Unveiling the Best Morocco Vacation Packages for Your Dream Getaway
Author:
Alyssa Faraji
Published:
Traveling to Morocco as a tourist is among life’s greatest experiences. The north African country has endless exploration opportunities, the most beautiful scenery, and many historically significant sites. However, there is so much to do and see in Morocco that the once-in-a-lifetime encounter can overwhelm first-time tourists, which this article will alleviate.
Visiting Morocco is an incredible experience, yet it can be daunting for many western tourists. However, things like exploring Casablanca, the medina in Fez, wandering through Ait Benhaddou, travelling through Marrakech, and the Blue Village of Chefchaouen, come highly recommended.
While Morocco remains a relatively exotic destination for most western tourists, it is one of those countries that everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime.
At the same time, most locals and experienced tourists will agree Morocco has significantly more to offer than the usual souk exertions, Marrakech exploration, and hotel living, which will be detailed throughout this article.
Despite Morocco being one of the least well-known tourist destinations, the north African country is an incredible location for tourist exploration due to its unmatched cultural significance.
Traditionally, western tourists traveling to Morocco limited themselves to their hotel environment, exploring the stunning city of Marrakech and driving down to Casablanca to obtain a similar allure and lust as exemplified by the classic 1942 movie with the same name.
Locals and experienced tourists will tell you that the most attractive and unique things to do in Morocco will require you to travel outside the city’s walls. While exploring areas of Morocco’s outstanding landscape can induce fear in western tourists due to the known differences in social and cultural norms, it is easily one of the best experiences anyone can undertake.
In Morocco, planning your travels ahead of time is vital to obtain the best and most authentic experience possible. There is nothing wrong with sticking to your hotel environment, local city, and predetermined daily tours; however, if you are willing to push yourself out of your usual comfort zone, it will become obvious that Morocco why Morocco is considered a must-see destination.
Destinations in Morocco
Take A Few Days To Explore Casablanca Fully
Anyone vacationing to Casablanca should not expect to find the same allure, lust, and romance in modern-day Casablanca as was depicted in the classic 1942 movie named after the famed city.
While modern-day Casablanca cannot be accurately compared to the 1942 movie of the same name, the city is packed with exciting adventures, exploration opportunities, and incredibly unique experiences. Currently, the most popular tourist location in Casablanca is the Hassan Mosque.
The Hassan II Mosque is aesthetically striking to most first-time tourists. Its unmatched beauty, design implementations, and historical significance make it essential for all travelers to tick off their bucket lists.
At the same time, if you are planning to travel to Casablanca, local experts recommend taking the time to thoroughly explore local leathered goods, pottery, and spices. The ideal place in Casablanca to obtain the best local authentic leathered goods, pottery, or spices is near a famed area called Quartier Habous.
Between Casablanca’s city center, local souks, historically significant Mosques, and the Quartier Habous, you can obtain the most authentic Moroccan experience possible. Although exploring some of Casablanca’s lesser-known locations is relatively daunting, it remains an unmissable experience, something everyone should commit to doing before it’s too late.
Throughout your unique and distinguished vacation to Casablanca, it will become clear that there are numerous treasures and souvenirs to take home with you. While Casablanca is not one of Morocco’s modern financial or economic hubs, it remains the most culturally significant location within the north African gem, making it an unbeatable experience for first-time tourists.
Spend A Day Meandering Through The Unique Medina In Fez
The city of Fez, located near the middle of Morocco’s accepted borders, is a must-see destination for first-time tourists, travelers, and people that have previously visited the stunning north African country.
Over the past few decades, Fez has developed into a thoroughly attractive tourist destination. Fez is known for its local and authentic souks, numerous culturally significant sites, and various examples of Morocco’s storied history. However, the most enthralling aspect of Fez is undoubtedly its thriving modern and traditional cultural scene.
When first-time tourists arrive in Fez, it is widely accepted that most of them are shocked at the number and variety of local crafts, souks, authentically made leather products, and admirable artists’ galleries.
It is worth noting that the overall experience of exploring and successfully capturing everything Fez offers is unparalleled, with it being a must-see for any tourists traveling to Morocco. While there are various exciting activities in Fez, visiting the local medina is essential if you happen to be in the city.
Visiting the local medina near the center of Fez is among life’s most captivating and memorable experiences. The authentically local tanneries, abundant culture, and unique products mean exploring the archaic city should be on top of any traveler’s bucket list.
