A Moroccan Adventure 2022 – Trip Highlights.
A Moroccan Adventure 2022 – Trip Highlights.
Trip Duration: 8 Days
Activity Level: 4 out of 5 Sneakers
On September 9th, 2022 we embarked on a trip to northern Africa and in 6.5 hours we arrived at Casablanca airport. Yes you read that right it was less than 7 hours to get from JFK airport to Africa! Here we met our driver who would be with us our entire trip Tufeek!
Trip Duration: 8 Days
Activity Level: 4 out of 5 Sneakers
On September 9th, 2022 we embarked on a trip to northern Africa and in 6.5 hours we arrived at Casablanca airport. Yes you read that right it was less than 7 hours to get from JFK airport to Africa! Here we met our driver who would be with us our entire trip Tufeek!
Upon arrival at Casablanca airport our first destination was our hotel or Riad in Rabat, before arrival we had lunch along the coastline where we got to listen to the waves while enjoying fresh seafood. Arrival at Riad Zyo was more than we would have ever expected. We would learn later from our fantastic guide Momo (more on him during the section on Fes) that Moroccans build things with little care for the outside but for great care for the inside. Riad Zyo is absolutely gorgeous, with a pool in the center and uniquely decorated rooms. This was by far the favorite hotel we stayed in during our Morocco trip.
Upon arrival at Casablanca airport our first destination was our hotel or Riad in Rabat, before arrival we had lunch along the coastline where we got to listen to the waves while enjoying fresh seafood. Arrival at Riad Zyo was more than we would have ever expected. We would learn later from our fantastic guide Momo (more on him during the section on Fes) that Moroccans build things with little care for the outside but for great care for the inside. Riad Zyo is absolutely gorgeous, with a pool in the center and uniquely decorated rooms. This was by far the favorite hotel we stayed in during our Morocco trip.
I was not ready for all the shopping but I will be next time! I think I enjoyed the tanneries the most. Now the one thing to remember is that the key here is that for authentic Moroccan fare it’s not necessarily “cheap” you have to remember they will export this to designers and stores who will put a logo on it and sell mark it up for 4 and 5 times the price. At least when buying straight from the supplier you can haggle and negotiate so get your haggle hats on ladies and gentlemen and let the good times roll! A great guide is important here and Momo is LITERALLY one of the best he has been written about, requested by celebrities and even had the opportunity to become Mayor. When you are given a tour by Momo you too feel like somebody. Everyone wants to stop and shake Momo’s hand! Maybe during one of the destination previews I’ll tell you the lost painting story if you ask!
The next morning we departed Riad Zyo and after a quick city tour we headed to the blue city ChefChaouen. Yes it is a bit of a trek but you absolutely have to spend the time to go! It is an unbelievable experience and you won’t regret it at all. Our guide Yousef was knowledgeable, funny and dare I say an amazing photographer! To learn about Chaouen and visit the shops and eat the food was so enjoyable. That evening we stayed at Puerto Azul and headed out in the morning to go to FesFES!!!! In a word …..SHOPPING!
I was not ready for all the shopping but I will be next time! I think I enjoyed the tanneries the most. Now the one thing to remember is that the key here is that for authentic Moroccan fare it’s not necessarily “cheap” you have to remember they will export this to designers and stores who will put a logo on it and sell mark it up for 4 and 5 times the price. At least when buying straight from the supplier you can haggle and negotiate so get your haggle hats on ladies and gentlemen and let the good times roll! A great guide is important here and Momo is LITERALLY one of the best he has been written about, requested by celebrities and even had the opportunity to become Mayor. When you are given a tour by Momo you too feel like somebody. Everyone wants to stop and shake Momo’s hand! Maybe during one of the destination previews I’ll tell you the lost painting story if you ask!
The next morning we departed Riad Zyo and after a quick city tour we headed to the blue city ChefChaouen. Yes it is a bit of a trek but you absolutely have to spend the time to go! It is an unbelievable experience and you won’t regret it at all. Our guide Yousef was knowledgeable, funny and dare I say an amazing photographer! To learn about Chaouen and visit the shops and eat the food was so enjoyable. That evening we stayed at Puerto Azul and headed out in the morning to go to FesFES!!!! In a word …..SHOPPING!
Our last and final stop is something I’ve wanted to do for so long and I must say it’s the ONLY way I’ll ever spend time outdoors overnight… can you guess? GLAMPING. That’s right we went to Aguafey dessert and glamped in luxury tents but before we got cozy we got adventures. We rode ATVs throughout the desert. I should note this desert was more mountainous and rocky than what you may be thinking of but it was still a great time. We ended our adventure with a quick camel ride before heading to the camp for dinner. I don’t know about anyone else but if my tent doesn’t have full plumbing and an air conditioner… I don’t want it *shrugs
All in all I can’t wait for more of you to experience everything Morocco has to offer. If you are interested in traveling to Morocco with me, reach out to learn more!
Next stop… Marrakesh! This is the place I wish we stayed longer so on future trips we will spend more days here. Tufeek now no longer just our driver but now a travel friend set up us with a surprise dinner as a gift and let me tell you it was absolutely amazing. We had a city tour in Marrakech which included a walking tour as well as…. You guessed it, shopping!! I will say the key is having a guide be able to steer you in the right direction of shops that have authentic items. While they can’t outright tell you that a shop doesn’t have good stuff, if they keep walking past a shop, you should too!
Our last and final stop is something I’ve wanted to do for so long and I must say it’s the ONLY way I’ll ever spend time outdoors overnight… can you guess? GLAMPING. That’s right we went to Aguafey dessert and glamped in luxury tents but before we got cozy we got adventures. We rode ATVs throughout the desert. I should note this desert was more mountainous and rocky than what you may be thinking of but it was still a great time. We ended our adventure with a quick camel ride before heading to the camp for dinner. I don’t know about anyone else but if my tent doesn’t have full plumbing and an air conditioner… I don’t want it *shrugs
All in all I can’t wait for more of you to experience everything Morocco has to offer. If you are interested in traveling to Morocco with me, reach out to learn more!
