A Solo Trip to Morocco
- Josi Hicks
- Jun 26, 2025
- 7 min read
Updated: Jul 24, 2025
Back in April, the night before departing for a trip to Morocco, my travel companion called me with a buddy-system breakup: She had to cancel her end of the trip. At the very. Last. Minute.
During my year abroad in Florence, Italy, I'd heard many people express their concerns for females traveling solo. One of the top destinations people seemed concerned about? Morocco.
Now, I had no choice but to answer this question: Is it safe for a female to travel alone to Morocco?
Arriving in Marrakech
Upon arrival at the Marrakech Airport (RAK), I had a game-plan set:
Find an ATM
Withdraw cash
Head straight to my pre-booked hostel transfer
Little did I know, however, that having a Plan B {Case Scenario: ATM ate my debit card} would have been most useful.
As you could imagine, this was quite the stress-inducing situation for a female solo-traveler, especially considering the fact that most Moroccan transactions are cash-only. After trying (and failing) to find a teller who could release my debit card from its abductor, I eventually had to let up, suit up, and head to my airport transfer without any access to currency.
With that being said, take these words of advice from me:
Do not trust the ATMs that only display in French (unless you speak it).
Always bring extra cash for currency exchange.
From Airport to Accommodation
With no other choice, I walked warily towards my pre-booked airport transfer. Searching for a sign that read "The Central House," I spotted my driver and followed him to his vehicle. Nervously, I boarded a stranger's vehicle alone, trusting that he'd take me to my destination.
When traveling alone as a female, there are times when we must put trust in people and places where many would be hesitant. If you're reading this in reluctance of taking a trip to Morocco alone, take my word for it: it is trustworthy.
Note! If you decide to pre-book your airport transfer through your accommodation, be prepared for your driver to drop you off within walking distance of your final destination. The streets of the Medina are too narrow for vehicles to take you the distance, so to arrive at almost all hotels/riads, you'll likely be required to walk. Thankfully, my driver was extremely gracious and guided me the rest of the way through the winding streets of the Medina to my hostel.
Where to Stay in Marrakech?
When deciding where to safely stay solo in Marrakech, you have a few options at hand. The first night I stayed in the city, I stayed at the aforementioned hostel named The Central House Marrakech.
Staying in a hostel during my first night in Marrakech helped provide me with the most comfort as I got a lay of the land, and as it turns out, it ended up being my saving grace. If I'd not stayed in a hostel my first night, I wouldn't have met my bunkmate (s/o Jasmin!) who used her debit card to withdraw cash for me at a nearby ATM. Thank you, PayPal, and thank you, Jasmin!
For reference, about 100 USD got me through buying my lunches, tipping tour guides, and the miscellaneous purchase of a Moroccan Berber turban (scarf). Over the next several nights, I stayed in the accommodations pre-booked by my GetYourGuide 3-Day Sahara Desert tour, ranging from a traditional-style riad to a Merzouga desert camp.
After returning from my Sahara Desert excursion, I chose to stay in a traditional riad for my last night in Marrakech. This time, I stayed in Riad Babouchta & Spa, where I felt just as safe and perhaps even more at peace than at my previous booking.
I have to commend this riad especially for their kindness, as the receptionist helped me in more ways than one by printing off a physical boarding pass for my departing flight (which I was unaware is required at RAK and you'll be fined without it), as well as lending me the extra change needed for my airport shuttle (since I was both cardless and cashless by the end of my trip).
Overall, there are both pros and cons to staying in both a hostel and a riad. In a hostel, you are far more likely to socialize and meet fellow travelers (huge plus for my solo girlies), but in a riad, you are allotted your space for serenity. The upside of going it alone? You get to pick!
How to Spend Your Time Solo
As I previously mentioned, one of the biggest advantages of staying in a social environment like a hostel is the ability to meet people. For me, that person was my new friend, Jasmin, who explored the souks with me!
