Morocco Itinerary October 2025

Morocco Road Trip Itinerary Oct 2025

Morocco Oct 2025 Sahara Desert

*Note: All tours and hotels were booked through Youssef Marrakech Trip 

ITINERARY: FOR HI-RESOLUTION ITINERARY CLICK HERE: Morocco Oct 2025 Itinerary

Chefchaouen "Blue City" 

✈️ Flights

Arrival:
We flew into Marrakech (RAK) via British Airways. After landing, a short bus ride took us from the plane to the terminal for customs.

Customs process:
Be prepared to show:

• Passport

• Boarding pass

• Your hotel name and occupation

• Answer if it’s your first time visiting Morocco

After customs, collect your luggage and pass it through the “Do Not Declare” x-ray line before exiting.

Departure:
We flew home from Tangier (TNG) via Iberia Airways — a small but efficient airport.

Tip:
📍 Place an AirTag or tracker in your luggage! Iberia delayed all 6 of our bags, which arrived a week later.

Panoramic View of Fes 

🚐 Getting Around

For maximum flexibility, we hired a private driver, 8-passenger van, and full itinerary through Youssef Marrakech Trips, which made travel between cities smooth and comfortable.

• 📍 Driving Tips:

  • Strict speed limits — radar checkpoints are frequent.

  • Fines for speeding can be steep.

  • Always carry your passport when driving between regions.

Camels Hanging out In the Sahara Desert

🏨 Where We Stayed

We mixed western hotels (Hilton, Marriott)  with traditional Riads and Luxury Sahara Desert Camps for a full Moroccan experience.

Hotels:

• Bring your own body lotion — not always provided.

• Choose stays with breakfast included.

Riads & Kasbahs:

• Traditional Moroccan homes or fortresses turned boutique hotels.

• Often no elevators; expect stairs.

• Feel like staying in a cozy Airbnb with personal charm.

Luxury Desert Camps:

• Usually include dinner and breakfast.

• Opt for camps with air conditioning.

• Bring your own shampoo and conditioner.

• Camel rides, bottled water or desert adventures are often add-ons.



Desert Luxury Camp

☀️ Weather in October

Mid-October was hot but tolerable during the day and cooler at night.

If you prefer mild temperatures, visit March–April or late October–early November.

Todras Gorge

💰 Money & Payments

Cash is king!
Moroccan Dirham (MAD) is a closed currency, so you can’t exchange it before arrival.

📍 Cash Tips:

• Bring $200+ USD per person in crisp, unbent bills (preferably $20s). If there is a tear or markings on the bills, they will not be accepted  

• Exchange money at your hotel, ATM, or exchange office. 

• Always carry small change for tipping/buying souvenirs — it’s expected nearly everywhere. Expect to tip for photos with snake charmers, performers, or vendors. 

• When shopping, haggle! A good price is 50% off the original price given.

Credit Cards:

• Accepted at hotels, but most restaurants and shops are cash-only.

• Use a card with 0% foreign transaction fees.

• Always pay in local currency (Dirhams) for better rates.

Ait Ben Haddou

🧕 Safety

• Morocco felt generally safe, but it’s best for women not to wander alone, especially at night.

• Dress modestly — cover shoulders and knees.

• Emergency number: 112

🎒 What to Pack

• Passport & have digital copy on your phone (just in case) 
• Plug Converter needed if coming from the USA 
• Medication: Motrin/Tylenol, anti-diarrhea pills, gas-x, tums etc. 
• If get car sick, bring Dramamine for the long, windy car rides 
• Clothing: In mid-October, weather was 80+ degrees during day and 65 degrees at night. 
• Highly recommend linen/cotton clothing 
• For women, clothes must cover shoulders and knees
• Bring insect repellent, sunscreen, hat 
• Light jacket/shawl for cold nights and to cover up shoulders
• Bring a crossbody purse to protect your cell phone/valuables and prevent pickpocketing

• Bring your own shampoo, conditioner & body lotion - some lodgings included, some didn't 
• Bring ziplocks bags, hand sanitizer, plastic bags, napkins for car, and/or soft top cooler
• Carry toilet paper with you. Several public restrooms did not have toilet paper

Berber Shepard herding sheep across the road

📱 Communication & Internet

• Most hotels, riads, and restaurants had WiFi.

• Our driver also provided WiFi in the car.

• We kept phones on Airplane Mode the entire trip and never needed an international plan.

• Common languages: Arabic, French and some Spanish (especially in the north). Most touristy areas, we could find someone who spoke in broken English

Kasbah (Fortress)

💡 Useful Tips

• Download Google Maps Offline of Morocco before your trip. 

• Check google reviews for any place you visit for most up-to-date information

• Avoid major tourist attractions on weekends/Holidays. 

• Friday is a "holy day" and many shops/restaurants are closed 

• Water: Drink bottled water, no ice, & limit raw vegetables/fruit unless at a reputable restaurant. Wash or peel fruits and vegetables carefully.

• When shopping, haggle! A good price is 50% off the original price given.

• Buy authentic Argan Oil only from certified co-ops or shops. Only made in Morocco! 

• Expect to see stray cats and dogs — they’re common & harmless. 

Shopping in Marrakech Souks

🥗 Vegetarian & Vegan Food

Morocco is surprisingly easy for vegetarians!

Common options:

• 🥘 Vegetable Tagine 

• 🍚 Couscous with Vegetables 

• 🍆 Zaalouk(eggplant dish)

If you crave variety, you’ll find Italian, Indian, and Greek food in larger cities such as: 

• 🌱 Veggie Pause - City of Fes 

• 🌮 Restaurante Pizzeria Azizi – Town of Midelt

• 🍳 El Cielo - Town of Chefchaouen 

💡 Pro tip: Bring your favorite condiments or spices — we even brought Taco Bell sauce packets!

And don’t forget to enjoy endless cups of Moroccan Mint Tea 🍵

0Vegetarian Tagine

🌍 Our Top Highlights

✅ Sahara Desert – Spend at least one night under the stars. It was the highlight of our trip!

✅ Chefchaouen – The dreamy Blue City.

✅ Marrakech – Bustling souks and vibrant culture.

✅ Ait Ben Haddou – Ancient fortress and Game of Thrones filming site.

✅ Coastal town – Visit at least one: Tangier, Rabat, Casablanca, or Essaouira.

✅ Hire a driver – The distances are long (2–8 hours of driving some days), and it’s the easiest way to see everything comfortably.

🧭 Final Thoughts

Morocco exceeded our expectations — from the warm hospitality and landscapes to the rich culture and cuisine (bring taco bell sauce!). We had fun wandering through Marrakech’s souks (with a guide, of course!), stargazing in the Sahara, and getting lost in Chefchaouen’s blue alleys.