A complete guide to the incredible Sahara desert in Morocco
Wandering through the endless dunes of the Sahara desert in Morocco will mesmerize even the most adventurous of spirits.
A place full of mystery, beauty and unbroken silence that stretches over 11 countries. For many travellers who plan to visit Morocco, the Sahara desert is on top of their bucket list.
In this guide, you can read the ins and outs of planning a trip to the Sahara Desert.
A COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE INCREDIBLE SAHARA DESERT
WHAT DESERT TOUR SHOULD YOU PICK?
When you search the internet you will find out that there are many companies organizing desert tours. To make sure it fits in your travel itinerary we would recommend you to book your tour a few weeks in advance. Most tour companies start in Fez or Marrakech.
We planned our desert tour from Marrakech to Merzouga with GetYourGuide and the trip took us three days.
One of the reasons why we would recommend planning your tour in advance is because a tour to the desert will take you three days of your itinerary. Keep in mind that there will be a lot of driving involved, but the amazing sceneries and dynamic landscapes will make it worth it.
WHAT TO WEAR IN THE SAHARA DESERT, MOROCCO
The circumstances in the Sahara can vary a lot. The best way to prepare yourself for a trip to the dunes of Erg Chebbi is to wear layers. Choose comfortable clothes with loose-fit and don’t forget to bring a scarf and a hat.
Tip | Don’t mind taking an extra sweater or jacket, when the sun sets the temperature drops rapidly. That extra piece of clothing could be just what you needed for the night.
Take sunglasses to protect your eyes from potential sand stirring up from a breeze.
THE ROAD TO THE SAHARA DESERT, ERG CHEBBI
As mentioned above most tours will take around three days of travelling. Gladly the road to the dunes of Erg Chebbi will bring you along with many fascinating sceneries. See our route for the places where we stopped.
THE SCENERIES
Marrakech | Atlas Mountains | Ait Ben Haddou | Ouarzazate | Tinghir Oase | Dades Valley | Todra Gorge | Erg Chebbi | Sahara desert
Once you see the road signs change to a camel instead of a car, you know it is almost time to start your desert adventure.
WHY SHOULD YOU VISIT THE SAHARA DESERT
THE CALMNESS
We live in a world where we get distracted almost all of the time. A trip to the Sahara can be a little getaway escape and gives you the opportunity to experience calmness you never did before. With a surface of 9.4 million square kilometers and a sea of sand surrounding you, you will feel peace and experience complete silence.
A SOCIAL MEDIA DETOX
While experiencing this beautiful landscape you will have a strong connection with nature. Leave your phone in the bedouin camp and spend time with the people around you. It can feel so good walking the dunes while having no sense of time.
TIP | don’t go too far away from your camp.
CHASING THE SUNSET
Once the sun is below the horizon, you will be treated with a broad palette of colours. With the light changing, look for a dune and let the beauty soak in. The scenery will charm you, even more, when the dunes turn warmer and warmer.
SLEEP IN A TRADITIONAL BEDOUIN CAMP, THE SAHARA DESERT
After a day of exploring the magical dunes of the Sahara, it is great to experience staying at a traditional Bedouin camp. Just like with the desert tours, there are endless possibilities. We preferred traditional over luxury to look and feel how the nomads live.
Once the sun went down we got treated with a tasteful tajine while enjoying the local Berber drums.
While the drums continued in the tent we walked barefoot among the desert dunes to find a spot to sit down. With sand covering our feet, insignificant in the universe, we were surrounded by the brightest sky we ever experienced. In almost complete silence we witnessed a sea of bright stars in the night sky.
An out of this world experience.
BOOK | hotels in the Sahara
SUNRISE IN THE DESERT DUNES
Once you see the golden light reflect on the beautiful desert landscape you realize that waking up early isn’t that bad. Heading back to the civilized world by camel while enjoying your last glimpse of Sahara beauty is an experience worth waking up early for.
After experiencing the magical Sahara, you are ready to find out the rest of the beauty Morocco has to offer. And don’t forget to let us know what you think in the comments.
