A Dazzling Tour of Morocco (Part 1)
The legendary Rick’s Café from the 1942 classic film "Casablanca" finally became a reality and gained fame on March 1, 2004, stepping out of the cinematic dream. Sanmao’s "Stories of the Sahara," written in 1976, imbued this desert with endless romantic imagination. Years later, following this connection to light, shadow, and literature, a dazzling loop tour of Morocco begins.
Stop 1: Marrakech – The Red City
Marrakech, the imperial Red City, unveils the epic prologue of Morocco’s splendor with the bustle of its sleepless square and the weight of its ochre-red ancient architecture. The Majorelle Garden builds its visual core with the iconic Majorelle blue, blending diverse exotic vegetation and cross-regional artistic styles. Founded by Jacques Majorelle and later restored and passed down by Yves Saint Laurent, it carries the legacy of two generations of creators. The Koutoubia Mosque is a landmark of the old city of Marrakech and a classic symbol of the fusion of Almohad dynasty royal power and Islamic faith. Built in the 12th century, the current structure is the second main mosque rebuilt in 1158. Its towering minaret strictly defines the old city skyline, while only the foundation of the original ancient temple remains, serving as an important physical remnant for studying medieval Maghreb Islamic architecture. The Bahia Palace, built in the mid-to-late 19th century by a high-ranking official of the Alaouite dynasty over several decades, is a well-preserved aristocratic residence in Marrakech. It concentrates on displaying traditional Moroccan local crafts such as mosaics and wood carvings, and is also an important physical carrier for studying the social landscape of the late Moroccan dynasty and Islamic courtyard construction aesthetics. The Jemaa el-Fnaa square, formed in the 11th century, serves as a world-class living intangible cultural heritage space, continuing generations of street performances and bustling markets, precipitating the vivid vitality of the ancient city that never sleeps.
Stop 2: Ouarzazate – The Gateway to the Desert
Ouarzazate is known as the "Gateway to the Desert" and the "Hollywood of Africa." After crossing the rugged Atlas Mountains, this is an important stop before entering the heart of the Sahara Desert. The landscape transitions from mountains to a mix of desert and oasis, writing the desolation and legend of North Africa with sand-filled skies and cinematic art. The World Heritage site of Aït Benhaddou, built in the 11th century, is a well-preserved Berber fortified village built entirely of red earth and mud bricks, serving as a model of North African red earth architecture. Its winding streets still retain the ancient traces of Berber life, and its simple, magnificent, and primitive style has made it a filming location for many epic blockbusters such as "Game of Thrones," "Gladiator," and "The Mummy." The Atlas Film Studios, one of the largest in the world, is open to visitors with a ticket. The studio area retains a large number of real-life props such as pharaoh tombs, ancient Roman arenas, and medieval castles, resembling an immersive open-air film museum.
Stop 3: Merzouga – The Heart of the Sahara
Merzouga is the concrete carrier of the Sahara stories of Sanmao and José, carrying the nostalgia of a past life written by Sanmao, and is also the "poetry and distance" that people yearn for freedom. This land possesses the magnificent Erg Chebbi shifting sand dunes of Morocco. The sand color changes with the sunlight, spreading clear golden yellow during the day, tinged with warm red-orange at dusk, and settling into a quiet deep purple at night. With its ultimate twilight and starry sky scenery, it is crowned by many travelers as the premier destination for sunsets and stargazing in Morocco. Stepping into the reception station on the edge of Merzouga, the fantasy journey exclusive to the Sahara officially begins. Luggage is transported by desert camp off-road vehicles to the luxury tent hotel. Visitors switch to camels and follow the camel caravan slowly deep into the boundless golden sand dunes, waiting for the sunset to dye the entire Sahara Desert a rich crimson. As twilight deepens, the caravan reaches the desert camp with flickering lights. Warm mint tea and an exquisite tagine dinner gently welcome guests from all over. As night falls, everyone sits around the campfire, listening to the Berber hand drums playing the simple and distant African rhythms. Looking up, the sky is filled with a brilliant galaxy, vast and romantic, living up to the magnificent desert scenery. "Every time I think of you, a grain of sand falls from the sky, and thus the Sahara was formed."
Stop 4: Fes – The Yellow City
Bidding farewell to the Sahara, we head to the ancient city of Fes, which has sealed away a thousand years of time. Passing through the town of Ifrane, known as "Little Switzerland of Morocco," the town is at an altitude of 1,600 meters and was planned and built by the French along the mountain in 1930. The town center square is full of French-style open-air cafes. Sitting down for an espresso feels like being in a European town. The iconic "Ifrane Stone Lion" in the town was hand-carved by German soldiers during World War II to commemorate the Atlas lion, which once inhabited the Atlas Mountains and is now extinct.
The outer walls, ancient buildings, and residences of the old city of Fes are all built from local yellow earth and clay sand, reflecting a warm, golden-yellow tone under the scorching North African sun. It is also the largest car-free old city in the world. The journey begins at the magnificent gate of the Royal Palace of Fes. The giant hand-forged bronze gate, set against golden mosaic tiles, fully displays royal majesty. Then, dive into the 9,000 winding labyrinthine alleys to slowly unveil the mysterious veil of the old city. Deep in the alleys, you will find the University of Al Quaraouiyine, certified by the Guinness World Records as the oldest university in the world. It is integrated with the Al Quaraouiyine Mosque. Due to religious regulations, non-Muslims can only stop outside the school gate to take a precious silhouette of the exquisite courtyard, but it still makes people awe-struck by this source of Islamic civilization that produced Christian popes and Jewish philosophers. Climbing to the rooftop of the old city to overlook the colorful palette of the leather tannery, even if you press the green mint leaves given by the shopkeeper tightly to your nose, you cannot cover up the pungent smell that has been passed down for thousands of years. But this is the most real and unforgettable Fes experience, traveling back to that dreamy Arabian Nights in the Middle Ages.