I just got back from EF Ultimate Break’s NEW Highlights of Morocco itinerary, and our group was the very first run of this updated route. The itinerary includes new stops like the overnight Sahara desert camp, Chefchaouen (The Blue City!), Tangier — and after experiencing it firsthand, I can confidently say this trip is one of the coolest itineraries EF offers. No rock was left unturned! If you love architecture, culture, landscapes, history, and adventure, this one’s for you!

Now let’s get into the actual trip because I have SO much to say. (what else is new)

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Day 1: Overnight Flight to Morocco

Every international trip has that transitional phase where your brain knows your life is about to get temporarily rearranged for a little while. Mine started with an 8 layover in Dublin- layovermaxxing! I sat in the PHL gate drinking my Dunkin’ strawberry refresher, processing in a few hours I’d be landing in a country I knew almost nothing about besides:

1. We were going to the Sahara Desert
2. Game of thrones was recorded there

That was the extent of my preparation. However, I prefer traveling that way. While I enjoy iconic landmarks as much as the next person, there’s a special kind of magic in letting the unexpected take you where it leads!

I felt too tired to enjoy my layover, but I pushed through and had fun with my friends I made on the flight to Dublin! The woman next to me asked if I wanted to do face masks with her (girlhood) and the rest is history. Dublin is a cute and quaint town, with very narrow roads (where you drive on the left side!)

I ate breakfast at a yummy spot titled The Stage Door Cafe. Their classic Irish breakfast was so freaking filling, but kept me full until my afternoon arrival in Marrakech. I saw Dublin Castle and Trinity University! I wanted to see the Book of Kells, but all tickets were sold out. Still, this sidequest was much better than sitting in an airport for hours.

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Day 2: Arrival in Marrakech + Welcome Dinner

The second we landed in Marrakech, it didn’t take long to understand why it’s called “The Red City.” Palm trees lining terracotta-red streets. Motorbikes weaving through traffic with absolutely no fear. Calls to prayer echoing through the city. Orange trees everywhere. Heat radiating off the sidewalks. Cats fully running the place. Every sight you see is perfectly symmetrical, even the palm trees!

We stayed at El Andalous Hotel in the Hivernage district. I’m not the best person to critique hotels because I’m used to sharing 15+ person dorm hostels, but it was great! The hotel had super cozy beds, a quaint terrace, pool, and restaurant as well! Plus the balcony view was gorgeous with a pool/garden view.

One thing I quickly learned throughout Morocco is that its architecture is incredibly intentional. Traditional Moroccan homes and riads are designed inward for privacy, often centered around peaceful courtyards rather than outward-facing windows. Even the tilework tells stories through floral patterns, geometric designs, and Arabic calligraphy.

That night was our welcome dinner at Restaurant Baraka and met the members of our (very large) the group. We had 44 people total, which sounds chaotic because it WAS chaotic at times, but our tour director Rabie managed with poised patience and organization — especially considering this was the first run of a brand-new itinerary. Dance performances, a variety of Moroccan dishes, and clinking glasses of wine made for the night. The welcome dinner was a great kickoff to the trip!

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Day 3: Exploring Marrakech

This was the day it started to feel like I was really in Morocco.

Walking Tour of Marrakech

Our morning started off with breaky at the hotel and a guided walking tour of Marrakech. We explored the medina, walked through the souks, visited Bahia Palace, saw Koutoubia Mosque (Epcot irl), and wandered through seemingly endless alleyways filled with copious amounts of lanterns, ceramics, spices, rugs, leather bags, textiles, and vendors trying to sell you seventeen scarves (no judgement if you caved).

Later the group was brought to an herbal / spice shop where we were greeted with beber tea! I ended up purchasing gardenia oil + a perfume essence created with over 100 flower types 🙂 If you’ve ever been on an EF trip you know there’s going to be a few sales pitches in there. However, this shop was super reasonably priced + offered a variety of goodies to take home!