If you're comfortable with it, I also spent time wandering the Medina alone. In you set out by yourself, I'd advise you not to let anyone give you directions and not to let anyone coax you into entering their shop. In both situations, you shouldn't be in danger, but you'll likely be pressured into paying for a service you didn't intend to receive (i.e. what you thought were free directions or free samples).
For the rest of my time spent in Morocco, I booked the From Marrakech: 3-Day Merzouga and Sahara Desert Tour through GetYourGuide. This was the best decision I made during this entire trip, and perhaps the best tour I went on during my entire 8-months abroad.
From Marrakech: 3-Day Merzouga and Sahara Desert Tour
Defeating the purpose of this blog post, over the next few days, I spent my time exploring the desert on a group tour.
Day 1: Atlas Mountains & Ouarzazate
To start the journey, our driver-guide (Omar) took a bus full of us early twenty-somethings through the Atlas Mountains, stopping for the views along the way.
We then ventured to the city of Ouarzazate, where a local-guide gave us a walking tour of the historic city—a hotspot for Hollywood. If you love Game of Thrones, Outer Banks, or Gladiator, then you'll be geeking out here.
After "set-seeing,"we drove to our accomodation for the night, which was in a traditional riad with air-conditioning and a private ensuite bathroom. Even in the middle of the desert, the locals were looking to provide a party, hosting a dinner and a show that I wish I could praise adequately via blog post.
Day 2: Tinghir & Merzouga
The next day, we were provided breakfast at our accommodation before starting the trek for the Sahara. With this tour, breakfast and dinners were provided, but we paid for our own lunches.
Before laying eyes on the orange sands, we spent the morning further exploring the rocky and rubbly rest of the desert. Stopping in the town of Tinghir, we were provided a tour of the Todgha Valley, where we explored the Todgha Gorge.
Afterwards, we went to a cooperative where we were educated on the makings of Berber carpets, which are hand-woven by the Berber people of North Africa.
I will say that prior embarking, we were told that our tour of Tinghir was supposed to be free of charge. Before taking us back to our shuttle bus, however, the guide (not Omar, but a different Tinghir-specific guide) did ask us for money in exchange for guiding us back to our GetYourGuide leader. I found this strange, but I'm fully willing to overlook this singular occurrence in the big picture of the full experience.
Finally, we set out for the sandy Sahara Desert. We did make one final pit-stop, though, at another cooperative in the literal middle-of-nowhere. And then we had a Pitbull dance party? And I taught a bunch of Aussies, Brits, and two Italians the cotton-eyed-Joe?
Upon arriving to our final destination, we made our way across the sand dunes on camelback, and then spent hours sandboarding before watching the sunset over the Sahara. To get to the Merzouga desert camp, we hopped back on our camels. We spent the night dining, dancing, and star-gazing. You probably could have convinced me that I was on another planet.
Day 3: Sahara Sunrise
On the last day of the tour, we woke up before the sun could, quickly broke our fast, and rode back through the desert. This time, we had the option of riding camels or ATVs, to which the ATVs were an extra charge. I, for one, can ride ATVs anytime in South Carolina, whereas there's a lack of camel supply to ride down south. Thus, I took to my steed.
After stopping for a Sahara sunrise, we eventually made our way back to our shuttlebus. The rest of the day was spent riding ten hours through the desert terrain, all the way back to Marrakech.
Final Words of Advice
So, what exactly should you take from this solo/not-so-solo travel advice session? Here is a quick summary:
Be weary of the airport ATM.
Carry emergency cash-currency for exchange.
Arrange your airport transfer in advance.
Be prepared to walk to your accommodation.
Print your departure flight boarding pass in advance.
Do not allow a stranger to provide you directions.
Do not enter a shop if ushered to enter.
Be willing to make new friends.
Conclusion
My solo trip to Morocco was life-changing. After this trip, I gained a completely new outlook on travel and an entire new entourage of friends.
Just because a destination provides a different dynamic than the "Western world" does not mean it is dangerous, and just because you are setting out solo does not mean you have to stay solo.
Now go & make some memories in Morocco!
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