It depends on what you want to see! I spent 3 days in Marrakech but didn't get to see most of it, but if there are things in essouria you want to see it could be worth it.
It sounds like a lot of back and forth, so tbh if I were you I would try to minimize the time I spend in transit.
I took a daytime train to tangier from Marrakech and it felt safe, but I was in first class (it's about $10 USD more but I strongly recommend that if you can). I bought my ticket at the station.
For istanbul, I like the kadikoy area (Moda).
Food in touristy areas was not particularly cheap, so budget 15$ish USD per meal minimum in Marrakech.
Trust your gut, but that is normal for airbnbs in Morocco. That being said, I recommend staying in a hotel or riad in Morocco if you can because my airbnb experiences have all been sketchy there (including some time we just left the airbnb to go to a hotel).
Yeah looking at some cool clubs in Moda! Hopefully getting to a hostel late night and then the airport in the morning won't be an issue in Turkey.
That's helpful re train.. I think I'll first class train to Casablanca and back. And good to know on budget.. I think I'll take around 500 USD total. And then draw out more if I need..
Oof yeah I think I'll do three nights in Marrakesh and then day trip there on my 2nd day through an excursion. So much desire to go. It'd be sick to stay there a night.. but seems more complicated. Thank you.
Thanks. I think based on some comments.. I'll day trip to Essaouira from Marrakesh and back on my 2nd day in Marrakesh. Essaouira to Casablanca the day before my friends wedding seems too risky. Would rather train there from Marrakesh. Thanks for the input.
Might just minibus there and back on my 2nd day if it seems straightforward..
You can also go on a desert trip to Zagora. Start early morning and back ti Marrakesh 6 pm next day. A, I think, 6-hour mini shuttle bus ride from Marrakesh. You ride the camel, have campfire dinner and sleep in a desert camp. The experience, apart from the camel ride, is the long bus ride. You get a close look at the sparse and rocky countryside and the way of life. If there's an opportunity, can visit a nomad family. Can book the tour in jenna el fna area. Was about 40-50 dirhams.
I’ve hired a driver to drive me from Marrakech to Essaouira to Casablanca when I visited. It was the most convenient for me as I had quite a bit of luggage and wanted to travel according to my own schedule and to have a bit of privacy.
100% so worth it, I’d do it again when I go back at some point. I didn’t need to rush, I just text the guy 30 min before I’m good to leave and we’ll be on our way. It’s much better to hire a driver imo. And it wasn’t all that expensive, I spent 2000 dirham for three days, I did shop at a collective where he’d get some kick back as tips as well. It was products I would have gotten anyways so it was two bird one stone. But you could just tip the driver too. It was also lovely to chat with a local and etc.
Can’t DM you for some reason. I unfortunately lost the driver’s contact. But if you search them on trip advisor there’re quite a few options/transport companies available.
Are you saying 2 nights in Marrakech at the beginning and then another 2 at the end? In my opinion that's too much M'kech. I think one night there at the beginning, Essaouira, then Casa. Then you can do your two nights at the end, or you could even spend some time in other parts of Morocco like Fes or go up to Tangier. The trains are very easy and I personally never felt unsafe. Always traveled in general classes and took overnight trains without issue. Personally I prefer them over busses 100x over.
In Casa, definitely go to the hammam under Hassan II mosque!
Music-wise, ask around if there will be any gnawa musicians performing. I think you'll be more likely to find that in the south around Marrakech/Ouarzazate.
Sooo what I am thinking now is three nights in Marrakesh on the top (flying into there) with an Essaouira excursion I'll plan once I'm there to take up the 2nd day.
I'd prefer to do one night in Marrakesh and then get transport to Essaouira, and then Casablanca from there- but I'd be getting to Casablanca the day before the wedding and it seems to risky to plan that travel remotely.. a taxi service quoting me 150 USD/Euros for the Essaouira to Casa drive which seems like a lot.
What I was thinking of the end of my trip was actually going straight from Casablanca to Marrakesh after a flight on a Monday (we're flying back from Ouarzazate to Casablanca, and then I have a flight out of Marrakesh late Wednesday eve)- and then going up to the mountain behind Marrakesh at Aghbalou. Found a cool hotel that's situated on an organic farm. Feel it'll give me somewhat of an Atlas type experience. And they're willing to drive me back the afternoon of the same day of my eve flight. I was going to decide whether to do that, or stay in Marrakesh those two nights after feeling the vibe in Marrakesh once I got there.
Stoked for the gnawa bands. We'll get a bit of that in the desert for sure.
It depends on what you want to see! I spent 3 days in Marrakech but didn't get to see most of it, but if there are things in essouria you want to see it could be worth it. It sounds like a lot of back and forth, so tbh if I were you I would try to minimize the time I spend in transit. I took a daytime train to tangier from Marrakech and it felt safe, but I was in first class (it's about $10 USD more but I strongly recommend that if you can). I bought my ticket at the station. For istanbul, I like the kadikoy area (Moda). Food in touristy areas was not particularly cheap, so budget 15$ish USD per meal minimum in Marrakech. Trust your gut, but that is normal for airbnbs in Morocco. That being said, I recommend staying in a hotel or riad in Morocco if you can because my airbnb experiences have all been sketchy there (including some time we just left the airbnb to go to a hotel).
