6 Countries in 6 Weeks | Part 1: Morocco
Nine Days of Chaos, Cats, and Life-Changing Moments
I just wrapped up my Morocco group trip with my latest group, and I'm still processing everything that went down. Here's the real, unfiltered story of nine days that reminded me why I love this crazy job—even when it nearly kills me.
Day 1 - Casablanca: Already Questioning Life Choices
We landed in Morocco, and I immediately started the day "working" by the pool. And by working, I mean answering emails while desperately trying not to spill wine on my laptop—which is about as productive as it sounds.
By 5:30, we launched into what I've dubbed "Operation Wine Stockpile." Here's what three years of taking groups to Morocco has taught me:
1) plan ahead for wine and ice, and
2) my travelers can absolutely demolish our entire wine inventory in no time at all.
We're talking seriously impressive levels of consumption here, people.
So we raided the local wine shop like we were prepping for the apocalypse—30 bottles between us because Chefchaouen is a dry town and we're apparently wine monsters. While everyone else calculated alcohol logistics, I handled the truly important stuff: buying cat food and feeding a mama cat with her tiny baby. Priorities, right?
Operation Wine Stockpile in full swing—30 bottles between us because we're apparently wine monsters and Chefchaouen is a dry town. Priorities established early.
Dinner at Rick's Cafe was mandatory tourist trap behavior—when in Casablanca, you lean into it. The night ended with poolside wine, which seemed brilliant until those espresso martinis from dinner decided to kick in at 3am. My heart was pounding like I was at Burning Man, not trying to sleep in Morocco. Mental note: caffeine + jet lag + wine = terrible life choices.
Day 1: survived. Barely.
Day 2 - Road to Chefchaouen: Ice Hunts and Mint Tea
After my espresso martini heart palpitations, I was actually grateful for a long travel day where I could just exist in a car. We said goodbye to Casablanca and hello to the open road.
First stop: Hassan II Mosque, the second largest functioning mosque in Africa.
While we played tourists and took obligatory photos, our driver Said went on the day's most crucial mission—hunting for ice. Finding ice in Morocco is like finding gold (no pun intended), and keeping our wine cooler cold is basically a survival skill at this point.
Lunch featured street cats getting fed fish scraps and our first taste of "Moroccan whiskey"—spoiler alert, it's mint tea, not actual whiskey, but don't tell the ladies. I became completely obsessed with the olives, and the restaurant owner took pity on me and gave me an entire box to take home. Choukran, my friend!
We finally rolled into Chefchaouen—the famous blue city—and checked into our riad. Time to put those 30 bottles of wine to good use. We may have demolished about 12 of them while soaking in those gorgeous blue-washed views. Zero regrets.
After dinner, Teresa was "feeling herself" (AKA hopped up on wine and wanderlust) and wanted to explore. We wandered down to the square where we encountered... a giant panda bear and a man dressed as Minnie Mouse? Turns out Teresa has a deep fear of furries, which led to us literally running away like we were being chased by monsters. I'm still laughing about this.
Before calling it a night, we stumbled upon a beautiful soap shop and turned it into our personal testing lab. I got photographic evidence of Teresa demonstrating proper back loofah technique like she's starting a fire with a stick. Some things you can't unsee.
On our way back, I obviously had to stop and pet one more cat because priorities. I finally slept like a rock—thank god for small miracles and Xanax.
Day 3 - Chefchaouen: The Cat Lady Chronicles
Today we explored Chefchaouen with Zak, my go-to guy since my first Morocco group in 2023. He's perfect for showing crews around—a little history, shopping, and obligatory photo ops because when in the blue city, you do as the blue city does.
Chefchaouen has approximately 80 billion cats, and I'm only slightly exaggerating. We saw so many kittens that our cat food stash became our most valuable possession. We hit the community oven for bread so hot it burned our fingers, explored unique artisan shops, and gawked at incredible artwork covering every surface.
One of my favorite traditions is visiting Mustafa, my favorite local artist. I started buying one of his paintings every year on my 40th birthday—it's become this ridiculous annual tradition. Do I have wall space? Absolutely not. Do we care? Nope. I picked out a new one and rolled it up like some kind of art smuggler.
