The destinations that surprised us most — and the one that didn’t quite live up to our expectations...
Morocco is one of those countries that seems to have a little bit of everything.
Bustling cities. Ancient medinas. Colorful souks. Towering mountains. Endless golden dunes.
And after traveling through Morocco twice, we can confidently say that some of our favorite experiences weren’t necessarily the ones we expected to love the most.
On our most recent adventure, we traveled from Casablanca to Rabat, Chefchaouen, Fes, Merzouga, Aït Benhaddou, and finally Marrakech. It was a road trip filled with over 1,500km or incredible scenery, fascinating culture, and more hours in the car than I’d probably like to admit. 😂
But looking back, three destinations stand out for very different reasons.
Two completely blew us away. One? Well, let’s just say we expected a little more.
And the funny thing is, the destination that disappointed us was probably the most famous of the three.
Here’s where Morocco exceeded our expectations— and where it didn’t…
Merzouga: The Experience That Completely Blew Us Away 🐪
Expectation: A beautiful desert landscape.
Reality: One of the most unforgettable experiences of our entire trip.
I’ll admit it. Before visiting Morocco, I knew I wanted to see the Sahara Desert.
But I don’t think I fully appreciated just how incredibly special the experience would be.
There’s something almost surreal about watching the landscape slowly transform as you approach Merzouga.
The towns become like an oasis in the desert. The roads stretch farther. And suddenly, enormous golden sand dunes appear on the horizon. And they’re even more impressive in person.
If you’re visiting the Sahara, I highly recommend doing both a camel ride and an ATV adventure. If your schedule allows, plan one for the morning and the other for the evening.
The camel ride offers a slower, more traditional way to experience the dunes, while the ATVs lets you explore the landscape with a little more adrenaline.
And even when the weather didn’t cooperate perfectly (hello, unexpected desert rainstorm! ), the experience was epic and unforgettable.
Sahara After Dark: Stars, Stories & Traditions
Standing in the heart of the Sahara, surrounded by seemingly endless dunes, gives you an entirely new appreciation for just how extraordinary our planet really is.
And then there’s the night sky.
Far from the lights of major cities, the Sahara offers some of the most incredible stargazing opportunities in the world.
One experience I highly recommend is spending an evening with a local Amazigh (Berber) guide learning how generations of desert travelers used the stars to navigate their way across the Sahara long before modern technology.
Our advice? If you’re lucky enough to have a clear night in the Sahara, take advantage of it! It’s an incredible opportunity to experience the desert beyond the typical camel rides and ATV adventures while learning about the traditions of the people who have called this region home for generations.
Photos simply don’t do it justice.
Was the Sahara worth the long drive?
Without hesitation, YES.
Getting to Merzouga, the gateway to the Sahara Desert, requires a significant time commitment! Expect approximately 7–8 hours from Fes (290 miles) or 9–10 hours from Marrakech (350 miles).
It’s definitely not a day trip, so plan accordingly!
But with incredible scenery along the way and unforgettable experiences waiting in the dunes, I’d make that drive again in a heartbeat.
In fact, if I were helping someone plan their first trip to Morocco, I’d encourage them to prioritize the Sahara over spending several additional days in Marrakech.
My verdict: Don’t visit Morocco without seriously considering the Sahara Desert.
It may take a little extra planning, but for us, Merzouga was one of the highlights of the entire country.
Chefchaouen: Little Blue City That Stole Our Hearts 💙
Expectation: A picturesque town with a few blue streets.
Reality: An entire mountainside town that felt almost too beautiful to be real.
If you’ve spent any time researching Morocco, you’ve probably seen photos of Chefchaouen.
You know the ones.
Bright blue staircases. Blue doorways. Blue walls. Blue everything.
And I’ll be honest, I wondered whether the photos were a little misleading.
Was the entire town really that blue? Or were people just photographing the same three streets from different angles?
I’m happy to report that Chefchaouen is every bit as beautiful as the photos suggest.
