Next: How long to stay in Morocco and fit it all in
May 16, 2020
This is the last part of a two-part installment where I discuss the most important questions in planning a trip to Morocco. I outline these Morocco travel considerations here and also offer a few resources to help plan your trip to Morocco.
In Part I we talk about planning a trip to the desert and deciding which dunes to visit -- either Erg Chebbi near Merzouga or the more ambitious journey to Erg Chigaga outside of M'hamid al Ghizlane.
Once you decide which dunes to visit, it's important to figure out how long you plan to stay in Morocco.
If you're planning to visit the desert, an ideal amount of time to visit Morocco for the first time is anywhere from 12 days to two weeks. If you have less than seven days and you want to visit the desert, it's still possible. Just keep in mind, you may be a bit more rushed and you may be spending more time in the car than you had anticipated. Which isn’t a terrible prospect either, because the countryside is stunning, the views are breathtaking, and the change in environment is surprising.
If you haven’t bought your tickets yet, one way to maximize your time in country is to consider flying into one location and flying out of a different one. For instance, arrive in Marrakech, visit Erg Chebbi dunes, and either fly out of Fes or Ouarzazate. Splitting up your ticket between arrival and departure city often has little impact on the cost of your airfare. Further, it allows you to take advantage of all your time in Morocco to continue to discover new places without the need to backtrack.
If you fly out of Ouarzazate, you should know that it’s a small regional airport and you will most likely change planes in Casablanca or Marrakech. This is an ideal departure airport for travelers who want to visit either Erg Chebbi or Erg Chigaga. Fes, on the other hand, has an international airport, allowing folks to travel directly to their international destinations.
Once these questions are answered you can get back to the fun task of filling in the rest of the itinerary. If you're looking for inspiration, check out this blog post for some recommendations. If you're still at a loss and would like more support in designing your itinerary, check out our custom tours options.
