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April 1, 2026

Moroccan Adventures

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One of my favorite parts of studying abroad is the proximity to other countries compared to the U.S. It makes traveling more accessible and opens up many opportunities for weekend trips. This past weekend, I was able to visit Africa for the first time and explore Morocco!

A sweeping landscape view of the Sahara desert under a dramatic sky. The bottom half of the image features undulating sand dunes that are bathed in warm, golden-orange light from the setting or rising sun. The sand in the foreground shows various tire tracks, creating a patterned texture in the lower-right area. The sky above is filled with soft, grey and white clouds, with some clouds in the middle ground catching the vibrant pink and orange sunset hues. To the right, a vertical faint rainbow or sunbeam cuts through the cloud layer. The horizon is a gentle curve of the dunes against the colorful sky. The perspective is from ground level, looking across the vast expanse.
Rainbows after rain.

Friends and I flew into Marrakech on Thursday morning and met up with the tour company we booked for the weekend. From there, we set off on a 10+ hour drive through mountains and scenic landscapes. We made several stops in local towns along the way for food and shopping. By the evening, we finally arrived in the desert, where we stayed in tents at a camp for the next two nights.

Friday was our one full day in the desert, and of course, it rained. Locals told us the Sahara only gets rain about 18 days a year, and we happened to be there for one of them. Still, we enjoyed a slow morning with breakfast at the camp and saw the desert in one of its rarest forms.

Once the sun came out, we rode camels and also booked a jeep ride through the dunes, which was definitely my highlight of the trip! We spent three hours riding through the dunes, taking in the scenery and the peacefulness of it all. Afterwards, we returned to camp for dinner and a bonfire with music, met other study abroad students, and soaked in the fun, lively atmosphere under the stars.

In the foreground of a vast desert, seven young women are gathered joyfully on the roof rack of a rugged, white vintage Land Rover Defender. The vehicle is parked on deep orange sand, its boxy frame and black trim standing out against the desert floor. The women are all wearing matching white trousers, which makes their vibrant, flowing scarves—in shades of turquoise, deep red, and pink—pop against the neutral tones of the sand and the cloudy, overcast sky. They are posing with wide smiles; some have their arms raised in excitement, while others lean into one another, capturing a moment of celebration and friendship. Behind them, the massive, rolling sand dunes of the Sahara stretch toward the horizon, their surfaces rippled with soft shadows under the muted light of the desert sky.
Sorry mom I did
ride on top…
A horizontal landscape photograph captures a desert camp during a dramatic sunset. On the left side, stretching deep into the frame, is a neat line of white, traditional-style canvas tents pitched on rippled, deep orange-brown sand. Just behind the tents, a row of dark, conical trees stands against the glowing sky. The setting sun is a bright, fiery orange orb low on the horizon, partially obscured by the trees and tents, creating a vibrant bursts of orange, yellow, and red light that bleed into the surrounding clouds. Above, a vast, heavy blanket of dark grey, stormy clouds fills most of the right side of the frame. A single small, crescent moon is visible high in the dark clouds to the far right, near the center. The warm light from the sunset illuminates the edges of the cloud bank and the landscape, creating a dramatic contrast between the intense light on the left and the deep shadows and dark clouds on the right. In the far background, on the right side, the lights of a distant village or road are beginning to twinkle. The perspective is from ground level, looking down the line of tents and out towards the horizon.
Sunset over our camp.
Seven young women are lined up across the center of the frame, each mounted on a camel, one camel with two girls atop it, in the middle of the Sahara. The camels, a mix of light tan and dark chocolate brown, stand patiently on a slope of deep orange sand. The women are all dressed in bright white outfits, with their heads wrapped in vibrant, colorful scarves in shades of blue, red, green, and turquoise. They are all waving enthusiastically with one arm raised toward the sky, their faces lit with smiles of pure joy. Above them, a dramatic sky is filled with heavy, textured grey and white clouds that hang low over the smooth, rolling curves of the dunes in the background. The vastness of the desert and the bright pops of color from their scarves create a striking, adventurous scene.
Hands up for a camel ride!

The next morning, we woke up at 7 a.m. to watch a beautiful sunrise, then spent most of Saturday traveling back to Marrakech. The drive back was just as pretty, passing through mountains and small towns as we took in our final views of Morocco.

The company we booked with provided a hotel in a great central location for the night. On Sunday morning, we explored the local markets in the heart of Marrakech, where I picked up lots of souvenirs for my friends, family, and myself. There was such a wide variety of things to buy: jewelry, lamps, rugs, clothes, mugs, postcards, coasters, and so much more. I could have spent hours there.

