MOROCCO: THE TRIP THAT STAYED WITH ME
- Janissa Romero
- Dec 3
- 3 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
I've always heard people talk about Morocco like it was this life-altering place. Friends studying abroad would come back with wild stories about the Sahara, camel rides, and these "vibes" that "changed them forever." I thought it sounded cool, but it was never like "OMG I really NEED to go ASAP," I never really felt the hype. I love traveling, but wasn't necessarily on my bucket list or even top 5 destinations, and I wasn't rushing to see it.
That changed without me even realizing it. I came to visit my sister in Barcelona this November 2025 - another city that deserves a spot on everyone's travel list - and we decided to add a five-day escape to Morocco using the agency Viaje en Marruecos. I figured it would be a fun add-on, something spontaneous. Instead, it might have ended up becoming the most unexpectedly meaningful trip of my life so far.
DAY 1
Marrakech
As soon as I landed, my first thought was, "no way, I'm in Africa." The energy hits you instantly - colors, sounds, people, everything layered and alive. That first night of exploring the city on our own, we ended up at a restaurant called Safran, and it was honestly one of the best dinner experiences I've ever had. It wasn't just good food; it was drums, dancing, music, and the staff pulling you up to dance between bites. It felt like a celebration more than a meal, foreshadowing what the trip was going to bring to the table.
DAY 2
The Drive Up
Day 2 started early with the long drive toward the Sahara. Along the way, we stopped at Ait Ben Haddou, the location where famous films like The Odyssey, Gladiator, and other classics were filmed. The drive itself becomes part of the experience, watching the scenery shift as you move deeper into the country.
DAY 3
The Sahara
By the third day, you're waking up in the middle of the desert - either in a tent of a hotel depending on your package. It's quiet in a way that doesn't exist anywhere else. You spend the day sandboarding, riding ATVs or Jeeps, and even taking a jeep out to meet a desert tribe an hour away. They share their story, their purpose, and their connection to the land. It feels intimate and humbling.
Then comes the moment everyone talks about: riding camels into the sunset across the dunes. You end the night under a sky full of stars, music playing, and a group of people on the same trip who started as strangers but somehow feel familiar by the end of the night.
DAY 4
The Drive Back
This day was like a breath of fresh air to gather yourself after the last 3 days. The agency takes you back to Marrakech, but you carry the desert with you. It stays in your mind - the stillness, the colors, the people.
And on DAY 5, you explore Marrakech more deeply. The souks are chaotic in the best way possible, with vendors encouraging you to bargain (which is actually part of the fun). Every corner feels like its own world, filled with handcrafted pieces and items you won't find anywhere else.
By the end of the trip, I finally understood what everyone meant. I scrolled through my camera roll for the majority of my flight back, nostalgia hitting me harshly although it hadn't even been more than 24 hours. It makes you think. Morocco isn't just a place you visit, it's a place that sits with you.
It's the kind of trip that catches you off guard - in the best way. You learn from the tour guides, from the people you meet, from the stories you hear along the way. You form connections with strangers who were destined to cross your path for only five days but leave an impact much bigger than that.
I thought Morocco was "overhyped." Now I get it. And honestly? I'd do it all over again without thinking twice.
Comments