We stopped to pet approximately 47 more cats and I went through a concerning amount of hand sanitizer. But zero regrets—those babies were adorable, and honestly, the cats are half the reason I keep coming back to Morocco.
Found this tiny baby in Chefchaouen and obviously had to stop everything for kitten cuddles. The cats are legitimately half the reason I keep coming back to Morocco.
During our tour, I spotted a shop with gorgeous handmade tiles that made my art-hoarding heart sing. The shop owner's son makes all the designs himself, and they were so incredible I couldn't make decisions. So naturally, I settled on 9 tiles. Oops.
After lunch, we headed to Fes. Chefchaouen was a quick hit-and-run, but always worth it for those blue views and, let's be real, the cats. We settled into our gorgeous riad in the ancient city—these places never get old. Dinner was chicken and vegetable couscous with fresh taktouka, then more wine on the rooftop because apparently we're gluttons for punishment.
We laughed until we were literally crying, went to bed way too late, but it was worth every second of tomorrow's inevitable exhaustion.
Day 4 - Fes: Beautiful, Sensory-Overload Chaos
Our Fes day is always a whirlwind—we try to fit everything in without being completely dead by sundown. We dove headfirst into the old medina of Fes, and I'm obsessed with this place. It's the oldest imperial city in Morocco with this dark, gothic, spiritual vibe that speaks to my soul. But it also assaults all your senses—the smells, crazy sights around every corner, and kittens absolutely everywhere (which is basically my personal heaven).
After the obligatory royal palace stop, we hit Art Naji, a local artisan shop specializing in Moroccan zellige tiles and pottery. I may have gone overboard picking out pottery pieces that I now have to transport home without turning them into expensive gravel. Also grabbed gifts because I'm apparently incapable of restraint around beautiful handmade things.
Then the carpet shop to learn about Moroccan rug making—my mind was blown. The time these women spend on every single stitch, turning thread into masterpieces where each rug tells its own story. These aren't just floor coverings; they're literal works of art passed down through generations.
I have photographic evidence that I stopped to pet every single cat along the way because priorities. The kittens here are unreal, and these mama cats are popping out babies around every corner like it's their full-time job.
Lunch at a gorgeous riad featured flavorful Moroccan salads and perfectly grilled steak and chicken skewers. Then we hit a weaving shop where the ladies learned textile-making and shopped for scarves. The best part? They learned scarf-tying in preparation for our Sahara adventure. Because looking fabulous in the desert is non-negotiable.
Then came one of my favorite stops—the Chouara Tannery. Fair warning: this place smells like cow urine and pigeon poop (literally part of the leather-making process), so the women got mint to shove up their noses. Luckily, I'm from America's Dairyland, so this is just another Tuesday for me. Got to reunite with my buddy, Ahmed, who demonstrated how to tell quality leather from knockoff garbage. I'm still kicking myself for not buying this gorgeous green fringed leather jacket that's haunting my dreams. Mark my words—I WILL be back for it in April.
My buddy Ahmed giving the full leather quality demonstration in Fes.
The Chouara Tannery survival technique: mint up the nose to combat the cow urine and pigeon poop smell.
After treasure hunting, we made crucial stops for wine and school supplies. I bought out their entire soccer ball inventory (always hits with desert kids), plus notebooks, pencils, pens, and fun stuff we brought from home—Play-Doh, mini Slinkys, bubbles. Can't wait to see the kids' faces.
Dinner was at Amina's family home—I've been bringing groups here since 2023, and it never gets old. We sipped mint tea while learning about Moroccan life, tried on traditional kaftans made by Amina's mother (instant fashion show), and devoured chicken pastilla that had some women declaring it their favorite meal so far. High praise from this crew.
Tomorrow's the big day—desert day, baby!
Day 5 - Journey to the Sahara: Monkey Attacks and Desert Magic
Buckle up because today was THE day—desert day! Time to leave Fes behind and head to the most magical place on earth: the Sahara Desert.
This day is always a favorite despite being basically a car marathon. The landscapes constantly change, and the stops turn it into a full adventure instead of just travel day.