SAFETY IN MOROCCO | TRAVEL INSURANCE
When travelling this big wide world, I never go on an adventure without my essential travel insurance sorted out, and though I felt safe in Morocco, I recommend anyone travelling here to do the same.
Though you rather don’t think about the things that could go wrong, there’s always a chance that something happens, and when that’s the case, it is better to be safe than sorry.
To help you find the right policy, I’ve listed two of my favourite options below:
Heymondo | Whether you’re going on a 3-week backpacking trip, or planning a long stay somewhere abroad, Heymondo has excellent insurance options either way – plus full covid-19 coverage and a handy app with 24-hour medical assistance. Readers of WTSW receive 5% off any insurance policy, more information here.
World Nomads | If you’re an adventure seeker, backpacker, or planning your once-in-a-lifetime world trip, make sure you check out World Nomads, they designed the perfect travel insurance to help you travel safer and smarter. Do note that they’re not covering covid-19 related claims.
PLAN YOUR MOROCCO ITINERARY WITH THESE ESSENTIAL GUIDES
A travellers guide to Wadi Rum, Jordan’s otherworldly desert
Wadi Rum is an iconic desert area and UNESCO World Heritage site in Jordan. Many travellers come here for a jeep trip, camel ride and to spend a night in one of the traditional Bedouin camps. With 720 square kilometers, the Wadi Rum is a protected area and is considered as one of the driest and largest deserts in the world. Wadi Rum literally means the ‘Valley of Sand’ or the ‘Roman Valley’ and is also called ‘Valley of the Moon’.
Keep reading this guide as we will tell you more about the majestic Wadi Rum desert, which will help you create your own itinerary.
A TRAVELLERS GUIDE TO THE WADI RUM DESERT, JORDAN
DISCOVER MARS ON EARTH
Once you visit this iconic dessert, you’ll understand why the Wadi Rum is also known as Mars on Earth. Our visit to the Sahara desert in Morocco was already breathtaking, but our visit to Wadi Rum was next level because it has one of the best cosmic views on Earth! Picture this: in addition to red coloured sand, you’ll find white sand and every colour in between. You’ll experience unbroken silence on sand dunes while walking among the red sandstone canyons.
Fact | Wadi Rum is featured in a lot of movies that kicked off tourism. The area is used for the first time in 1962 for the movie Lawrence of Arabia, after that, it is also used for films as Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009), Prometheus (2012), Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) and not to be missed: The Martian (2015) starring Matt Damon.
EXPLORING THE ICONIC WADI RUM DESERT
We chose to arrive early in the morning at our desert camp and we immediately felt welcomed in this beautiful and quiet scenery. The desert camp where we stayed organized several kinds of tours. We did a 4-hour tour with a 4×4 Toyota jeep and started at the place where The Martian was filmed. From this vantage point, the Wadi Rum opens up before you. Along the way we stopped at many places and we only had to knock on the ceiling of the jeep if we wanted to stop somewhere.
We recommend you to not share a jeep. This gives you the freedom to stop at places off the beaten track and time to wander around the valleys. While exploring the area we realized that these valleys have been formed over thousands of years to become the unique, magical landscape that it is now.
Tip | Layer up! At the end of the day it can be chilly, so don’t forget to bring a jacket and a scarf. Make sure you will pack enough water, food, sunscreen and something to cover your head and eyes during the day.
WANDERING AROUND WADI RUM
During our jeep tour, we saw the massive development of desert camps since this conflict-free Middle East country is getting more popular every day. So, what are you waiting for? Pack your space suit and discover this magical place like you are an astronaut at Mars on Earth.
At the end of our jeep tour, we wandered around our camp and found a good spot to watch sunset. Make sure you will stand on a mountain with your face to the west for the best twilight experience. When the soft glowing light from the sky is below the horizon, the rock formations turn into fire and the sand is changing into the moon landscape.
STARGAZING AT WADI RUM
After dinner, the people at the camp played some traditional music on their instruments, but we chose to enjoy the sky full of bright stars. What an indescribably beautiful experience! We liked the peaceful atmosphere and saw the stars without using a stargazer. This is possible because there is no light pollution from the cities. Spending the night in Wadi Rum will give you that unique Bedouin experience.