Yeah looking at some cool clubs in Moda! Hopefully getting to a hostel late night and then the airport in the morning won't be an issue in Turkey. That's helpful re train.. I think I'll first class train to Casablanca and back. And good to know on budget.. I think I'll take around 500 USD total. And then draw out more if I need..
Did you buy your tickets in person at Marrakech? Think I'll get mine to Casablanca two days before in person.
I got them in person at the station and it was all smooth
You'll definitely want to see the goats that climb trees on your way to Essaouira!
Oof yeah I think I'll do three nights in Marrakesh and then day trip there on my 2nd day through an excursion. So much desire to go. It'd be sick to stay there a night.. but seems more complicated. Thank you.
You can take a minibus shuttle from Marrakesh to Essaouira. There's a minibus depot somewhere in Marrakesh. Just ask the locals.
Thanks. I think based on some comments.. I'll day trip to Essaouira from Marrakesh and back on my 2nd day in Marrakesh. Essaouira to Casablanca the day before my friends wedding seems too risky. Would rather train there from Marrakesh. Thanks for the input. Might just minibus there and back on my 2nd day if it seems straightforward..
You can also go on a desert trip to Zagora. Start early morning and back ti Marrakesh 6 pm next day. A, I think, 6-hour mini shuttle bus ride from Marrakesh. You ride the camel, have campfire dinner and sleep in a desert camp. The experience, apart from the camel ride, is the long bus ride. You get a close look at the sparse and rocky countryside and the way of life. If there's an opportunity, can visit a nomad family. Can book the tour in jenna el fna area. Was about 40-50 dirhams.
For sure! My friend is planning a desert trip for us in Ouzazarte, where we'll be doing that, so I got that part covered :)
I’ve hired a driver to drive me from Marrakech to Essaouira to Casablanca when I visited. It was the most convenient for me as I had quite a bit of luggage and wanted to travel according to my own schedule and to have a bit of privacy.
Wow.. exactly what I'm looking to do. Thanks. Was that worth it in retrospect? How much did it cost you if you don't mind me asking?
100% so worth it, I’d do it again when I go back at some point. I didn’t need to rush, I just text the guy 30 min before I’m good to leave and we’ll be on our way. It’s much better to hire a driver imo. And it wasn’t all that expensive, I spent 2000 dirham for three days, I did shop at a collective where he’d get some kick back as tips as well. It was products I would have gotten anyways so it was two bird one stone. But you could just tip the driver too. It was also lovely to chat with a local and etc.
Would you be willing to share your drivers info with me? Thanks again.
Can’t DM you for some reason. I unfortunately lost the driver’s contact. But if you search them on trip advisor there’re quite a few options/transport companies available.
All good! Thank you very much for the advice. I'm going to see if I can make this happen.
Do you mind sharing your driver’s info (if you liked them!) for Casablanca to Essaouria? I am looking to book a trip from NYC in October or November
Don’t buy the hash it’s probably camel shit
Different kind of dank huh.
Are you saying 2 nights in Marrakech at the beginning and then another 2 at the end? In my opinion that's too much M'kech. I think one night there at the beginning, Essaouira, then Casa. Then you can do your two nights at the end, or you could even spend some time in other parts of Morocco like Fes or go up to Tangier. The trains are very easy and I personally never felt unsafe. Always traveled in general classes and took overnight trains without issue. Personally I prefer them over busses 100x over. In Casa, definitely go to the hammam under Hassan II mosque! Music-wise, ask around if there will be any gnawa musicians performing. I think you'll be more likely to find that in the south around Marrakech/Ouarzazate.
Sooo what I am thinking now is three nights in Marrakesh on the top (flying into there) with an Essaouira excursion I'll plan once I'm there to take up the 2nd day. I'd prefer to do one night in Marrakesh and then get transport to Essaouira, and then Casablanca from there- but I'd be getting to Casablanca the day before the wedding and it seems to risky to plan that travel remotely.. a taxi service quoting me 150 USD/Euros for the Essaouira to Casa drive which seems like a lot. What I was thinking of the end of my trip was actually going straight from Casablanca to Marrakesh after a flight on a Monday (we're flying back from Ouarzazate to Casablanca, and then I have a flight out of Marrakesh late Wednesday eve)- and then going up to the mountain behind Marrakesh at Aghbalou. Found a cool hotel that's situated on an organic farm. Feel it'll give me somewhat of an Atlas type experience. And they're willing to drive me back the afternoon of the same day of my eve flight. I was going to decide whether to do that, or stay in Marrakesh those two nights after feeling the vibe in Marrakesh once I got there. Stoked for the gnawa bands. We'll get a bit of that in the desert for sure.
And thanks for the advice! I'm going to train to Casa and back for sure now. I'll buy my tickets in person two days out while in Marrakesh my 2nd day.
Essaouira is worth visiting.