Morocco for two weeks

Lu Tze

Howdy All,

Heading to Morocco for two week holiday at the end of May, i was wondering if there was anything that people travelling there would recommend, as essential sight seeing or experiences that may be overlooked in guide books etc.

Also any general advice would be good!

ibbie

where in morocco are you heading- i would recommend Fez majority of trains travel there also Agadir is nice but a bit touristy like Casablanca

RATM

Without doubt the jewel of Morocco is the Sahara Desert. it's not easy to get to but a couple of nights spent under the stars of a desert sky will live with you forever.

Lu Tze

ibbie wrote: »

where in morocco are you heading- i would recommend Fez majority of trains travel there also Agadir is nice but a bit touristy like Casablanca

We are flying in to Tangier and flying out of Marrakesh, and the general plan is to travel down via fez and around the atlas mountains and climb the highest one while we are there.

@RATM - Cheers for the suggestion, had considered this, but the temps in the desert apparently hit 50 degrees around that time of year, don't think i would be able to cope!

RATM

Lu Tze wrote: »

We are flying in to Tangier and flying out of Marrakesh, and the general plan is to travel down via fez and around the atlas mountains and climb the highest one while we are there.

@RATM - Cheers for the suggestion, had considered this, but the temps in the desert apparently hit 50 degrees around that time of year, don't think i would be able to cope!

I was there in August and I had the same fears but its not as bad as you think- just follow the lead of the locals- everyone stays indoors ( be it your tent in the desert or your hotel/hostel ) between the hours of 12-3- before and after those times are more than bearable. It will be hot but there usually tends to be a breeze that cool you down.
In any case you'll only be in the desert a max. of 2/3 days, if it is too hot for you it won't exactly ruin your whole 2 week holiday.

Trust me Ive been all around Morocco for 5 weeks, from the Atlantic Coast to the peak of Jebel Toubkal and the best thing to do in Morocco without doubt is to see the Sahara desert. Words can't describe the beauty of the place and it would be such a shame to go all the way there and not see it.

Anyway if you are heading south from Tangiers on the way to Fez try to check out the mountain village of Chefcouen for a night or two. Nice chilled out little place with Andalucian influences- all the houses and doors are painted different shades of blue and you'll get a lot less hassle there than you will in other parts of Morocco.

Lu Tze

RATM wrote: »

I was there in August and I had the same fears but its not as bad as you think- just follow the lead of the locals- everyone stays indoors ( be it your tent in the desert or your hotel/hostel ) between the hours of 12-3- before and after those times are more than bearable. It will be hot but there usually tends to be a breeze that cool you down.
In any case you'll only be in the desert a max. of 2/3 days, if it is too hot for you it won't exactly ruin your whole 2 week holiday.

Trust me Ive been all around Morocco for 5 weeks, from the Atlantic Coast to the peak of Jebel Toubkal and the best thing to do in Morocco without doubt is to see the Sahara desert. Words can't describe the beauty of the place and it would be such a shame to go all the way there and not see it.

Thanks for that, i'll make sure i get there now! Cheers!

Off on Saturday, so will convince the other half to squeez it in somewhere along the way!

hunnymonster

I'm jusst back from a running race in the Sahara and I have to say they temperatures were really not that bad so long as you paced yourself and stayed hydrated. The landscape was amazing!

RATM

Well that proves it! If you can do a race in the Sahara then it'll be fine for a leisurely jaunt on a camel:D

Thats a cool picture, the landscapes in the Sahara are breathtaking, the stars at night are amazing and the sunsets and sunrises are to die for. Well not literally :pac:

Lu Tze

Quality, its decided now so its is!

RATM

Here are a few of my pics from the Sahara to whet your appetite. They were all taken in the dunes at Merzouga.It is not the only place that you can go to see the Sahara but it is a good spot with facilities available for tourists.

Most people take a 3 day/2 night tour which involves camel riding and staying in the desert at a Bedouin Camp. If you are a bit more adventurous you can try trail biking, hiring a quad or 4X4 to drive the dunes or (like me), go sandboarding.

RATM

And this pic is of the Pension we stayed at in Chefchaoeun, like I said everything is blue

cfitz

I've been to Morocco a few times and I think looking up at the stars from the Sahara desert is my most enduring memory.

I also liked watching the monkeys running around at the Cascades des Ouzoud (spelling?).

Rambling around the Djemaa El Fna in Marrakech, tasting the food, and haggling with the traders is magic.

The goats in the trees near Agadir are quite a sight as well.

If you go to the desert from Marrakech to M'hamid, the old palace in Telouet is on the way and the village is quite an atmospheric place to spend a night. The journey from Marrakech to M'hamid is long but very interesting. (M'hamid may not be the best place to visit the desert from, it just happens to be where I went.)

Essaouira is a cool place to wander around.

Sidi Ifni looks like it was transplanted from Spain/Mexico.

cfitz

Actually, also on the way from Marrakech to M'hamid is Ait Benhaddou - an old fortified town that still has some people living in it. It's fantastic, don't know how I forgot to mention it.

There are dinosaur footprints outside a town called Demnate but I found it was hard to relax and appreciate them with all the kids waiting for money after they'd helped you find them.