Unsure if you should go to Morocco? Unsure where to go? What to wear? If you should rent a car? Well think no more, we will tell you everything you need to know from our very recent experience to this wonderful country. In this guide we will share our top tips and also include links to the amazing YouTube vlogs from our trip. This guide will help you pick and chose locations you might want to add to YOUR itinerary for your next adventure!😎
Most people fly to Marrakesh or Casablanca, however, we were smarter and saved ourselves a lot of money by flying to a tiny airport in Ouarzazate. When we say tiny, it was literally one terminal, one plane, which makes the trip even more unique!
It's hard to believe that this is an international airport, being so small! It is so much cheaper to fly to this airport, but be aware that you need to give plenty of space from when you land until you get through security. It took us at least 40 minutes to pass through passport control, as we were taking pictures outside and didn't get a spot right at the front of the queue. Top tip if you go to this airport is to remember to have your boarding passes printed out as they don't accept electronic ones - luckily we came prepared. They also have WIFI at the airport!
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We rented a car for the whole duration of the trip and because Max didn't have a credit card in his name, we found an amazing local company (coming out soon "Best Place to Rent a Car in Morocco"), which did not require a deposit. The gentleman waited for us patiently at the airport and kept in touch by WhatsApp (luckily there was WIFI at the airport so we were able to let him know we were late, because of the big and slow queue at passport control). We got into our cute KIA Rio and started the road trip...
Road Trip Begins
First things first - we read a lot about travelling to Morocco and what it's like to drive there. One word: Chaos. But that's a story for another guide. Driving through Morocco is a huge change from driving around in England. It's still chaotic but different on so many levels. Instead of modern buildings, we were surrounded by gorgeous mountains and incredible ancient architecture.
Our First Stop - Aït Benhaddou
This place was honestly so beautiful and the views were breath-taking. Unfortunately, we didn't have enough time to do the hike to Aït Benhaddou and go inside to explore because we had a 4 hour drive ahead of us to our hotel in Marrakesh. We thought we would be able to drive to the Kasbah but we were only able to park in the village and take pictures from a distance, but it was worth it.
The best tip we would suggest is to stay one night in this area because the Kasbah is huge. There are also so many things to do here, not only immerse in the culture, but also if you are looking for a unique experience, you can do camel riding and overnight camel trekking. If you are looking for adrenaline filled activities, here you can also find mountain biking tours and even rock climbing!
This Moroccan earthen clay architecture is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. We initially thought we could drive there but you have to park quite far away in a small village, so make sure you leave plenty of time to do the hike. If you love movies like us, this is definitely one for your itinerary - movies like Gladiator and The Mummy were filmed here, as well as also being featured in Game of Thrones 🤩
6 Reseasons to add Telouet to your Travel Itinerary:
1. Historical Kasbah:
Telouet is known for its historic Kasbah (fortified residence), called Kasbah of the Glaoui. This kasbah was once the seat of power for the Glaoui family, who were influential in the region during the French colonial period. The kasbah's architecture and design offer a glimpse into the area's rich history.
2. Cultural Heritage:
The village is home to traditional Berber communities, and visitors have the opportunity to experience the local way of life. The Berber people have a unique culture, and exploring their traditions, crafts, and daily activities can be an enriching cultural experience.
3. Scenic Surroundings:
Telouet is situated in the stunning High Atlas Mountains, offering picturesque views of the surrounding landscapes. The mountainous terrain, valleys, and nearby oases provide opportunities for nature enthusiasts and hikers.
4. Off-the-Beaten-Path Experience:
Telouet is not as heavily touristed as some other destinations in Morocco, such as Aït Benhaddou -providing travelers with a more authentic and off-the-beaten-path experience. Those seeking a quieter and less crowded atmosphere may find Telouet appealing.
5. Local Markets:
Exploring local markets in Telouet can be a vibrant and colourful experience. These markets often showcase local crafts, textiles, and traditional products, allowing visitors to purchase unique souvenirs.
6. Hospitality and Local Cuisine:
Visitors often appreciate the hospitality of the local people in Telouet. Trying traditional Berber cuisine and interacting with the locals can enhance the overall travel experience.
We weren't able to squeeze Tizi n'Tichka in our first day as we had no sleep the night before and were exhausted to keep on driving. However, because our road trip around Morocco started in Ouarzazate airport and ended in the same place, we drove through Tizi n'Tichka on our way back. The views were insane and we even got some souvenirs from a lovely local man who spoke some incredible Spanish.
If you come to Morocco this location is a MUST whether you do it on the first day or the last, is up to you!
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On the Way to Marrakesh
Arriving in Marrakesh we were so confused where to drive and at one point we felt like we were driving inside a palace, at least that's what it looked like.
Because we were SUPER sleep deprived we drove straight to our hotel in Marrakesh. We stayed 4 nights at Hotel Lawrance d'Arabie, which allowed us plenty of time to explore the incredible city of Marrakesh and surroundings.
Hotel Lawrence d'Arabie might not have been perfect but the customer service there was great and we felt very welcomed. When we booked the hotel, the rating on Booking.com was 4 stars but checking it now in December 2023 it appears that the rating is currently at 3 stars.
There was free parking available which was something very important to us and that not every hotel offered. Although the hotel wasn't very clean, the towels had stains and the bed was slightly uncomfortable. It didn't help that the room was so hot because the air conditioner was too noisy and every time we put it on we would get an allergic reaction, so we decided we were better off with the heat.
We did enjoy the fact that there was a pool, but we only used it once on the last day in Marrakesh because we were very tired and just wanted a day to relax!
We'd say that for the price of £145 ( around 168 Euros) the hotel was fine for 4 nights. Be aware that you have to pay an additional 2 Euros per person per night in City Tax.
If you want to see more of the hotel, we've put the link to our YouTube video reviewing the hotel. We hope this helps you in your travel planning.
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As soon as we arrived to our hotel we showered and fell asleep! At 10pm we woke up and decided to go grab a bite to eat at the hotel restaurant - News Cafe. We were surprised they were still serving food considering it was almost 11pm. The food was ok but the atmosphere was great filled with locals. We even had live music!🎶
This was a great way to end Day 1! The last thing we did was go to a shop around the corner of the hotel and we bought some bottled water as unlike in the UK it isn't safe to drink tap water in Morocco.
See you in Morocco Day 2 Itinerary - Before you go…
We hope you enjoyed this travel guide, and that we are able to help you plan your next adventure to Morocco.
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Don’t forget to subscribe to our Thatch page so you can stay tuned to our travels and pick out any locations or activities we do for your own future trips. We always add links to our YouTube channel Vlogs so you can get a true experience of the location in more than just words. Please subscribe to our YouTube channel @carmaadventures
Hi we are Carma Adventures! A.K.A Carol and Max. We are currently based in London, United Kindgom. We love to travel and vlog, which is why we have a YouTube channel called Carma Adventures where we record our adventures and memories together. We really enjoy taking on adventurous, relaxing and sometimes luxurious trips, which is why a lot of time and planning is needed when we travel. We created a Thatch account to be able to share our amazing and sometimes crazy itineraries with the world and that will hopefully help you plan your next trip and save time when preparing your fantastic adventure🤩
