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Day Trip from Tangier

Hello! I am currently prepping a trip to Spain and thought a short trip to Morocco would be cool.

I am already in the southern part of Spain so my plan right now is to book a tour and hotel through the ferry company because it seems pretty cheap and convenient.

http://www.frs.es/en/tours-to-morocco/tours-to-morocco/getaways/tangier-getaway-2-days-1-night/

I'd pay the extra bit to do the guided tour the first day and that would leave me second day open. I'd love to do a day trip to Chefchaouen but I'd love to hear other ideas. I read a lot about Rabat and Fes but I'm afraid they might be a little far away to make it back to Tangier by the end of the day to take the ferry back to Morocco.

Any thoughts would be helpful! This is my first time traveling to Morocco and my first time traveling solo anywhere.

Posted by
16895 posts

It would be easier for you to stick with the package options. If you take a train as far as Rabat or Fes (either one about 5 hours), then I'd look at flying back to Spain. Most flights are to Barcelona or Madrid but there's also Marrakech-Seville or Casablanca-Malaga; www.skyscanner.com.

Posted by
6811 posts

Actually, I think your plan is a mistake overall. No offense or disrespect intended, I just think you're making a fundamental (albeit very common) mistake.

You want to go to Morocco? Good - it's amazing, it's easy, it's great. Go! Just don't do it as a "day trip" and if you can manage a few days (which it sounds like you can) then by all means do NOT take the ferry. Why? Because then you get a crass, fake, manufactured-for-tourists, hassle-filled experience and you don't actually get to see/experience the country.

Think of it this way: Morocco is to Europe as Mexico is to the USA. The parallels are numerous and surprisingly valid.

For western Europeans, Morocco (and nearby parts of North Africa) is a primary source of: cheap fun-in-the-sun vacations; interesting food; a fascinating different culture with a rich history; intense contrasts; low-cost labor (legal and otherwise); and lots more. The same way that Mexico is for the USA.

As an American (or a visitor to the USA), if you wanted to experience Mexico, the worst possible thing you could do would be a "day trip" to Tijuana or some other "bordertown". The worst.

The same thing is true for Morocco. Substitute any of the ferry ports on the north coast of Morocco for Tijuana, Brownsville, Nogales, or other Mexican bordertowns. Ewwww.

So what's better? Forget the ferry ports. Fly. Yes, fly - to the places in Morocco that you actually want to go to: Marrakech or Fes. For a first-time, short, dip-your-toes trip, these are the perfect places to go. You can fly to Marrakech or Fes from a dozen different cities in western Europe (including several in Spain) for dirt-cheap on several low-cost airlines. It's easy. You don't need a tour package (if you don't need one in Madrid or Barcelona, you don't need one in Marrakech either). Go for a day or two, experience the more authentic parts of Morocco, then head back. You won't spend much more than taking the ferry and you'll have a chance to actually see what's worth seeing.

Unless you actually like the Tijuana experience. If that's the case, ignore everything I've said.

Just my 4 cents.

Posted by
8322 posts

David,
You nailed it. Morocco is great, but forget Tangier.

I particularly enjoyed Agadir and seeing the goats that climb up into the trees. Also, going to an old desert fortress and seeing the desert.