We don’t want to cover too many kilometers each day.

- Depart Marrakech for Essaouira, stopping to visit the Inzerki beehive. We’ll stay 3 nights in Essaouira to explore the city and the surrounding area. - Head toward Tamanar or that region for another 3 nights, exploring on a star-shaped route. We’d like to see the Paradise Valley and the coast. Not really keen on stopping in Agadir.

We’ve been to Tafraoute before, but I’d love to see some *greniers* (granaries) again, so we’re considering 1 or 2 nights there.

- Tiznit for 2 nights, making our way to Plage Blanche. - Guelmin and the Tighmert oasis for 2 nights. - Tata for 2 nights, visiting Akka Iguane and other villages.

After that, we’ll head east.

We’d love to hear about your experiences, great tips, and recommendations!

Thanks so much, and happy holidays!

Hi there, if you're planning to rent a car to get around in Morocco, make sure to budget for "fines" even if you drive perfectly. For example, getting caught going 5 km/h over the speed limit 500 meters before you see the sign dropping the limit to 60 km/h—while being overtaken by a packed taxi with no seatbelts. Or, say, stopping at a stop sign for 3 seconds but not long enough, even though no helmetless motorcyclists were stopping either (yes, helmets are mandatory in Morocco)... Anyway, plan a "fine" budget for your Moroccan "vacation."

Hi there,

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.

Thanks

Hello,

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!

Thanks so much in advance!

Last October, we landed in Marrakech to spend a few days with family exploring Morocco’s roads. Transport: a rented Dacia. Accommodations: small guesthouses.

Our first stop was just a few kilometers from Marrakech, at a lovely house perfect for relaxing and recharging before continuing. It’s called Bleu House, a little paradise on the outskirts of Marrakech. The welcome was very warm, with a beautiful pool and a lovely garden.

Next, we headed toward the Tichka Pass. The road has really improved in recent years—it’s much easier to drive now. No more getting stuck behind trucks, and today, the construction is practically finished.

Morocco has turned green after the recent rains. It’s a joy for the herds and shepherds.

I’m not going back, the trip is in the past. I’m posting it anyway because the country probably hasn’t changed enough to make the story outdated, and the astonishing beauty of the place deserves to be shared here.

Saturday, May 31, 2014 Mulhouse - Marrakech

A flight that drags on for three and a half hours. Everything goes smoothly until immigration. Like almost everywhere, you have to fill out a little form with your details and arrival address. The problem comes when you hand it to the customs officer with your passport. Right away, you see the lines are way too long for the number of officers working. I steer Dom toward a line further to the left that’s clearly moving faster than the middle ones. Then I firmly pull him to the far left where I think I spotted a new counter opening. Big mistake. Huge. Because that line is notorious for how slowly the security agent checks each person. At 10 minutes per person, with about fifteen ahead of us, we’re looking at two and a half hours. The wait becomes torture. Everyone gets edgy. We watch enviously as people who were way behind us initially zip through the other lines. You feel like complaining. My advice? Don’t. You have no idea how much a pissed-off customs officer can ruin your day! The rule: stay calm and suck it up. Once that hurdle’s over, a taxi and boom, we’re at the Gallia, a no-frills but charming hotel just steps from Jemaa El Fna square. This place is insane! It’s teeming with people. You stick out like a sore thumb with your camera—suddenly, a ton of people want to be your best friend! You’re basically a walking wallet!



We’ve got a meet-up with friends who are here on a work trip with their company’s social committee.



We fully embrace our tourist roles—eating at restaurants made for us, with belly dancers who insist we join in. We go with the flow, we’re not prudes, we have a great evening, no way we’re missing out on the fun...



Sunday, June 1, 2014 Marrakech

Super nice breakfast in the hotel’s patio, a real riad, beautifully decorated.



Originally, we’d planned a trip to the Atlas Mountains, but we ended up wandering around the city instead. Before we knew it, we were in the middle of the central souk’s labyrinth. It’s a feast for the eyes, ears, and especially the nose!

Hi there,

For the Dakhla - Nouadhibou route, everyone only talks about taxis costing 350 - 400 MAD. But the bus only costs 260 MAD (Supratours). I’ve been searching in vain for info or testimonials from people who’ve taken the bus to Nouadhibou.

So, how’s the bus? And why does no one seem to take it?? Am I about to make a mistake or what?

Thanks!

Second trip to Morocco, with our kids and our grandson. A trip for five that delighted us all.

First stop: Marrakech, where we landed in late morning under a blazing sun. We had lunch on Avenue Mohamed V and took a little rest before heading to Djema El F'Na Square in the late afternoon, when the temperature dropped slightly. A quick stroll through the medina and the souks, still as lively as ever. Mountains of goods, craftsmanship that amazes us, a palette of colors, and all sorts of scents...









Then, when night fell, we wandered around the square among the little stalls serving all kinds of dishes: salads, grilled meats, soups, snails... It's incredible. Everyone is super friendly. I suspect they tell the same jokes every night to the tourists passing by. But it's really fun. And surprise, surprise—here, it's already Christmas. Colorful garlands at every stall.









But, rightly or wrongly, even though we're charmed, we prefer not to dine on the square... We're afraid of ruining the rest of the vacation... But what an extraordinary atmosphere on that square. It's overwhelming!

The next morning, we left Marrakech, hoping to find milder temperatures outside the city. On the way to Tichka. The change of scenery is huge. Our grandson can't get over seeing all the vendors selling real or fake minerals, real or fake fossils, merchants who approach as soon as we stop to admire a site or take a photo. There are also apple sellers—real apples for a picnic, which is perfect.





Photo stops are frequent. At every turn, a new discovery, a new viewpoint. The villages blend into the mountains. It's stunning.

A big thank you to the VoyageForum members who shared their experiences with us! We spent 3 wonderful days at "La Kasbah la Palmeraie" in Skoura. Coming from Marrakech (a stunning drive after the Tichka Pass via Telouet and Ait-Benhaddou), our stay at the Palmeraie was pure bliss: Mohammed and Ghizlane’s warm welcome, delicious breakfasts on the terrace overlooking the palm grove (wood-fired bread, honey pancakes made by Ghizlane), and equally delicious and hearty evening meals shared as a family around a cozy fire. We felt right at home and learned so much about the local way of life. The excursions offered were always interesting and off the beaten tourist track—from there, we explored the Dades Valley and Gorges, the Almond Blossom Valley (gorgeous!), and the palm grove. The region is home to magnificent kasbahs, including our hosts’. A different way to "visit" Morocco!

Hi there,

I’m heading to Morocco soon and I’d like to get the bodywork and paint on my van redone. Do you know any good places or contacts?

Thanks in advance!

Maloubo!!!