2 Indians in Morocco

Morocco is an amalgamation of European culture from the North and African culture. It is a hot destination for most Europeans given that it is located at 2-3 hours from most cities.

When to go?

Ait Ben Haddou in the middle of the desert

November to April is really good weather - Between 25 and 10 throughout most of the country while summers (July, August) tend to be hot at 35 degrees. Casablanca is a tad colder in the summers than the historic cities of Marrakech and Fez. The Sahara areas of Merzouga, Zagora are much hotter in the summers with temperatures reaching up to 40 deg. while winters are colder than the mainland.

For those from India, Morocco can be visited any time of the year. Compared to the Indian summers, this is a cake walk! However avoid the peak summers in July, August as the most places get really hot and you also get to avoid the insane European traffic that the country attracts in those months. We have enough people back in our country anyway

What to see?

There are 4 major segments to see in Morocco.

1. History Buffs - Marrakech, Fez, Casablanca: These are the most commonly visited destinations within Morocco and usually the entry point for most travellers. Needless to say, each of these cities are brimming with tourists all year round and hence has a well developed ecosystem of travel agencies and touts offering day trips, city tours etc. Marrakech in particular has an old world charm with its famous Jemaa El Fnaa square playing home to vendors selling everything from lamps to orange juice, snake charmers, jugglers, beautiful cafes, touts and more

Sunset at Essaouira

High Atlas landscapes

2. Surf Shacks - Agadir, Essaouira: The Moroccan hotspot for beaches and both with excellent avenues for water sports like surfing and beach bumming. Personally, I enjoyed my days in Essaouira and Agadir more than Marrakech. There are enough agencies that teach you surfing for those interested. Fishing is a huge industry for the area and the Fish market of Essaouira is definitely worth a visit.

3. Treks, Hikes and Game of Thrones - Atlas range: The Atlas range is only an hour away from Marrakech and hence acts as the start point for most treks and hikes around the area. Ascents like Mt. Toubkal and Djebel Sirwa take you through some of the most scenic areas within Morocco. Finally, do visit Ait Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate which are home to old fortresses and places where Game of Thrones was also shot. Given their proximity to Marrakech, you can easily do each as a day trip or 2 day trip

4. The Great Sahara: The best place to really experience the Sahara from Morocco is Merzouga. You do get a lot of tours taking you to Zagora, but don't fall for this trap. Merzouga offers you pristine golden sands with the "real" Sahara

The fortress of Ouarzazate

The Great Sahara

How long?

Morocco probably needs 7-10 days depending on your penchant for culture and deserts. 2 days in Marrakech, 3 days on the road from Marrakech towards the fortresses and desert and 2 days around the beaches are a must. The remaining time can be spent in the towns of Fes and Casablanca. Casablanca and Rabat are industrial cities and have very little to offer.

Essentials

• Patience - Streets filled with people, touts trying to sell you anything and everything is not the easiest environment to handle
• Best to withdraw money in the ATMs. Euros are accepted everywhere and hence is the best currency to carry around
• Local transport through taxis is not too expensive and can easily be used in most cities
• Public transport isn't the easiest to figure out
• Buses are the easiest way to travel within Morocco and some places are connected by trains
• Predominantly dry weather and hence dress for free style clothing depending on the month

Budget

• Flights: Return flights from Bombay to Casablanca cost about 40,000 (Emirates) - EUR 530
• Domestic travel through buses could cost you INR 1500 (EUR 20) for a return ticket from Marrakech to Agadir
• Hotels / Riads are cheap, depending on the luxury level you opt for. You can plan an average of INR 2K-3K (EUR 25-35) per night for a couple
• Food is again reasonable and a budget level can easily be planned at an average INR 400-600 per couple (EUR 5-10). Fresh orange juice is available everywhere and can easily be purchased at INR 80-150 (EUR 1-2)
• If you want to grab some beers or wine, its best to go to the nearest Carrefour to stock up

If you are looking for a luxury holiday and if you have Europe-like scenery in mind, stay away. Morocco is a developing country and hence has an India-like feel in most cities.