If, as a tourist, you are more interested in historically significant buildings, it would be best to explore the regions of Bou Inania Medersa or Tombe dei Merenidi. Both buildings accurately represent Morocco’s distinguished and varied history, with their charm, warmth, and significance rendering it a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence.
Take Your Time Exploring Ait Benhaddou
The region known as Ait Benhaddou is one of Morocco’s lesser-known, although must-see, locations.
Frequently underrated and overlooked by western tourists, Ait Benhaddou is consistently held in the highest regard by most people that had previously traveled to the Moroccan town. It should be noted that Ait Benhaddou is accepted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, featuring memorable, unique, and distinct rock carvings from ancient civilizations in Morocco.
Most western tourists are stunned upon arriving in the ancient town of Ait Benhaddou due to its globally unique rock carvings. However, the rock carvings are different and more complicated than most similar sites in various regions worldwide.
Essentially, previous civilizations residing in Ait Benhaddou carved an entire city from the surrounding rocks, using advanced building techniques, which resulted in the carvings largely maintaining their original form despite being thousands of years old.
In addition, Ait Benhaddou was an important region of the ancient world due to its desirable location. The ighrem, considered a small, protected, and walled village, was traditionally a historically significant town as it became a crucial stopping point for international traders traveling through some of the harshest regions of the surrounding arid desert.
If you aim to travel to the archaic and strikingly beautiful city of Ait Benhaddou, locals recommend arriving as early as possible. By arriving early, tourists can avoid most crowds, allowing them to obtain the most authentic and untouched experience possible. Despite the city having close to zero permanent inhabitants, the cultural and social significance of the site cannot be understated.
Wander Through Morocco’s Most Awe-Inspiring City, Marrakech
Marrakesh is modern-day Morocco’s biggest, most populated, and most diverse city. While most people are familiar with Marrakech, there is much more to do and see in the city than most western tourists realize.
Internationally speaking, Marrakech is undoubtedly the most famous Moroccan city ever. As a first-time Moroccan tourist, visiting local souks, markets, and restaurants are essential. However, you can take a few days to fully explore the jaw-dropping Jardin Majorelle, El Badi Palace, the Ben Youssef Madrasa, and the Bahia Palace. In that case, you will obtain a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
At the same time, tourists should be careful of the unfortunate Moroccan cultural tradition of snake charming. While there is nothing wrong with snake charmers or utilizing the reptile for social norms, most are captured from the wild before being exposed to various inhuman practices.
Some snakes have their fangs removed, and their mouths are sewn shut, meaning tourists should avoid snake charmers, their associated stores, and merchandise if possible. While western tourists should never openly criticize locals for their traditional practices, current snake charming practices are cruel as they are known to starve the reptile to death.
At the same time, the distinguished Moroccan town of Marrakech is packed full of authentic and unique experiences, which will require a commitment of several days to thoroughly explore. It is highly recommended to take a few days to fully soak up all that Marrakech has to offer before moving on to some of the north African country’s lesser-known tourist destinations.
Stroll Through The Exceptional Blue Village Of Chefchaouen
Chefchaouen is among the lesser-known yet historically significant places throughout Morocco. Located 50 miles south of Tangier, Chefchaouen is uniquely situated within the famed Rif Mountains.
The blue village of Chefchaouen is considered by experienced tourists and most previous western tourists as one of Morocco’s most authentic yet unmissable experiences. Many consider the blue village of Chefchaouen to be an iconic destination, frequently overlooked and underrated by inexperienced western tourists.
It is worth noting that while the blue village of Chefchaouen is not as famous or densely populated as Marrakech, it is effortless to book and visit the city once you have safely arrived in Morocco. Traveling to Chefchaouen is easy since it is just over 50 miles south of Tangier, with the tour never lasting for more than 11 hours.
Chefchaouen’s relatively small geographical size means that tourists should only dedicate a day to fully exploring the unique blue village. In addition, most modern tour companies and guides retain enough local experience to enable all tourists to obtain the most authentic experience of the city’s historical and cultural significance.
The blue village of Chefchaouen is among the unique tourist destination globally, with its unbeatable cultural and historical influence truly being an experience to behold. Chefchaouen’s close association with the color blue is obvious, as most of the town’s buildings, creations, and products are shades of blue.
