Morocco surprised us, even after years of traveling. Come along for our couple’s birthday trip, then explore the practical notes, driving memories, food, desert experience, and lessons we brought home.
Our seven-day Morocco birthday adventure · Full film (9 min 59 sec)
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This film follows our earlier seven-day trip for Chris’s 40th birthday, traveling as a couple without our five children. Current travel guidance is linked separately from our trip memories.
As experienced travelers to over 35 countries with five kids in tow, we did not expect our couple’s trip to Morocco would surprise us. We knew what we were doing, after all!
Morocco not only surprised us but also left us craving a return trip before we even left. We could not see all we wanted in our short 7-day trip, but we covered a lot of ground and drove over 35 hours to see as much as possible.
We cannot wait to return with our five kids and explore this fantastic country!
Morocco also made us feel a little bit like travel newbies. We’ve experienced a lot of countries from Asia to South America, but it took us a little to adjust to Morocco. I want to share 13 essential tips:
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As with all foreign countries, knowing some local words goes a long way to making your trip more successful and giving the locals more reasons to like you. 🙂
Here are some basic local words to learn before visiting Morocco:
It means “Thank you.”
It means, “No, thank you.” On our visit, some vendors in the Marrakech souks were persistent; experiences vary, and you can politely decline if you do not want to engage.
Is a large family home, many turned into hotels, with a gorgeous inner courtyard. Plenty has gardens and pools. The Arabic tradition is to have a simple and plain look of homes on the outside and incredible details on the inside.
Means “Home”
Shopping stalls or shopping areas
An old part of the city and a must-see. It’s typically walled and has narrow streets, palaces, and mosques. Beware, it’s often effortless to get lost here.
On our visit, some vendors in the Marrakech souks were persistent and bargaining was part of a few shopping conversations. Experiences vary; a friendly no or stepping into a shop can help if you do not want to engage. Ask how prices work rather than assuming a standard discount.
Bartering is something we are still perfecting, but here’s what to remember:
Our seven-day trip celebrated Chris’s 40th birthday. Just the two of us traveled, and we drove more than 35 hours across the route: Marrakech, a Sahara camp and camel experience, Todra Gorge, Casablanca, Chefchaouen, and Fez. This was our historical route, not a current drive-time estimate or a suggested pace for every traveler.
You may not try to pack as much of Morocco into a short period as we did on our 7-day itinerary, but we drove over 35 hours. We have driven around several adventurous countries, like Costa Rica and Brazil, but I was glad daily for our driver and guide, Idir!
Morocco has some crazy driving in the cities, but also long, long stretches of driving between sites. It was nice to relax, use your hotspot and check emails, or even do work calls onboard an air-conditioned van.
Our route to the Sahara crossed the Atlas Mountains, with narrow roads in places. I was glad we took a driver to navigate for us. Check current road conditions for your own route.
Are you thinking about driving instead of hiring a driver? It’s possible! Learn some tips from other bloggers like this one who drove in Morocco.
You can also check out our tour company if you want a driver. They can plan your itinerary, or you create your own.
Islam is an important part of daily life in Morocco, and you may hear the call to prayer. The five daily prayer times vary by date and location.
Each city has multiple mosques, each with a siren for prayers and a megaphone for the leader to recite the prayers.
Other things to know:
Visitor access and dress expectations vary by site. Check current official visitor information before planning a mosque visit, and follow local guidance at the entrance.
Public PDA is kind of a no-no. You probably won’t be bothered as a foreigner, but we tried to be respectful and not do much more than hold hands in public. I don’t recommend making out in the park. 🙂
Dress expectations vary by setting. We aimed for modest clothing at religious sites and followed local guidance.
We do not drink, so we cannot give first-hand advice about alcohol venues. Availability and accommodation policies vary; ask the venue or lodging provider directly and check current official travel guidance.
Pork was not a common menu option at the places we visited. Restaurant menus vary, so check with the venue if you have a particular dietary preference.
The Sahara part of our film moves from a camel outing on the dunes to an evening gathering at camp. Those are memories of our trip, while weather and packing choices still need to match your own travel dates and forecast.