Tip | If you want to spend the night under the stars in the Wadi Rum, we recommend booking at least three months in advance. Due to the popularity, dates are often sold out quickly. Look on Booking.com to check the availability and find places with various rates.
WHERE TO STAY IN WADI RUM
There are many desert camps to spend the night in Wadi Rum: from normal tents to luxurious bubble tents, from Bedouin homestays to camps. You can even sleep under the stars in a cave. We chose to stay at the Hasan Zawaideh Camp to have the ultimate Martian experience and booked a bubble tent, better known as a “Martian Dome”. You probably have seen the bubble tents in travel magazines or on social media.
The Martian Dome at this camp is one of the most unique places to spend the night in Wadi Rum. Each dome is air-conditioned and has a heater for colder nights. When booking a dome, you also have your own bathroom with a shower and a toilet. From inside the dome, you will have a panoramic view of the beautiful desert.
Tip | If you sleep in a Bedouin tent, take precautions by bringing warm clothes for the night.
HOW TO GET TO WADI RUM, JORDAN
When we drove from Aqaba to Wadi Rum with our rental car, the landscape turned into rock formations, red desert dunes and soft orange sand on the road. Amazing how quickly the landscape changed in to another world.
It only takes one hour to travel from Aqaba to Wadi Rum and there are many ways to reach the desert. From Amman, it will take around 3,5 hours and from Petra, it will be 1,5 hours. A convenient way is to arrange a bus tour, get a taxi or hire a car.
Unfortunately, public transport is very limited and you are tied to fixed times to get back and forth.
HOW TO GET AROUND WADI RUM
You can discover Wadi Rum by yourself, but we recommend you to take a (local) guide to get the most out of your trip. A guide can show you the hotspots and will tell you more about this amazing, historical landscape. Especially when you only spend one or two days, we think you will see as much as possible when travelling by jeep. It’s also possible to discover the desert by camel or horse.
You can book different kind of tours at the Wadi Rum visitors centre, desert camps or home stays. To save money while having the ultimate Wadi Rum experience, you can do a hike by yourself. Pin your hotspots with the application Maps.me which also helps you not getting lost. From the Wadi Rum visitors centre, you can follow many hiking trials.
Tip | If you have a Jordan Pass, you don’t have to pay the entrance fee of 5 JOD and children under 12 years are free of charge. The Jordan Pass will give you a lot of benefits during your stay in Jordan.
SAFETY IN JORDAN | TRAVEL INSURANCE
When travelling this big wide world, I never go on an adventure without my essential travel insurance sorted out, and though I felt completely safe in Jordan, I recommend anyone travelling here to do the same.
Though you rather don’t think about the things that could go wrong, there’s always a chance that it might happen, and when that’s the case, it is better to be safe than sorry.
To help you find the right policy, I’ve listed two of my favourite options below:
Heymondo | Whether you’re going on a 3-week backpacking trip, or planning a long stay somewhere abroad, Heymondo has excellent insurance options either way – plus full covid-19 coverage and a handy app with 24-hour medical assistance. Readers of WTSW receive 5% off any insurance policy, more information here.
World Nomads | If you’re an adventure seeker, backpacker, or planning your once-in-a-lifetime world trip, make sure you check out World Nomads, they designed the perfect travel insurance to help you travel safer and smarter. Do note that they’re not covering covid-19 related claims.
PLAN YOUR JORDAN ITINERARY WITH THESE ESSENTIAL GUIDES
A travellers guide to Angkor Wat, Cambodia's majestic ancient kingdom
When you start planning your trip through Cambodia, you’ll probably be hyped to see the world famous Angkor Wat temple in person, and that’s for an excellent reason.
With over a thousand temples dotted throughout the complex, Angkor is considered the most important archaeological site in the whole of South-East Asia.
At the Angkor temple complex, located just outside Siem Reap, you will discover the beauty in temples like Bayon, Angkor Thom, Ta Prohm and of course Angkor Wat.
This guide provides everything you need to know about visiting Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
If you choose to use any of the links on this page, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. By using these links, you’ll have a direct impact on WTSW and support my ability to continue to create free insightful travel content for you. If you find any of my tips useful, you can support me by buying me a virtual coffee here.
