Roadtrip to Morocco in a converted van with Kendy & Alex
Here are the experiences of two VanBreakers, Kendy and Alex (34 and 36) from Montpellier, who went on a roadtrip in a converted van in Morocco during November 2023, and share their experiences and advice with you. They chose to rent the Volkswagen California OCEAN.
How did you get involved with California OCEAN in Morocco?
We traveled to Morocco with VAN BREAK’s California OCEAN from November 12 to 24, 2023. Leaving Málaga, we headed for the port of Tarifa, and after crossing the Strait, we arrived in Tangier, where we didn’t stop, as the aim was to spend some time there at the end of our trip on the way back.
So we drove straight to Assilah, where we strolled through the medina at the end of the day and had a plate of fried fish before hitting the road again to find a spot to spend the night.
We decided to stop for the night at Moulay Bou Selham. The next day, as we opened the side door, Germaine and her friends (herd of cows) wished us a good day. We had our first Moroccan breakfast with the locals and headed back to Rabat.
After taking a big tour of Rabat all day and seeing all there was to see (a magnificent stopover), we set off in the late afternoon for Casablanca, where we stood glued to the Hassan 2 mosque as the sun set, it was awe-inspiring.
After a stroll around the medina and a bite to eat, we set off in search of an ocean-facing spot to sleep, a little past Casablanca along the coast heading south.
After a good night’s sleep and a sunrise over the ocean, we had a coffee in the back of Brahim’s C15 before setting off again for Essaouira, stopping first in Safi for a snack and a visit to the medina (magnificent) and a cooperative where we could admire all the Safi pottery work.
In the early afternoon, we headed back along the coast towards Essaouira, where we arrived in the late afternoon, with time for a stroll through the medina, a visit to the Mogador ramparts to admire the raging waves crashing against the rocks, and a magnificent sunset at the port. After our first beer of the trip and a seafood pastilla, we went in search of a beachside spot for the night towards Moulay Bouzerktoun, where we spent a very good night, this time in the tent above the van, as we wanted to be able to open the tent in the morning to admire the sunrise over the Ocean while lying warm under the comforter. A simply magical moment (and that was only the beginning!).
After breakfast overlooking the waves and a short stroll along the sand, we returned to Essaouira for the morning, as we really enjoyed the town’s atmosphere. We bought fresh sardines on the harbour (1€ for 10) as well as calamari, oysters etc… and enjoyed them all on the harbour in the sun for a total of 12€! After regaining our strength, we had planned to go to Taghazout and Agadir, but were afraid of being too tight on timing.
So we decided to leave the coast and start heading inland towards Marrakech.
After two days visiting the thousand and one things there is to see in Marrakech, we had planned to go to the Ouzoud Waterfalls, but once again we were afraid of running out of time, so we took the road in the direction of Aït Ben Haddou.A vast, peaceful landscape that’s a welcome change from the hustle and bustle of Marrakech. We continued on to Ouarzazate, which was unfortunately very quiet following the recent earthquake. As a result, we didn’t spend too long there, although we were expecting to spend at least two days.
So we decided to head straight for Skoura, to sleep in a palm grove (another simply MAGIC moment, with a splendid sunset and an equally exceptional sunrise) and rest after all that driving.
The next day, we visited the Amridil Kasbah, well worth the detour, and then set off again for Kelâat M’gouna and the Valley of the Roses, via Boumalne and the Dades Gorge, to Tinghir and its immense palm grove and the Toudgha River (unfortunately dry at the time).
After passing through the Tafilalet and its ksours, we couldn’t wait to get to the desert.
After this huge crossing from Skoura to Merzouga, we finally arrived at the foot of the dunes to spend our first night in the desert. Another timeless moment.The next morning we watched a magnificent sunrise over the dunes. We spent the day in the desert, in a 4×4 with Ali, who showed us a lot of interesting places, and then on a quad bike at the end of the day to admire a sunset in the silence of the desert. At nightfall, we went back to the “Chez les amis” restaurant for a couscous in the same place as the day before (the best of the trip), then returned to the dunes with the van to spend the night in peace and quiet, with the idea in mind that the next morning we’d still be treated to a unique spectacle, our last sunrise in the desert, immortalized in Time Laps with our GoPro to keep a souvenir even if this moment will remain forever engraved in our memories.
After a Moroccan breakfast, we set off again on the long, long road to Fez.
After a 7-hour drive, we arrived in Fez at the end of the day, where we immediately took a stroll around the medina to start scouting for the next day, and set off to find a spot to spend the night, this time in a campsite 15 minutes from the center of Fez.
The next day we wandered around the (huge) medina and visited all the places of interest before setting off again at the end of the day for Chefchaouen.
We took a short night tour of Chefchaouen, had a bite to eat and settled down in a field 15min from Chefchaouen, where the next day we were again treated to a beautiful sunrise. We returned to the Blue City by day, which we really enjoyed, and headed back to Tangiers for our last night in Morocco.We were happy to be back on the coast, had a bite to eat in a seaside restaurant with a memorable sunset (another yes…) and found a seaside spot to spend the night and hope for a beautiful sunrise, the last in Morocco, which we got. Thank you Morocco! And thank you Van Break for this 3000km trip that allowed us to see all these beautiful things!
How did the crossing of the Strait of Gibraltar go? (ferry, administrative, vanbreak support)
The strait crossing went very well. With FRS, about a 1-hour crossing, the staff was pleasant and comfortable. Van Break had briefed us well on how everything would work and there was no stress about anything, everything was prepared and we knew exactly how everything was going to go, and it all worked out just as Van Break had told us.
What are the advantages of taking a van to Morocco?
In our opinion, the advantage of leaving in a van in Morocco is the freedom of movement, being able to spend as much time as you want, wherever you want. The possibility of setting up in heavenly spots and enjoying an aperitif overlooking the ocean with the sound of the waves in the background, spending a peaceful night in a palm grove or taking a siesta in the desert with a breathtaking view of the dunes. You can be as close as possible to nature and enjoy it to the full, while still having access to the comforts of a shower, kitchen and bed.
Is it easy to sleep in a van in Morocco and find water?
Contrary to what we’d read on certain forums, or seen on certain YouTube videos, we haven’t had the slightest bad experience. We spent almost all our nights in free, beautiful places. Only 2 campsites for one night in Marrakech and one night in Fez. The campsites were very comfortable. And one night a military patrol made us change places because we were on an old disused campsite, but they were all the more pleasant by telling us “My friend, you can’t stay there, you can go to a parking lot just above, have a nice evening”.
Finding water was very easy too, we didn’t have the slightest difficulty, we always had a spot on our route, most of the time free, and occasionally we filled up for the equivalent of one euro.
How did the rental go with VanBreak?
Renting with Van Break was simple, quick and efficient. From the very first contact with Aurélien, everything went very quickly, and the exchanges were clear and pleasant. I knew right away that we were in good hands, and from start to finish they were top-notch. Olivier checked us in and prepared us for the ferry crossing, taking care of all the administrative aspects. Everything was very clear, and we were off to a magical vacation thanks to Van Break.
What about safety in Morocco?
As for safety in Morocco, we didn’t feel the least bit unsafe during our entire stay. Not even in the medinas in the evening, despite the warnings on certain forums or guidebooks, especially in the medina of Casablanca, which is supposedly a medina where you shouldn’t hang around too much in the evening. We even got a little lost at one point, and two women helped us find our way back. You can leave with peace of mind, feeling much safer here than in some French cities.
