Moroccan Road Trip

Morocco is a country made for driving. Easy, navigable roads, maybe not, but it’s the most satisfying way to see the country and experience what life is like outside of the tourist trail. The serpentine streets weaving through the Atlas Mountains, the desolate flat roads pushing you towards the Sahara, or the rural lush landscape leading you towards seaside towns. Whichever scenery you prefer, it sets the scene for a perfect Moroccan road trip.

I’ve highlighted a week-long itinerary for all my road warriors, beginning in the High Atlas Mountain and Southern oases routes. Since I was traveling solo, I opted to have Open Doors Morocco help me craft the ideal itinerary based on my interests. Because of the boom in tourism, it has taken its toll on the environment and the locals. The tourist trail is well paved here and ethical and responsible tourism is at the top of my list when choosing a tour operator. Open Doors Morocco has authentic, experiential tours that pay their workers fair wages and are concerned with the environment and their beloved country. Want to add a trip to the Atlantic coast or the Northwest? Check out recommendations to Essaouira, Fez & Chefchaouen to tack on to this Moroccan road trip, making for an ideal two-week Moroccan tour.

High Atlas Mountains

I’m biased because this is where I spent most of my time while in Morocco, but the Atlas Mountain region, in particular the High Atlas was my favorite. I worked with a girl’s secondary education program, creating an opportunity for girls living in rural mountain villages the chance to go to high school and even continue on to university. We started our Moroccan road trip from Marrakech and on day one we traveled from the major city to Tamnougalt. A 270km journey should have time added on for frequent photo stops. The mountains and passes become more compelling after every turn as you make your way into the Ouarzazate Province.

Ait Ben Haddou

Driving through the Atlas region you’ll have stretches of rocky terrain, not a soul in sight, and then in the distance, you come to find a deserted Kasbah on the hill. There are many famous fortresses sprinkled throughout the country, but two of the more iconic one are within this itinerary. Ait Ben Haddou is an example of the ancient style architecture that is still standing. A UNESCO World Heritage site, Ait Ben Haddou is technically a Ksar, the North African word for castle or fortified village. Be sure to be there by late afternoon, the sunset is best from the top where the view is best.

Tamnougalt

A true Moroccan road trip wouldn’t be complete without an oasis. The sun shines through a traditional curved doorway, letting in a beam of natural light from the back porch of Mustapha’s place. You walk towards the light and after your eyes adjust, you are in front of a collection of palms, a small patch of green farmland surrounded by rust toned hillsides.

What I dubbed to be “the land of 1,000 rugs, Mustapha’s homestay is a unique restored Kasbah. Large common areas, adorned with brightly colored pillows and rugs. You could spend each morning exploring each level of the house, investigating the relics and antiques that Mustapha himself has carefully curated.

A homestay is a great opportunity to get a taste of how locals live while putting your travel dollars back into the local economy. Some of my best travel experiences have been moving outside of my comfort zone and staying in a house over a hotel. Now, it’s my more preferred way to stay and it is an easy step to take towards being a more responsible tourist. Spending two nights at Mustapha’s enabled to peel back the curtain on daily life in Morocco away from the typical tourist trail. We spent the day walking through the maze of the Kasbah, learning about the history, visiting neighbors and taking in the rural lifestyle of Morocco.

Tamnougalt means meeting place, it’s where everyone would pass during the trade route caravans through the Sahara.

Merzouga

A place so nice they named it twice. Sahara in Arabic translates to desert, so calling it the Sahara desert is common, but redundant and no Moroccan road trip would be complete without setting foot in the desert.

When that scorching Sahara sun goes down, it gets COLD in the desert. Be prepared if you are spending an overnight here and pack accordingly. If the wind is whipping through the dunes, it’s helpful to be covered for when you are climbing sandy peaks to admire some of the clearest night skies you’ll ever see. Stargazing is a must, if you have the right camera equipment be sure to bring it along so you can capture the constellations. Spending a night in the Sahara lures you to the country, riding a camel through isolated desert, trekking over a sea of sand dunes until you come to a tented town in the middle of nowhere is a special experience. There are dozens of tour operators that will get you there in back but I chose Open Doors Morocco because they partner with ethical local suppliers and ensure that they are helping to empower the local community by providing a fair partnership.

Where I stayed: ODM Bedouin Bivouac

Dades Gorge

The thought of the act of water being so powerful to gradually wear down mountains to create a gorge is astounding. The Dades Valley basically stretches 100 miles and is a highlight for nature lovers, hikers or historians, since this area is known as valley of 1000 Kashabs. Dades towers upwards of 1,500 feet above Dades River at the base. We close the door to the desert, leaving our way back to Marrakech, we pass through Ourzazate, the Hollywood of Morocco, where several film studios reside.

Where I stayed: Perle Du Dades

If a Moroccan road trip is “Maktoub” or destiny, than this is a great jumping off point to expand on a longer trip or use as inspiration to create your own journey with Open Doors Morocco.