First stop: Ifrane, a little alpine town that looks like Switzerland decided to vacation in Morocco and never left. Clean streets, sloped rooftops, mountain air that tricks you into thinking you should move there immediately. We grabbed photos, stretched legs, and of course, I found cats to feed because it's a compulsion now.
Then the cedar forest, home to Barbary macaques. Normally these guys are mellow—hanging in trees, striking "Instagram monkey" poses, maybe taking an apple if offered. But this time? Savage. I had a bag of bananas, and within seconds I was basically ambushed. They mauled me for fruit like it was Black Friday and I was holding the last TV at Target. Lesson learned: monkeys don't do patience, and bananas are high-value currency in their world. I walked away smelling like a smoothie, laughing hysterically, and swearing to plan better next time.
The moment I learned that monkeys don't do patience and bananas are high-value currency in their world.
After sanitizing like our lives depended on it, we piled back in the van. The road wound through the Middle Atlas Mountains with dramatic valleys and kasbahs dotting the horizon. Our driver Said, constantly reminds us to put on our seatbelts before we approach police stops, and one traveler, Carrie, had headphones on and didn’t hear him. Before we knew it, she was getting pulled out of the van by the Moroccan police. I went with her, and we returned back with a proud souvenir—a 300 dirham ($30 USD) seatbelt ticket. Mistakes were made and lessons were learned (but not without a photo op).
We stopped in Midelt for a delicious non-Moroccan lunch (hello tacos! 🙌🏻) that gave us energy to keep going. By Erfoud, desert vibes were in full swing.
Despite road delays, we made it to the dunes before sunset—our ultimate goal. Nothing beats that first drive into the Sahara. The landscape opens into this endless sea of gold, and sharing that magic with a new group never gets old. It always takes me back to my first time here, and I feel so lucky to recreate this experience again and again.
At camp, we settled into tents and gathered for fireside dinner under the stars. Then came one of my favorite parts: a drum circle with the guys I first met here nearly three years ago. That original night still goes down as one of the funnest of my life, and every return feels like reconnecting with old friends. The women danced around the fire, we played ridiculous riddles that had us crying with laughter, then I chugged a gallon of water and collapsed in my tent—which quickly turned into a sweat lodge. Not exactly spa-level, but after a night like that, I didn't care.
One of my favorite parts of every Sahara trip—the drum circle with the guys I first met here nearly three years ago.
Day 6 - Sahara: Heat Exhaustion and Happy Kids
I woke up regretting staying up late, sweating through my pajamas. I don't know how I slept because our tent was incredibly hot. The Sahara has never been this brutal while I've been here—108 degrees today. Thank god it'll be cooler when we return in April and next September because this was something else.
First up: ATVs. I rode on the back with one of the guys to film the women in action, which was fun until I was well on my way to heat exhaustion by the end.
ATV time in the Sahara—driving through these giant mountains of sand makes you feel like a tiny ant in the most incredible playground on earth.
Then the school visit—we gave out supplies to teachers and goodies for kids. Slinkies and sunglasses were clear winners. Who knew?
School visit magic in action.
The whole crew at the Sahara Desert school after delivering supplies and playing with the kids.
We had lunch at a luxury camp and pool time (I slept through the whole thing in a heat exhaustion-infused daze). The ride back to camp was also blurry for me. Unfortunately I was still sick when we got back, so the women went camel riding while I napped with a fan in the shade, and then I watched them laugh and play games under the stars before dinner.
I force-fed myself three bites of food and went to bed early with a cold scarf on my head—turns out those desert scarves are multi-purpose. Sometimes Type 2 Fun means barely surviving the day.
Day 7 - Sahara to Draa Valley: Hammam Bonding Stories
We left the desert at 8am. topped for lunch but everyone was tired and energy was low. Arrived at Dar Hnini and everyone immediately perked up.
I worked in my room while the women got hammam massages and drank wine by the pool. Later, I laughed at all their stories about being naked together in the hammam. Let's just say everyone got real close on this trip.
At dinner, I managed almost two bowls of soup but immediately regretted it. Went to bed early again—still recovering from desert day.
Day 8 - Atlas Mountains to Marrakech: Earthquake Damage and Troublemaker Cats
We departed early for Marrakech at 8am, throwing soccer balls to kids along the way. We stopped at Ouarzazate and Ait Benhaddou—the famous Game of Thrones filming location that never gets old.
