5 Cities & Villages to Visit in Morocco: A 2-month Road Trip
During a two-month road trip in Morocco, One Planet Journey’s Greta Corso gave herself over to the open road. Her mission: to go beyond the postcards and find a different side to the country. In this deep travel guide, Greta guides you to five cities and villages to visit in Morocco. From the chaotic beauty of Marrakesh and the coastal charm of Essaouira, to the stillness of the desert village of Merzouga and the unique, bohemian vibes of Taghazout and Imsouanne.
Road-tripping through Morocco Deep Travel Style
I have been to Morocco many times. It is only 4 hours from my home country, Italy. It’s an easy to reach destination that at the same time emanates a captivating thrill. The allure of the unknown, which I look for when I choose where to go.
As a deep traveller, I like to stay long, with a laid-back approach. I don’t feel an obligation to necessarily see everything. It’s preferable to have a taste and a curiosity to return. To discover something new.
For my latest trip, I had an immersive experience during a road trip through Morocco which lasted just over two months, and here I focus on five cities and villages to visit in Morocco that will give you both a slice of the known and unknown side of the country.
We (myself and my partner) rented the car at Marrakesh airport, a blue Doblò, convenient to enjoy many hours on the road. To maximise the connection to the land, its people, and nature, our intention for the trip included sleeping in small riads (traditional Moroccan houses with inner courtyards and gardens), three-star hotels, surf shacks overlooking the ocean, and tents in the desert.
On the road, excitement grew, especially for the flexibility of a road trip where you set the pace and stop when and where you want.
Marrakesh
Our exploration of cities to visit in Morocco started in Marrakesh, and I fell in love with it. The narrow alleys, the smells, the smiles, and that air of freedom that hovers, which you can only accept and make your own. In Marrakesh, you learn to juggle between the streets, which almost look like tunnels. It’s very easy to get lost in the souks (markets) and even easier to find yourself in front of a hidden shop that sells authentic handicrafts. Perfect for us who are hunting for a deep travel experience.
Nothing comes more raw than a visit to the tanneries of Marrakesh. I recommend rubbing a sprig of mint under the nostrils to make the smell of bird droppings (necessary to process the hides and their subsequent colouring), bearable.
While it’s fun with un-planned moments, some sights are essential to understanding the soul of Marrakesh. For a less crowded experience, you can steal a moment of peace at the tranquil Jardin Majorelle. The cobalt blue walls produce a stunning contrast to the green oasis of cacti. Seeking culture and history? Check out the grandeur of the Saadian Tombs, a royal necropolis. Find this burial ground on the south side of the Kasbah Mosque, inside the citadel.
Speaking about mosques. I suggest finding a rooftop café for a mint tea and gazing at the towering minaret of the Koutoubia Mosque, a silent sentinel that has watched over the city since the 12th century. It’s arguably Marrakesh’s most famous landmark and is located in the heart of the city.
Food in Marrakesh
The colours, flavours, and smells produce a symphony which helps you dance through the labyrinthine alleys. It transported me to a street food stall to taste a Msemmen or a Batbout. I continued looking for an Amlou dessert, a real drug with which you will fill your crepe every morning. Amlou, lemon and brown sugar.
Whatever you do, head to the stalls in Jemaa el-Fna Square, where from 5 pm onwards the square turns into a huge open-air restaurant. Here you can find lamb skewers (brochettes), Harira (soup), snails, cheap Tajines or bread stuffed with kefta. I prefer to choose by feeling, getting lost in the bazaar of the medina, and going to the stall that inspires me the most.
Moroccan sweets are stories in themselves. Pick the stalls where the locals eat, not those that are too insistent. I recommend a few: Chez Lamine – original Mechoui, near the Koutoubia Mosque / Souk Semmarine, or Mechoui Alley (Souk). Another is Amal Women’s Training Centre, a solidarity restaurant run by women in vocational training.
Deep Dive: Moroccan Sweets
Chebakia: A sesame-covered pastry intricately folded into a flower shape.
Kaab el Ghzal (Gazelle Horns): Delicate, crescent-shaped pastries with a rich almond paste filling, flavoured with orange blossom water. A classic.
Ghoriba: Crumbly cookie, often made with almonds, semolina, or coconut.
Fekkas: Twice-baked Moroccan biscuits, similar to biscotti. Crunchy and filled with almonds, great snack for a long road trip.
Briouat: Small, crispy pastries, shaped into triangles, and stuffed with a sweet almond paste. Drenched in honey and sprinkled with sesame seeds.
Mint Tea in Marrakesh
Mint tea is effectively a social ritual, a silent language of Moroccan hospitality. There is careful preparation, poured from above, cascading over your small glass cup. Moroccans offer it to guests, friends, store customers, even strangers, and refusing it may seem rude. Accepting it is a sign of sharing and human connection. It’s sweet, fragrant and refreshing, and at the precise moment that the long flow of tea hits the glass, the chaos of the souk also stops. Magical.
