Why Morocco is so underrated

Usually people think of the popular places around the world like Paris, Italy, or Bali as their dream destination but Morocco is a place like no other. Morocco has such a unique landscape and connects to the Sahara Desert, it is the most affordable place I have ever been, the food is amazing, and it is just all around such a cool place to experience. Morocco is unknown and I think because of that most people assume it is scary or unsafe.

When we first got to morocco we had a ride arranged to pick us up from the airport and take us to our riad. A riad is the hotels there and honestly they are so nice especially for the price. The airport pickup is also a must and it is just the safest option if it is your first time. We also had to get cash in advance because there is no way of paying by card anywhere in morocco it is all cash only. $30 in morocco is around 300 moroccan dirham and the money takes you pretty far. I got by in morocco for 3 days with just $60. I remember my food one night was around $3 and it was a bowl like chipotle almost and jewelry and things were between $2-20. There is no other place where you get so much for your money like in morocco.

The food in morocco was hands down my favorite of everywhere I have been besides Asia. They had a lot of chicken and vegetable dishes and just really unique things to try from their culture. Anything on any menu there was delicious.

I stayed in Marrakech for 2 nights and then in the desert for one. Marrakech is a very busy town and it can seem overwhelming at times but it is amazing. There are many different shops in the medina which is just a big market almost where you can but literally anything like lotions, perfumes, spices, clothes, bags, ceramics, jewelry, belts, literally anything you can imagine you can probably buy there and you can bargain for better prices. It goes on for ages. In Marrakech we also ended up going to a mosque which was a really different experience but it was so pretty with a lot of tile detail, a pool, and many ancient artifacts inside. I had never been to a mosque so that was definitely on my bucket list.

The streets are very safe to walk although you do have to watch out for yourself as you do anywhere else and it is good to be in a group. Morocco in general was the most hospitable country I have ever been to. Right when we got to our hotel they let us sit down and have tea before even checking in and they made sure we had someone to walk us to our tour the next day so we were safe and knew where to go. On our tour to the desert the workers were all so kind and really took care of you which not all places have.

We went on a 2 day tour to the mezouga desert which is a part of the Sahara. We rode there in a van and made some really cool stops along the way. It was an 8 hour bumpy and windy ride but it was completely worth it. We stopped along the way for head scarfs for when we got into the desert and the ladies at the shop would help us tie them around our heads and I even got a little crown. We eventually stopped and got out of the van we were in and into the back of a truck and we drove through the sand all the way to a bunch of camels. I think I will remember getting there forever just because a little girl offered to tie my head scarf on for me she was maybe around 10 years old and she also tried to sell me a little camel figurine however I did not have any money on me at the moment because I just thought we were getting on the camels. It just put into perspective for me how lives across the world from you have a completely different day to day there are people without clean water that live in the middle of the desert and are selling anything they can to get by why people in the US spend so much time worrying about so many things that really do not matter at all. Morocco completely changed my perspective on life and being thankful for the one you live.

We got to the camels and hopped on and rode to a big sand dune while the sun was setting it was the perfect time. We got to run in the sand and climb up it and then we got to ride back on the camels. There are not many places you get to ride a camel but morocco is for sure the place to do it. We then went to our little camp site where we would sleep for the night. I would call it glamping more then camping because we were in this big tent with literal beds and bathrooms it was really nice. We also got to get a traditional moroccan dinner and watch a moroccan music and dancing show that was traditional to the culture with drums and dance circles. We got to play the drums and just enjoy the night. We were able to go 4 wheeling or sandboarding too the next day. We then left and drove back to marrakech and explored the town even more.

I did the desert and city aspect of morocco but there are also a ton of hidden gems like beaches, mountains, and different cities you can explore. It has a bit of everything.

Morocco offers so many luxuries like its riads, camps, and spas that are really nice and cost less then they would anywhere else. They also have rooftop dining experiences for less then $10 that would be $100+ anywhere else and are just as luxurious. Morocco offers such flavorful food and they are really big about their tea, my favorite dish I tried there was the chicken tagine. Morocco is more of a sandy desert vibe mixed with really vibrant colors.

Most people assume morocco is difficult to go to or unsafe without any actual experience there. I was surprised by how welcoming of a place it was. I felt people were kind and reasonable. I was very aware walking around but I never once felt unsafe. There also so many cats running around which was so cute. We loved them so much we bought food to bring to the ones by our riad because we felt they could use it more then we could use the money. It is such a tourist friendly place I think it is just something unknown to people to where they assume they should fear it.

Morocco is not the most glorious or built up place it is on the poorer side but there is so much to appreciate from it. Women there also dress completely covered even in the heat which is very different compared to most places and especially the US. I think it can be an intimidating place to people who do not travel often but it is unforgettable in the best ways.

It has a culture like no other and they welcome you to join them in it. It is a place where you can be adventurous but also see all of its beauty. It is affordable and luxurious all at one and it is truly the experiences of experiences. You need to go there to completely understand it.

What I really took away most from morocco is that there are people across the world from you living completely different lives that would dream of yours and half of the world will never even begin to understand that. There are people across the world from you that make you realize your life is worth thanking because for some reason I got dealt my life while they got dealt another they could be the same age as me with just the same amount of kindness, hardwork, and beauty in their life but for some reason I have this life while they have theirs. It is very hard to understand but I took the most away from morocco of anywhere else because they work very hard for a lot less money and they may never get to explore another country like I got to theirs but for some reason I live a completely different life and that shocks me. Things like the fact that I get clean water everyday while they have to buy water bottles or that I can have a consistent job while they sell things unsure of how much they will go home with. It is crazy how everyones daily lives and paths can be so different.

Morocco although it has a stereotype of being unsafe or overwhelming is one of the most unique and amazing experiences I have every had. Instead of going to Paris I would pick morocco time and time again it is an experience like no other and that is what life is about. Morocco is underrated because it is a place that offers culture and tradition, food and hospitality, and adventure completely different form anywhere else in the world. It gets overshadowed by other gorgeous destinations like Europe or Asia but it deserves so much recognition because it can give you more than other countries would.

I would recommend morocco every single time and it makes you realize many things you cannot elsewhere. Morocco will take your breath away it is underrated and under talked about but offers more then you might ever expect. There are people making a few cents while you make dollars that is hard for people to comprehend. Morocco for me was both many life lessons and crazy adventure. Do not forget to actually live life, just because a place is unknown to you does not mean it is not safe or that you should steer clear out of fear. Most of the places you see as unsafe are actually where the best trips come alive.