Shari B. had high expectations when she planned her trip to Africa — along the way, she hoped to immerse herself in a new culture, eat delicious food, and learn from talented local artisans. But when she and her friends arrived in Morocco, they didn’t have any idea how much they would love the vibrant cities of Chefchaouen and Fez.

After Shari returned home, we reached out and asked her to share her story with us. This is what she let us know about her experience.

I won’t ever forget our Morocco trip! I loved viewing the ancient architecture, walking around the medina in Chefchaouen (the Blue City), and getting to know our amazing guide, Rachid. By the end of the trip, Rachid almost felt like a big brother, and he even taught us some Arabic, which made us feel so much more comfortable whenever we went out on our own.

Our trip wouldn’t have been the same without our guide, Rachid. He was absolutely amazing and took us under his wing.

We also had some great experiences seeing how people live and work in Morocco. For example, we visited a ceramics co-op, and one of my friends bought a fountain there. On another day, we learned how they produce argan oil in this country. In Fez, we saw how rugs are made, and we had a really cool cooking class at a riad. It was great to learn how to cook authentic Moroccan food, so that was probably my favorite cultural experience of the trip.

One of my other favorite moments occurred when we were watching the sunset from an old mosque in Chefchaouen. We were surrounded by people from all around the world, and one man was playing the guitar. People were going up to him and taking turns borrowing the guitar to play their own music. It was so peaceful to take in that sunset, and it felt like we — everyone gathered around the mosque — had formed our own community. It was beautiful to see that kind of camaraderie between strangers who didn’t necessarily speak the same language. And it made me realize that no matter what, if you focus on what’s right in front of you, life doesn’t have to seem so overwhelming. 

If you go to Morocco, I’d recommend being prepared to do lots of walking! Make sure that you bring comfortable shoes. (I think I really would have enjoyed the hike to Akchour Waterfall, outside of Chefchaouen, but my knee was killing me, which was really too bad.) You should also bring wet wipes (in case you need to use a Chinese toilet) and medicine for food poisoning (just in case you get sick).

I’d say that the “must-do”s were the cooking class in Fez and the sunset views in Chefchaouen. My friends and I also visited Tangier before the Acanela trip started, and we ate at an amazing restaurant called Le Saveur de Poisson. Anthony Bourdain went there once, and the food was incredible!

If you’re thinking about going on this tour, I really think you should do it! It was a fantastic trip, and I really loved everything I experienced in Morocco.

Sounds like an incredible journey, Shari! Thanks for sharing it with us!

We might be biased, but we believe that Morocco is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. So, if you’re ready to explore Chefchaouen and Fez in all their glory, sign up for our classic Morocco trip today. We can’t wait to show you around!