Stroll from one stall to another in the medina, enthralled by the colours of the fabrics, leather, carpets, handicrafts, and of course, spices. You will learn about saffron, turmeric and menthol crystals, taste olives and copious amounts of Amlou.
The noises of the market, the screams of shopkeepers, the laughter of children, the sound of the call to prayer. All this is Marrakesh, and I would recommend it as a first encounter with this magical land that is Morocco.
Excursions from Marrakesh
With a car, you can of course continue the road trip to Casablanca, where you will find one of the largest mosques ever built, imposing and brightly toned. Or you could travel to Fez, the blue city, or why not the capital Rabat, with its clean and modern style? There is no shortage of cities to visit in Morocco.
But what I recommend is to immerse yourself a little more in the culture of this country, in the Berber culture. Drive to the ancient city of Ait Ben Haddou, a fortified ksar immersed in the barren and yellow earth, just after crossing the Tizi n’Tichka pass. It’s surrounded by breathtaking views of rivers and vegetation that take you back thousands of years.
You will go through Ouarzazate and the Todra Gorges, where you can see canyons almost 300 metres deep and isolated. Here you can get out of the car and do immersive trekking, possibly coming across some local nomadic families who still use the caves.
Merzouga
For a real adventure in Morocco, visit the village of Merzouga, also known as the gateway to the Sahara, near the Algerian border. As you look at the endless expanse of sand, it’s hard to imagine that 10,0000 years ago this was a tropical paradise. Later on, as an oasis, it became a transit point for merchants heading to the famed Timbuktu. Today, most people come for the enormous Erg Chebbi dunes, up to 150 metres high. Perfect for a pre-sunset climb. Just remember to hydrate and perhaps bring a blanket if you want to stargaze; temperatures drop fast.
With a sky so blue during the day and so dark at night, the stars will be enough to illuminate your face. Usually, during the outings in the desert, you have dinner with typical Berber meals in front of a bonfire, savouring the usual mint tea and enjoying the traditional dances.
As you can imagine, the activities in Merzouga centre around sand, most deeply connected to the natural rhythm of the desert itself. Irrespective of budget, it’s possible to fill your time with experiences both adventurous and profoundly mindful.
What to do in Merzouga
Camel Trekking: The classic activity. Choose between a short trek for sunrise or sunset, or an overnight journey to a desert camp.
Desert Camping: There is the budget-friendly Berber camp or a more luxurious glamping tent. Either is good to fully experience the immense silence and the breathtaking night sky away from all light pollution.
Sandboarding: For a more dynamic adventure, sandboard down the massive dunes of Erg Chebbi.
4×4 Tours: A faster pace and pricier. A guided tour by quad bike or 4×4 can take you deep into the desert to visit nomadic families, abandoned mines, or fossil beds.
Cultural Immersion: Listen to the hypnotic and spiritual Gnawa music in the nearby village of Khamlia, which has deep roots in sub-Saharan Africa.
Hiking: You can also explore Merzouga on foot, for example, to Lake Dayet Srij and back. Famous for its bird-life, including flamingos.
Essaouira
Essaouira, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, is the perfect antidote to the chaos and dust of Marrakesh. It has a distinctly different energy and is one of the alternative cities to visit in Morocco. A mix of salty sea air, bohemian charm, and a laid-back rhythm encourages you to slow down. Together with the echo of the waves and the seagulls singing, Essaouira has seduced artists, surfers, and travellers from all over the world looking for deep and meaningful experiences.
While you can meander through the winding alleys, Essaouira’s UNESCO World Heritage medina is much more manageable than the one in Marrakesh. It has the blue-and-white aesthetic you expect, the city walls, but there are also art galleries, and small artisan shops where the craftsmen are at work.
There’s a certain melancholy of times gone by, between the ancient walls and the knick-knacks hanging outside the shops, but I must say that it inebriates you with a particular brightness at the same time.
You will inevitably end up at the port, perhaps after passing Place Moulay Hassan, the city’s main square, which acts as a vibrant meeting point. It’s lined with cafés and is a magnificent spot for people-watching. Once you come through the beautiful Bab El Marsa gate, you’ve arrived at the sea. But don’t settle for a picture of the famous blue boats. There’s a whole other atmosphere here, watching the fishermen work, while you’re faced with indecision at the fish market. Lobsters, sardines, shrimps or swordfish? They’re all very fresh, ready to be grilled on the spot, and eaten a few steps from the sea.
The Windy City of Africa
The strong Alizée winds (“taros” in Berber) are powerful, consistent Atlantic coastal winds that blow through Essaouira from April to November, with a peak in July and August. Naturally, this makes it a beach mecca for windsurfing and kite-surfing.
If you want a more leisurely activity, stroll the ancient ramparts, Skala de la Ville, once the primary defence against invaders. It’s a suitable spot for meditation and contemplation as it offers breathtaking views of the Atlantic and the crashing waves.
