11 Days Morocco Self-drive Tour from South to North

Upon your arrival at the Marrakech Airport, please find your car rental company and collect the car you have booked. Then you will start your self-drive tour in Morocco.

► SIM CARD: 4G is widely available in cities and towns and even in the desert. There are three Mobile Network Operation Companies in Morocco: the INWI, ORANGE and Maroc Telecom. You can buy a SIM card at airport, stores or newsstands.

Friendly Tips:
1. Make sure your phone is unlocked before leaving your country.
2. Do not throw out the packing before installing your SIM Card! There is a PIN code on the packing, and it only works after you fill in the PIN code.

► Parking: There are car parks on the edge of the medina, and they are secure and convenient to walk into the medina. It usually costs 20-30 dirham for overnight.

► Accommodation: Riads are traditional Moroccan houses with a central garden inside. You must book a stay in a Riad if you are traveling in Morocco.

► Must-sees: The Medina, Bahia Palace, Jemaa el Fna, Jardin Majorelle, Museum of Yves Saint Laurent, Souks, Medersa Ben Youssef.

Route: Marrakech → Tizi n’Tichka 104KM/2h → Ait Ben Haddou 77KM/1.5h → Ouarzazate 30KM/0.5h → Skoura 45KM/1h

► MAPs and APPs: Google Map does not work very well in Morocco. For iPhone, you can choose Apple map, while for Android, you can choose Waze. Besides, Maps.Me is also a good choice. Downloading two different maps will help you make a correct decision when you are getting confused.

► Where to have lunch? You can try Chez Brahim in Ait Ben Haddou. It is a Kasbah style guesthouse and its restaurant serves good regional specialties and its terrace offers a wonderful view of Ait Ben Haddou.

► Accommodation: We would like to recommend the Ksar El Kabbaba Kasbah & Spa, located in the heart of the Skoura oasis. It is a traditional building with an outdoor pool and a spa. Free Wi-Fi is available.

► Must-sees: Ait Ben Haddou, The Film Studios of Ouarzazate, Kasbah Amridil and Palmeraie

Route: Skoura → Roses Valley 55KM/50m → Dades Gorge 44KM/40m → Todra Gorge/ Tinghir 70KM/1h20m → Rissani 163KM/2.5h → Merzouga 41KM/40m

► Driving time: It is a long drive today, so set off early to ensure plenty of time on the road.

► Where to have lunch? It depends on when you will start today. Generally speaking, you can have lunch at Dedes Gorge, Todra Gorge, Tinghir or in one of the villages on the road like Tinjdad, Mellab, Touroug and etc.

► Accommodation: There are many desert camps in Merzouga, ranging from USD50 - USD150 per night. In most cases, you cannot drive into desert by your car, and your camp team will pick you up from Merzouga town by 4X4 (4WD) or camel. Make sure to contact your camp in advance to double confirm the pick-up time, then you can manage your time based on it.

► Must-sees: Dades and Todra Gorges, Desert sunset on top of the Erg Chebbi Dune.

Enjoy your stay in the Desert Camping Resort. There are so many desert activities provided, watching incredible sunset and sunrise views from the vast Erg Chebbi Dune, camel trekking, motor bike/jeep safari, evening entertainment with a bonfire, drinking a cup of mint tea under the dreamlike starry sky with Moroccan songs, cooking class in a Berber family. You can book through a local travel company or your camp directly.

► What to bring for the desert tour? 
1. Sunscreen, sunglasses and wide hat
2. Warm clothes for night and morning.
3. Long pants for camel riding (camel’s fur can be very stinging)
4. Small backpack for your belongings (cell phone, sunscreen, camera, snacks, water……)
5. Small change for tipping
6. Insect repellent
7. Instant Hand Disinfection Gel

Route: Merzouga → Arfoud 55KM/1h → Midelt 210KM/3h → Azrou 116KM/1h40m → Ifrane 18KM/20m → Fez 64km/1h

► Where to have lunch? There are many towns and villages along the way such as Zaida, Midelt, Er-Rich, and Errachidia, and you can find good restaurants in any of them. Zaida is for those travelers who like grilled lamb/goat/beef etc. You can have a try if you are interested.

► Accommodation: Staying in a Riad in Fez Medina is a good choice, but remember not to drive into medina if you do not want to get lost. Most Riads do not have the elevators, prepare some changes for the porter.