Camel outing and evening at our Sahara camp · Scene from our film (20 sec)
Playback isn’t available here. Open the full film on Vimeo ↗
This might seem common sense as you’re headed to a desert area, but you must also prepare for the heat and the cold.
Temperatures vary by season, elevation, and region. Check forecasts for each stop on your route and bring layers for changing conditions.
In winter, finding a place to warm yourself can be difficult. Consider some hand and foot warmers in addition to your other winter gear.
Check the weather and pack accordingly, drink LOTS of water, and don’t overdo it. Layers are your friend and know you can go shopping there for what you might forget.
I’ll write up a packing list later, but here are some essentials to remember:
On our trip, we chose bottled water. We carried a LifeStraw water bottle as backup, but portable filters vary and may not remove all germs. Follow product instructions and current CDC water guidance; do not assume a filter makes every source safe.
Our route included the Atlas Mountains, and we were accustomed to living near sea level then. Hydration is not a cure for altitude illness. Check actual elevations and current CDC high-altitude guidance before planning strenuous activities.
If you aren’t already familiar with tangine, you will be after your trip! We ate this at almost every meal.
The meat choice for tangine varies, but it is meat with vegetables roasted in a clay or ceramic tangine pot at extremely hot temperatures. The flavors are unique and get even better when eaten with local Moroccan bread. Often, it is served with couscous.
Another favorite was lemon chicken. Very tasty!
Other typical dishes are couscous with meats and vegetables and Tanjir (which I loved too!!). It’s a slow-roasted lamb dish with saffron and cumin.
On one of our long drives, we had a fantastic lamb BBQ in the middle of nowhere. We could never have eaten there without our tour guide, Idir.
Mint tea will be your primary choice of drink. Also known as “Berber Whiskey,” this tea comes with sugar and can also be without. I loved it and drank gallons, even in the heat! I’d recommend trying it a few times.
In smaller hotels, you’ll be expected to sit and enjoy tea while you learn about the hotel.
What you won’t find a lot of is dessert! Often you’ll get a simple fruit plate which is a very healthy option.
Here are foods you should avoid:
Morocco’s two official languages are Arabic and Amazigh. Moroccan Arabic (Darija) is commonly heard, and French is widely used; language use varies by region. See the Moroccan National Tourist Office language overview.
Our film includes a henna stop and busy market streets, alongside the shopping memories in this article. Payment arrangements vary by business, so the cash notes below describe our experience rather than a guarantee that every place works the same way.
Henna and market streets from our Morocco trip · Scene from our film (20 sec)
Playback isn’t available here. Open the full film on Vimeo ↗
On our trip, we rarely used cards even at some small riads. Payment options vary by merchant and location; plan for both cash and cards and check current payment guidance before you travel.
We spent around €1,000 shopping on that trip; that is our personal spending memory, not a recommended cash amount. The Moroccan dirham is the local currency. Check current exchange guidance from the Moroccan National Tourist Office and your bank.
Currency acceptance and exchange rates change; check current guidance from your bank and the Moroccan National Tourist Office.
Small notes can be useful for incidental purchases. Availability of change varies by place; this is not a rule for every shop.
If you choose to withdraw cash, you may prefer a machine beside an open bank in case you need assistance. Check your card provider’s current guidance and use a machine that feels secure to you.
Speaking of small change, you need some to relieve yourself!
Some stops may charge to use the restroom, so keep small coins handy. Arrangements vary; ask your guide or lodging host.
On our trip, we found SIM vendors at the airport and bought 20 GB for €20; that is a historical price, not a current quote. Check your provider’s current options and whether your phone is unlocked.
On our phones, we still received iMessages after the SIM change, but standard texts did not come through; WhatsApp kept working with our original number. Your experience can vary with the device, carrier, SIM, and settings, so check your provider’s instructions before switching.
You will want some data in Morocco, and it’s super fast! We could do our zoom calls for work and connect almost anywhere in Morocco, even when driving. We did refill mid-week after long work days using lots of data.
On our trip, we were told some tobacco shops could reload certain SIM cards. Availability and carrier procedures can change, so check with your current mobile provider or local carrier.
