June 1, 2025
We were up bright and early to catch our 7:30am flight to Casablanca. The kids were especially excited—this was their first time on a double-decker plane!
After a smooth eight-hour flight, we hit the ground running. 78 degrees never felt so good!
Our first stop straight from the airport was the Hassan II Mosque. Similar to other sights we have seen the scale and craftsmanship of the building was impressive—the main tower rises the equivalent of 60 stories.
We checked into the hotel afterward and took a little time to unwind.
Dinner that evening was a real highlight. We went to the iconic Rick’s Café, where we met up with my friend Ghassan and his family. Ghassan’s company organized our Morocco leg, and it was such a pleasure catching up with him and getting to meet his wife and daughter.
A memorable part of dinner was when we were asking Ghassan and his wife about things we should be sure to do while here. He started talking about doing a street food tour in Fes. Then paused and said, “Though I’m not sure with you guys. When you were ordering drinks earlier you seemed really worried about the ice. So maybe with you guys, skip the street food tour” :).
After a laugh we relayed the guidance from our travel clinic on Morocco. He then gave us a more nuanced set of guidance for navigating Morocco based on location within country and type of food/drink which was very helpful. With his guidance/confidence in the local cold chain in Casablanca, the kids were able to have ice cream for dessert which they much appreciated.
June 2, 2025
After breakfast, we departed Casablanca and began our journey north. By lunchtime, we had reached Morocco’s wine country, where we stopped for a relaxed meal and sampled a few local wines. We’re not huge wine people, but everything we tried tasted great to us. There was a dog at the vineyard which the kids loved petting.
In the afternoon, we explored a set of Roman ruins—a highlight for Peyton.
We arrived in Fes around 6 p.m. and checked into our hotel and had some welcome tea. Our room has a beautiful terrace overlooking the city. Still full from lunch and the van snacks, we decided to skip dinner and turn in early for the night.
June 3, 2025
Busy day exploring Fes!
We started with a visit to a tile workshop where they craft the city’s iconic mosaic pieces. It was fascinating to see the process from raw clay to finished product—all within a small but bustling space. The craftsmanship was beautiful, and the kids even got to try their hand at it.
Next, we toured the historic Fes tannery, which has been operating in the same spot for over a thousand years. We learned that yellow leather is the most expensive to produce naturally, due to the large amount of saffron required.
From there, we wandered through the maze-like narrow streets of the Medina and found a charming spot for lunch. Afterward, we visited the oldest university in the world and a stunningly restored traditional home, now used as a showroom for handmade Moroccan rugs.
The kids were a bit overwhelmed by the full-on sensory experience of walking through the busy Medina for several hours—but they powered through.
Following a short break at the hotel, we ended the day with a street food tour. The food was delicious, and the kids did a great job sampling everything.
June 4, 2025
This morning we headed back into the Medina to shop for ingredients for our Moroccan cooking class. Along the way, we stopped at a tiny, well-known tea café tucked up a treacherous staircase — even the King of Morocco has sipped tea there on multiple occasions.
Back at the cooking class, we each prepared an eggplant-based appetizer, a classic chicken tagine, and a traditional dessert called jawhara. We then sat down for a late lunch to enjoy the delicious results of our work.
The rest of the day was spent relaxing at the riad and getting packed for tomorrow’s long journey to the Sahara. Despite the stories of people getting lost for hours in the Medina, Justin ventured into the Medina solo in search of ATM and was able to make it out without going in too many circles.
June 5, 2025
We left Fes early and began our nine-hour drive south to Merzouga, passing through a stunning cross-section of Morocco. The route took us through two distinct mountain ranges, past nomadic sheep herders, and into a cedar forest where wild monkeys roamed freely. One of the most breathtaking stretches was a canyon carved by a winding river, with thousands of date palms lining its base—like driving through the Grand Canyon with a lush garden floor.
By late afternoon, we reached the edge of the Sahara, where we swapped our van for old Land Cruisers and drove 30 minutes off road into the desert. Eventually, we arrived at our camp beside a desert oasis.
After a short rest, we set out on a sunset camel ride. The camels were much taller than expected, and going downhill felt surprisingly precarious. Deeper into the dunes, we dismounted and spent time exploring the sand while waiting for the sun to set. Being out on the dunes without the blazing sun was really spectacular.
Back at camp, we finished the evening with a dinner and traditional Berber music under the stars.
Another early wake-up tomorrow—5:30am—but today will be hard to top.
