Morocco Route - Our round trip including highlights & tips

I (Bolle) love thinking back to our Morocco tour. The oriental world somehow fascinates me and casts its magical spell over me every time. Morocco and I? It was definitely love at first sight. Just a four-hour flight from Germany and you’re suddenly in the middle of a completely different world. Bustling markets, long sandy beaches, crazy smells, colorful alleys, delicious food, beautiful buildings, and so much more—Morocco definitely knows how to impress. In today’s post, I’d like to introduce you to our Morocco route through the “Great South” and inspire you for your very own trip through the country. Have fun browsing!

You should also know:

You should You should also know:
Our Morocco Route & Duration
1. Arrival in Marrakech
2. High Atlas & Tamdaght
3. The Todra Gorge in Tenehir
4. The magical Sahara Desert
5. Relaxation in Agdz
6. Surfing in Taghazout
7. Exploration tour in Essaouira
8. End the trip in Marrakech
Conclusion to our Morocco Route
Our Morocco FAQ

Our Morocco Route & Duration

Our 13-day trip (12 nights) took us from Marrakech over the High Atlas and further into the vastness of the Sahara. The tour then continued through Morocco to the Atlantic Ocean, to Taghazout and Essaouira. We recommend at least 7 days for such a tour, but 12-14 days is better. Some routes are quite long, and some places are far apart. Focus on one region of the country and don’t try to cram everything into one week! Below the map, you’ll find a table with all stops and distance information.

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1. Arrival in Marrakech

Our Morocco tour started in Marrakech, the former capital of the Moroccan Empire. Today, this city is primarily an important economic center with almost 930,000 inhabitants. Many mosques, beautiful palaces and gardens, labyrinthine alleys, restaurants, cafés, and countless markets await you here. Marrakech is a loud and bustling city, yet it simply has to be seen and experienced.

Morocco Route Marrakech Medina Markets

We particularly liked the Bahia Palace, the Medersa Ben Youssef Koranic School, the Jardin Majorelle Botanical Garden, the Koutoubia Mosque, and, of course, the bustling souks in the narrow alleys of the medina. Here you can find clothing, jewelry, shoes, leather goods, souvenirs, food, and basically anything you can imagine. Don’t miss the central Djemma el Fna square and enjoy the hustle and bustle. The best highlights and sights can be found here.

Our accommodation in Marrakech

We stayed for two nights in the very beautiful Riad Alwachma*. This accommodation is located in the western center of the city and impresses above all with oriental details, a beautiful roof terrace, a pretty courtyard, and beautiful rooms in the style of 1001 Nights.

On Tripadvisor*, the Riad is rated 5 out of 5 points from over 500 reviews. You can get a double room with breakfast for just €70 per night. The location is great, the staff incredibly friendly, and the food is also delicious. We absolutely recommend it!

2. High Atlas & Tamdaght

After 3 wonderful days in Marrakech, we continued through the country in our rental car. Our next accommodation was about 170 kilometers from Marrakech, beyond the Atlas Mountains. We drove on the N9 towards Toufliht and then on to Telouet. According to Google, it would only take 3.5 hours, but in the end, it took us considerably longer, as it took us an hour just to get out of Marrakech. The traffic there is truly turbulent and hectic, not for the faint of heart!

But eventually, we reached the Atlas Mountains, which stretch almost 2,300 kilometers across Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. That day, the weather was not on our side; the higher we climbed, the windier, rainier, and colder it became. The clouds hung low, and visibility was severely limited. We wound our way along the roads and eventually reached the other side and the mountain valley. Now we saw picturesque valleys, green river oases, and traditional villages. We crossed the Tizi n’ Tichka Pass at an altitude of 2,260 meters and reached our accommodation after almost 6 hours. ☞ Everything about the tour and the accommodation here.

Our accommodation in Tamdaght

We were allowed to spend one night in the beautiful Kasbah Ellouze. This accommodation* consists of a traditional adobe building with a beautiful courtyard and four towers. The entrance area also features a cozy lounge, the wonderful Jazz Room for breakfast and dinner, an outdoor pool, and several terraces with views of the mountains and the village.

We were welcomed with fresh mint tea and pastries, then given the keys to the family suite. We particularly liked the traditional architecture and the many beautiful oriental details. The food was also excellent; nothing was missing. We highly recommend Kasbah Ellouze! On Tripadvisor*, the property has received 4.5 out of 5 possible points from 560 reviews.