Chefchaouen locals and experienced tourists agree that the best way to explore the town is by committing a few hours to explore the distinct medina district, which many claim to be additionally calming and relaxing compared to most other souk markets in the city’s accepted borders.
Moreover, the Spanish Mosque, constructed near the Chefchaouen’s center, is something all tourists should see at least once while visiting the globally revered north African country.
Travel To The Merzouga Desert
Merzouga is a tiny yet historically significant village located east of Morocco’s internationally accepted border.
It should be noted that Merzouga is considered to be among Morocco’s most culturally significant locations due to its unique positioning near the Algerian border. In addition, the minute town of Merzouga is perfectly situated in the heart of Morocco’s desert areas, littered with numerous and enormous dunes.
Moreover, the Moroccan dunes that house the important town of Merzouga are nestled in the heart of the greater Saharan Desert. This means that anyone traveling to the Merzouga can instantly explore traditionally influential Sahara desert regions, with fortunate tourist groups known to capture rare sightings of local flamingo wildlife.
At the same time, tourists should be aware that it usually takes more than ten hours to travel to Merzouga from the center of Marrakech. While the travel time is nothing out of the ordinary, it will remove a day of your holiday time, which should be fully accounted for to avoid unnecessary disappointment.
Suppose you want to explore the town of Merzouga. In that case, it is recommended to dedicate a few days to capture the best and most authentic experience possible due to the significant travel time required. By dedicating two or three days to fully exploring the desert region of Merzouga, you will likely obtain the most authentic, distinct, unique, and memorable experience possible.
Furthermore, taking a leap of faith by booking yourself and your family into a local Bedouin campsite is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The unmissable experience can be furthered by profoundly entrenching yourself among the residents of Kasbah of Ouarzazate and the Erg Chebbi desert regions.
Pass Through The Cities Of Rabat And Tangier
Not many western tourists know Rabat is Morocco’s capital city. In contrast, the city of Tangier is a must-see for anyone that has not been fortunate enough to visit it previously.
Despite Casablanca and Marrakech being far more famous than the capital city, Rabat is often considered the most important region in modern-day Morocco. Importantly, Rabat is uniquely situated near the Atlantic Ocean, making it an ideal location for international trade and commerce.
Suppose you are fortunate enough to find yourself in Rabat. In that case, it is highly recommended to dedicate a day to fully exploring the incredible Hassan Tower, the remarkable Royal Palace, and the historically significant Kasbah des Oudaias.
Conversely, the city of Tangier is culturally and historically significant in its distinctly unique way. It is noteworthy that Tangier is located near the Mediterranean Sea, with the city’s center directly facing the Gibraltar Strait and Spain.
Tangier has numerous desirable and unique characteristics, making it the ideal location for inexperienced western tourists, travelers, and local citizens. Vacationing in this distinguished town is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and is considered one of the first items tourists should cross off their endless bucket lists.
If you are fortunate enough to find yourself in the heat of Tangier, it is recommended to visit the local medina. While taking time to explore the local medina is as essential as most of Morocco’s other souk districts, the Tangier Casbah and the Hercules Cave are unbeatable experiences.
The Tangier Casbah and the Hercules Cave are historically and culturally significant, with the locations directly responsible for forming Morocco into a modern-day global powerhouse.
As a western tourist, committing a few days to explore Tangier is one of the best decisions you will ever make. It enables you to effortlessly access the distinguished town of Chefchaouen while being near the remarkable Akchour Waterfalls.
Visiting Morocco in any capacity, especially as a tourist, is one of life’s most fulfilling, enthralling, and captivating experiences. At the same time, Morocco is an Islamic nation but is among the most liberal African countries. If you ever have the chance to vacation to Morocco, take it with both hands, as the likelihood of your understanding of the world changing for the better is significant.
Morocco Vacation Packages
If you’re looking for an adventure, Morocco is the perfect destination. With its stunning landscapes, rich culture, and delicious cuisine, there’s something for everyone. Here are some of the best vacation packages to help you plan your trip.
On the Go Tours
On the Go Tours offers a variety of Morocco tours, including the 8-day “Kasbahs & Deserts” tour. This tour takes you through the Sahara Desert, the High Atlas Mountains, and the ancient city of Marrakech. The package includes accommodation, transportation, some meals, and a knowledgeable local guide.
