MORROCCO

Morocco... my #1 favorite trip.

We spent five days in Morocco: one night in Marrakech, two in the Sahara Desert, and then one more full day back in the city. It was probably the most out-of-the-ordinary trip I’ve done while abroad, and one of the most memorable.

We started in Marrakech, and even though we were only there for one night at the beginning, it immediately felt like a completely different world. The city was loud, colorful, and full of life. Just walking through the street markets was overwhelming in the best way- spices piled up in baskets, vendors calling out, lanterns and rugs hanging everywhere, and scooters flying by even in the tightest alleys. There wasn’t really a clear route or plan, we just walked and took it all in. It was chaotic but kind of incredible to see that energy up close.

The next morning, we joined a group and started our drive to the desert. It took about seven hours, but we stopped along the way at a bunch of cool places: scenic viewpoints, historic villages, old kasbahs. Watching the scenery change throughout the drive was half the experience. You go from city to mountains to open desert, and suddenly it’s just sand everywhere.

When we got to the edge of the Sahara, we arrived at our desert camp, which was made up of big tents with beds inside, all surrounding a main fire pit where everyone hung out at night. It was quiet in a way I’ve never really experienced before. No cars, no buildings, just wind and sand and sky.

Over the next two days in the desert, we did so many things I never thought I’d do. We climbed huge dunes barefoot, rode on top of jeeps across the sand, and tried sandboarding, which sounds easy but was honestly pretty hard and hilarious. Everyone wiped out at least once, but it made it even better.

On the second night, we rode camels through the dunes at sunset. It sounds cliché until you're actually doing it, completely surrounded by silence and golden light. It was slow, peaceful, and something I’ll always remember.

At night, we sat around the fire, listened to traditional music from the guides, and just looked up at the stars. I’ve never seen a sky like that. No light pollution, just layers and layers of stars. It was one of those moments where no one was on their phones and everyone was just sitting there quietly for once.

After two nights in the desert, we drove back to Marrakech and spent our last full day in the city. It felt way less overwhelming the second time around. We revisited the markets, explored new areas, and tried to soak it all in before heading back. It was one of those days where we weren’t trying to rush around, just walking, eating, talking to people, and noticing how different everything felt from the start of the trip.

Morocco was such a mix of energy and stillness. The fast-paced streets of Marrakech and the complete silence of the Sahara. It challenged the way I usually travel. We didn’t have the same kind of control or familiarity we do in European cities, but that’s what made it so good. It felt like we really got to experience something different, and even though we were only there for five days, it felt like so much more.