Magical Morocco Travel Diaries: Here’s Looking at You, Kid!

It’s the final week in Morocco! So far, the country has exceeded my expectations, and travelling with Mark has been awesome! Just to recap, we started off with a train ride from Casablanca to Marrakech, where we spent our first three nights. Then, we rented a car and drove to Fes through Aït Benhaddou, Todgha Gorges, Merzouga, and Midelt.

Day 10 & 11: All Day, Fes & The Ride to Chefchaouen

fes1

It rained for most of the time we were in Fes. But that didn’t stop us from seeing the city. Actually, the rain wasn’t even an issue. The major challenge was leaving the riad. It had such a beautiful ambience and our room was gorgeous. We spent the day getting lost in the medina and the souks. I preferred the souks here to the ones in Marrakech but obviously, Marrakech has a lot more going on.

We also visited the very beautiful Merdersa Bou Inania. Having missed out on seeing a similar Merdersa in Marrakech, I was very delighted to see this one.

fes5
…”a beauty beyond reckoning”

As the rain poured harder, we found a nice restaurant to have lunch in. The meal was generally tasty but the pastilla, man, this was so good, it needed its own photo shoot!

fes8

After lunch, we decided to walk around the medina some more before going back to the riad. We came across some kids playing football and asked them for directions to the Grand Mosque. They told us it was closed for the day but gave us directions to where we could get a view of the mosque and the entire medina. We left them to their game but it wasn’t long until we noticed one of them had followed us.

Fes

He told us we were going the wrong way and offered to lead us to the balcony for the view. The view was so-so (I didn’t even see the mosque) but we passed by a rug store which was beautiful. And when it was time to go, yep, you guessed it. He asked Mark for money. I have never seen anyone transform so fast!

He went from this happy, smiling kid who wanted to become a doctor and hated girls to this mean-looking adult trapped in a child’s body. I think Mark handed him 10DH (about a dollar) before he stopped following us around.

Fes Medina

The next day, we took a bus to Chefchaouen. We missed out on the scenery because we got motion sickness pills and slept throughout the ride. I remember Mark asking the pharmacist if they were non-drowsy and she saying ‘no’ but those things knocked us out!

Day 12: Picture Perfect in Chefchaouen

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Ah, Chefchaouen! The final major part of our trip. Mark was very excited to be here. Finally, he could get those ‘slay pictures’ he always wanted for the ‘gram!

Mark Chefchaouen
Chefchaouen

I was ONLY here to walk around, hike mountains and …. err.. enjoy the scenery? Yep, that’s what I was here to do.

chairs after
Hear no evil, speak no evil, see no evil

We spent 2 nights in the city, which I think was just enough time to see and do everything we wanted to do. We hiked to the Spanish Mosque, walked around the medina, visited a Kasbah, ate more Tajine and drank more mint tea. And then, we took a bus to Tangier and a taxi to Asilah.

Day 13 & 14: Asilah

Asilah Morocco beautiful beach

By the time we got to Asilah, all we wanted to do was eat, sleep and repeat! And this was pretty much what we did. On arrival, we checked into our hotel, settled in for a bit then went to the beach to watch the sunset. I think Mark’s favourite room was the one in Fes but the one in Asilah was mine.

We watched the sunrise at the beach the next day too. Walked through a very dull medina, had more tajine, had more mint tea and just enjoyed being in the city, while considering whether or not to stay one more night.

asilah2

Many online forums I read said to skip Casablanca. ‘It’s not worth visiting, not even for an overnight stay’. We contemplated going to Casablanca the same day we were to fly out. Even though I wanted, so badly, to stay in Asilah, I just couldn’t help worrying about what would happen if things went wrong.

I’m used to services breaking down so I kept thinking ‘What if the trains don’t work or they get delayed?’ Then we’d miss our flights and I have read that Royal Air Maroc isn’t the best airline you want to miss a flight on. Anyway, we booked to stay in an Airbnb apartment and left for Casablanca via train the next morning.

Day 15 & 16: Asilah to Casablanca, Casablanca & Flight Back Home 🙁

Casablanca Mosque

Nothing went wrong. The train didn’t break down. It showed up on time, we got first-class tickets and we were the only ones in our berth the entire ride. Our Airbnb apartment was pretty cool too. It had a view of the Hassan II Mosque and our host was quite nice. Dinner at a Vietnamese restaurant that evening was also very good.

The next morning, we took a walk along the corniche, stopping briefly at the impressive Hassan II Mosque. On our way back, it began to rain. A couple who had come to have a picnic saw us walking back and gave us a ride in their car. They took us right to our next stop, Rick’s Cafe, where we had lunch before heading to the train station and the airport later on.

