Morocco – you will love it or hate it, but it won’t leave you indifferent. It’s my third time here and even if I had some moments of a love-hate relationship with Morocco myself, I always came back for more, because there is magic there, something you cannot explain, but you have to experience yourself.
This country always keeps me on my toes but in a special unexpected way. It gives me the much-needed feeling of stepping into an adventure, of teleporting to another world and living life in a bit different manner than ours, breaking the prism of the “modern world” where the old-fashioned mixes with the spiced up edited modernity. A great mix of delicious food, Aladdin vibes, kind people, different mindsets and wonderful landscapes.
WHY THIS TITLE?
Obviously, we are not Bedouins, but we love the so-called nomadic way of life and deeply respect every culture and way of living. For those of you who might not know, the Bedouins are the oldest inhabitants of the Arabian desert, and Morocco is one of the most colorful and interesting countries with its Arabian, Berber and European influences. With its great collection of cultural impacts this caravan of Moroccan dreams ‘’calls me’’ to go back over and over again… because there is much more to discover.
GENERAL INFO ABOUT MOROCCO
Location: In North Africa, bordering Western Sahara, Algeria, the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea and connecting to Europe/Spain through the Strait of Gibraltar
Size: 446,550 km2
Capital: Rabat
Population: currently 37,479,165
Language: Arabic, Standart Moroccan Berber
Currency: Moroccan dirham
1 EUR = 10,52 MAD ; 1 USD = 9,04 MAD
Seasons: 4 seasons – winter: November – January - the coldest and wettest season; summer – June to August – very hot; spring and fall are the country’s shoulders seasons with temperature neither too low, neither too high
Best time to visit: Spring and fall, because they offer the most pleasant weather and temperatures. April and May, and September to November are the shoulder seasons, but it’s not too hot or too cold, there are fewer tourists = less crowded, and usually, there is a greater choice and cheaper accommodation and flight options to the country
What to pack: Appropriate/respectful for the Moroccan culture clothing – keep in mind that there are places where you can dress a bit extra, but don’t walk that way in the Medina or on the streets, or simply cover yourself before arriving at the restaurant, or your hotel/riad. Pack comfortable, breathable shoes and sandals, lightweight long sleeve shirt/jacket, sunscreen, sunglasses, hat (or buy one from the souks there)
WHERE TO STAY
Dar Jaguar Riad
Special thanks to Dar Jaguar for the peace it always provided us with once we crossed the threshold of its doors. Have you ever stayed in a riad? For those of you who might not know - a riad is a traditional Moroccan house or palace with an interior garden or courtyard. Dar Jaguar is not only a beautiful accommodation but also a specialist in organizing unique getaways and creating unforgettable moments. We stayed in The State of Grace Suite and experienced a bubble bath with rose petals and canapes, followed by a relaxing massage. They organized an amazing candlelit Moroccan feast under the stars and a sunset camel tour. You could also ask for a private guided tour in Marrakech, a trip to the Atlas Mountains or the Agafay Desert. ❣️ The owner, Lucia and I, decided to surprise you with a 15% discount code. You can apply it to your booking at Dar Jaguar: DJVIPIzabel15
Instagram: @darjaguarriad
Book here: www.darjaguar.com ｜Use DJVIPIzabel15 for 15% OFF
In the map at the end of my blog post, you will find most of the points of interest in Marrakech and some of the best places to eat and have a drink.
SOUK MARKET ｜MEDINA
The ‘’Magic Carpet’’ brought us to Marrakech in the search of the Aladdin / Genie’s Lamp. We couldn’t skip soaking again in the chaotic, touristic, but still authentic atmosphere of the Medina while getting lost in the souks - a market maze full of enthusiastic sellers trying to impress you with their exotic spices, rugs, lamps, Arabic clothes, tea- and tagine pots etc.
KOUTOUBIA MOSQUE
This is the largest mosque in Marrakech, also known as the Mosque of the Booksellers. Its only minaret is 77m high and it is considered as a symbol of Marrakech.
Entrance fee: a free visit from the outside
BAHIA PALACE
Initially built for and by Si Moussa in the 19th century, the palace was afterwards occupied and extended by Bou Ahmed. In Arabic, the name of Bahia Palace means ‘’brilliance’’. It’s not only a brilliant architectural achievement bringing hints of Moorish and Andalusian influences, but also a brilliantly preserved, and one of the most interesting sights to discover in Marrakech. With its 8000m2 of gardens, 160 rooms, courtyards and riads decorated with paintings, stuccos, decorative arabesques, cedarwood ceilings and ornate mosaics, make sure you add it to your list if you haven’t yet. If you want to take nice pictures, hurry up to be one of the first visitors when the Palace opens (at 9 AM) as usually afterwards it gets quite crowded.