A minimalist, wide-angle shot captures the quiet serenity of the Sahara at sunrise. The bottom third of the image is filled with the dark, shadowed curves of sand dunes, their deep textures barely visible in the fading light. High up on a distant ridge, a small silhouette of a camel caravan—six camels with riders—moves slowly across the horizon line. Their dark shapes are perfectly outlined against a soft, pale sky that fades from a dusty orange near the earth to a cool, clear blue above. A single, small pinkish-grey cloud floats low on the right, mirroring the gentle colors of the dusk. The vast scale of the sky compared to the tiny figures on the dunes emphasizes the immense, peaceful stillness of the desert.
Peace in the Sahara.
Two girls are seated with their backs to the camera, perched atop a high sand dune to watch the sunrise. They are bundled together for warmth, wrapped in a large, thick light-purple blanket with a dark striped border. The morning sun is a bright, glowing orb just cresting over the distant rolling hills of the Sahara, casting long, soft shadows across the valley below. The sand in the foreground is a rich, warm orange, while the vast desert floor below is marked with the faint, crisscrossing tracks of vehicles. The sky is a clear, pale blue, transitioning into a soft yellow glow near the horizon. It’s a quiet, peaceful scene that captures the chilly but beautiful start to a desert day.
Bundled up for sunrise.
A bustling, narrow alleyway in the Marrakech Souks is captured from a slightly low angle, looking down the length of the market. Above, a high, vaulted ceiling made of thin wooden slats allows narrow beams of sunlight to filter through, creating a rhythmic pattern of light and shadow on the dusty ground. The sides of the alley are densely packed with small shops. On the left, racks of vibrant clothing and intricately woven scarves hang for display. On the right, shelves are filled with traditional Moroccan ceramics, metal lanterns, and various trinkets. The market is alive with people—locals and tourists alike—walking through the passage, some stopping to browse the goods. The overall atmosphere is warm and vibrant, with the earthy pink tones of the walls contrasting against the colorful merchandise and the bright sunlight streaming from above.
Business of the Souks.
A vertical shot displays the dazzling entrance to a jewelry and textile shop nestled within a pink-walled alley of the Marrakech Souks. The storefront is an explosion of texture and color, with every available surface draped in merchandise. To the left, tall stacks of neatly folded, multi-colored striped blankets sit beneath a hanging display of shimmering silk scarves in blues, purples, and golds. The center of the frame is dominated by countless strands of necklaces, earrings, and "Hand of Fatima" (Hamsa) charms pinned to golden-yellow velvet backings that line the walls. In the foreground, several black jewelry stands are crowded with chunky gold bracelets and elaborate beaded necklaces. Bright, bare lightbulbs hang from the ceiling, casting a warm, sparkling glow on the metallic jewelry and leading the eye deep into the narrow, treasure-filled interior of the shop. The ground is made of light-colored stone pavers, worn smooth by the many visitors passing through this vibrant marketplace.
Treasures everywhere.
A cozy and charming scene inside a Marrakech shop features a calico cat curled up in a tight ball, fast asleep on a shelf. The cat, with its patches of white, ginger, and dark brown fur, has found a perfect napping spot right in the middle of the store's merchandise. It rests on top of several wooden boards decorated with intricate, colorful geometric patterns. All around the sleeping cat are various handmade goods, including beaded lighters, patterned eyeglass cases, and rows of gold bangles hanging just above its head. A single, bright lightbulb glows softly behind the cat, casting a warm light over its fur and the detailed crafts. In the very top of the frame, the hands of a shopkeeper can be seen working on a piece of jewelry, adding a sense of quiet, everyday life to the image.
Is the cat for sale?

Even though we spent a large portion of the trip in the car, it was completely worth it. The peacefulness of the desert is hard to put into words, and the landscape was unlike anything I’ve seen before. Along the way, we spoke with locals, explored the desert, and experienced so much of the country. I am really grateful for the opportunities that studying abroad has given me and the accessibility to explore new cultures and experiences. And now, I can say I’ve been to Africa!

To anyone thinking about visiting Morocco:

  1. Bring cash either in Euros or the local currency. Smaller towns don’t always accept cards, and having smaller bills or coins helps when negotiating prices in markets.
  2. If you book a desert trip through a tour company, it’s worth paying a bit extra for one with good reviews. We did and felt completely safe throughout our time. The food they provided was delicious as well!
  3. Book an excursion in the desert. The jeep ride wasn’t included in our stay, but it ended up being my favorite experience of the whole trip.
  4. Be present. Wake up early for sunrise, stay up late around the campfire, and put your phone down. We actually had service most of the time, but the moments without it, when I could fully take everything in, were some of my favorites.

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