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I’m so glad we got to spend some time in Casablanca. We had a good time here. While I agree that other cities have more interesting things to do in them, I think Casablanca is worth an overnight stay.

And so, like our trip, this series has come to an end. You can catch up with the first three posts by clicking on the links below;

The Beginning…

Marrakech

Sand & Snow!

Thanks for following this series. Here’s looking at you, kids!

casa6

37 comments

  1. I watched the vlog on this trip a while back but only realized today I hadn’t read the blog post. Honestly don’t know why it crossed my mind today of all days but this post is making me re consider all my travel plans for the year, pack my bags and go to Morocco.. Everything about this trip is sooooo beautiful, the pictures, the stories, the experiences… I was going to ask for a cost break down but saw your response to other of such questions. I honestly was beginning to forget why I started travelling till this post, the excitement of discovering new places is back. Well done Amarachi. All I need now is a “Mark” as a travel buddy to help slay on the pictures & video shots haha.. he really did an amazing job.

    Ps: Malaria kits.. Lmao. You really are the most romantic.

    1. Hey Seun, thanks for your lovely comment and yaay to getting your mojo back! Can’t wait to see all the exciting places you begin to discover again.. Good photographers make the best travel buddies! Mark has set the standard for picture taking and now, I can’t go below that! So much pressure, haha

  2. Caught up with the trip in one sitting. Whew. What a trip. You guys had such a good time. We need a cost breakdown please!

  3. Yay I’m finally caught up on the series! Thanks for sharing in full detail. I find it hard to summarize a long trip in 1 or 2 posts so I love that you broke it down so you could share in more detail. We all went to Morocco together!

    Shout out to Mark for the great pics, I’m now reassessing my travel buddies by their photography skills 😉

  4. Amarachi ooo! This series and the pictures are too tempting. I wanna travel like you when I grow up ! #dazall!
    Mark is the real MVP I must say.
    Keep updating us, we love your travel stories 😊😍😍

  5. With my hand under my jaw, I smiled all through as I read. Thank you so much for sharing your experience. Everything was perfect.

    By the way, that your white dress in the desert concept is ‘bae’ raised to power 10…lol.

    1. I’m glad you enjoyed reading it 🙂 thanks for your comments and I’m looking forward to hearing about your own trip too.

      PS: Mark is going to be both amused and confused by this comment, haha!

I love to hear from you, Leave a comment here!

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Clear views of Mount Fuji, a beautiful lake and swans... what more could I possibly ask for? 🥰
_____________________

If you visit the area, here are some places you'll find the swans + a perfect view of Mount Fuji 🏔🦢

📌 Hirano Beach 白鳥浜: There's an elderly gentleman who comes to feed the swans from around 8:30am to 4pm, so you're likely to see flocks of swans here
📌 In front of Koyu Club Hotel (コーユー倶楽部山中湖畔サロン)
📌 A little further down the road from the last location is a dock where you can also rent swan boats.

For clear views of Mount Fuji, winter, spring and autumn have the most days with clear visibility. You can always look up the weather forecast to see what the day's going to be like before you visit. 

Early mornings and evenings give you the best chance of seeing the gorgeous mountain without any cloud coverings 🤍 On this particular day, Mount Fuji was clearly visible throughout the day!

#lakeyamanaka #fujifivelakes #swanlake #japan
Clear views of Mount Fuji, a beautiful lake and swans... what more could I possibly ask for? 🥰 _____________________ If you visit the area, here are some places you'll find the swans + a perfect view of Mount Fuji 🏔🦢 📌 Hirano Beach 白鳥浜: There's an elderly gentleman who comes to feed the swans from around 8:30am to 4pm, so you're likely to see flocks of swans here 📌 In front of Koyu Club Hotel (コーユー倶楽部山中湖畔サロン) 📌 A little further down the road from the last location is a dock where you can also rent swan boats. For clear views of Mount Fuji, winter, spring and autumn have the most days with clear visibility. You can always look up the weather forecast to see what the day's going to be like before you visit. Early mornings and evenings give you the best chance of seeing the gorgeous mountain without any cloud coverings 🤍 On this particular day, Mount Fuji was clearly visible throughout the day! #lakeyamanaka #fujifivelakes #swanlake #japan
2 days ago
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1/9
This town was a beautiful surprise in Japan 😍

To get here, we travelled from Kyoto to Nagoya and from there to Nakatsugawa. From Nakatsugawa Station, we had to take another bus to Magome-Juku but the commute was so worth it!

