Is it safe to do a Morocco road trip as a female solo traveler? Should a girl rent a car or hire a driver? Is it dangerous to explore the cities on your own as a girl? Should you hire a guide?
I know all these questions popped up in my head when I was preparing my Morocco road trip, so I am sure you are struggling with them as well! Don’t worry, I will cover them all in this Morocco road trip guide for female solo travelers! But even if you are a guy, I am sure you will find a lot of useful information here!
I traveled through Morocco as a female solo traveler for two weeks and I absolutely loved it! The lovely blue streets of Chefchaouen, walking in between the smelly leather tanning pits in Fes, the vivid town square of Meknes, the sunset at the gorgeous mosque of Casablanca and the most amazing architecture and colorful medina in Marrakech… These were all amazing experiences I will never ever forget. They made this Morocco road trip absolutely perfect!
Morocco Road Trip Itinerary
Click for more detail.
Duration of the trip: 13 days / 13 nights
Hours of driving: 12 hours 15 minutes
Kilometers: 869 km
Start: Tangier airport
End: Marrakech airport
My travel period: End of March/Beginning of April
This road trip is for you if:
You like visiting cities, explore the Moroccan architecture and medinas and enjoy staying at lovely riads.
Content:
· Chefchaouen: Morocco’s blue pearl – 3 nights
· Fes: an authentic Moroccan maze – 3 nights
· Meknes: the imperial city – 1 night
· Casablanca: the most impressive mosque – 1 night
· Marrakech: the pink vibrant city – 5 nights
· Why I rented a driver and not a car
· How to stay safe on a Morocco Road Trip as a female solo traveler
· Conclusion
Also read:
Traveling solo in Morocco as a female; the truth
Chefchaouen: Morocco’s blue pearl
What to see and do
Chefchaouen is a lovely blue little city located in the Rif mountains in the northwest of Morocco. It takes about 2,5 hours to get there from Tangier airport by car. The town consists of narrow staired alleys decorated with the most beautiful blue façades and amazing carved doors. I loved wandering around this cute little city. Behind every corner I found a new hidden gem.
The best way to experience this magical blue town is to explore before 10.00 am. Then tour groups start to arrive and the town gets more crowded. After 17.00 they leave and the calmth returns, even though the town is always quite vibrant. Especially around the Place Outa El Hamam, where you can find a lot of restaurants and shops.
You can go photo hunting early in the morning. During the day you can get lost in the narrow streets, drink an orange juice and check out the shops. In the evening I strongly recommend to hike to the Spanish Mosque (Mosquée Bouzâafar) to catch the sunset.
Where to eat
Café Clock: This is a more modern and trendy place, where you can eat traditional Moroccan dishes with a twist. It is a great place to meet fellow travelers and locals. Try the camel burger or the pancakes!
Marisco Twins: I ate breakfast, lunch and dinner here (spread over different days) and I never got disappointed. They serve traditional food like tagines, couscous and soups.
Restaurant Lampe Magique Casa Aladdin: It feels as if you are beamed into an Arabic Nights fairytale here. The restaurant has a rooftop terrace with a view of the Place Outa El Hamam.
Where to stay
I stayed 3 nights at Dar Zambra, a traditional Moroccan guesthouse, which is located on the hill at the edge of the medina. I had a wonderful view on the city from its rooftop, where breakfast was served every morning. It was also the ideal place to listen to the call to prayer.
I recommend staying 3 nights so you can enjoy 2 complete days in Chefchaouen.
Also check out my complete Chefchaouen Travel Guide and my Chefchaouen Photography Guide!
Fes: an authentic Moroccan maze
What to see and do
Fes is the cultural capital of Morocco. Here you will find craftsmen and artists and the most beautiful architecture. It is home to one of the oldest continually-operating universities in the world. The city consists of 10 000 little streets and even the locals get lost here. So exploring Fez on your own can be quite challenging! Google Maps or GPS don’t work here.
If you don’t feel comfortable exploring this bustling city on your own, I recommend hiring a guide. Every hotel has its contacts, so they can arrange this for you! I also did some exploring on my own.
Gates of the Royal Palace: you can’t enter the palace, but the gates are gorgeous!
