MountainHigh

10 days in Morocco, flying in Marrakech and out Fes. The plan is 2 days each for Marrakech and Fes.

HELP - any suggestions for the days in between?

Don't want to drive so thinking of hiring someone to ferry us around.

Group of 2 couples but all fit and keen to experience the culture and something 'real' - is that still possible in Morocco?

WTnow

You could take a day trip to Essouria while in Marrakech ( or do an overnight)

You do not really need a tour guide to drive you around and it will cost you a lot more to hire someone to do that.

It is about ten hours from Marrakech to Merzouga area where the dunes are, so you should probably break it up around the 1000 kasbah/ Ait Ben haddou area.

http://www.soultravelers3.com/blog/8...37FA97CB9.html

We stayed here and it is a gorgeous place right inside a world heritage site and lots of areas to walk around or you could go to the gorge if you like hiking:

http://www.nomadsaharabivouacmerzoug...a-morocco.html

http://www.soultravelers3.com/blog/5...3EA116E5D.html

I am sure you have read my recommendation of Les Nomades who we found to be absolutely spectacular and made our visit one-of -a -kind including my 6yo daughter giving a violin concert for 50 adorable Berber kids and handling my mobility challenges:

http://www.soultravelers3.com/blog/3...6C3A1171F.html

Since you want your privacy , you will definitely want to contact Les Nomades as too many camel treks in the Sahara are crowded, dirty, non personal affairs that are more like junkets.

We also booked our travel from Fez to Les Nomades and from Les Nomades to Ait Ben Haddou area via our own private Grand Taxi. We were on a budget and we talked to many and Alessandra gave us the best price for transportation. She also had things like 4x4's available from people she knew and could rely on, but that was over our budget.

The cheapest way is to rent a car and drive yourself, but we also did not want to drive. One of the biggest costs in Morocco is the driving cost to get to the desert and back. If I had to do it again, I would rent a car. Of course you may not get the car you ordered as happened to a friend of mine here. We both traveled in April high season though, and you should not have high season problems in Feb.

I would spend the bulk of your time in the desert ( both Merzouga area and Ait Ben Haddou area) as that is the best of Morocco. You might also want to spend some time in the High Atlas mountains...again the Berber natives and the beauty will astound.

YES, you will find something real in Morocco, especially in the country side. The medina in Fez will also probably blow you away as it is a bit like going back to the middle ages.

Marrakech is much less authentic, but worth a short see for the highlights. Do stay in Riads while in Morocco. Take care with the food as many get sick in Morocco.

Grab a guide book or two to see what things and areas interest you. It is about an 8 hour drive from Merzouga area to Fez. It is also a wild and loooong ride.

Bring warm clothes for the cold nights and have the adventure of a lifetime! We have been to many countries and places in our first 15 months of our open ended multi year trip around the world and Morocco was the most exciting and unique!

Clifton

Very much still possible. I can't speak to getting a good driver, but can vouch for Morocco being a place where authenticity is not in short supply.

Marrakesh is very tourist oriented, but thought Fez much less so (although not without touts). Essaouira is laid back, but with a higher then normal amount of European influence. The rest of Morocco is definitely fair game, especially we thought, in the mountain towns and in the area around the Dades and Todra gorges and the Valley of the Kasbahs.

erikzhul

you can try to contact merzouga zagora expeditions great people and profitional tour around exotic places kasbashs and desert. informations are
http://www.merzouga-zagora-expeditions.com
erik

JourneyBeyondTravel

You'll be able to see a lot, as others here have mentioned. The cost of a car and driver, though, is a bit expensive. Also, you'll have a full day's drive from -Kech to Fez, so take that into account before you leave. There's still plenty to see and do that is off the tourist beat. Let me know if I can help you out at all anymore. Thanks

JourneyBeyondTravel

WTNow has a great response to your questions. I'd listen to what they have to say too. Though, for the desert, February is a little higher seasonally speaking for tourist but not overdone.