Ask permission before photographing people, and respect anyone who declines.
A couple of women baking bread actively hid their faces from my phone until my guide politely told me they did not want their pictures taken. I felt pretty bad!
Follow posted photography rules at religious sites and ask staff if you are unsure.
We had both of Chris’ drones confiscated at Marrakech airport on our trip, and recovering them was difficult and costly. Do not treat that experience as a complete current rule: Morocco’s Ministry of Industry and Trade lists import-license information for unmanned aircraft, and UK travel advice says permission from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation is required. Check Moroccan import information and official travel advice before transporting a drone.
We have not confirmed whether a visitor can obtain authorization or what process applies to a particular drone, so check directly with the relevant authorities before traveling.
In the film, I share a moment from camp with the dunes right behind me. Our desert stay is one part of the accommodation story below; compare current camp details, transport arrangements, and conditions for your dates.
A moment at our Sahara desert camp · Scene from our film (20 sec)
Playback isn’t available here. Open the full film on Vimeo ↗
Choose from these top-rated hotels:
If you’re up to staying in luxury camps, check these out:
Start planning your trip and fall in love with Morocco!
Xoxo,
Leslie
Learn more about Morocco through fun activities from GetYourGuide, Airbnb Experiences, or Viator
✅ Get your family’s travel insurance from World Nomads
Capture your best Morocco memories with a GoPro or Sony camera. Before traveling with any drone, verify current import and flight requirements with official sources.
Check out other travel necessities for your trip from a comprehensive list of all the 7Wayfinders Travel Must-Haves. Click Here!
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Me and three friends of mine decided to visit Morocco in 2020 and booked a 12 Days Tour with Days Morocco Tours. Unfortunately the pandemic took place and we had to cancel our plans. Ali who organized the tour for us, was super helpful and postponed the trip. Two years later, when we contacted them again they immediately replied and adapted our plans for June 2023
The experience was amazing: I had already visited Marrakech once but was curious to spend a few days in the Desert and also go to Fes. I must say that staying at the Desert Camp that this company booked for us was crucial for our wonderful experience. The staff there served us a delicious dinner and after we all sat around a bonfire and listened (and some of us also sang!) to the berbere drums. We got to know a lot about the berber culture and made lifelong friends!
Our guide, Mohammed, who accompanied us throughout the trip, was the perfect fit for our group: cheerful, helpful and always looking out for us. During the whole time, he told us about the country’s history and took us to places we would never find on our own. We ate at very special places, where the locals eat and the food was always tasteful. Also, he was very flexible and adapted very well to our last minute change of plans!
Fes was one of my favorite places overall and our guide Adil was a delight! He showed us the different boroughs of Fes, the tanneries, the ceramic and iron workshops and talked about Al Quaraouiyine, the world’s oldest university, founded by a Tunisian woman. Other highlights were the Blue city of Chefchaouen, which is a small cozy village in the mountains and the magnificent and rich Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca.
The hotels that DaysMoroccoTours carefully picked for us were also an important factor to make this trip unforgettable, with beautiful Moroccan decoration, delicious breakfasts, welcoming staff and super well located.
I can speak for all four of us and say that company DaysMoroccoTours.com is one of the best agencies I have traveled with and it is worth every penny
Me and three friends of mine decided to visit Morocco in 2020 and booked a 12 Days Tour with Days Morocco Tours. Unfortunately the pandemic took place and we had to cancel our plans. Ali who organized the tour for us, was super helpful and postponed the trip. Two years later, when we contacted them again they immediately replied and adapted our plans for June 2023
The experience was amazing: I had already visited Marrakech once but was curious to spend a few days in the Desert and also go to Fes. I must say that staying at the Desert Camp that this company booked for us was crucial for our wonderful experience. The staff there served us a delicious dinner and after we all sat around a bonfire and listened (and some of us also sang!) to the berbere drums. We got to know a lot about the berber culture and made lifelong friends!
Our guide, Mohammed, who accompanied us throughout the trip, was the perfect fit for our group: cheerful, helpful and always looking out for us. During the whole time, he told us about the country’s history and took us to places we would never find on our own. We ate at very special places, where the locals eat and the food was always tasteful. Also, he was very flexible and adapted very well to our last minute change of plans!