Bab Bou Jeloud gate: the entrance to the medina decorated with blue and green mosaics
Rainbow Street: a cute colorful alley
Madrasa Bou Inania: the biggest Quran school of Fes
Chouara Tanneries: you can’t go to Fes and not visit these smelly leather tanning pits!
Al Attarine Madrasa: the most beautiful Quran school of Fes
Mosque and University Karaouiyne: you are not allowed to enter the mosque, but its many doors are breathtaking and sometimes you can take a peek inside.
Fondouk el-Nejjarine: museum about woodcrafting
Cherratine Madrasa: another Quran school
Where to eat
Lunch at Fassie Délecie: traditional good food. This is where the locals come!
Rooftop dinner at Palais de Fes Dar Tazi: at this magical place you can eat on the rooftop terrace while watching the sun set behind the hills and see all the minarets light up. Perfect for call to prayer moments!
Café Clock: a combination of both modern and traditional dishes. (the same restaurant as in Chefchaouen)
Where to stay
I recommend a riad outside the medina maze, so it is easier to find your way back. But also inside the medina there are some pretty places to stay (you just have to accept the challenge then 🙂 )
Riad El Amine: This riad is situated just outside the medina, which made it easier to access. There is a parking lot nearby where you can catch a taxi. The staff working here is extremely helpful and nice. My room (Kenza Suite) was decorated in traditional Moroccan style with mosaic tiles on the walls and floor, carvings and stained glass windows. The breakfast was delicious and extensive. There is also a rooftop terrace, but when I was there it was under construction.
Riad Rcif & Spa: This place looks like a museum. The central courtyard where you can have breakfast, lunch and dinner is so extensively decorated you don’t know where to look first. This riad is absolutely gorgeous. Intricate woodwork, ceramic-tile mosaics, a fountain, arches, … you will find it all here, even in your room! The staff was nice. The only downside to this riad is that it is in the middle of the medina and that it is very hard to find! I needed help everytime from locals to find this place.
Check out my Fes Travel Guide to get a more detailed itinerary to visit Fes!
Meknes: the imperial city
What to see and do
Meknes was created in the late 17th century by the Sultan Moulay Ismail aka “The Warrior King”. You can still admire his city with its high walls and impressive doors in Spanish-Moorish style today. Even though it is Morocco’s 6th biggest city it is often overlooked by tourists. The city has a more relaxed vibe.
Medersa Bou Inania: also Meknes has a beautiful Quran school you can visit!
Lahdim Square: the vivid main square where you can find fruit, pottery, souvenirs, snake charmers, monkeys, ostriches and many other things.
Bab Mansour: the city’s famous main gate
Moulay Ismail Mausoleum: the final resting place of the sultan
Kara Prison: an impressive and scary underground prison
Royal Stables: a lot of the sultan’s palace has been destroyed by the massive Lisbon earthquake in 1755, but its incredible royal stables can still be admired.
Where to eat
Pavillon des Idrissides: the perfect place to have lunch and see what happens at the Lahdim Square. I spent almost 2 hours here just spying on all the snake charmers and the guys who put monkeys on tourists’ shoulders or heads.
Riad Ma Bohème: at this place you can have dinner. Just knock on the door and the friendly lady who owns the place shall greet you and cook for you!
Where to stay
I stayed one night at Riad Ritaj. The ground floor where the restaurant is sure looks imperial and impressive just like the city! The staff here was super sweet and they really helped me out in finding another driver after the one I booked online didn’t arrive. The rooms are just the right size and practical.
Check out my Meknes video to watch my adventures in the imperial city!
Casablanca: the most impressive mosque
What to see and do
The only reason I spent one night in Casablanca is its famous Hassan II mosque. It is the only mosque in Morocco open for tourists and it is absolutely breathtakingly beautiful! The outside is well decorated with a lot of green and blue tiles, but the interior is something else! I was in complete awe when entering the mosque and taking in all the impressions of the ceilings, walls, chandeliers, pillars etc. This is true craftmanship!
Make sure to experience sunset here when the mosque starts to color pink! Take into account that the use of tripods is not allowed here. I got several warnings.
Where to eat
I ate at my hotel which had a great restaurant called Le Melliber.
Where to stay
I stayed at Melliber Appart Hotel which is just around the corner of the Hassan II mosque. It has big clean rooms and it is just perfect to be able to visit the mosque in the evening and early in the morning.
Check out my Casablanca video to see me visiting the mosque!