3. The Todra Gorge in Tenehir

Our tour continued via Quarzazate to El-Kelaâ M’Gouna. We left the green valley behind us, and the landscape became increasingly arid. We drove almost 200 kilometers through the Valley of Roses, finally reaching the date palm oasis of Tinghir and the beautiful Todra Gorge. Here, the Kasbah Road winds its way up the mountain and then down again, past small clay villages and ancient kasbahs.

We parked the car and headed toward the gorge. The walls of the rocky opening, only a few meters wide, rise several hundred meters high. A truly magnificent sight! This gorge is one of the most spectacular canyons in the world, incredible! The final part of the gorge, which is only about 10 meters wide, is particularly beautiful. It’s best to visit the gorge in the morning or evening, otherwise you’ll have to share the view with tour buses.

Todra Gorge Tinghir Morocco Round Trip

Our Accommodation in Tinghir

In Tinghir, we spent one night in the small and cozy Kasbah Petit Nomad*. This accommodation is about 9 kilometers from Tinghir and features a small outdoor pool, a restaurant, parking, and rooms with garden or mountain views. You can end the evening comfortably in the communal lounge. It was okay for one night, but nothing particularly special compared to our other accommodations on the tour. On Tripadvisor*, the Kasbah Petit Nomad received 5 out of 5 points from over 255 reviews.

4. The Magical Sahara Desert

We were finally getting closer to our goal, finally fulfilling a long-held dream. Now only 200 kilometers separated us from Merzouga, our starting point for the Sahara Desert tour. Along the way, we repeatedly encountered wild camels on the roads, so caution is advised. Eventually, we could see the first sand dunes on the horizon, and our anticipation grew immeasurably.

At the Ksar Bicha base camp, a hotel complex on the edge of the desert, we left our luggage and car behind, grabbed only the most essential clothes, and started our tour into the desert. Together with six other tourists, our guides, and a few camels, we walked toward the sunset. Sand dunes as far as the eye could see. Unimaginable and totally surreal. Did you know that the Sahara is around 5,000 km wide? By comparison, New York and Los Angeles are “only” about 4,000 kilometers apart.

After 90 minutes, we reached our camp. Like little children, we jumped through the soft, fine sand, rolled down the dunes, and enjoyed the view of the endless expanse. A feeling of contentment spread. We don’t know why, but we were simply happy and grateful to be able to experience this adventure. Thinking “we did everything right,” we hugged each other and bid farewell to the last rays of sunshine…what a fantastic day! You can read our detailed report here.

Our accommodation in the Sahara

After about 90 minutes, we reached the desert camp. Surrounded by sand dunes, it was located in a depression, sheltered from the wind. The Berber tents actually had real double beds. We hadn’t expected so much comfort in the desert. We didn’t stay in our tent for long, however; we preferred to spend the time until dinner in the sand instead! The small tents were equipped with large beds and plenty of thick blankets. These were desperately needed, as it got freezing cold that night. In the evening, there was a delicious traditional meal, live music from the guides, and an equally delicious breakfast in the morning. Highly recommended!

You can book tours to the Sahara here:

From Marrakech: 3-day tour through the Sahara to Merzouga*
From Merzouga: Camel ride with overnight stay in Erg Chebbi*
2-day desert safari to Zagora from Marrakech*
Start in Fez: 3 days and 2 nights – desert tour to Marrakech*
Merzouga: Overnight stay in a Bedouin tent and camel ride*

5. Relaxation in Agdz

After this gigantic adventure, the next journey awaited us. To avoid spending too much time in the car, we “only” drove around 299 kilometers to Agdz. The journey went smoothly. Occasionally, however, we had to ease off the accelerator because donkeys, camels, or goats wandered onto the road. We passed the mountain landscapes of Jbel Toubkal and expansive stone deserts.

Around midday, we reached the oasis chain of the Drâal Valley. Every now and then, you could spot one of the many kasbahs in the valley. Here, the journey is definitely the destination! We didn’t do any more exciting excursions that day, but enjoyed every minute in our beautiful accommodation. It was good to unwind a bit and clear our minds for a moment.

Our accommodation in Agdz

Agdz itself is only a small province with around 14,000 inhabitants. Highlights here include the surrounding mountains, the houses painted in bright red and ochre tones, and the Drâa Valley. We stayed in the beautiful Kasbah Azul*, our little paradise in the middle of nowhere.

A wonderful garden with an outdoor pool and chill-out area, a beautiful terrace, oriental rooms, and a shared lounge awaited us. We immediately fell in love with this bed and breakfast. More information and photos here. On Tripadvisor*, this accommodation receives 5 out of 5 points from over 290 reviews.