For lunch you have free time to walk around the Jemaa el-Fnaa plaza. A few of the girls and I went to Argana, a little lunch spot with a rooftop overlooking snake charmers, storytellers, and mosques! That was the start of my couscous bender

The souks are sensory overload in the BEST way. The extrovert in me personally doesn’t mind crowds, but I understand how some could get a bit overwhelmed from the narrow streetways and loud mumurs. One second you’re smelling spices and fresh bread, the next you’re standing behind a donkey carrying furniture through an alleyway the width of a hallway closet trying not to get run over. In the plaza there were men (playfully) yelling at us to try their pomegranate juice which did end up being the best juice I ever had in my life!

Rabie explained a plethora of cultural details throughout the tour that made everything more meaningful (maybe I’m a weirdo but the writer in me always takes notes when I travel lol):

• Moroccan tilework traditionally focuses on floral, geometric, and calligraphy-based designs
• cedar wood is commonly used in architecture and doors
• some traditional homes used different knock patterns to identify whether a man or woman was at the door
• family structure and multigenerational households remain deeply important culturally

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Theatro

That night, I corralled a group of us for a night out at Theatro Marrakech, Morocco’s most popular nightclub. Adjacent to Theatro is a casino with a bar w/ live music, which we went to for a few pre-drinks and it was fantastic! l’Epicurien was this trendy nightlife lounge nextdoor + a good find! The location was only a ten minute walk from the hotel + we felt super safe walking around at night 🙂

People were dancing on tables (aka us because ya’ girl loves an elevated surface). There were performers everywhere and fun fance music blasting. At one point giant meatball-looking performers in oversized costumes were running around the club while all of us completely lost our minds laughing lol. Legend has it we’re still attempting to decipher what they were

Just trust me when I say Marrakech nightlife is an EXPERIENCE. Morocco isn’t a super nightlife-heavy location like Thailand or Greece, so if you want to go out, this is the place to do it!

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Day 4: Marrakech Free Day – Cooking Class

A slightly hungover morning made the breaky at the hotel seem probably more appetizing than in actuality, but there was a good selection!

Jardin Majorelle

That morning, some of us visited Jardin Majorelle, which ended up being one of the prettiest places I saw the entire trip. This is something you have to book independently, but I believe it cost around $20 for the entrance ticket.

The electric blue villa against the cactus gardens is very eye-catching! Originally designed by French painter Jacques Majorelle and later restored by Yves Saint Laurent, the gardens feel calm in a city that otherwise moves at full speed.

We took an Uber back to the hotel and headed to the preceding cooking class. Uber is cheap and easy in Marrakesh – I’d suggest using it over hailing a taxi. That way, you avoid having to deal with bartering + dealing with a rather rude and impatient driver as we encountered the way there.

Moroccan Cooking Class Experience in Marrakech

The cooking class was a highlight! EF coordinates this activity at $85. It ended up being one of the happiest parts of the entire trip. Everyone walked in smiley and excited, and the property itself was beautiful— pottery everywhere, greenery, pools, colorful seating areas, and a peaceful atmosphere outside the chaos of Marrakech. The owner was one of the most eccentric men I’ve met.

We learned how to make traditional Moroccan tajine and bread by hand with local women teaching us step by step, which made the experience feel way more immersive than just eating Moroccan food at a restaurant! Evgenia and I also impulsively ate one of the carrots and it made me cry in laughter lmao

Night Out At Nouba

That night we did the optional dinner and show at Nouba. Fire performers, live music, dancing, giant productions happening around the restaurant while food was served. The dinner costs $100 and is prepaid through the EF site/app. I got a lavender martini that was bomb; dinner was served more like tapas. Side note – there was not a whole lot of vegetarian options throughout the trip, so it is something to consider when going to Morocco / with efub.

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Day 5: Atlas Mountains + Aït Benhaddou

The drive through the Atlas Mountains was one of the most beautiful road trip days I’ve ever experienced. The scenery kept changing every hour. Even the mountains themselves looked artistic — different shades of brown, red, green, and gold depending on the lighting and elevation. The highest peak in the Atlas range, Mount Toubkal, rises over 4,000 meters high, and the scale becomes hard to process once you’re driving through it.

Through the Mountains of Dades Gorge, Morocco

Aït Benhaddou

We eventually reached Aït Benhaddou, the ancient fortified village famous for movies like Gladiator, Game of Thrones, and Lawrence of Arabia. There was an optional climb to the top (scenic views!) and unique shops along the way, including a lot of burnt saffron artwork.