A travellers guide to Angkor Wat, Cambodia
A brief history of Angkor Wat
Angkor is the world’s largest religious monument with over a thousand temples. Most travellers call the whole complex Angkor Wat, but that is not entirely correct.
In fact, only the most famous temple of the complex is named Angkor Wat. The temple was originally built as a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu during the Khmer Empire. At the end of the 12th century and was gradually transformed into a Buddhist temple.
With over 2.5 million visitors yearly the temples of Angkor are the main reason for people to travel to Cambodia. With so many travellers it is wise to strategically plan your trip to the temples of Angkor.
Angkor Wat entrance fee
The entrance fee depends on the number of days exploring Angkor and which temples you are willing to visit. The Angkor Wat entrance fee comes in three options and has to be purchased in person at the official ticket office. The ticket office opens at 5 am, so arrive a bit earlier or buy your tickets a day in advance. It can be handy to bring a passport photo for your personal ticket, though they have the equipment to make them at the desk.
Angkor Wat ticket options
One-day ticket | $37
Three-day ticket | $62
Seven-day ticket | $72
If you are planning to follow this guide a one-day ticket is enough to see the highlights of Angkor. But with so many impressive temples it can be quite a good idea to spend three or seven days at the Angkor Archaeological Park.
Getting yourself an Angkor Wat guide
To get the most out of your time in Angkor it is wise to get yourself a guide. When you reach out to a tuk-tuk driver, you will almost instantly receive advice and a route depending on the number of days you are willing to explore the park.
We really had a fun time with our driver named Johnny Chantha, a friendly guy that speaks English very well. We personally liked the fact that we could tell our preferences and it was easy to talk about alternative routes. Combining his advice with our plan gave us a lot of photography freedom which you would like to have as well I guess?
The cost for an 8-hour guide is $12 and visiting Angkor Wat at sunrise costs $5.
Our custom tour + sunrise at Angkor Wat cost us $20 for a full day of exploring. If you get yourself a tuk-tuk, try to aim for a price between $12 and $20.
The best temples in Angkor
With so many temples spread over an area of 400 square meters, it is good to know which ones are worth visiting. Below you can read about the temples we liked the most. All the temples below can be visited in a day if you make a custom route with your tuk-tuk driver.
Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat is the main temple of Angkor and that makes it the number one reason for people to travel to Cambodia. Angkor Wat, meaning ‘City Temple’ is the heart and soul of Cambodia and is most mesmerizing when visiting at sunrise.
The reflection on the water, when the sun rises above the temple, is such a great thing to witness if you forget about the other thousand people beside you. Although it is the largest temple at Angkor it isn’t the most spectacular if you ask me.
The Bayon Temple
The Bayon temple is most famous for having 54 towers with each four faces of Brahma on it. With a total of 216 faces, it isn’t strange that Bayon is also called the ‘Face Temple’. Plan your trip to the Bayon Temple around lunchtime as it will be less crowded. This allows you to have a lot of photography freedom.
Ta Phromh
At Ta Prohm, it is nice to see how nature took over the temples. Try to plan this temple direct after you sunrise mission at Angkor Wat. Ask your tuk-tuk driver to take you there so you will arrive before it is officially opened. This temple was used as a filming location for the movie Tomb Raider and is one of the most authentic-looking temples you will come along when exploring Angkor.
Preah Khan
One of the biggest Cambodian temples is Preah Khan. It is the largest flat temple in Angkor meaning that all the parts of the temple are at ground level. Just like Ta Prohm, this temple is a good example of nature meets the temple. The decorated sandstone temple walls make a good contrast with the large tree trunks.
Ta Keo
Ta Keo is a pyramidal structured temple and is 21 meters high. Climbing to the top of this temple can be really hard as the stairs are really steep. With almost no decoration this temple stands out to the other temples with its simplicity. It is also the first temple in Khmer history that is built entirely out of sandstone.
Thommanon
Thommanon is located just outside Angkor Thom and is a single-towered temple. The carvings of this temple are really well preserved and the aged temple walls make a nice contrast with the surrounding jungle.