-------‐‐‐--‐

Magome forms part of the Nakasendo Trail, a historic route that once connected Kyoto and Edo (modern-day Tokyo) during the Edo period in Japan. It traverses the mountainous heart of Japan, offering breathtaking views of forests, rivers, and traditional villages.

The trail is known for its 69 post towns where people would rest along the way. Today, parts of the Nakasendo are well-preserved, allowing hikers to experience a mix of nature and history as they walk through charming old towns like Magome and Tsumago, where time seems to stand still amidst the preserved traditional architecture.

#travelinspiration #japantrip #magome #travelwithapentojapan #travelwithapen
This town was a beautiful surprise in Japan 😍 To get here, we travelled from Kyoto to Nagoya and from there to Nakatsugawa. From Nakatsugawa Station, we had to take another bus to Magome-Juku but the commute was so worth it! -------‐‐‐--‐ Magome forms part of the Nakasendo Trail, a historic route that once connected Kyoto and Edo (modern-day Tokyo) during the Edo period in Japan. It traverses the mountainous heart of Japan, offering breathtaking views of forests, rivers, and traditional villages. The trail is known for its 69 post towns where people would rest along the way. Today, parts of the Nakasendo are well-preserved, allowing hikers to experience a mix of nature and history as they walk through charming old towns like Magome and Tsumago, where time seems to stand still amidst the preserved traditional architecture. #travelinspiration #japantrip #magome #travelwithapentojapan #travelwithapen
3 days ago
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Black Crow Castle, standing strong since the 1500s — a true Japanese gem!
Black Crow Castle, standing strong since the 1500s — a true Japanese gem!
4 days ago
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3/9
Travel Amarachi is VERY different from Home Amarachi! Am I living a fake life?😭😂

Because,my ideal day will start at 10 or 11am and end at 2am. I'm a night owl 🦉, not an early bird 🐦 - a complete opposite of who I become when I travel!

Tea or Coffee? No, thanks! I'll take a glass of orange juice please! 🍹 But "Travel-Amarachi" will take that matcha 🍵, with the beautiful cafe to matcha! See what I did there? 😉 #thefunniestgirlinNigeria #MFGN👑

I only hike for love ❤️ and my Love can faint if he goes on a trip that doesn't include any bit of hiking. So here we are!

+1: I am also a big home buddy. If you catch me outside, I must really love you! But Travel-Amarachi can't stay put in the hotel!
_____________________________

Over to you! What are some ways travel-you differs from home-you? Let me know in the comment section below!

#travelinspiration #japantrip #travelwithapentojapan #travelwithapen
Travel Amarachi is VERY different from Home Amarachi! Am I living a fake life?😭😂 Because,my ideal day will start at 10 or 11am and end at 2am. I'm a night owl 🦉, not an early bird 🐦 - a complete opposite of who I become when I travel! Tea or Coffee? No, thanks! I'll take a glass of orange juice please! 🍹 But "Travel-Amarachi" will take that matcha 🍵, with the beautiful cafe to matcha! See what I did there? 😉 #thefunniestgirlinNigeria #MFGN👑 I only hike for love ❤️ and my Love can faint if he goes on a trip that doesn't include any bit of hiking. So here we are! +1: I am also a big home buddy. If you catch me outside, I must really love you! But Travel-Amarachi can't stay put in the hotel! _____________________________ Over to you! What are some ways travel-you differs from home-you? Let me know in the comment section below! #travelinspiration #japantrip #travelwithapentojapan #travelwithapen
5 days ago
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4/9
An absolutely wonderful time in the most stunning country! 😍😍

#japantrip2025🇯🇵🌸⛩️
An absolutely wonderful time in the most stunning country! 😍😍 #japantrip2025🇯🇵🌸⛩️
5 days ago
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5/9
Public holidays should be your best friend if you work full time and love to travel. Eid and Easter fall between the months of March and June.

If you plan out your vacation time properly, you can:

🌸: get 24 vacation days ✈️ by taking only 12 days off! 🤯. Perfect for your Asian odyssey or West African road trip from Nigeria to Cote D'Ivoire 🚌

You can also split this time, taking shorter breaks in addition to the public holidays.