We made it to our next hotel in Ouarzazate. Not sure why this wasn’t advertised on the website, it was a beautiful hotel and had a (very cold) pool! That night, me and a few of the others in our group split a bottle of wine near the pool, feeling the breeze as we sat criss-crossed telling stories + sharing ideas. The best parts of travel 🙂

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Day 6: Journey to the Sahara Desert

This was the day I had been waiting for the entire trip!

Merzouga Sahara Desert Camping Experience

The drive toward Merzouga included stops through Tinghir, local Berber carpet shops, palm groves, and Todra Gorge, where massive limestone canyon walls tower above you dramatically.

Then we finally reached the edge of the Sahara. Originally, the itinerary did not include staying at a desert camp. I will say this was one of the coolest things I’ve done while traveling and adding in this was the move. The buses stopped, and SUVs took us off-road in small groups through the dunes toward camp while the sky turned orange around us. EF really outdid themselves with this accommodation; the desert camp we stayed in was the best place I’ve stayed in during an EFUB trip! We were welcomed with mint tea and a little cookie

No picture can properly explain how massive the Sahara feels in person. Running in the sand at sunset felt unreal! The dunes stretched endlessly in every direction while the sky changed colors every few minutes. Huge beetles appear out of nowhere as they dig through the sand, the gentle breeze, the cool sand between your toes.

That night at camp we had dinner and some of the clearest stars I’ve ever seen. (Not as much as Guatemala or Wyoming, but it’s up there) Smoking a cigarette with a tour director has got to be one of my favorite EF memories lmao, it’s just as important as trying a country’s coffee to me. Nothing but the moonlight’s glow illuminated my journal as I scribbled my pen away for my next book, capturing every detail and feeling running through my veins. A memory I’ll always cherish!

One conversation from that night stayed with me. Rabie explained the Islamic belief that your life is already written like a book from the moment you’re born.

Normally I resist ideas like that because I like feeling in control of everything. But sitting in the Sahara under a sky full of stars, it felt comforting instead of restrictive. As if somehow maybe every random detour in life still belongs to your story in its perfect way.

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Day 7: Sunrise Camel Ride + Travel to Fes

We woke up before sunrise for camel rides through the dunes. Breakfast could wait!

Sunrise Camel Ride

I know people say “pictures don’t do it justice” about everything corresponding to travel, but this applies to the Sahara. Watching the sun slowly rise over the dunes while everything turned gold made every single hour of work to get to that “pinch me” moment.

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Then we took 4x4s back through the desert and began the drive toward Fes.

Along the way we passed the Ziz Valley, stopped through mountain towns like Midelt and Ifrane — which looked European compared to the rest of Morocco — and drove through cedar forests where Barbary macaques live. The town is nicknamed “The Little Switzerland” of Morocco. If I’m being honest I don’t know why it is classified as a part of the “new” itinerary; it’s just a bathroom stop LOL

Arriving in Fes: First Impressions of the Medina

Around 4pm the group finally arrived in Fez. I didn’t mind the “road trip” structure of this trip. Other EF trips I had gone on included at least two domestic flights that took up the entire day. At least the road trip had a fair amount of stops. Also it was nice to just plug in my AirPods and look at the pretty views 🙂 Still I will say, a large portion of this trip was spent on the bus, I totally understand why people on our trip were not a fan of this.

Rabie coordinated us to get henna tattoos in the lobby after dinny! Dinner was in the hotel, same for breakfast.

Fes felt older, more layered, and more intense than Marrakech. We stayed at Lescale Hotel overlooking the city and surrounding hills, and waking up to fog hanging over the mountains made the city feel cinematic + different from what we’d seen of Morocco then.

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Day 8: Exploring Fes

Breaky was at the hotel this morning before a walking tour of the medina. The dining space was on the rooftop + the overlook was beautiful! As for wake up calls, I never thought they were super early. Thailand and Egypt with EFUB had 4-5am wake-ups, but referencing my notes I believe the earliest for Morocco was around 6:45.