The Victory Gate
One of the two entrances of the eastern wall of Angkor Thom is named The Victory Gate. This gate was used to welcome soldiers that returned from battle when they entered the Khmer Capital.
Other interesting Temples at Angkor
Some other temples where we heard a lot of good stories about are Ta Sohm and Banteay Srei. Don’t mind putting these two in your itinerary for Angkor.
Things to know before visiting Angkor Wat
Start with sunrise at Angkor Wat
Start your visit with sunrise at Angkor Wat and let your tuk-tuk driver pick you up at your hotel around 4 AM. The feeling of hitting the road when it’s still dark and knowing what is to come is a great part of the experience and we would definitely recommend it.
Using a drone in Angkor Wat
At the Angkor temple complex, it is not allowed to fly a drone without a permit. Getting a permit to fly at Angkor seems to be a difficult task. On this website, you can find more information about obtaining a drone permit.
What to wear in Angkor Wat
Although the weather in Siem Reap can be quite hot, wearing clothes like a tank top, a short or a skirt above the knees is considered very disrespectful in Buddhist culture. Women should cover their shoulders and to avoid any problems men should do this as well. Always try to bring a scarf when you are about to visit temples while on the road.
Another recommendation is to wear comfortable shoes, some stairs are steep and hard to climb. And in some cases, the temple floor can be really rugged.
It’s also good to take a hat with you, most temples are in the open sun and it can get really hot during the day. Don’t forget to use sunscreen with SPF, wear sunglasses and drink enough water to stay hydrated.
Respect the temples
When you visit the temples try to be quiet and avoid talking out loud. Touching the temples and their carvings is considered disrespectful and so is smoking.
Where to stay near Angkor Wat
When you plan to visit the temples of Angkor the chance is big you enter Cambodia through Siem Reap Airport. Staying in Siem Reap can be really laid back in between your time exploring the temples. We booked four nights at Bopha Residence and enjoyed relaxing by the pool after a long day of temple running.
One piece of advice, book your accommodation with free cancellation in advance on booking.com. Siem Reap is a popular destination for backpackers.
Stay safe in Cambodia | Travel insurance
Though Cambodia is perfectly safe for travellers, I always strive to sort out my travel insurance before arriving in a foreign country, and I highly advise anyone else to do the same.
Where we prefer that everything goes smoothly during our travels, something unfortunate can happen at any moment, whether it’s an injury or an accident on the road. When that happens, it is better to be safe than sorry.
Heymondo | Whether you’re going on a 3-week backpacking trip, or planning a long stay somewhere abroad, Heymondo has excellent insurance options either way – plus full covid-19 coverage and a handy app with 24-hour medical assistance. Readers of WTSW receive 5% off any insurance policy, more information here.
World Nomads | If you’re an adventure seeker, backpacker, or planning your once-in-a-lifetime world trip, make sure you check out World Nomads, they designed the perfect travel insurance to help you travel safer and smarter. Do note that they’re not covering covid-19 related claims.
My 3-week Cambodia itinerary | Uncover the absolute best of Cambodia
When people talk about Cambodia they probably instantly name up Angkor Wat. All tough visiting the temples of Angkor should be on the top of your list when travelling to Cambodia, there is so much more to explore in this authentic country.
We loved the diversity that it brings, name it and Cambodia will deliver. Jungle, beaches, culture, temples, islands to relax or party and lovely countryside. In 18 days we managed to enjoy all those lovely things.
In this guide, we hope to help you enjoy authentic Cambodia just as we did.
If you choose to use any of the links on this page, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. By using these links, you’ll have a direct impact on WTSW and support my ability to continue to create free insightful travel content for you. If you find any of my tips useful, you can support me by buying me a virtual coffee here.
Where to start?
When planning your Cambodia itinerary, it’s good to know where you wanna start.
Our adventures through Cambodia started off in Siem Reap. In our case, a ticket to Bangkok was way cheaper than a flight directly to Siem Reap or Phnom Penh. So we choose to have a 2-day city trip in Bangkok before heading to Siem Reap with AirAsia. To see how we spent our 48 hours in Bangkok click here. In this Cambodia itinerary, we show you which places we visited and tell you all about our favourite sites.
