Status: Away - Morocco
Stunning desert views and old-school cool make Morocco a must-see for any traveller. Our colleague, Joe G. will be sharing his itinerary, as well as some insider tips for making the most out of the Land of the Sunset.
Quick Tips
The Moroccan Dirham is a closed currency, so you can only convert within Morocco. We recommend doing this at the airport, as ATMs may not recognize Canadian cards
Stay in a riad for an authentic Moroccan experience
Many restaurants and bars don’t serve alcohol, but nearly all will serve delicious fresh-pressed fruit juice
Morocco can be hot, so make sure to stay hydrated with plenty of time for shade
Staff picks
Take a cooking class to make lifelong memories
A guided tour to the Sahara Desert is a must
Dar Essalam brings old-school cool with Hitchcock vibes
Morocco
My girlfriend and I took a direct flight from Montreal to Casablanca, and then a train to Marrakesh where we spent most of our time. It’s not too hot in May, and there’s not many tourists either, so I’d recommend going around that time. Plus, my birthday is in May, so we got to celebrate in style in Marrakesh.
Our itinerary wasn’t super complicated. We did a lot of small activities around the city, and I mostly looked at GetYourGuide and social media to see what activities were worth doing.
In general, Morocco’s a wonderful country to visit. We found the people to be very warm and welcoming, and we didn’t have any issues.
Altogether, we were there for 18 days, and we enjoyed every minute of it.
Marrakesh
Marrakesh is a beautiful city, and it’s super accessible by train from Casablanca. The train ride itself was enjoyable because the Moroccan landscape is so different from Canada’s; it’s a completely different colour palette.
It's also very much a pedestrian’s city. We stayed in the Medina, which is the oldest part of the city. For a Canadian it’s very maze-like, made up of tiny alleys filled with shops. When you imagine Marrakesh, you might think of an old historic city, but there are parts of it that are very trendy and modern with everything you’d expect.
We stayed at a local riad, which are traditional Moroccan houses with central courtyard gardens converted into boutique hotels. I’d highly recommend doing this as it’s a much more authentic experience, and you get to develop a relationship with the owners.
One of the big highlights of our trip was this restaurant, Dar Essalam, which Alfred Hitchcock famously filmed at. The restaurant hasn’t changed at all since the 50s and, during the night, live musicians and belly dancers perform while you enjoy a typical Moroccan meal.
We also took a half-day cooking class, which we started at the market where we picked out all the ingredients we’d need. In the afternoon, our professional instructors taught us how to create traditional meals with a tajin, which you get to keep afterwards. I love to take cooking classes when I travel because the smell of food can help form strong memories. Even years later, you’ll be able to invoke these powerful memories when you make the meal at home.
The Sahara Desert
The trip to the Sahara is very long, but it’s a must-do. There are closer deserts of course, like Agafay, but they’re rockier. If you want to experience the sprawling majesty of a real desert, you must visit the Sahara.
We took a 3-day guided tour, and on the first day, you cross a mountain chain and visit a colosseum in Ouarzazate where they filmed a certain movie about a Roman gladiator, among many others. Our tour guide was actually an extra in the film when he was a child.
The second day you’ll arrive in Merzouga, but to reach the campsite you’ll need to ride camels. The camp itself is beautiful, and you stay in a furnished luxury tent. The sand dunes are incredibly high, almost like mountains, and at night there’s no light pollution, so you can see every star in the sky. The next morning, we woke at 4:00 a.m. so we could catch the spectacular desert sunrise, before we returned to Marrakesh.
Plan your Morocco trip
Note: This interview was conducted on March 13, 2025. Information and details may have since changed.