Walking Tour Of Fes

Walking through the medina felt like entering another century. Narrow alleyways packed with ceramics, lanterns, rugs, leather shops, food vendors, spices, and donkeys carrying supplies through pathways too narrow for cars. Mid-tour, our guide also passed out Moroccan street donuts, which was the best donut I’ve ever had — soft, warm, and perfectly chewy.

Our Tour Director handed out “whispers” (mini headset radios connected to a small receiver that looked like a Zippo — so we could hear him clearly while moving through the streets.) He gave a detailed breakdown of the history and structure of the medina, adding a lot of context to what we were seeing!

Fes stood out visually in a different way from the other cities. The rolling hills, verdant landscapes, and layered city layout gave parts of it a more European feel, almost like a structured hillside town, which contrasted with how dense and maze-like the medina feels once you’re inside! 14 year old me would’ve pinned these images on Pinterest and that’s all that matters

Ceramic & Tannery Shop

Our first stop in Fes was a ceramic workshop, where we saw how the intricate Moroccan tiles and pottery are made. I was struck by the level of craftsmanship—each piece detailed and precise, clearly shaped through years of practice. Ceramics was part of my undergrad major, though I haven’t thrown on a wheel in about four years, so I was excited when the artisans invited us to try. The wheel wasn’t electric; it was spun by foot, which made the process feel more manual than anything I had used before! It was interesting having someone guide my hands while I tried to remember techniques I hadn’t used in a while.

Next stop was the tanneries, where leather is processed using traditional methods involving natural dyes and stone vats that have existed for centuries.

The smell wasn’t exactly as horrifying as everyone says. They do hand you a stalk of mint to mildly mask the scent. To me it just sort of smelled like cow lol which I guess makes sense because it was a leather store afterall

At one point while sitting outside a leather store, I started talking in Spanish with three girls nearby and told them:
“Quiero ver el mundo.” (I want to see the world.)

One of them, Aurora, smiled and replied:
“El mundo también quiere verte.” (The world wants to see you too)

Some other notable moments from Fez:

• a bracelet vendor repeatedly calling me Jennifer
• someone on my tour saying I looked like Jenna Marbles
• a guy at a rest stop telling my friend her tattoos were cool because “the best things in life are the things you can’t have” (islam prohibits tattoos)

That night was the Moroccan dinner and music show, which included live music, traditional performances, and enough food to feed a medieval kingdom. I personally didn’t opt into this EF excursion, but I heard positive feedback from those who did!

Free time wasn’t something we had a lot of on this trip. So, a few of the girls and I took this opportunity to walk around! We found this little chicken spot (pun intended) for some cheap + banging chicken. It was nice to walk around at night and soak in the city’s atmosphere!

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Day 9: Chefchaouen + Tangier

Chefchaouen

The famous Blue City sits in the mountains surrounded by peaks nicknamed “the horns,” which is where the city’s name comes from. Every single street is painted blue. Blue staircases. Blue walls. Blue flower pots. Blue doors. And plenty of cats, of course!

Chefchaouen felt calmer than the other cities we visited. Slower. Softer. More relaxed. Once you got into the actual blue city, it was more hectic. The streets are narrow and it feels like another bustling souk. Still, it’s a must-do in Morocco. There are houses + photo spots that look straight out of a Pinterest board. Note- many of which cost anywhere from 5-20 MAD to snap a photo at ($1-$2)

I only wish we had more time there because after the walking tour, the group only had a couple hours of free time to explore. I could’ve spent the whole day there + the Sahara. Although it was a beautiful city, I wish we had more time to eat lunch, explore, and take photos.

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Tangier

Then we continued north to Tangier, a coastal city with a more modern, international energy compared to the inland stops on the itinerary. We stayed at the Kenzi Solazur Hotel, which was the most visually striking accommodation of the trip. The space was open and bright, and the staircase stood out immediately with its detailed, almost embellished design that contrasted with the clean, wide layout of the rest of the building.