Fes was one of my favorite places overall and our guide Adil was a delight! He showed us the different boroughs of Fes, the tanneries, the ceramic and iron workshops and talked about Al Quaraouiyine, the world’s oldest university, founded by a Tunisian woman. Other highlights were the Blue city of Chefchaouen, which is a small cozy village in the mountains and the magnificent and rich Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca.
The hotels that DaysMoroccoTours carefully picked for us were also an important factor to make this trip unforgettable, with beautiful Moroccan decoration, delicious breakfasts, welcoming staff and super well located.
I can speak for all four of us and say that company DaysMoroccoTours.com is one of the best agencies I have traveled with and it is worth every penny
Me and three friends of mine decided to visit Morocco in 2020 and booked a 12 Days Tour with Days Morocco Tours. Unfortunately the pandemic took place and we had to cancel our plans. Ali who organized the tour for us, was super helpful and postponed the trip. Two years later, when we contacted them again they immediately replied and adapted our plans for June 2023
The experience was amazing: I had already visited Marrakech once but was curious to spend a few days in the Desert and also go to Fes. I must say that staying at the Desert Camp that this company booked for us was crucial for our wonderful experience. The staff there served us a delicious dinner and after we all sat around a bonfire and listened (and some of us also sang!) to the berbere drums. We got to know a lot about the berber culture and made lifelong friends!
Our guide, Mohammed, who accompanied us throughout the trip, was the perfect fit for our group: cheerful, helpful and always looking out for us. During the whole time, he told us about the country’s history and took us to places we would never find on our own. We ate at very special places, where the locals eat and the food was always tasteful. Also, he was very flexible and adapted very well to our last minute change of plans!
Fes was one of my favorite places overall and our guide Adil was a delight! He showed us the different boroughs of Fes, the tanneries, the ceramic and iron workshops and talked about Al Quaraouiyine, the world’s oldest university, founded by a Tunisian woman. Other highlights were the Blue city of Chefchaouen, which is a small cozy village in the mountains and the magnificent and rich Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca.
The hotels that DaysMoroccoTours carefully picked for us were also an important factor to make this trip unforgettable, with beautiful Moroccan decoration, delicious breakfasts, welcoming staff and super well located.
I can speak for all four of us and say that company DaysMoroccoTours.com is one of the best agencies I have traveled with and it is worth every penny
Me and three friends of mine decided to visit Morocco in 2020 and booked a 12 Days Tour with Days Morocco Tours. Unfortunately the pandemic took place and we had to cancel our plans. Ali who organized the tour for us, was super helpful and postponed the trip. Two years later, when we contacted them again they immediately replied and adapted our plans for June 2023
The experience was amazing: I had already visited Marrakech once but was curious to spend a few days in the Desert and also go to Fes. I must say that staying at the Desert Camp that this company booked for us was crucial for our wonderful experience. The staff there served us a delicious dinner and after we all sat around a bonfire and listened (and some of us also sang!) to the berbere drums. We got to know a lot about the berber culture and made lifelong friends!
Our guide, Mohammed, who accompanied us throughout the trip, was the perfect fit for our group: cheerful, helpful and always looking out for us. During the whole time, he told us about the country’s history and took us to places we would never find on our own. We ate at very special places, where the locals eat and the food was always tasteful. Also, he was very flexible and adapted very well to our last minute change of plans!
Fes was one of my favorite places overall and our guide Adil was a delight! He showed us the different boroughs of Fes, the tanneries, the ceramic and iron workshops and talked about Al Quaraouiyine, the world’s oldest university, founded by a Tunisian woman. Other highlights were the Blue city of Chefchaouen, which is a small cozy village in the mountains and the magnificent and rich Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca.
The hotels that DaysMoroccoTours carefully picked for us were also an important factor to make this trip unforgettable, with beautiful Moroccan decoration, delicious breakfasts, welcoming staff and super well located.
I can speak for all four of us and say that company DaysMoroccoTours.com is one of the best agencies I have traveled with and it is worth every penny