► Must-sees: Arfoud, Monkeyforest next to Azrou, Ifrane and Fez medina

► What to do in Fez? 
1. Explore the Fez Medina with a local guide accompanied.
2. Have a panoramic view from Borj Sud Fort.
3. Take in the smells of the Tanneries.
4. Relax in a private Hamman.
5. Try the local tajine and/or couscous.

Route: Fez → Meknes 63KM/50m → Moulay Idriss 30KM/30m → Volubilis 5KM/10m → Chefchaouen 164KM/3h

► Moulay Idriss: Opens from 07:00am every day, and the entrance fee is 70 dirham for adult. Leave at least 1 hour for visiting.

► Volubilis: Very close to Moulay Idriss, and its entrance fee is 70 dirham for adult. You’d better hire an official guide when exploring this archaeological site, which usually costs at 120 dirham.

► Accommodation: There are many choices in Chefchaouen: traditional guesthouses of Riad and Dar, and all kinds of hotels.

► Must-dos in Chefchaouen: 
1. Wander in the Blue Alleys.
2. Make poses and take photos.
3. Shop for souvenirs in the medina.
4. Enjoy the panoramic view from the Spanish Mosque.
5. Prepare to meet a lot of cats.

Route: Chefchaouen → Tetouan 65KM/1h20m → Tangier 63KM/1h10m

► Tetouan: Its medina was listed as a World Heritage site by UNESCO. This white city boasts a peaceful atmosphere and unique architectures style, which is definitely worthy for a stopover. If you are an outdoor activities lover, you can consider to stay one night in Tetouan. The Rif Mountains in the surrounding are really a paradise for hikers, trekkers and mountain bikers.

► Accommodation: In Tutouan, you can choose Raids in the medina: Raid El Reducto and Raid Dalia Tetouan are both good choices. While accommodation options in Tangier vary widely from budget hotels to luxury resorts.

► Things to do in Tangier: 
1. Explore the Medina and have a cup of mint tea. It is said that Tangier is the birthplace of the Moroccan mint tea.
2. Visit the Kasbah Museum.
3. Discover the Hercules Cave and hear more stories about it.
4. Enjoy a wonderful sunset at the Cap Spartel.
5. Relax on the Tangier Beach.

Route: Tangier → Asilah 46KM/45m → Moulay Bousselham 83KM/1h → Mamora Forest 102KM/1h → Rabat 50KM/1h → Casablanca (116KM/1.5h)

► Asilah: This peaceful little beach town is famous for its old imposing walls and picturesque medina. A stop for 1-2 hours here will leave you no regret.

► Moulay Bousselham: With a clear blue lagoon and relaxing atmosphere, it is worthy to stop here for lunch or just a cup of coffee at a seaside cafe.

► Mamora Forest: Stop and have a walk around the biggest cork-oak forest in Morocco.

► Accommodation: If you want to stay more time in Asilah and the beautiful beach towns, you can choose to stay in Rabat for overnight. Medina, Agdal, Hassan and Souissi are regarded as the best areas to stay in Rabat. Medina is always the best choice with walking distance to sightseeing attractions, restaurants and shops for the first-time travelers. And for Casablanca, choose a hotel in the city center with a free parking lot is a good idea.

► Driving in Casablanca can be adventurous. 
1. Pay more attentions to the taxis and always let them move forward.
2. Do not open windows to strangers.
3. Park your car in a paid and bright parking lot.
4. Do not leave your belongings in the car.
5. Fasten your seatbelt all the time.

► Must-sees in Rabat: Hassan Tower, the Oudaya Kasbah and the Medina

► Things to do in Casablanca: 
1. Wander through the Old Medina and shop in the local market.
2. Visit the Hassan II Mosque.
3. Don’t miss the amazing seafront.
4. Catch the sunset in the Arab League Park.
5. Have a cup of tea or coffee at Rick’s Café and step into the old movie “CASABLANCA”.

Today is the last day in Morocco. If you have more than 11 days, you can continue the drive to Essouira along the Atlantic coastline and pass by several lovely villages with beautiful wild beaches and cliffs. There are 371KM between Casablanca and Essouira, which takes around 4.5 hours.

► Things to do when returning your rental car: 
1. Clean the car and refuel it to the same fuel level as you collect it.
2. Take all your belongings from the car.
3. Find the predetermined rental counter and be punctual.
4. Have over the keys and finalize the form.