That first night, me and a few of the girls walked along the beach before doing our once-per-trip McDonald’s stop, which came with an unexpectedly strong sunset over the water. (Gouda bites were slamming fyi)

On a clear moment, Spain was visible across the Strait of Gibraltar in the distance. We also attempted to get to Café Baba, the same café featured by Anthony Bourdain, but the taxi drivers declined the ride for unclear reasons, so we ended up staying closer to the hotel at the sports bar instead. Some of the group went out later, as Tangier is known for its nightlife, and the city immediately reminded me of Miraflores in Lima due to it being coastal, busy, and layered with both local and international influence.

Tangier, while I enjoyed it, felt like it could be optimized within the itinerary. If anything, it would have made sense to either skip it in favor of more time in Rabat or structure the final days differently, possibly ending in Tangier with an optional day trip to Spain via ferry. Adjusting those days would better use the coastal location and proximity to Europe. That said, Casablanca being the main international airport does explain how the route is structured logistically. (I just really wanted to surf lol)

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Day 10: Rabat, Casablanca, + Farewell Dinner

Our final full day brought us through Rabat and into Casablanca.

Rabat

Rabat, Morocco’s capital, was concurrently elegant and coastal, with sites like the Kasbah of the Udayas, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, and the unfinished Hassan Tower reflecting Morocco’s long imperial history.

Lunch was on our own along the waterfront promenade, and a group of us stopped at a restaurant called Apricot. The food was very good, but service was slow and the area was extremely busy. One of the girls in our group didn’t even receive her meal. With only about an hour of free time and a slower pace overall in the city, timing was tight and most groups ended up running late getting back to the bus. Rabat + Chefchaouen felt similar in that it functioned more like a short stop than a full day, with limited time to really settle in.

Casablanca, Hassan II Mosque, & Rick’s Cafe

Around dinnertime we reached Casablanca and stayed at Oum Palace Hotel & Spa near the business district and old medina.

Compared to the traditional riads and mountain hotels earlier in the trip, Casablanca felt modern, fast-paced, and business-oriented. I went out independently to explore the nearby town + do some final shopping at the markets. The markets in Casablanca were the least hectic and I enjoyed wandering around alone.

That night we visited the Hassan II Mosque beside the Atlantic Ocean. Massive, detailed, and illuminated against the water at night. Before dinner the most gorgeous sunset arose before us and lit up the mosque in hues of pink + orange.

It felt like the perfect final stop before heading home.

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Final Thoughts: Is This Trip Worth It?

Absolutely yes.

This itinerary especially is PERFECT if you:

• love architecture
• love photography
• enjoy fast-paced travel
• want cultural immersion
• don’t mind long scenic drives
• want to experience a LOT of Morocco in a short amount of time

There WAS a lot of driving, and I do think the itinerary could benefit from either:

• one extra day
• one less city
• or slightly more free time in places like Chefchaouen

Tangier, Rabat, and Casablanca sometimes felt more like pass-throughs than fully explored destinations.

I felt safe the entire time, both with the group and when I went off on my own in a few cities. I would’ve felt pretty similar if I had done it fully solo, at least in the main places we visited.

That being said, I don’t think it’s the easiest first solo trip. There are a lot of cultural differences, people are very direct in public spaces, and you’re constantly navigating things like bargaining, transport, and just saying no in a firm way. Nothing of it is unmanageable, but it can be a lot if you’re not used to it yet. Logistically, the long drives between cities also make it less straightforward than a place where you can just base yourself and explore.

In Fes, a few of us walked around at night and felt fine. Same in Marrakech. In Casablanca, I went out on my own outside of the group and felt completely okay too—maybe just a bit more aware of people looking, but nothing that felt unsafe.

Caution still matters. I wouldn’t personally recommend walking alone at night anywhere, especially as a solo female traveler, but with a group or even just a couple people, it felt fine everywhere we went. My baseline for “safe” might could just be a little different from most people—I look at this in the sense I take more risk just getting in cars than I do w/ solo travel. If you’re aware of your surroundings and stay smart about decisions, Morocco is very doable.

Overall? I fell completely in love with Morocco. The colors, architecture, mountains, medinas, the desert. The people. The chaos. The conversations. The tiny random moments that somehow become the biggest memories later. Africa is my least explored continent and I look forward to seeing more!

This trip challenged me, surprised me, overwhelmed me, inspired me, and made me want to see even more of the world afterward 🙂

And that’s what good travel should do.