BTW don’t forget to bring some dollars, when entering Cambodia you have to pay $20 for a 30-day visa. Also, keep in mind that you need some extra passport photographs for your visa and Angkor pass.
Travelling through Cambodia by public transport
Going from place to place in Cambodia is best done by bus. We used Camboticket to get our tickets for the bus, ferry or taxi. With the code CTAPP, you can get 10% off when booking tickets with their app. Another easy option is that you can get your tickets at almost any hotel or hostel. If that isn’t the case try visiting a Mekong Express office nearby or book online.
It can happen that they sell too many tickets and if that’s the case the bus can be really packed. Also, keep in mind that your bus driver usually tries to drop you off at the edge of the city centre, it looks like they are working together with the tuk-tuk drivers. They usually drop you at a place where you pay way too much for short-distance tuk-tuk rides. We used an app called Maps.me to pin a marker at the place where the bus driver should have dropped us. So when they were planning to drop us at the wrong place, we could show them the bus station. This app is a perfect offline alternative to Google Maps.
For short distances in the cities or just outside of them, a tuk-tuk is perfect. The price can vary between $1 to $3, never pay more. And don’t get fooled by the trick that the price is per person instead of per tuk-tuk. And always try to get a deal, it’s really common to do this in Cambodia.
Accommodation | Where to stay in Cambodia
When travelling through Cambodia there are enough options to get accommodation. We booked our accommodation one day in advance and that worked out pretty well. It gives you a lot of freedom and opportunities to change your itinerary. We always use booking.com and if you use this link you get a $15 discount. In some cases, you can even cancel your booking, if done on time, without being charged.
My 3-week Cambodia itinerary | Day-to-day overview
Day 1 – 4 | Siem Reap, the gateway to Angkor Wat
When travellers talk about Siem Reap they see it as a starting point to visit the world’s largest religious monument named Angkor Wat. If you are thinking about visiting Angkor and we know you do! You can have a look at our Temple running guide below. Besides the temples of Angkor, Siem Reap is a place rich in culture and history. It’s easy to spend 3 to 4 days here, including your visit to the temples. Enjoy the many lovely restaurants, and the exciting nightlife and have a visit to the night market. If you take Siem Reap as a home base you can take a trip to, Phnom Kulen also known as the ‘‘Mountain of Lychees’’. It’s one of the best waterfalls in Cambodia and totally worth a visit.
Joining a day tour from Siem reap to Angkor is easy and includes a visit during sunrise. For prices and availability check here.
Day 5 – 6 | Battambang, Cambodia’s underrated gem
The city that’s most famous for its Bamboo train. Driving through the rice fields with a traditional train is a fun thing to do. You can combine it with a visit to the killing caves of Phnom Sampeau which was used as an execution site. During the Red Khmer regime, they used this cave to kill their victims and threw the bodies into the cave afterwards. On the other side of the tragic cave, you have the Bat Cave. Every day around sunset thousands of bats leave the cave, an amazing show by Mother Nature. In the city centre of Battambang, you can see the French colonial influences. You can say that Battambang has something special, although there isn’t much to do in the city, the cosy restaurants and laid-back cafes make it worth your stay. We really enjoyed eating tapas at The Lonely Tree Cafe or getting lunch at About The World.
Transit | Sihanoukville
Once a sleepy beach town but it’s rapidly transforming due to Chinese investments, Sihanoukville has now, sadly, become a gambler’s paradise, with casinos popping up on just about every corner.
Not our favourite town, but that was no problem for us. We went straight to the ferry that brought us to Koh Rong. Sihanoukville is the best-known harbour city and you have to go here when you are going to visit Koh Rong or Koh Rong Samloem.
Day 7 – 11 | Koh Rong, Cambodia’s island paradise
If you like to have some time off at the white beaches or take a relaxing swim in the clear blue sea. Koh Rong is your place to go. When on the island you can choose to stay on the busy side to visit the bars and go partying. Or just pick a quiet beach on the other side of the island. We really liked our stay on the island and planned it in the middle of our itinerary. We even stayed a few days longer than planned.
