Have you ever wanted to visit a place that feels completely different from anywhere you've been? Morocco is that place. It's not just another beach destination or another European city. This North African country sits just across from Spain, but the moment you arrive, you know you're somewhere special.
The markets smell like a mix of spices you can't quite identify. The food takes hours to cook but is worth every minute of waiting. Buildings glow pink and orange at sunset. And yes, you really can ride camels into the Sahara Desert and sleep under more stars than you've ever seen in your life.
For Filipinos who love trying new food, staying in interesting hotels, and experiencing different cultures, Morocco has all of this. Plus, it's surprisingly comfortable to travel here when you know where to go and who to trust.
Marrakech
Marrakech is painted in shades of pink and terracotta, which is why locals call it the Red City. The old part of town, called the medina, is basically a giant maze of narrow streets, tiny shops, and hidden courtyards. You will get lost here. Everyone does. But that's actually part of the fun.
The center of everything is Jemaa el-Fna, this massive square that's been the city's meeting point for a thousand years. During the day, you'll see snake charmers (yes, with actual cobras), people selling traditional medicine, and guys dressed in elaborate costumes offering to take photos with you for a tip. When the sun goes down, food stalls take over the square. Grilled meat, vegetable tagines, fresh orange juice, even snail soup if you're feeling adventurous. The smoke from all the grills, the music playing, people everywhere—it's sensory overload in the best possible way.
Shopping in Marrakech is an experience in itself. The souks (covered markets) spread out from the main square in every direction. You'll find leather goods, carpets, lamps, spices, traditional slippers called babouches—basically anything you can think of. Here's the thing though: prices aren't fixed. You're expected to haggle. If a vendor quotes you 500 dirhams for a carpet, offer 200. You'll meet somewhere in the middle. It feels strange at first if you're not used to it, but it's actually a normal part of shopping here. Think of it as the vendor's way of starting a conversation.
When you need a break from the intensity of the medina, the Bahia Palace is a good escape. This place was built in the 1800s by a wealthy vizier who wanted to show off what Moroccan craftsmen could do. And wow, did they deliver. Every surface has intricate tile mosaics or carved plaster or painted wood. The courtyards are peaceful. You can easily spend an hour here just walking around and taking photos.
The Majorelle Gardens are another calm spot. A French artist created this garden in the 1920s and painted everything this intense cobalt blue. Yves Saint Laurent bought it later and really took care of it. Now it's one of Marrakech's most Instagrammable locations, but if you go early in the morning, you can actually enjoy it before the tour groups arrive.
Fes
Fes is older and more traditional than Marrakech. The medina here is actually the world's largest car-free urban zone. There are over 9,000 narrow alleyways. Some are so tight that only donkeys can squeeze through with deliveries. You absolutely need a good guide here because you will get hopelessly lost otherwise.
The tanneries in Fes are famous, and for good reason. Workers still dye leather by hand in these huge stone vats filled with natural dyes—yellows from saffron, reds from poppies, browns from cedar. The smell hits you before you see anything. Your guide will hand you fresh mint to hold under your nose (locals know what's up). But once you get past the smell, watching this process is actually incredible. These families have been doing this the exact same way for hundreds of years.
Fes also has this massive university called Al Quaraouiyine that was founded in 859. That's older than Oxford, older than Bologna, older than any European university you can name. You can't go inside if you're not Muslim, but even seeing it from the outside reminds you that Morocco has serious intellectual history.
Getting to the Desert: The Scenery Changes Fast
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The drive from Fes to the Sahara takes most of a day, but the landscape keeps changing so it never gets boring. You start in the green Middle Atlas Mountains with cedar forests and little mountain towns. Ifrane looks like it belongs in Switzerland, not Morocco—the French built it as a ski resort in the 1930s and it still has that Alpine vibe.
As you drive southeast, everything gradually shifts. Less green, more brown and red. Fewer trees, more open space. By the time you reach Merzouga, the town at the edge of the dunes, you're in full desert territory.
The Sahara
Here's what nobody tells you about the Sahara: it's incredibly quiet. Not just a little quiet—it's the kind of silence where you can hear your own heartbeat. The sand dunes around Merzouga can reach 150 meters high. They change color throughout the day. Pale gold in the morning, deep orange at sunset, almost purple right after the sun disappears.
Most desert camps have you ride camels out to where you'll sleep. The camels move slowly, swaying side to side, and you just watch the landscape change as the sun starts going down. When you reach the camp, there's usually traditional music around a fire, a good dinner (more tagine, obviously), and then the stars come out.
The night sky in the Sahara is legitimately unreal. You've probably never seen this many stars. The Milky Way is so bright and clear that it actually creates shadows on the sand. Bring a good camera if you can, because your phone probably won't capture it properly.
Wake up early for sunrise. The cold desert night slowly warms up and you watch the same color show from the evening but in reverse. Purple to pink to orange to gold. Most people say this sunrise moment is one of their favorite memories from the entire trip.
Moroccan Food
Let's be honest—one of the best parts of Morocco is the food. Tagine is everywhere, and there's a reason for that. This slow-cooked stew (named after the cone-shaped pot it's made in) can have lamb, chicken, beef, vegetables, whatever. It cooks for hours with preserved lemons, olives, and spices until everything is fall-apart tender. Every region does it slightly differently, but it's always good.
Couscous in Morocco is nothing like the box stuff you might have tried elsewhere. The tiny grains are steamed multiple times until they're light and fluffy. It's usually served in a big pile on a platter with vegetables and meat arranged around it. Everyone eats from the same plate, taking from the section in front of them. If this reminds you of boodle fights back home, you're not wrong—it's that same communal eating style.
Mint tea is served with everything. It's green tea, fresh mint, and a shocking amount of sugar. They pour it from way up high to create foam in your small glass. You'll have several rounds of tea during any meal or meeting. It's Morocco's way of making you slow down and actually talk to people.
Riads: The Best-Kept Secret in Hotels
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Riads are traditional Moroccan houses built around a central courtyard, and many of them have been turned into small hotels. From the outside, they look like nothing—just a plain wall and a door. But step inside and you're in this beautiful, peaceful space with a fountain, plants, decorated tiles, carved wood, the works.
Staying in a riad is completely different from staying in a big hotel chain. It's more personal. You're usually one of only 5-10 rooms. Breakfast is served in the courtyard. The staff actually remembers your name. And because everything faces inward, it's quiet despite being right in the middle of the busy medina.
Why Book With Access Travel
Look, you could try to plan Morocco yourself. But the reality is the medinas are confusing, not everyone speaks English, haggling in markets takes practice, and figuring out which desert camps are good versus which are tourist traps isn't easy.
Access Travel has been running Morocco trips for years. We know which riads have the best rooftop views and reliable air conditioning (both important). We work with local guides who actually grew up in these cities and can explain things in ways that make sense. We know which restaurants serve authentic food versus which ones are just expensive because they're in guidebooks.
We handle all the parts that would stress you out—booking the right accommodations, coordinating transportation, making sure you don't get lost in Fes, dealing with vendors in the souks. You just show up, enjoy the experience, try all the food, and take lots of photos.
If you are ready to see Morocco, let's plan a trip that's actually enjoyable instead of stressful, culturally interesting instead of just touristy, and comfortable while still being authentic. That's what we do.
