I have wanted to visit Morocco for years, and to see four specific places: Marrakesh, Essouria on the coast, the blue city of Chefchaouen to the north, and the Moroccan desert. The perfect itinerary finally presented itself: a 13-day sampler that checked all my squares and gave a great overview of the country to a first-time visitor.  

First stop: Casablanca, home to the King Hassan II Mosque, the second largest in the world. The Mosque is modern and magnificent, and accommodates 110,000 in prayer.  It is modern but looks ancient, and the marble workmanship is amazing. The washing rooms under the prayer area are simply gorgeous. Shifts of workers toiled 24/7 for six years to build King Hassan II’s gift to Morocco. 

Next stop, the capitol, Rabat. We visited the grand kasbah (fortress) by the sea, the old Mosque grounds and the Royal family’s mausoleum. Signs of the monarchy are everywhere, in an understated fashion, complete with palaces and horse guards. At sunset, we arrived the gorgeous city of Chefchaouen. Our hotel’s rooftop balcony was beyond a charming vantage point. 

Fez, the center of crafts, was our next stop. The famous medina did not disappoint. We had tours of a mosaic center and tannery,  and we ate pastillas in the most elegant of restaurants. We also dropped by the oldest university in the world, est. 859. It was a fun-filled taste of the busy life in Morocco, ending with a great massage! In the morning, it was off to the desert.

The highlight of the trip for many was our night in the desert. We arrived at our desert camp and claimed our dromedary for the hike to the top of the dunes. Sky rainbows of blues and golds of sand together with the setting sun made this spot astonishingly peaceful. The camel rides are fun, but the experience is no less, and the stillness only amplifies the beauty. After dinner, we drank and chatted around the giant fire for hours, yet we had no problem rising early to experience the beauty of sand and sky at sunrise. The Dunes of Merzouga were amazing.  Desert camps only, please.

The next day we headed toward Ouarzazate, home to Morocco’s oldest and most important kasbah.

The first stop was at a fossil excavation site with beautiful displays and fascinating demonstrations. The fossil-laden stones and slabs were turned into everything from cups and statues, to fountains, sinks, and bathtubs. 

From there it was off to beautiful Essouria. It’s a perfect seaside town with wide beaches, a lovely promenade, horses and camels to ride, and great dining and hotels! After the beach, it was back to Marakkesh, a town awash in character. The medina, the mosques, the square and the snake charmers, and the beautiful parks make it a place to roam. It was the perfect shopping end to a whirlwind sample of Morocco!   

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