Taghazout
After a month of travel, between old cities and new habits to learn, I saw a different face of Morocco bursting out. By the ocean, there are small fishing villages hidden behind the desert dunes, west of the big cities. When you get out of the car, feel the icy vibrations of the sea breeze mixing with the smell of Amlou. Morocco’s ocean coast stretches from Rabat to the south of Agadir.
An hour and a half from Agadir, we come to Taghazout, where the ocean is the master. You can find small stalls run by locals, riads and guest houses where you feel at home and learn the gestures of the people. There is a gentle atmosphere when the kids play in the water with body-surfing boards. In the evening they move to the top of the hill, to the Taghazout skate park, only reached on foot, through a steep climb.
You will find surfers everywhere, small and large waves, and old stories related to the sea. This is a place where you can dance, surf, and hang out with excellent instructors who will teach you how to ride the waves. Taghazout is accessible and is becoming a popular destination where you can meet people from all over the world. Definitely a place to visit in Morocco and it’s still cheap.
What to do in Taghazout
Surfing: Taghazout is one of Morocco’s premier surfing destinations with places like Killer Point, La Source, and Anchor Point to check out for barrel waves, cafés, and surf shops. It doesn’t matter if you’re a complete beginner or an experienced surfer; there are local instructors for any level.
Yoga and Wellness: The relaxed atmosphere combined with ocean views makes Taghazout a natural place for yoga and meditation. Many surf houses and cafes offer daily classes that fit perfectly with the slow-paced lifestyle.
Of course, one of the most important activities in Taghazout is simply doing nothing. Find a spot on the beach or a rooftop terrace. Watch the waves and let the calming rhythm of the ocean do the rest.
Imsouanne
In my opinion, the real hidden gem of Morocco is Imsouanne. You can reach it from different roads, but we chose the one suited for deep travellers. 4 hours by car in which we completely crossed the Moroccan hinterland, seeing endless valleys, sometimes desert, rivers, meeting children returning alone from school and people going to work with donkeys. Once we arrived, Imsouanne greeted us with a few surfers, a few clubs run by locals and the sea. Hunger set in, and what better way to dine than eating fresh-grilled fish? Choose your own fish from the local catch and have it made for you on the spot by a fisherman.
We waited in silence, sitting on a stone, the man controlling the grill like an orchestra conductor. In the end, he gave me the plate with a tired, almost shy smile. I ate it with my hands, there in front of the ocean. Simple, but perfect. I don’t know if it was hunger, emotion, or that suspended moment in time, but I never found that flavour anywhere else.
Things to do in Imsouanne
In Imsouanne, you won’t find organised attractions. It’s a more impromptu type of place. A tajine slowly cooked by a fisherman in the harbour, a chat over a mint tea while waiting for the next surf.
It is a rough, sincere Morocco, where everything is slower but also more real. There is nothing Instagrammable in a tourist sense, yet deeply photographable with the eyes and skin. The silence of the night here is different: it smells of salty wind, cicadas and creaking wood. Its wide spaces make your thoughts become small.
Imsouanne is another calm village worth visiting in Morocco. A break from everything: from the clock, social media, and commitments. If you also think you need to recalibrate your life, come here.
Imsouanne is famous among surfers for its world-class point break. It goes by the name, “The Bay” or “The Cathedral.” It’s ideal for long rides, attracting surfers from around the globe. For incredible panoramic views of the vast Atlantic Ocean, take a short hike up the headland that shelters the village.
Cities and villages to visit in Morocco on a deeper journey
Even with plenty of fabulous cities to visit, Morocco is not a place to just tick off a list. Treat it as an experience that slowly infiltrates your core, made up of sensations, vivid encounters and moments that remain, giving rise to a real deep journey. Here on this continent, time works differently. It is slower; it stretches and expands within you. It teaches you that the essentials don’t need frames: it can be a steaming glass of tea, the sound of the waves, a “salam” whispered by a stranger on the street.
One thing you will take with you from this trip will be the feeling of home. In general, Moroccan people offer joyful hospitality, without ulterior motives. In the two months I dedicated to visit cities and villages in Morocco, I learned to listen: early in the morning, the typical noises of those who prepare their shop for a new day, the stories of the vendors, the sounds of the medina waking up. But also the silences of the desert, the wind, and the silence that touches the walls of Essaouira. Every place expects you to be in the present, with respect, presence and with an open heart. Because this country not only offers you its beauty but also challenges, embraces, and sometimes disorients you.
Morocco – Feeling Alive
Returning home, you realise you have changed pace, that you have started to notice small things, and perhaps how little it takes to feel alive. Every deep travel experience takes root in you and will make itself felt, stronger and stronger as time goes on. For me, Morocco did just that. I don’t know if every traveller will experience it like this. Maybe not. But I know that if you let yourself travel with an open soul and without too many expectations, this country will touch you deeply.
Which cities are on your to visit list in Morocco? Let us know in the comments. Subscribe to our newsletter and benefit from travel guides, sustainable tourism and luxury travel tips, insightful interviews, and inspirational places to visit. One Planet Journey – The World’s First Deep Travel Magazine.
