BUTOHI ODYSSEY

It was a spontaneous decision to visit Morocco in February 2024. I wanted to take a trip outside London and discovered that Morocco is not too far from here.

I applied for an e-visa to Morocco, which was very easy and I received it within two days. I had flights booked from London Stansted to Marrakech and a return journey from Tangier.

I arrived in Marrakech in the evening and was picked up by the hotel. It’s a Riad, a traditional Moroccan house turned hotel, located 30 minutes from the airport. After settling in, I had a shower and dined on Tagine, a Moroccan dish with vegetables and chicken. Unfortunately, I found the taste to be too bland for my liking.

Next morning, I went on a popular quad bike ride in Marrakech. They picked me up from my hotel, and we rode for about two hours, with a tea break included. I booked most of the activities through GetyourGuide to get discounts, but it’s also possible to book tours and attractions through the hotel. After getting dirty during the desert ride, I showered and rested for a few hours before heading to explore the Medina, the old town surrounded by ancient walls. It felt like stepping back in time to the 17th century, reminiscent of the days of Aladdin. The Medina was bustling with street vendors selling traditional Arabic items and food, as well as snake shows. Communication can be challenging if you only speak English, as the official languages in Morocco are Arabic and French.

My next destination was Fez, a 3-day trip from Marrakech including visits to Oourzazate, a Berber village, the Moroccan grand canyon, an evening safari, and a stay at the Sahara desert. Oourzazate, known as the Hollywood of Morocco, has been the filming location for many famous movies like Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator, and Game of Thrones. It’s a popular spot for Hollywood producers and directors. Our hotel, located between the Atlas mountains, provided a nice resting place for our group after a day of exploration. Morocco’s landscape is greatly influenced by the Atlas mountains, offering stunning views throughout the country.

Next morning, we started around 7 and reached the grand canyon, which I found unexpectedly beautiful. We took pictures, heard stories from our guide, and visited a Berber village to see some handmade crafts. Then we traveled a long way to Merzouga, the start of the Sahara desert. I was excited for the camel safari, which turned out to be a 2-hour overwhelming experience ending at our tent. I made friends with people from Europe, Asia, and America, and we had a memorable bonfire night with singing, dancing, and traditional Moroccan music. The desert was very cold at night and hot during the day.

We had to check out early from our tent and return to our bus heading back to Marrakech. Since I had to continue on to Fez, I was grouped with others for a car journey that took almost 12 hours. It turned out to be a terrible experience as the people in the car were smoking weed throughout the journey, and the driver made several stops. What was supposed to be an 8-hour journey ended up taking 12 hours. Upon arrival, the owner of the Riad escorted me and helped me plan my trip for the next day. I visited the ancient city of Volubilis, a 2000-year-old ruined site near Meknes, and learned about its Roman origins. I also wanted to experience a train journey in Morocco, so I asked the driver to drop me off at Meknes railway station. Moroccan trains are often crowded and late, but you can book tickets using this link.

My journey from Fez to Chefchaouen started early the next morning. It took me 4 hours by taxi to reach the blue mountain town where all the houses are painted blue. After spending a couple of hours there, I continued my journey to Tangier, a coastal city where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean. Tangier is more modern and attracts many European visitors. The food there was different and tastier than in the rest of Morocco, with a wider variety for breakfast. Finally, I flew from Tangier airport to London Gatwick, concluding my one-week journey through Morocco.

Tips while travelling to Morocco
– Always carry extra cash. Most restaurants and Hotels prefer cash only.
– Its good to have revolut or Monzo card to withdraw money in local currencies. Both Moroccan Dirham and Euros are accepted.
– Always bargain while shopping and using Taxi. They quote exorbitant prices.
– It is good to do advance booking for your attractions using online apps. I prefer GetyourGuide and they give discounts too.
– Some typical Moroccan dish to try while you are in Morocco are Tagine, Harira soup and Pastilla.