7 Days Across Morocco: From the Blue City to the Sahara

🌍 7 Days Across Morocco: From the Blue City to the Sahara

When people ask me what Morocco is like, I tell them this: it's not one country—it's a thousand stories woven into one journey. And if you're lucky enough to explore it the way I did, you'll carry those stories forever.

Here’s how my 7 days adventure across Morocco unfolded—from Casablanca’s coast to the Sahara’s silence and back to Marrakech’s heartbeat.

🛬 Day 1: Arrival in Casablanca

I landed in Casablanca, Morocco’s largest city and the perfect gateway to the adventure ahead. After checking into a local riad, I took a quiet walk along the Atlantic coast and visited the iconic Hassan II Mosque—its minaret piercing the sky. The city had a modern pulse, but old-world charm was hidden in its corners.

🌀 Day 2: Casablanca → Chefchaouen

We left the ocean behind and headed north through the Rif Mountains. After about five hours, we reached Chefchaouen, known as the Blue Pearl of Morocco.

No photo can do this place justice. Every street looked like a painting walls washed in cobalt, lavender, and sky blue. I wandered the medina barefoot, sipping mint tea with mountain views, and watching cats doze on sunlit steps. The calm here is deep and unforgettable.

🕌 Day 3: Chefchaouen → Fes

From the peaceful blues of Chefchaouen, we descended into the cultural and spiritual heart of Morocco: Fes. The medina here is wild and wonderful—over 9,000 narrow alleys and ancient traditions still alive.

We visited Al Quaraouiyine, the oldest functioning university in the world, and watched artisans in the famous tanneries. Fes isn’t polished—it’s real. And that’s exactly why I loved it.

🐪 Day 4: Fes → Merzouga (Sahara Desert)

This day was a long drive, but also the most transformative. We crossed the Middle Atlas, passed cedar forests in Ifrane, stopped to feed monkeys near Azrou, and wound through desert towns until reaching Merzouga, at the edge of the Sahara.

By sunset, I was riding a camel through the Erg Chebbi dunes, the sand glowing gold around me. That night, we danced under the stars with Berber nomads and fell asleep in a luxury desert camp with the Milky Way overhead.

⛰️ Day 5: Merzouga → Boumalne Dades

Leaving the desert was hard—but the drive through the Todra Gorges made up for it. Sheer cliffs towered over us, and we stopped to walk the gorge, watch climbers, and sip fresh orange juice from local stalls.

We spent the night in Boumalne Dades, a peaceful valley surrounded by dramatic rock formations and ancient kasbahs.

🏰 Day 6: Boumalne Dades → Marrakech

On the way to Marrakech, we visited the stunning Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and filming location for Game of Thrones and Gladiator. Crossing the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n’Tichka Pass was a scenic thrill—switchbacks, snowy peaks, and panoramic views all the way down.

Arriving in Marrakech felt like stepping into a dream. The air smelled of orange blossoms and spice. Snake charmers played in Jemaa el-Fnaa, and the night market came alive with music, food, and color.

🚙 Day 7: Marrakech → Casablanca (Departure)

We spent the morning exploring Majorelle Garden and sipping espresso in the French Quarter before heading back to Casablanca. The road was smooth, but my mind was full—of memories, colors, sounds, and stories.

I was lucky to travel with a local guide who shared stories of his Berber heritage along the way. His insight gave the journey depth that no map ever could.

This story was co-written with the help of an AI assistant and edited by the author.