Maybe even more so.
Nestled in Morocco’s Rif Mountains, Chefchaouen has an entirely different atmosphere from the country’s larger cities.
The medina is filled with winding blue alleyways, charming doorways, and little shops selling everything from handmade textiles to traditional Moroccan goods.
Around practically every corner, there’s another beautiful scene waiting to be photographed.
But what I loved most about Chefchaouen was how enjoyable it was to simply wander.
We didn’t need an elaborate itinerary.
We didn’t need to rush from one attraction to another.
We could just explore.
Get a little lost.
Stop for photos.
And see where the next blue staircase led us.
Sometimes the best travel experiences happen when you don’t have anywhere in particular to be.
And Chefchaouen was the perfect reminder of that.
Is Chefchaouen worth the detour?
YES! YES! YES!
It’s not necessarily the most convenient destination to include in a Moroccan itinerary, especially if you’re trying to see the country in a limited amount of time.
But if you have the opportunity to visit, I’d highly recommend it.
While many people visit Chefchaouen primarily for its Instagram-famous blue streets, I think the town deserves more than a quick photo stop.
Give yourself time to wander, explore the shops, and appreciate the slower pace.
My verdict: Chefchaouen wasn’t just one of the prettiest places we visited in Morocco. It was one of our favorite places in the entire country.
And yes, it’s really THAT blue.
Marrakech: The Destination That Didn’t Quite Live Up to the Hype…
Expectation: The ultimate Moroccan experience.
Reality: Interesting, chaotic, and memorable—but not necessarily somewhere I’d rush to return.
Okay, this might be an unpopular opinion.
Marrakech was probably the destination I was most excited to visit before our trip.
And ironically, it ended up being the one that impressed me the least.
Don’t get me wrong.
Marrakech is an incredible city with a fascinating history, beautiful architecture, luxury riads, and some truly memorable experiences.
But after exploring so many other parts of Morocco, I couldn’t help feeling that Marrakech was a little overhyped.
Maybe it was because we’d already fallen in love with the blue streets of Chefchaouen.
Maybe it was because nothing could quite compare to the Sahara Desert.
Or maybe it was simply because Marrakech is so heavily promoted as the destination to visit in Morocco.
Whatever the reason, I found myself enjoying other parts of the country significantly more.
So, what didn’t we love?
For starters, the chaos!
Marrakech is busy. REALLY busy. The medina is a maze of narrow streets packed with vendors, tourists, and motorbikes.
So. Many. Motorbikes.
So. Many Tourists.
Don’t get me wrong, Fes is chaotic, too! But there’s something about navigating narrow alleyways alongside pedestrians and donkeys rather than dodging motorbikes that feels a little more my speed.
Another surprise? The prices!
After exploring markets in Casablanca, Rabat, and other Moroccan cities, we noticed many of the same souvenirs and traditional goods came with significantly higher price tags in Marrakech.
My advice? If you’re visiting multiple cities, save some of your souvenir shopping for elsewhere. You might find the exact same items for a fraction of the price!
Ultimately, Marrakech had all the color, energy, and excitement I’d expected, but it didn’t leave the same lasting impression as the blue alleyways of Chefchaouen or the golden dunes of the Sahara.
Would I Tell Someone to Skip Marrakech?
Not necessarily!
And I think that’s an important distinction.
Just because Marrakech wasn’t my favorite city in Morocco doesn’t mean I regret visiting or wouldn’t recommend it to others.
There’s still plenty to appreciate, especially if you’re interested in Moroccan architecture, history, shopping, or luxury accommodations. Marrakech is home to some beautiful riads and resorts, making it an appealing destination for travelers seeking a more luxurious Moroccan escape.
We stayed at the Four Seasons Resort Marrakech, and while the property was lovely and we would HIGHLY recommend if looking for luxury accommodations — we found ourselves wishing we’d spent a little more time exploring other parts of Morocco instead.
What’s Worth Seeing in Marrakech?