If you’re short on time, the 5-day “Essential Morocco” tour is a great option. This tour takes you through the imperial cities of Rabat, Meknes, and Fez, as well as the Roman ruins of Volubilis. You’ll also have the chance to explore the bustling souks of Marrakech.
Intrepid Travel
Intrepid Travel offers a variety of small group tours in Morocco, including the 15-day “Best of Morocco” tour. This tour takes you through the Sahara Desert, the Atlas Mountains, and the coastal town of Essaouira. You’ll also have the chance to explore the ancient city of Fez and the bustling markets of Marrakech.
If you’re looking for something more active, the 8-day “Morocco: Hike, Bike & Horse Ride” tour is a great option. This tour takes you through the Atlas Mountains on foot, bike, and horseback. You’ll also have the chance to explore the ancient city of Marrakech and the coastal town of Essaouira.
G Adventures
G Adventures offers a variety of Morocco tours, including the 9-day “Morocco Kasbahs & Desert” tour. This tour takes you through the Sahara Desert, the Atlas Mountains, and the ancient city of Marrakech. You’ll also have the chance to explore the Todra Gorge and the Ait Benhaddou kasbah.
If you’re looking for something more immersive, the 15-day “Morocco National Geographic Journeys” tour is a great option. This tour takes you through the imperial cities of Rabat, Meknes, and Fez, as well as the Roman ruins of Volubilis. You’ll also have the chance to explore the Sahara Desert and the coastal town of Essaouira.
Tour Company
Tour Name
Duration
Price
On the Go Tours
Kasbahs & Deserts
8 days
$1,599
Intrepid Travel
Best of Morocco
15 days
$1,595
G Adventures
Morocco Kasbahs & Desert
9 days
$1,199
(check latest prices)
Conclusion On Morocco vacation packages
If you haven’t been fortunate enough to visit Morocco previously, now is the time to do it. Perfectly situated in North Africa, Morocco is among the most unique, distinguished, and historically significant locations globally.
A Morocco vacation package is an incredible experience; however, dedicating several days to exploring the country’s lesser-known and more authentic regions is crucial.
Morocco vacations have everything from water sports in a coastal city on the Atlantic coast to ancient cities full of amazing architecture, to sand dunes in the sahara!
FAQs on Morocco Vacation Package
What is the best time to visit Morocco?
The best time to visit Morocco is during the spring (April to May) and autumn (September to October) when the weather is mild, and hotel prices are more affordable. During these periods, you can explore major cities like Marrakech, Fes, and Casablanca comfortably. The peak season, however, is during the summer months when larger cities can be hot and crowded.
Are there any notable attractions in Morocco?
Morocco in Northern Africa is known for its beautiful beaches, sand dunes, and historic sites. Some of the must-visit attractions include the Hassan II Mosque, Royal Palace, Bahia Palace, and Hassan Tower. You must visit Marrakech which is famous for its central square, Jemaa el-Fnaa, where you can witness snake charmers and indulge in amazing food.
However, the entire country on the African continent is like no other! Book your Morocco flight or organise your Morocco road trip now!
What are some hidden gems in Morocco?
Some hidden gems in Morocco include the blue city of Chefchaouen (the blue pearl of Morocco), known for its blue-painted buildings, and the Roman Empire ruins in Volubilis. For nature lovers, the Menara Gardens and Majorelle Gardens offer beautiful landscapes and leisure time.
What are the accommodation options in Morocco?
There is a wide range of accommodation options in Morocco, from luxury living resorts like Anfa Place Living Resort to budget-friendly hotels and traditional riads in the old city with rooftop terraces. Hotel availability is subject to seasonal demand, so it’s best to book in advance.
Are there any travel restrictions in Morocco?
Travel restrictions in Morocco may change based on the global health situation, so it’s essential to stay updated on the latest information before planning your trip.
Do Moroccans speak English?
While the official language in Morocco is Arabic, many Moroccans, especially in tourist areas and larger cities, can speak English, making it relatively easy for English-speaking travellers to communicate, however more will speak French.
What can I expect on a Morocco vacation package?
Morocco vacation packages often include airport pickups, guided tours of major cities, and visits to popular attractions like the sand dunes of the Sahara Desert. You can choose from family vacations, road trips, and even customised vacation packages that cater to your preferences. Many vacation packages also include time to explore hidden gems and gain insight into the local culture, like trying traditional mint tea.
Remember to read travellers’ reviews and compare vacation packages to find the best deal for your trip to Morocco.
