If a friend were to ask me for advice on a possible destination to visit, as long as it is economic and culturally different from Italy, the first place that would come to mind is Morocco . In recent years, low-cost airlines have made it possible to reach the country in a few hours of flight and with increasingly accessible expenses, only a few tens of euros. By integrating the beauty and hardness of the African continent with the charm of Islamic culture, Morocco proudly represents its role as a meeting point between Africa and the Middle East, with a view of the nearby European continent.
I have visited Morocco on two different occasions and yet these have not been enough for me. In the future I would like to go back deepening areas along the Atlas chain that I have only touched on the itinerary that I will recommend in this post. By following my advice you will be able to discover the heart of this nation and go to the desert, passing through a thousand and one night kasbah and traditional Berber villages. Starting point, the teeming Marrakech .
DAY 1 | Marrakech
The impact with Marrakech is inevitably very strong, especially if you have decided to stay inside the medina in a characteristic riad. To start, take a walk in the lively square of Jemaa El Fna , declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. You can dine here in one of the many kiosks set up every day from the afternoon or choose one of the restaurants with panoramic views. Accompany everything with a steaming tea.
DAY 2 | Marrakech
Pick up where you left off the day before, or place Jemaa El Fna dominated by the imposing bulk of the nearby Koutubia mosque . Immerse yourself in the intricate maze of narrow streets of the souk to reach what was once the largest Koranic school in the Maghreb, the precious Medersa Ben Youssef , one of the highest examples of Moroccan art and architecture. Move to the only surviving building from the Almoravid era, the Koubba El Badiyn , and visit the Marrakech Museum. Continue the walk in the souk, time will fly by observing the goods of the colorful shops. A word of advice: if your intention is to buy something, always try to negotiate the price.
DAY 3 | Marrakech - Essaouira - Marrakech
By bus you can reach the coastal city of Essaouira and return to Marrrakech in the evening. About three hours to reach this center overlooking the Atlantic ocean. Visit the port area and observe it from the top of the Skala du Port , a crenellated bastion dominated by two imposing towers that offer a splendid view of the city and the piers below. Enter the old area by crossing place Moulay Hassan and immerse yourself in the souk. Climb the Skala de la Kasba , another fortification dotted with Spanish cannons that will give you another perspective of the ocean and the Iles Purpuraires in front.
DAY 4 | Marrakech - Kasbah Ait Benhaddou - Ouarzazate - Dades Gorges
With only eight days available, it could be an idea to participate in an organized excursion of three days and two nights to reach the south of the country and thus have a taste of the Moroccan desert. Almost all agencies in Marrakech offer standard excursions whose prices change according to the type of accommodation chosen during the nights. The first day is expected to cross the High Atlas mountain range along the Tizi'n Tichka mountain pass at an altitude of 2,260 meters. The various stages of production and its benefits for the human body are illustrated in an Argan oil cooperative. With a detour you reach the Kasbah of Ait Benhaddou, declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco. In Ouarzazate, the "gate of the desert", there is the possibility to choose whether to visit the ancient Kasbah of Taourirt or the famous Cinema Museum. Traveling through the beautiful Rose Valley you will reach the last stop of the day, the suggestive Dades Gorges in the vicinity of which there are several accommodation facilities.
DAY 5 | Dades Gorges - Tinghir - Todra Gorges - Merzouga
Resuming the march towards the Draa Valley crossed by one of the longest rivers in Morocco, you will have the opportunity to observe along the road ancient Kasbahs hidden in the mountains. In Tinghir there is a stop at the lush palm grove that surrounds the village. Next stop are the spectacular and perhaps too touristy Todra Gorges that precede Merzouga , in the heart of the desert. The sunset is the ideal time to go by dromedary and reach one of the camps at the foot of the Grande Duna which will host you for the night.
DAY 6 | Merzouga - Marrakech
Crossing the desert in daylight you will return to Merzouga by dromedary. A tiring and long journey back will await you until you return to Marrakech which you will reach only in the late afternoon.
DAY 7 | Marrakech - Ourika Valley - Marrakech
If the night has served you to overcome the tiredness accumulated in these days you can take part in another organized excursion. The Ourika Valley is only an hour from Marrakech. In Tnine-l'Ourika you will stop to visit Les jardin bioaromatiques de l'Ourika, an aromatic biological clock garden in which officinal plants grow from which massage oils are obtained. The road ends at Setti Fatma . An easy uphill walk awaits you to observe some of the Seven Waterfalls . You will have lunch in one of the tourist restaurants along the river before returning to Marrakech for a well-deserved rest.
DAY 8 | Marrakech
It is the last day on Moroccan soil. If your flight is scheduled in the afternoon, you can take advantage of the morning to get to know two other symbolic places in Marrakech. At the southern end of the medina stands the neighborhood once inhabited by the Jewish community, the Saadian tombs with its well-kept flower garden and the Bahia Palace .
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