Entrance Fee: 70 MAD
LE JARDIN MAJORELLE ｜Yves Saint Laurent
The gardens of Jardin Majorelle are spread on an area of 9,000m2 and lay out in a beautiful maze of alleys and colorful buildings blending the Art Deco and Moorish influences. They are created over 40 years, starting in 1923 by the French Orientalist artist Jacques Majorelle. Jacques Majorelle devised these beautiful gardens as a sanctuary and botanical laboratory, where he started planting exotic botanical specimens collected from all over the world.
Later on, in 1966, the two fashion designers - Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé bought Jardin Majorelle to save it from destruction and restore it. They lived in Jacques Majorelle villa, renamed the Villa Oasis.
Entrance fee:
Jardin Majorelle - 120 MAD
Berber Museum + Jardin Majorell - 150 MAD
YVES SAINT LAURENT Museum - 100 MAD
Combined ticket / incl. Jardin Majorelle, Berber Museum and YSL Museum - 220 MAD
PALAIS EL BADI
Palais El Badi was used for 100 years before being destroyed.
The old palace was built by the Saadian Sultan Ahmed Al-Mansour to celebrate the victory over the Portuguese army in 1578 during the Battle of the Three Kings.
El Badi was constructed with 50 tall Carrara marble columns brought from Italy, gold dust from Sudan, porphyry from India, jade from China and other materials from France, and Spain.
In 1696, the sultan of the new reigning dynasty, Alawite Moulay Ismaïl stripped the palace. The marbles, zelliges and other treasures were torn off to be transported to Meknes, the new royal capital. Almost 20 years were needed to demolish the palace.
Interesting facts:
Its courtyard is a large version of that of the Alhambra.
Its underground system allowed slaves and servants to move through the palace and its 360 rooms without being visited.
Entrance fee: 70 MAD
Agafay Desert is the perfect escape from the chaotic but super charming Marrakech. This stone desert stretch is starting only 30km from town where you will find the tranquility and peace of an oasis. There are still some typical Berber villages snuggled somewhere in the several hundred acres of beautiful dunes. With its landscapes and colors the “Stone Desert” reminds you of Sahara and the backdrop of the Atlas Mountains makes you feel like a spaceship just dropped you on another planet.
WHERE TO STAY
Sleeping in the desert, watching the moonlight and the million stars shining and inviting for a deep dive into your wildest dreams… Being woken up by your explorer’s spirit at dawn counting the minutes to see the sun rising above the horizon…
Scarabeo Camp is a luxury camp and offers beautiful glamping tents with private bathrooms, comfy beds, ventilators for the hot days and stoves for the cold nights because we all know that during the night it can get chilly in the desert. The food is delicious and I won’t even speak about the pool and the evenings by the campfire.
A small oasis in the Agafay desert, this desert camp is a bucket list experience. Time to satisfy your nomadic cravings - let’s pack and go!
Instagram: @scarabeo_camp
Book here: www.scarabeocamp.com
ATV or buggy ride
Have a typical meal in a Berber tent
Hot air balloon flight over the desert by sunrise
Overnight in a desert camp / and chill by the pool
Go for jet skiing, wakeboarding, flyboarding etc. at Takerkoust Lake - a man-made reservoir
Camel sunset ride ✖️However, this is a questionable recommendation. Please first make sure that the camels are treated well and weren’t abused by their owners. This isn’t an easy task, but if you are doubting this please don’t go for the ride.
Some time ago, I’ve been to Tangier where Africa meets Europe through the Strait of Gibraltar. I didn’t also miss visiting the unspoiled beauty of Essaouira while admiring the crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean and the unspoiled beauty of the Argan tree home (aka goat’s favourite tree) – Essaouira region.
Here I will finish my fairytale collection of memories and will continue dreaming of the next places I still have on my list – the powdery sands of the Moroccan Sahara, the blue city Chefchaouen, the giant Medina of Fes, the imperial city of Meknes, the capital – Rabat and the economical capital of Morocco – Casablanca. Did I miss something?