mister_e

Am very grateful to the experts for advice as you have been giving. .Due to fly this week but still cannot make up my mind,so really would appreciate your guidance

I fly into Tangier and fly out of Marrakech.

14 April Chefchaouen

15 evening bus to Fes

16 17 Fes

18,19,20 and possibly 21 Desert to Marrakech

22 23 Essaouira Evening bus back to Marrakech

24 early morning fly out

For the trip many advice four days. But as I am going solo, I am reading what the tour companies provide is not what is reccommended .How would you advise I do it ?

Could you reccommend good tour companies?

Would three nights be really not worth it? then I could have included a bit of Marrakech.I know it is hectic but unlikely to come back. But would appreciate what you say. There is also mention of taking overnight bus from Fes to Merzouga. Would that be a better option? How would I do it solo and then travel to Marrakech?

Would you think I should do without the desert completely and do a day trip to the Atlas mountains? Being interested in phptpgraphy felt Essaouira to be more photogenic than Marrakech having done Fes earlier in the trip.

Thanks much .

mister_e

Sorry by trip I meant desert trip from Fes to Marrakech

MinnBeef

I did not go to the dessert due to the significant amount of travel time back and forth. Nor would I have wanted to spend more than one night sleeping out in the desert so for me, it was too large of a time investment for what Inthink would have been too little return.

I like most of your itinerary. I would take the four nights budgeted to the dessert and give 3 to Marrakech (which gives you 2 full sightseeing days) and give the last night to Fes to allow you to visit Volubilis.

mister_e

1.Thanks MinnBeef Sounds logical. Am considering this more, precisely for the difficulties doing the desert trip solo with long journeys and time constraint. I am still thinking of keeping a day for Marrakech from those days, one for the Meknes trip ,one for journey Fes-Marrakech and another for an Atlas day trip.

2.Hear on Saturday day trip to Imlil incorporates a market day at Asni. Has anyone done this and reccommend ?

3.Also if I took an overnight train from Fes either 7.30 pm set off reaching early hours or starting at 2.30 am from Fes reaching at 10 am. Any ideas how one can reach the fes train station at night as was reading petit taxis dont run so late? Alternately if I take the earlier to reach Marrakech early morning can I spend those wee hours safely in the station until I get transport to town?

I am told overnight bus are not safe or comfortable and trains preferable ..otherwise the bus times are more practicable.Appreciate any advice on this.

4. If I wanted to photograph Volubilis around sunset any way I can do it and return to Meknes to take train to Fes?

MmePerdu

3. Your accommodation can book transport to the station in Fes, so choose the train that suits you best. Or stay at a hotel near the station if you're concerned. Ibis, where I stayed once for convenience sake, is right next door.

You'll be able to get a taxi in Marrakech whenever the trains get in but much better to arrive at your accommodation in the daylight.

4. I see no point in returning to Meknes to take a train to Fes. Have your grand taxi take you straight to Fes from Volubilis. It isn't far.

Ian

Just to make a counterpoint, for us, the true magic of Morocco was our trip south. Marrakech was intense & Essaouira was laidback (but 2 nights will give you more than enough blue boat pictures & the souk is just a miniature Marrakech).

However, it was our trip (with a hired driver) south over the High Atlas to Ouarzazate & through the Mid-Atlas & down the Draa to Erg Chigaga – finally ending up in Taroudant - that was our real warm & fuzzy memory of our trip. Stunning describes it well. As a photographer this is the trip you want to make. If not this trip, then plan to come back.

Many of us make the holiday mistake of trying to see everything. You can’t, so focus on a limited number of places you really want to see, slow down & really enjoy them.

http://imcarthur.weebly.com/high-atlas.html

Ian

mister_e

Thanks Ian and MmePerdu.

Cant do everything and do fee realise the deser and Atlas side is exciting and would do if I found a travel person to share than the rushed three day trip. My itinerary below is rushed but not with long hauls. Hope this is ok.. if you reccomend can skip either el jadida or essaouira and do a trip to Ouarzazate ?
14 April Chefchaouen
15 evening bus to Fes
16 17 18 incl day to meknes et al 18 eve bus /train to casa
19 morning bus to el jadida
20 bus to essaouira
21 evening bus to marrakech
22 trip to atlas mountains
23 marrakech
24 early morning fly out

Thanks!

Patrissimo

Hi,
I agree with the person who said the highlight was through the Atlas mountains to quarzazate. The desert was fabulous! You do not need more than a night there though. We went to Chechaouen and although charming it a very long drive and I would rather drive to the desert! Essaouira was a cute seaside town and we enjoyed it, however the highlight was the desert and Marrakech don't miss either if you can make it happen. Have not been to El Jadida.
Enjoy1