6. Surfing in Taghazout

Surfing in Morocco? Yes, baby! From Agdz, we started our longest tour, covering approximately 380 km to Taghazout, a small surfing village on the Atlantic coast. After an estimated six hours, we finally arrived at our destination and looked forward to a few days of sun, sand, and sea. Among surfers, Taghazout in Morocco is definitely one of the best spots in the world. After all, anyone can experience Bali, Australia, or Hawaii! Here, you’ll experience a successful mix of culture, sun, sand, and often perfect waves.

In Taghazout, there isn’t a long list of sights; it’s more about the vibe, a very specific feeling. Everywhere you go, young people pass by with surfboards under their arms, older men drink tea and play cards, cats slumber on the ground, eyeing the occasional snack from your plate. In Taghazout, people like to sit together, have fun, and enjoy their time by the sea. Our tip for you: surf, eat, sleep and repeat! More about it here: Surfing in Taghazout – Our experience report.

Our accommodation in Taghazout

Unfortunately, our accommodation was a complete disaster. We can’t recommend the “Sunside Surf House” hostel at all, as it was very dirty, run-down, and loud (at least at the time). We would have preferred to move out immediately, but in the end, we simply had to close our eyes and get on with it! But we want to introduce you to a few other accommodations that we would also book ourselves. Do you have any other tips for us? Then share them in the comments.

Paradis Plage Surf Yoga & Spa*
Sol House Taghazout Bay Surf*
Surf Maroc’s Auberge*
Sun House Morocco*
Munga Guesthouse*
The Yogi Surfer*

7. Exploring Essaouira

After our relaxing days in the surfer village of Taghazout, we drove further along the coast to the small town of Essaouira, about 150 km away. Around 78,000 people live here, making it a relatively small city compared to Marrakech (928,000 inhabitants). We particularly enjoyed the oriental medina with its many mysterious and winding alleys, as well as the wonderful markets and stalls. Essaouira was truly relaxing, as cars aren’t allowed inside the medina. This allows for a leisurely stroll.

Outside the city walls, we visited the traditional fishing port with its many blue boats, the fortress with a fantastic view of the sea, and the seemingly endless sandy beach with bars and restaurants. Off the coast of Essaouira are the two small islands of Mogador. These serve as a bird sanctuary and are off-limits year-round. The reason: Eleanor’s falcons roam here and breed from April to October. Circumnavigating the island is only possible by fishing boat. Fortress entrance fee: 10 dirhams (1€). More about the city here: Essaouira experience report.

Our accommodation in Essaouira

We stayed for two nights at the beautiful Riad Lyon Mogador*. This riad is located right in the heart of the medina, ideal for exploring the city. From the outside, the riad appears completely inconspicuous, but inside, a small dream oasis awaits you. The beautifully furnished rooms are spread over four floors. The morning breakfast on the roof terrace with a view over the rooftops of Essaouira was particularly lovely. Incidentally, the riad has been rated 4.5 out of 5 on Tripadvisor* based on over 360 reviews.

8. Ending the trip in Marrakech

The last two days were dawning, and we slowly had to make our way back to Marrakech. We now had another 185 kilometers ahead of us before we could return our car. We ended our trip comfortably in Marrakech, visiting a few places, such as the beautiful Jardin Majorelle botanical garden and the Koutoubia Mosque. Of course, we also bought a few souvenirs in the souks on the last day. A relaxed dinner in the evening was also a must, and so we had a large portion of tagine with a view of the central Djemaa el Fna square.

Beautiful accommodations in Marrakech

1. Riad Dar Othmane*
2. Riad Ida Ou Balou*
3. Riad Rose Du Desert*
4. Riad Hamdane*
5. Riad Hugo*
6. Riad Al Ksar & Spa*

Conclusion of our Morocco itinerary

We really enjoyed our time in Morocco and found our tour and route perfect. It was never stressful for us; we completed the route in a relaxed manner. We gained a fascinating insight into the people, the country, and the culture. We are already looking forward to another Morocco tour, this time through the beautiful north around Tangier, Casablanca, Fez, Rabat, and the like. When will that time come? Hopefully as soon as possible. I (Bolle) have incredible wanderlust and would love to travel to Morocco tomorrow.

Our Morocco FAQ

How much time should I plan for Morocco? Which Morocco route do you recommend? What is the best way to get to Morocco? What do I need to bear in mind when entering the country? Do I need vaccinations for my trip to Morocco? Do I need a power adapter for Morocco? How safe is a trip to Morocco? What currency do you use in Morocco? How is the internet in Morocco? Do you tip in Morocco? Language in Morocco & Communication? Clothing – What should I wear in Morocco? Can I also use public transport? Are drones actually allowed in Morocco?

Morocco Route – Our 13-day tour including highlights & tips