Marrakech: the pink vibrant city
What to see and do
Marrakech really deserves your time and attention! It is the perfect spot to end your Morocco road trip! I spent five days in the city and I still feel like I could’ve stayed longer, because I had so much fun here! Not only is there a lot to do and see, but it also has the most fantastic riads and hotels, where you can relax and rest from your long trip! Not to mention the never ending shopping options!
Bahia Palace: a beautiful palace with colorful mosaics. Be early because it is a very popular place!
El Badi Palace: a huge ruined palace with a water bassin. Storks nest here.
Dar Si Said: museum for carpets and Moroccan artisanal objects with beautiful architecture.
Saadian Tombs: 66 tombs, only recently discovered in 1917. They are the final resting place of the royal family of the Saadian dynasty.
Kasbah area: the area around the Moulay El Yazid mosque is a fun neighbourhood to explore.
Mosque Koutoubia: the biggest mosque in Marrakech. You can’t enter but the area around the mosque is beautiful to explore, like the park and the ruins of the former mosque.
Jardin Majorelle: Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé restaured the garden and now you can visit the tropical garden and the museum.
Jardin Secret: this place really is a bit of a secret, because not many people visit it. Here you can find some peace and quiet!
Souk: shopping in the souk is one of the most amusing things you can do in Marrakech.
Place des Epices: This is a small colorful square where they sell spices and straw objects such as bags and baskets. It is also the perfect place to find a rooftop restaurant!
Jemaa El Fna: this is the most famous and busiest square of Marrakech. It is always crowded and a sight for sore eyes! You won’t know where to look first!
Ben Youssef Madrassa (still closed due to renovations): Quran school
My favorite secret place: check out my YouTube video to discover which place it is! It is not even featured in travel guides!
Where to eat
Le Bougainvillier: a Moroccan restaurant near Jardin Secret. Not only do they serve traditional Moroccan food like tajine and pastilla, they also make very good pizza (and I loooove pizza!).
Café des Epices: This trendy restaurant at the Place des Epices has an incredible rooftop terrace with a fantastic view on the square. The menu consists of salads, tajines and sandwiches. You need to reserve a table if you want a good one on the terrace.
Café Snack Rahba Kedima: Less trendy, but more traditional than the previous one and also situated on the Place des Epices with a small tooftop terrace (but with a better view than Café des Epices). I tried the kefta and egg tajine, which was delicious.
Nomad: Another trendy restaurant at the Place des Epices from the same group as Cafe des Epices with a nice rooftop restaurant.
Café de France: I ate a few times here just for the view on the Jemaa el Fna square. The food was good, but the view at sunset even better!
Café Clock: Just like Fes and Chefchaouen: try the camel burger here! I’m sure you will like it!
Where to stay
L’Oriental Medina Riad & Spa: the whole riad smelled like orange blossom. The white and green mosaics gave it a fresh clean look and it had a small pool in the middle of the patio! My room was small but pretty and cozy with a spacious bathroom. This riad also has a rooftop to lay in the sun.
Riad Palais Sebban: this was more a palace than a riad (which is actually a traditional Moroccan house built around a central courtyard). Riad Palais Sebban consists of various parts with their own patios. The main part has a courtyard with a gorgeous terrace and swimming pool. The rooftop views of this place were amazing.
Also check out my more detailed Marrakech Travel Guide!
Why I rented a driver and not a car during this road trip
Reasons why I didn’t want to drive myself
I wasn’t sure about renting a car by myself, since I would draw a lot of attention as a blonde alone in a car. I also wasn’t too keen on getting pulled over at every police check point, which happens a lot in Morocco. As a person alone you are always more vulnerable, but for some reason also more suspicious.
Distances between the cities in Morocco are also quite big and there is no highway between Tangier, Chefchaouen and Fes. Driving time certainly adds up then!
I don’t drive much in Belgium, so remembering how people drove in Jordan (driving in the middle of the road, not using indicators, non existent priority rules,…), made me a little insecure. Driving in the cities would be very chaotic and I wouldn’t need a car there, so I decided to check what it would cost to rent a driver.