Day 12 – 14 | Kampot, Cambodia’s scenic riverside town
Kampot is a small city on the coast with a lovely relaxing vibe. One of the charms of Kampot is that life feels slow over here. We ended up staying there a bit longer because of the nice atmosphere and good restaurants. We had some awesome Khmer food at Rikitikitava and enjoyed some good burgers at Pepe and the Viking. A must-do when in Kampot is driving to the top of Bokor Hill, you can easily rent a motorbike and explore the mountain by yourself. On top of the 1,080 meters high mountain, you have a viewpoint that gives you the most amazing views of the region. Take a visit to the famous Catholic Church or just restored Bokor Hill Hotel, which is now a hotel. If you own a drone you should definitely take it with you to the top, the bird-eye view is just mesmerizing!
Day 15 – 16 | Kep, an authentic local town
If you love seafood make your way to Kep. This small coastal city is well known for its ‘’Crab Market’’. You can easily spend a day in Kep to rent a motorbike and explore the surrounding countryside. Take a look at La Plantation which is one of Cambodia’s famous pepper plantations. They provide you with a free guided tour and let you taste all different kinds of peppers. The dusty road brings you through local villages and lovely rice fields and you can even have a stop at Kampot’s “Secret Lake”.
Day 17 – 18 | Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s energetic capital
The capital of Cambodia is really overwhelming and definitely not our favourite place in Cambodia. But if you don’t know anything about what happened during the Khmer Rouge regime, then this is where you should go. Have a visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and take a look at the tragic Killing Fields just outside of Phnom Penh. Keep in mind that visiting those places can be shocking and may need some time to settle. If you want to see some other cultural things in Phnom Penh pay a visit at What Preah Keo better known as The Silver Pagoda. Or maybe even try a traditional Khmer cooking lesson. At night you can have dinner or a drink at one of the many restaurants or rooftop bars.
Stay safe in Cambodia | Travel insurance
Though Cambodia is perfectly safe for travellers, I always strive to sort out my travel insurance before arriving in a foreign country, and I highly advise anyone else to do the same.
Where we prefer that everything goes smoothly during our travels, something unfortunate can happen at any moment, whether it’s an injury or an accident on the road. When that happens, it is better to be safe than sorry.
Heymondo | Whether you’re going on a 3-week backpacking trip, or planning a long stay somewhere abroad, Heymondo has excellent insurance options either way – plus full covid-19 coverage and a handy app with 24-hour medical assistance. Readers of WTSW receive 5% off any insurance policy, more information here.
World Nomads | If you’re an adventure seeker, backpacker, or planning your once-in-a-lifetime world trip, make sure you check out World Nomads, they designed the perfect travel insurance to help you travel safer and smarter. Do note that they’re not covering covid-19 related claims.
9 Wonderful reasons why Morocco should be your next travel destination
When thinking about travelling in North Africa, Morocco is the most popular destination. And if you have any interest in other cultures, Morocco is the way to go. With a good balance between dynamic landscapes, colourful architecture and vibrant cities Morocco has much to offer. From walking through crowded medina’s, staying in a Riad to sleeping in the Sahara desert. Some people choose to only visit Morocco to stay in Marrakech, but believe us, there is so much more to explore.
If you are still in doubt, here are some reasons that hopefully make you wanna jump on that plane!
9 REASONS WHY MOROCCO SHOULD BE YOUR NEXT TRAVEL DESTINATION
FIRST OF ALL
Most people around us told us only about the negative aspects of visiting Morocco. But that only made us curious to go and explore for ourselves. When we visit a new country we always choose to keep our judgement at the customs. That gives us the opportunity to blend in with the local people, and in Morocco, that is an experience you don’t wanna miss. Some advice, when you are thinking about a visit to Morocco: don’t let somebody else their judgement affect your travel plans.
1 | GET LOST WHILE STROLLING THROUGH THE MEDINA
Are you one of those people that love to get lost wandering unknown places? A Medina can be a maze and will definitely confuse you where to go. With thousands of narrow streets and handcrafted stalls that all look the same, you will have a big chance of getting lost. But to be honest, it’s really great to feel the vibe and see what’s going on in the medina of Marrakech. To be sure you will find your way back, download and have Maps.me prepared to save the day.
