Adventuring through Landscape and Culture in Morocco
Morocco, the second African country I visited, is located on the northeast tip of the continent. Characterized by the rolling orange dunes of the Sahara, the chiming of potted brightly-colored flowers gently tapping the royal blue alleyways of Chefchaouen, and the savory scent of traditional Moroccan soup served at every restaurant I went to, Morocco enchanted me from start to finish.
I visited Morocco from April 1-6, which you may know is when the Islamic holiday Ramadan occurs. Morocco, although located in Africa, is heavily influenced by Middle Eastern culture with Islam being the most practiced religion. Because it was Ramadan, Muslim communities were fasting, which meant that finding food and some activities during the day could be challenging. But my friends and I booked our four-day, three-night trip through Viaje en Marruecos, a local tour company. Our tour guide Ahmed provided us with options for transportation, food, and lodgings, saving us the trouble of finding it ourselves amidst Ramadan. Regardless of when you visit Morocco, I highly recommend booking a local tour so you can fully enjoy immersing yourself in the beautiful scenery and local lifestyle as I did.
Visiting Marrakech
Our first stop was Marrakech, a major city and popular tourist destination. We arrived in the late afternoon, so after settling in our hotel we grabbed dinner at one of the numerous rooftop restaurants. Dinner was Moroccan soup, meat skewers, rice, french fries, and “cold chocolate” (which is similar to chocolate milk).
After dinner, we wandered the Marrakech Medina in central downtown Marrakech and explored local souvenir shops with trinkets like beaded jewelry, silk scarves, and off-brand Rayban sunglasses. I saw horse-drawn carriages in the streets, local performers with monkeys dangling from their arms, and local vendors waving at me to come to their shops. When it grew dark, candles and oil lanterns kept the Medina lit in a soft glow. Although I got limited photos, I’ll always remember that charming starry evening in Marrakech.
Exploring the Atlas Mountains
Road-tripping through the long, winding roads in the Atlas Mountains was one of my favorite parts of the trip. I adored staring out the window and watching the countryside fly by — lush greenery mixing with rocky, burnt orange slopes and Berber villages.
Along the way, Ahmed pulled over at various lookout points, where we were allowed to step outside to admire the view and grab photos. There were usually a couple of local souvenir shops at these stops too, selling multicolored dishes, clothing, figurines, and other knickknacks. When I wasn’t soaking in the views, I was laughing with my friends or asking Ahmed questions about his life and culture.
The historical city of Ait Ben Haddou was among the various stops we made. At Ait Ben Haddou, we checked out local art museums and architecture. It was really cool to see how the ancient city was still inhabited to this day. I really enjoyed going “off the beaten path” as a part of my Morocco experience.
Spending the night in the Mountains
After spending our first night in Marrakech, we spent our second night at a local lodge, tucked away in the Atlas Mountains, next door to a mountain range called “Monkey Fingers.” After settling into the lodge, we spent the evening enjoying a delicious home-cooked Morrocan dinner and relaxing on the roof. We watched the sun set beneath the mountains and the moon rise. The valley was so quiet — there wasn’t any civilization for miles beyond the small town at the foot of Monkey Fingers. It was an incredibly serene experience. Immersing myself in the nature and culture country as I was able to in Morocco is the best way to travel.
After leaving the hotel, we drove through more of the Atlas Mountains and stopped at Dades Gorge, a beautiful canyon formed by the Dades River. We hopped on stones in the river and observed local livelihoods. Mothers were washing clothes in the river while their children splashed nearby; shopowners negotiating prices with other tourists.
Camping in the Sahara Desert
Once we left the Atlas Mountains, we headed to the Sahara Desert to ride camels, sandboard down the dunes and then spend the night at a desert camp! Camping in the Sahara was a dream come true. Many of my Semester at Sea friends shared the experience with me since most of us booked with the same tour company, which made it all the more fun!
We rode camels to a large sand dune, then we were given sandboards by our guides to ride down the slopes. We had so much fun cheering one another on as people trekked to the top of the dune to board down. Then, we watched another beautiful sunset behind the dunes, and a beautiful moon rising in its place. I don’t know what it is about Morocco, but the moon almost always rises before it gets dark, which I love!
Chefchaouen, Morocco — The Blue Pearl
After camping in the Sahara, our journey with Ahmed came to an end in Casablanca. However, the adventure wasn’t over yet. The last thing we did was make the trip to Chefchaouen, the famous “Blue City” in Morocco, which is quite literally blue.
My friends and I spent one (very windy) morning exploring the beautiful city. Despite the wind, we still took lots of photos and gawked at the abundance of evil eyes, wildflowers, and art hanging on the sky-blue walls. When the wind became too strong, we took shelter in a local hotel and sipped hot tea until it was time to return back to the ship.
Journeying far and wide in Morocco was one of the highlights of my Semester at Sea travels. I traveled with the best group of friends, Ahmed was an incredible tour guide that ensured we were always safe and taken care of, and I adored how the Moroccan landscape and the local life were such integral parts of my experience, along with typical tourist attractions. While this is just one traveler’s experience, I love Morocco — and I think you will, too.