Reasons why I hired a driver
I have to admit it wasn’t cheap, but it wasn’t thàt more expensive if you take into account the following:
a driver literally takes you from door to door, you don’t have to look for your riad or parking space and don’t have to carry your heavy suitcase through the narrow streets which often also contain stairs
you can enjoy the views or sleep while driving
a driver often shares tips and tricks about the places you will visit
you never get pulled over by the police
you can still stop wherever you want
WiFi on board can help you researching your next destination while driving
I found the drivers online in advance (just Google “transfer from location X to location Y”), but you can also rent one at your hotel or riad.
Would I rent a car on my own after my experience? No, I would definitely choose for a driver again when traveling solo through Morocco. If I go with a travel companion I would rent a car though!
How to stay safe on a Morocco road trip as a female solo traveler
This Morocco road trip guide for female solo travelers wouldn’t be complete without some safety tips! So here are some of my personal tips!
Buy a local SIM card
The first thing I always do when traveling to a country outside of Europe is buying a local SIM card. That way you will always be able to connect and communicate and your navigation apps will work better with it (which I thought was a little strange, since I download my maps always in advance)!
Appropriate clothing
Morocco is a muslim country, so show respect by wearing appropriate clothing. This means not showing too much skin. I wore a lot of long sleeved but colorful maxi dresses. A headscarf is not obliged in Morocco. If you show respect, people will treat you with the same respect.
I saw a lot of girls wearing shorts and tops in Marrakech. You can always try, but you will be treated completely different, trust me.
Scams
Like a lot of countries Morocco knows its fair share of scams. Men who lie about streets being closed, so you won’t be able to find a certain tourist place on your own. They lure you into one of their shops and will not want to let you go, until you buy something. There are also men or children who will offer you to help finding a place. Be aware they will often ask for money once they brought you there. Also pay attention at the market squares that people don’t put a monkey or other animal on your shoulder/head. You will need to pay. Also photographing these animals will follow with a question for money.
Taking taxis
Always ask for the price in advance. They often don’t have/use the meter. You don’t want to end up in a big discussion. If the price seems too much, just say you will look for another one because it is too expensive. It always worked out for me; either they lowered the price or another taxi driver was already waiting for me offering a better price!
Photographing people
Don’t take photos of people without their permission. Especially in Morocco this is very important. People, especially women, don’t like to get photographed due to privacy and religious/cultural reasons. The believe of the curse of the evil eye still lives strongly in certain regions of Morocco. A lot of Moroccans believe that if you take their photo on which they look happy and wealthy, it will bring them bad luck and misfortune.
I once was taking photos of a few goats in the streets of Chefchaouen and a woman started screaming. First I didn’t realize she was screaming at me. But apparently some believe it will bring misfortune to their animals as well!
Pickpocketing/theft
Take a proper bag with you with a decent zipper, so pickpocketing becomes harder. Don’t walk around with your phone in your hands constantly and don’t wear expensive jewelry. Especially in Marrakech, guys on motorcycles try to take your camera, bag or other valuables (a local told me, so it must be true). Every time I heard a motorcycle approaching in the souk, I walked against a wall with my stuff between me and the wall or stood somewhere where it would be impossible for them to grab my things.
Be kind but firm
Moroccan people are some of the nicest I’ve met, but of course there are always some who think catcalling is ok. Simply ignore them.
When people called me beautiful while passing by, I simply smiled at them, said thank you and continued my walk.
You will get invited in a store often, if you are not interested just say “no, thanks” (“la, shokran”) in a kind, but firm way and they will leave you alone.
I didn’t have any trouble and believe strongly in “what you give is what you get”. If you are nice to people, they will be nice to you. Just don’t be too naive and you will be fine!
Conclusion
So going on a Morocco road trip as a female solo traveler is perfectly safe! After reading this guide and my other Morocco articles, you are well informed to start preparing your own Morocco solo adventure! Let me know how it was and don’t hesitate to ask if I forgot to mention something!
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Don’t hesitate to leave comments or questions down below!
Hello Joëlle! I found your blog while planning for my trip to Morocco. I am so glad to finally read something positive! All the blogs on Morocco by solo female travellers that I have read earlier were pretty much negative, making me think twice about my plans. Can you kindly share which platform do you typically use to book the transfers between cities? And any accommodation that you would recommend in Fes, Casablanca, Marrakech, and Meknes? It has been a while since you trip but I’m hoping you still keep the information 🙂
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!
Its an excellent post, thank you so much for sharing with us. I hope you keep sharing this types of informative posts.