Despite Marrakech not being our most favorite destination, there are several attractions worth adding to your itinerary:
- Jardin Majorelle (Majorelle Gardens): Famous for its vibrant cobalt-blue architecture, exotic plants, and connection to Yves Saint Laurent. Absolutely beautiful, but expect crowds! Even with advance tickets and the earliest available entry, we found it surprisingly busy.
- Bahia Palace: A stunning example of traditional Moroccan architecture, featuring intricate tile work, carved ceilings, and beautiful courtyards.
- Koutoubia Mosque: One of Marrakech’s most recognizable landmarks. While non-Muslims cannot enter, the impressive minaret and surrounding gardens are worth seeing.
- The Medina & Souks: A maze of colorful markets filled with textiles, ceramics, spices, and handcrafted goods. Just be prepared for persistent vendors, motorbikes, and plenty of sensory overload!
- Ben Youssef Madrasa: A beautifully preserved former Islamic school featuring intricate mosaics, carved woodwork, and impressive Moroccan architecture.
- Jemaa el-Fnaa: Marrakech’s famous central square comes alive in the evening with food stalls, performers, and crowds. Chaotic and touristy? YES! But worth experiencing at least once!
So, How Long to Spend in Marrakech?
Personally, I think two to three days is plenty for most travelers.
That’s enough time to explore the major attractions, wander through the medina, enjoy Moroccan cuisine, and experience the city’s famous energy.
Of course, if you’re looking for a luxury resort getaway, you could easily spend longer. But if your goal is to experience Morocco’s incredible diversity and culture, I’d strongly encourage you to venture beyond Marrakech.
From the blue streets of Chefchaouen to the historic medina of Fes and the unforgettable dunes of the Sahara Desert, some of our favorite experiences happened far beyond the country’s most famous tourist destination.
My verdict? Marrakech is worth visiting, but I wouldn’t build an entire Moroccan vacation around it.
Spend a few days enjoying what the city has to offer, then get out and explore!
Because Morocco is so much more than Marrakech.
The Biggest Lesson From Our Moroccan Road Trip
If there’s one thing our two weeks exploring Morocco taught me, it’s this:
The most famous destination isn’t always the most memorable.
Before our trip, Marrakech was one of the places I was most excited to experience. But looking back, it’s not the crowded markets or bustling city squares that immediately come to mind.
It’s riding camels and ATVs across the golden dunes of the Sahara Desert.
It’s wandering through the blue alleyways of Chefchaouen with absolutely no agenda.
It’s standing in awe of the magnificent Hassan II Mosque overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in Casablanca.
It’s watching locals play soccer along the beaches beneath the historic Kasbah of the Udayas in Rabat.
It’s getting wonderfully lost in the ancient medina of Fes, where narrow alleyways, bustling souks, and donkeys make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time.
Those are the moments that made Morocco unforgettable.
Of course, travel is subjective. The city we found overwhelming might be someone else’s favorite destination, and that’s part of what makes exploring the world so interesting.
But if we could offer one piece of advice to anyone planning their first Moroccan adventure, it would be this:
Visit Marrakech, but don’t let it be the only Morocco you experience.
Planning Your Own Trip to Morocco? 🇲🇦
Morocco is an incredible country to explore, but deciding where to go—and how to connect all those destinations — can be a little overwhelming.
Between long driving distances, different transportation options, and so many unique places to stay, having a thoughtful itinerary makes a huge difference.
As a certified travel advisor, I’m always happy to help you plan your own Moroccan adventure, whether you’re dreaming of a luxury riad, a night beneath the Sahara stars, or a road trip through the country’s most beautiful destinations.
And if you’re still in the research phase, be sure to check out my other Morocco travel guides on The Traveling Coats for more tips, recommendations, and lessons learned from our adventures.
Because Morocco is so much more than Marrakech. And some of its most incredible experiences are waiting beyond the places you’ve already seen on Instagram.
Until next time, @thetravelingcoats
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