Moroccan Magic — A Girls Trip Series Travel Story We’ll Never Forget

There are trips you take to see a place, and trips that quietly change the way you move through the world afterward. Morocco was the second kind.

This Girls Trip Series journey unfolded over twelve days, moving from the pulse of Marrakech to the stillness of the Sahara, through the Atlas Mountains, and finally to the Atlantic coast. It was layered, textured, and deeply human. The kind of travel that doesn't rush to impress, but stays long enough to be truly felt. What made it extraordinary was not just where we went, but how we moved through it. Slowly. Curiously. Together.

If you had told me Morocco would become one of my favorite places on earth, I might have overlooked it. But after 12 days wandering through vibrant souks, sleeping under the Sahara stars, riding into golden dunes, and laughing until our sides hurt with some of the most incredible women, the magic of Morocco is officially locked in my heart forever. This wasn’t just a trip; it was a transformation. A deep, beautiful, soul-stretching journey where adventure met culture, connection, and pure sisterhood. And if you’re even thinking about joining us next year…trust me, you’ll want to read every word.

Marrakech: Learning the Rhythm

Marrakech does not ease you in - it asks for your attention immediately. The colors are louder than you expect, the sounds overlap, the medina feels endless…and you can either resist it or let it carry you as you let your days away just flow. Our arrival day was spent without plans, allowing the women to settle in and kick things off with our trip kick-off meeting. Throughout our 12 days in Morocco, we use Marrakech as our hub for arrivals, transit breaks and departures - giving us the chance to experience it in different ways and cadences along the way. From wandering souks without agendas, sitting longer than planned over mint tea, soaking in a traditional hammam, and shopping for textiles and ceramics - we let the city set the pace.

The Sahara: Where Things Get Quiet

From Marrakech, we packed into our beloved Sprinter van and got the journey started. The scenery changed gradually, then completely. Cities gave way to palm valleys, the snow-capped Atlas Mountains, winding roads, rock formations, and stretches of land that felt almost lunar. By the time we reached the Sahara, the group had already begun to feel like something solid…like questioning how old we all were sitting in that van (lol).

The Sahara Desert is a hell of a way to start the trip. Nothing prepares you for seeing the soaring dudes for the first time as the sunrise creeps up from behind it. Our time there was unforgettable and a bucket-list travel experience that created core memories for every single woman on this trip. The desert strips everything back - no distractions and no noise beyond the wind and the soft rhythm of the sand beneath your feet.

From riding ATVs through giant dunes, to spending time learning and having lunch with local nomadic Beber families, to packing up and onto camels as we ride into the dunes for sunset as we head off to a luxury desert camp, and spending that night under a sky crowded with stars - conversations became quieter and more honest. This was not a performative connection. It was presence - the kind that does not need to be named while it is happening.

This is where the group began to soften. Conversations started to deepen. The nervous energy of arrival faded into something steadier.

Atlas Mountains: Movement and Perspective

Leaving the desert, we moved into the Atlas Mountains and the Dades Valley. The terrain shifted again. Roads curved through dramatic landscapes, and villages appeared and disappeared just as quickly. Traveling this way builds perspective. You start to understand how diverse Morocco truly is - and how many lives exist beyond the postcard images.

As we made our way to the Dades Valley, we stopped at Todra Gorge, a dramatic canyon carved by the Todra River and framed by towering limestone cliffs that rise hundreds of feet on either side. The air was cooler here, the light sharper, and the scale of the landscape impossible to ignore. Locals passed through on foot, while climbers scaled the rock faces above, reminding us that this gorge is not just a scenic viewpoint, but a living part of daily life in the High Atlas region. It was a grounding pause in the journey, offering perspective and contrast before continuing deeper into southern Morocco, and a poignant reminder of the varied and powerful landscapes along this route.

Leaving Dades Valley heading back to Marrakech, we passed through Aït Benhaddou, a centuries-old fortified village built from earth and stone along the former caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakech. Rising quietly from the landscape, the ksar feels both cinematic and deeply rooted, its narrow passageways and layered architecture shaped by history, trade, and survival in southern Morocco. Walking through Aït Benhaddou offered a tangible sense of time and place, a reminder of how architecture and landscape work together in this region, and why this UNESCO World Heritage Site continues to be an essential stop when traveling through the Atlas Mountains and the Dades Valley corridor.

These days were about motion. Long drives, shared playlists, pee breaks, lots of snacks, and the roadside stops that turn into unexpected moments. The kind you cannot schedule and would never want to.

The Coast: Letting the Body Catch Up

On the coast, the energy softened. In Essaouira, days unfolded at an unhurried pace with wide skies, ocean air, and a medina that felt calm rather than chaotic. We wandered blue-and-white streets without pressure, ate amazing food, hit markets with a local family who opened the doors of their home to us for a traditional cooking class, browsed artisan shops, and lingered over long meals where conversation stretched naturally. By this point, the group dynamic was effortless. Laughter came easily. Silence felt comfortable. Friendships had settled into something real, not forced, not rushed - and it was really starting to hit us that our days here were close to coming to an end.

From Essaouira, we continued south to Taghazout - a small Atlantic surf town where slow, barefoot mornings are shaped by the tide. Life here revolves around the ocean: surf sessions, salty hair, casual cafés, and evenings that end with sunset instead of schedules. Together, these coastal stops offered space to rest, reset, and let the body catch up to the journey, balancing movement with ease in a way that felt deeply restorative.

Where the Journey Came Together in Morocco

The final morning began before sunrise, floating quietly above Marrakech in a hot air balloon as the city and surrounding landscape slowly came into view. It was an unexpectedly emotional moment for all of us, shared in near silence and a ton of gratitude where connection felt felt rather than spoken. Watching the light shift across the land became a natural pause and a chance to reflect on how much had been experienced together and how complete the journey was starting to feel.

Later that day, we gathered for our final group meal, a tradition on every Girls Trip Series trip. Over food and unhurried conversation, each woman is asked to respond to a set of thoughtful questions, sharing what the journey and the connections with new women offered her and what she was taking home.

The afternoon was left open for a final wander through the medina, choosing textiles, ceramics, and small souvenirs to carry the experience beyond Morocco. By the time it was time to leave, the group felt deeply connected, with goodbyes filled with tears that carried gratitude rather than urgency, and a shared understanding that this was not an ending but a continuation of making future travel plans.

What This Trip Really Was

This Morocco Girls Trip was not about ticking destinations off a list. It was about immersion, connection, and traveling with intention. It was about giving women the space to arrive as they are, to be curious instead of performative, to experience Morocco beyond the surface level, and to experience themselves differently because of it. This is what The Girls Trip Series is built on.

Looking ahead, Morocco will return this year in November! If you are someone who craves depth in your travel, you value thoughtful itineraries, cultural respect, and genuine connection (and if you want to move through a place in a way that feels considered rather than rushed) this journey might be for you.

Join the waitlist for the next Morocco Girls Trip Series departure and be the first to receive trip details and early access to sign-ups when the trip launches on Friday, January 30th. If you are local to Vancouver and would like to attend a Moroccan dinner in celebration of the trip launch (or you just want to make new friends) - click here!

Some trips stay with you. This will forever be one of them.