# Solo travel in Morocco for women over fifty: how to plan it URL: https://soukytours.com/blog/solo-travel-morocco-women-over-fifty Date: 2026-10-06 Solo travel in Morocco as a woman over fifty: how people respond to you, what pace works, what to check with riads and heat, and a ten-day route. Much of the advice on solo travel in Morocco assumes women in their twenties. If you are fifty, sixty or older, your trip looks different in a few ways. On the street you have it easier. Stairs, distances and heat need more attention. ## How people respond to you Age earns respect in Morocco. Older women are addressed more politely than young ones, and the street remarks that young travelers talk about come your way far less. Sellers in the souks try it with everyone, so that stays. Saying no kindly and walking on works at any age. Do expect curiosity. A woman traveling alone is unusual, and people ask where your husband is and whether you have children. That is interest and almost never more than that. You don't have to answer at length. The guide on [safety for women](/en/practical/safety-for-women) covers what else to expect on the street. ## Pace: fewer places, longer stays Morocco is big and the distances are longer than they look. Marrakesh to Fes is a six-hour drive, and the Sahara at Merzouga is nine to ten. If you move every two days, you spend more time in the car than seeing anything. Choose two or three bases and make day trips from there. Keep the afternoon free. Between noon and four it is hot and busy, and a riad with a courtyard is made for sitting in. ## Long drives The road over the Atlas to Aït Benhaddou and the desert is good, but winding. If you get carsick easily, sit in the front and eat light. With a private driver you decide on the breaks. Agree that you stop every hour and a half to two hours to stretch your legs, even if the route doesn't call for it. On a bus or in a shared taxi you don't have that choice, and you feel it after a six-hour day. ## Riads and stairs A riad is an old townhouse built around a courtyard. The stairs are narrow and steep, there is rarely an elevator, and the roof terrace where breakfast is often served is two or three floors up. If your knees or hips bother you, ask for a room on the ground floor when you book, and ask where breakfast is served. The alleys of the medina are uneven and poorly lit in the evening. Bring shoes with good grip and use the light on your phone. If the taxi can't get to the door, ask whether someone from the riad can carry your suitcase. In Gueliz, the new town, you find hotels with an elevator and taxis at the door. You miss the feel of the medina, but it is a good deal easier. ## Heat and season Go in spring or fall. From March through May and from late September into November, the days in Marrakesh are pleasant. In July and August it often reaches 38 to 45 °C (100 to 113 °F), and that is hard going if you are outside a lot. The guide on the [best time to visit](/en/practical/best-time-to-visit) breaks it down per month and per region. Drink more than you think you need, and only bottled water. ## Medication and insurance Bring your medication in its original packaging, with enough for the whole trip and a few days extra. Put it in your carry-on. A list of your medication from your doctor or pharmacist helps if you need to buy more along the way. For controlled medication, such as some strong painkillers and sleeping pills, check your own country's rules for traveling with controlled medication. You may need a medical statement. Start on that early. You find pharmacies in every city, and the pharmacists speak French. Take out travel insurance that covers medical costs in Morocco, and read the terms if you have an existing condition. There is more on that in the guide on [travel documents and insurance](/en/practical/travel-documents-and-insurance). ## A ten-day route This route has two bases and little travel time. 1. Days 1 through 4: Marrakesh. Do the first day with a guide or driver, so you know how the city fits together. The days after that you head out on your own. 2. Day 5: a day trip to the [Atlas Mountains](/en/trips/atlas-mountains-and-berber-villages). You can choose a short, flat walk. 3. Days 6 through 8: [Essaouira](/en/destinations/essaouira), a drive of 2.5 to 3 hours. The town is small, flat and relaxed. 4. Days 9 and 10: back to Marrakesh, with time for a hammam and the last shopping. The Sahara fits in too, but that means three long days in the car. If you want to go, add three days and don't cut anything else for it. ## On your own, without arranging everything yourself A regular driver for the days you leave the city takes the negotiating and the navigating off your hands. The days in the city you do at your own pace. Soukayna drives herself, and you can talk to her in English, French or Moroccan Arabic. The [tailor-made trip](/en/trips/tailor-made-trip) page explains how to have a trip put together that suits your pace. ## Frequently asked questions **Is Morocco a good place to travel alone as a woman over fifty?** Yes. Older women are treated with respect in Morocco and get fewer remarks on the street than young travelers. Pay attention mainly to your pace, the stairs in riads and the heat. **What is the best time to go?** Spring and fall. From March through May and from late September into November the days are pleasant. In summer Marrakesh often reaches 38 to 45 °C (100 to 113 °F). **Are riads suitable if I have trouble walking?** Not all of them. Riads have steep stairs and rarely an elevator. Ask for a room on the ground floor, or choose a hotel with an elevator in Gueliz. --- Source: https://soukytours.com/blog/solo-travel-morocco-women-over-fifty Souky Tours, contact through the chat on https://soukytours.com/contact