We visited an argan oil cooperative for lunch, where we got to see how argan nuts are made into argan butter, oil, and beauty products (hellooooo Berber botox!), and then we drove through the High Atlas Mountains. The earthquake damage from 2023 was still visible and heartbreaking—a sobering reminder of how resilient these communities are.
We arrived at Be Marrakech, and as always, the women were amazed by its beauty. I stopped to see Mouskila, my favorite riad cat whose name means "troublemaker"—very fitting.
My friend Fatima did henna for us on the rooftop, and then we had a beautiful vegetarian meal that was probably my favorite of the entire trip. Sometimes the quiet moments hit different.
We had an early bedtime so we could feel alive for our early morning hot air balloon ride, and I slept like a rock.
Fatima working her henna magic on the rooftop of Be Marrakech.
Day 9 - Marrakech: Balloons, Bags, and Birthday Celebrations
We woke up before sunrise for hot air balloon rides. It was cloudy but still beautiful—there's something magical about floating over Morocco at dawn.
Pre-sunrise hot air balloon ride over Morocco.
The whole crew in the hot air balloon basket with our pilot.
We had a beautiful breakfast on Be Marrakech's rooftop, and then we fed a group of kittens we kept passing. Priorities.
Our tour with Khalid started at the pharmacy where we learned about Moroccan teas, potions, "Berber Botox," perfumes, argan oil—always a fan favorite. We bought olives, pet more cats, went through the souks exploring different areas. I bought way more bags than I have arms for and absolutely DO NOT NEED. But here we are.
After shopping, we took a Tuk-tuk ride to my favorite post-souk rooftop spot, Kabana. Day drinking ensued and the cocktails kept coming (they had us sample new ones and we happily obliged). We did shopping show-and-tell—which was hilarious—and it made me excited to come back in April to buy more stuff I don't need.
After returning to the riad to jam pack my suitcase for my next adventure, we were off to our final dinner at Folk. It was Jessica's birthday, so we sang and celebrated with cocktails and dessert, followed by traditional Moroccan music, live drums, and belly dancers. The perfect ending to an incredible trip.
Day 10 - The Departure: Espresso Martini Regrets and Treasure Transport
I got up at 4am after exactly zero minutes of sleep (I am way too old for espresso martinis after 9pm). Mark my words: never again. Maybe.
Packing was PAINFUL. Trying to figure out outfits for cold and rainly climates knowing I have to return again to hot and sunny climates was.a.struggle. I think I might be getting too old for life on the road.
Teresa and I had a brief stint in the Paris airport before saying goodbye. She took a giant bag of my treasures home because I didn't want to lug everything around for another five weeks. Bless her soul.
I landed in Dublin and hopped on a bus to Letterkenny, Ireland—my next destination because apparently, I never learn.
The Real Talk
This trip reminded me why I love what I do, even when it nearly kills me with heat exhaustion. Watching 8 women transform from strangers to lifelong friends, seeing their faces light up when they realize they're riding camels in the actual Sahara Desert, witnessing them push past comfort zones and discover they're braver than they thought—this is the magic I live for.
Yes, I came home with approximately 47 bags I don't need, tiles I have nowhere to put, and cat food permanently embedded under my fingernails. But I also came home with stories that'll last a lifetime and the knowledge that I'm creating these experiences for other people who might never have them otherwise.
Morocco changed me the first time I went, and it changes me every single time I return.
More importantly, it changes everyone who joins me. That's the real souvenir—not the bags or the tiles or the paintings I smuggle home, but the version of yourself you discover when you're brave enough to say yes to the adventure.
This is why I do what I do—watching strangers become lifelong friends in the middle of the Sahara Desert.
Ready for your own Morocco adventure? We're heading back in April and September 2026. Fair warning: you'll come home different than when you left. And yes, you'll probably buy way too many bags you don't need.
But trust me—it's worth it.
Want to join us on a future Morocco trip? Check out our upcoming trips here. And if you're questioning whether you're brave enough for this kind of adventure, remember: I thought I was going to die of heat exhaustion in the Sahara and I'm already planning my return. That should tell you something.