Take 12 days off from March 31 to April 21 to get 24 vacation days (including weekend and public holidays)! 😀 

Mar 31 - Apr 01: Likely Eid Al Fitr
Apr 18 - Apr 21: Easter

Send this post to your manager immediately! 🚀
Public holidays should be your best friend if you work full time and love to travel. Eid and Easter fall between the months of March and June. If you plan out your vacation time properly, you can: 🌸: get 24 vacation days ✈️ by taking only 12 days off! 🤯. Perfect for your Asian odyssey or West African road trip from Nigeria to Cote D'Ivoire 🚌 You can also split this time, taking shorter breaks in addition to the public holidays. Take 12 days off from March 31 to April 21 to get 24 vacation days (including weekend and public holidays)! 😀 Mar 31 - Apr 01: Likely Eid Al Fitr Apr 18 - Apr 21: Easter Send this post to your manager immediately! 🚀
1 month ago
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Your Japan trip planning doesn't have to be so overwhelming! Here's a guide to help spread out the timeline for a stress-free holiday to Japan!

Let me know if you found this helpful in the comment section below!

Happy Travels!
Your Japan trip planning doesn't have to be so overwhelming! Here's a guide to help spread out the timeline for a stress-free holiday to Japan!

Let me know if you found this helpful in the comment section below!

Happy Travels!
Your Japan trip planning doesn't have to be so overwhelming! Here's a guide to help spread out the timeline for a stress-free holiday to Japan!

Let me know if you found this helpful in the comment section below!

Happy Travels!
Your Japan trip planning doesn't have to be so overwhelming! Here's a guide to help spread out the timeline for a stress-free holiday to Japan!

Let me know if you found this helpful in the comment section below!

Happy Travels!
Your Japan trip planning doesn't have to be so overwhelming! Here's a guide to help spread out the timeline for a stress-free holiday to Japan!

Let me know if you found this helpful in the comment section below!

Happy Travels!
Your Japan trip planning doesn't have to be so overwhelming! Here's a guide to help spread out the timeline for a stress-free holiday to Japan!

Let me know if you found this helpful in the comment section below!

Happy Travels!
Your Japan trip planning doesn't have to be so overwhelming! Here's a guide to help spread out the timeline for a stress-free holiday to Japan!

Let me know if you found this helpful in the comment section below!

Happy Travels!
Your Japan trip planning doesn't have to be so overwhelming! Here's a guide to help spread out the timeline for a stress-free holiday to Japan! Let me know if you found this helpful in the comment section below! Happy Travels!
1 month ago
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7/9
This lodge is the perfect place to start or end your trip to Namibia. It was certainly a highlight of ours! 💙

📍Voigtland Guesthouse 🇳🇦 Would you stay here?
This lodge is the perfect place to start or end your trip to Namibia. It was certainly a highlight of ours! 💙 📍Voigtland Guesthouse 🇳🇦 Would you stay here?
2 months ago
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8/9
Dreaming of visiting Hong Kong? 🇭🇰 If so, you're in luck because the visa application is one of the easiest (and cheapest) out there for Nigerian passport holders.⁣
⁣
💬 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 "𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤" for a step-by-step guide, and I'll share all the details with you via DM! 🛫📨⁣
⁣
𝗪𝐡𝐲 𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐊𝐨𝐧𝐠?: I first learned how easy the application process was via @travelletters_ ⁣
⁣
Then I found out that I could save 💸💸💸 if I rerouted my flights to East Asia through HK. Plus, this is a new destination for me anyway, so win-win! 🏆⁣
⁣
𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲: Visit the Gov.HK - comment "Hong Kong" and I'll share this directly to your DM 📩⁣
⁣
𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐊𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞: 4-6 weeks. So apply early!⁣
⁣
𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐊𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐬: Ordinary visa $230 HKD, which = ~$30 USD. For a transit visa, it's only $120 HKD⁣
⁣
Let me know if you have any questions in the comment section below!
Dreaming of visiting Hong Kong? 🇭🇰 If so, you're in luck because the visa application is one of the easiest (and cheapest) out there for Nigerian passport holders.⁣ ⁣ 💬 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 "𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤" for a step-by-step guide, and I'll share all the details with you via DM! 🛫📨⁣ ⁣ 𝗪𝐡𝐲 𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐊𝐨𝐧𝐠?: I first learned how easy the application process was via @travelletters_ ⁣ ⁣ Then I found out that I could save 💸💸💸 if I rerouted my flights to East Asia through HK. Plus, this is a new destination for me anyway, so win-win! 🏆⁣ ⁣ 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲: Visit the Gov.HK - comment "Hong Kong" and I'll share this directly to your DM 📩⁣ ⁣ 𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐊𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞: 4-6 weeks. So apply early!⁣ ⁣ 𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐊𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐬: Ordinary visa $230 HKD, which = ~$30 USD. For a transit visa, it's only $120 HKD⁣ ⁣ Let me know if you have any questions in the comment section below!
2 months ago
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9/9
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