June 6, 2025
We were up early to head out into the Sahara on dune buggies just before sunrise. The morning desert was stunning—and the buggies maybe a little too fun, since all the kids ended up a bit woozy from the ride.
After breakfast, we gave sandboarding a try on the dunes (even Natacha joined in!). By 9am the heat was already creeping in, so we decided to hit the road early and make our way to the next stop.
After a five-hour drive, we arrived in Dades at one of the most beautiful hotels we’ve ever seen—great architecture with stunning decor and incredible gardens, all carved into the side of a dramatic gorge.
The altitude brought a welcome coolness. The kids made a beeline for the pool, and we ended the day with a lovely dinner under the stars.
June 7,2025
This morning we lingered a bit longer in the hotel’s beautiful gardens before hitting the road for another long drive.
Our journey took us through the High Atlas Mountains via the highest mountain pass in Africa—reaching nearly 7,500 feet. The road was steep, winding, and often hugged dramatic cliffs. The driver took the curves a little faster than Natacha would’ve liked, but her breathing techniques got her through it.
When we arrived at our next hotel, the kids were in heaven. Owen played basketball and soccer for nearly four hours straight. Morgan bonded with a new friend at the pool over their love for gymnastics. Peyton and Natacha unwound with books back in the room.
After dinner, Peyton and Owen returned to the soccer field while Morgan explored the grounds with her new friend, taking full advantage of the freedom to explore.
June 8, 2025
Today we called an audible and decided to take it easy and enjoy the hotel’s amenities and let the kids relax a bit after a pretty grueling stretch.
Morgan quickly found her new friend and they spent the morning together. Meanwhile, Owen had a great time playing basketball with her gracious 14-year-old brother. Unfortunately everyone had to say goodbye around noon when their friends checked out.
After lunch, the sun grew quite hot, so we retreated to our room for some cool relaxation. As the day cooled down before dinner, we enjoyed some friendly family competition with games of ping pong, pickleball, and tennis.
June 9, 2025
This morning, we embarked on a hike to a charming local village. The children enjoyed the unique experience of riding mules for the hike. Upon reaching the village, we were welcomed by a local family who invited us to share tea with them. Afterward, we enjoyed lunch in the village.
Following lunch, we hiked back down and checked out of the hotel. From there, we made our way to Marrakech. Upon arrival at our hotel, the kids happily dispersed to relax in their own preferred ways: Peyton immersed herself in a book, Owen entertained himself with some hotel room basketball, and Morgan made her way to the pool.
After a dinner at the hotel, we ventured out into one of Marrakech’s busy squares, to explore its lively atmosphere and soak in the sights and sounds of the city.
June 10, 2025
Our final full day in Marrakech began with a journey through the city’s historic heart. We wandered the Medina which was far less intimidating than Fes (at least the parts we were in). There, we observed the solemn resting places of sultans, princes, and princesses, some touchingly small.
Next, we toured the Bahia Palace with its detailed architecture and courtyards. The afternoon brought more exploration (and shopping) within the Medina.
In the evening we embarked on an unforgettable sunset sidecar tour. The highlight for Owen was spotting what’s rumored to be Cristiano Ronaldo’s future retirement home. This impressive, marble-clad residence is still under construction, but it’s going to be spectacular. The buzz around town is Ronaldo will retire here next year due to Marrakech’s appealing climate, low crime rate, and Morocco’s stringent privacy laws – particularly the strict penalties for unauthorized photography.
We also got to see the newer parts of the city which looked very lively and fun (something Natacha would like to explore more if we ever come back without the kids).
June 11, 2025
Our morning started with a fun pottery-making class. We first learned about the process of crafting clay before one of their pottery masters stepped in to guide us. He’d been making pottery for 28 years, a skill passed down from his father and grandfather. His father even has pieces displayed in the NY Metropolitan Museum of Art! He made it look so smooth and simple, a stark contrast to our efforts, but we enjoyed every moment.
After the class, we packed up the van and drove back up to Casablanca. As we stepped out of the van at our new hotel, we heard a familiar voice calling Morgan’s name. Turning around, we were delighted to see Morgan’s new friend from a few days ago running up to her giving her a hug!
Without hesitation, everyone made a beeline for the pool, picking up right where they left off. The kids ended up having their own dinner, allowing the adults to enjoy a separate, relaxing meal.
After dinner, we all strolled to the beach to soak in our final Moroccan evening.
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