2 | UNWIND IN A TRADITIONAL MOROCCAN RIAD
Ever wanted to stay in a riad? This is your chance. In the heart of the Medina of Marrakech, you will find a lot of them. Once you are inside a riad al the chaos of the Medina is gone and your time to relax starts. You can find good affordable Riads on booking.com. We really enjoyed our stay at the Riad Baba Ali.
3 | MOROCCO’S ARCHITECTURE IS ON POINT
With architectural highlights in the Koutoubia Mosque, Saadian Tombs and the Ben Youssef Madrasa. Marrakech will really satisfy your architectural needs. While walking through the medina you will see traditional Moorish architecture at almost every corner. It is just one of those things that remind you of your visit to Morocco.
4 | MOROCCAN FOOD IS RICH IN SPICES AND HERBS
When in Morocco you should and will probably eat a lot of tagine and couscous. Tagine is a dish that is slowly cooked in a clay cooking pot. This signature dish is prepared with veggies, beef, chicken or lamb depending on your preference. One thing is for sure, it is packed with lovely herbs and spices and you can order the dish at almost every corner.
Another dish they serve is Harira, a Moroccan lentil soup which is most famous as the meal they eat when breaking the fast during Ramadan.
5 | MOROCCO’S CULTURE IS RICH AND CAPTIVATING
This is one of the things that can work for you, or against you. But when you are interested in other cultures and just let the country guide you, this can be such a great experience. With lovely medinas and souqs it feels like you are in a whole different world, and that is the thing we like the most. It’s such a different vibe than many of us experience on a daily basis. If you are curious and open to blend in you will have a really great time.
6 | MOROCCO IS WELL KNOWN FOR ITS DYNAMIC LANDSCAPES
If you like breathtaking landscapes Morocco is the way to go. They have mountains like the High Atlas mountains, unbroken silence in the Sahara desert and a serene and calm oasis in Tinghir. Morocco has a lot of diversity in its vast natural environment. Beside those lovely sceneries, Morocco will certainly surprise you with even more natural beauty.
7 | MOROCCO MAKES A PERFECT ROAD TRIP DESTINATION
When we booked our tickets to Morocco we had no other choice then hitting the road. And that is one of the reason why we had such an amazing time. Interested in which destinations crossed our Moroccan road trip? One of them was really, uhm sandy.
8 | SLEEP IN THE MAGICAL SAHARA DESERT
Guess what, this is the place we just mentioned. When you make your itinerary for Morocco don’t miss the opportunity to sleep in the Sahara desert. If you want to know more about our experiences in the Sahara you should check out our Sahara desert Guide. Keep in mind that a trip from Marrakech to the Sahara will cost you about three days of your travel time.
9 | VISIT AIT BEN HADDOU, A GAME OF THRONES FILMING LOCATION
If you watched Game of Thrones you will probably recognize this scenery. This old Kasbah is built up against the hill and is one of the best looking sceneries you will find in Morocco. When you walk your way up through the narrow streets it really feels like you are part of a movie.
Some movies that are filmed here are: The Mummy, Gladiator and Prince of Persia: The sands of time.
SAFETY IN MOROCCO | TRAVEL INSURANCE
When travelling this big wide world, I never go on an adventure without my essential travel insurance sorted out, and though I felt safe in Morocco, I recommend anyone travelling here to do the same.
Though you rather don’t think about the things that could go wrong, there’s always a chance that something happens, and when that’s the case, it is better to be safe than sorry.
To help you find the right policy, I’ve listed two of my favourite options below:
Heymondo | Whether you’re going on a 3-week backpacking trip, or planning a long stay somewhere abroad, Heymondo has excellent insurance options either way – plus full covid-19 coverage and a handy app with 24-hour medical assistance. Readers of WTSW receive 5% off any insurance policy, more information here.
World Nomads | If you’re an adventure seeker, backpacker, or planning your once-in-a-lifetime world trip, make sure you check out World Nomads, they designed the perfect travel insurance to help you travel safer and smarter. Do note that they’re not covering covid-19 related claims.
PLAN YOUR MOROCCO ITINERARY WITH THESE ESSENTIAL GUIDES