From the bustling hive of activity that is the central Medina in Marrakesh to the relaxed, cool surf scene of Essaouira, Morocco is perfect for backpackers. The cities are full to the brim with culture, delicious food and interesting architecture and surrounding them are pristine deserts and rugged mountain ranges ready to be explored. There is something for everyone in this North African jewel. I recommend keeping it simple on a 10 day trip, you want to see a lot but get a feel for the places you visit. So here is my 10 day backpacking itinerary for Morocco with a few extra stops which you can add if you are lucky enough to have a little longer to explore.

Morocco has a turbulent history. Constantly being invaded by different countries, each has left behind various influences. You will find a unique blend of Mediterranean, African, Berber, Arab, Jewish and French traditions and people speaking Arabic, Berber, French and Spanish! English is also widely understood and the friendly Moroccan hospitality means you're unlikely to feel out of your depth. However, the cities are an assault on the senses, bartering is expected and if you're blonde you will attract some unwanted attention. It took me a few days to get used to but once I had, I was able to enjoy everything Morocco has to offer!

SIMPLE 10 DAY BACKPACKING ITINERARY FOR MOROCCO!

BASE 1 - MARRAKESH

Marrakesh - this backpacking itinerary for Morocco starts in Marrakesh, where I started my trip. Most international flights, certainly the cheapest when coming from the UK, land in Marrakesh Menara Airport so it makes sense to explore the capital first. I recommend finding a beautiful traditional Riad in the centre of the city near the Medina so that everything is in walking distance. It also means you'll have an easily accessible escape from the intensity of this city.

Where to stay:
Riad Tamarrakecht - beautiful building and delicious breakfasts
Riad Alili - highest rated on Booking.com by guests
Les Trois Cours - amazing location

Ouzoud Waterfalls - The Atlas mountains are definitely worth exploring. From your base in Marrakesh, you can visit the Ouzoud Waterfalls as a day trip. I organised mine through my Riad. The trip, which included transport both ways, a guide for the day and lunch, cost £20. You could go without a guide but in this instance, I'd recommend one unless there is a particular hike you want to do. We stopped multiple times to swim in the rivers, paddled out under the huge waterfalls and saw plenty of beautiful views over the mountains.

Essaouira - especially important for Game of Thrones fans and surfers, you have to include Essaouira in your backpacking itinerary for Morocco! I visited the little port town as a day trip from Marrakesh as I didn't have any surfing planned. However, you could spend longer here and get a later bus back to Marrakesh or further up the coast depending on your plans. It was very beautiful and the fresh Atlantic air was amazing after the stifling heat of the city.

BASE 2 - TANGIER

Tangier - from Marrakesh you catch the overnight train to Tangier. Compartments contain four beds (two bunks) so if there are four of you it is ideal. The trains are really reliable, cheap and very fun. In Tangier, finding a traditional Riad is a little harder so here you either stay in a hostel or hotel depending on your budget. There is a lot to do and see in Tangier to keep you busy.

Where to stay:
Dar Chams Tanja - highest rated on Booking.com and almost a Riad
Hotel Continental - where I stayed! Reasonable price and great history
Baytalice - highest rated on Hostel World

Chefchaouen - this is a must do day trip from Tangier and any backpacking itinerary for Morocco. If you have time, it is worth an overnight stay so you can hike to Akchour Waterfalls. The town is located in the Rif Mountains of Northern Morocco and is famously painted entirely blue. In the centre is a small Kasbah which is surrounded by winding streets, souks and locals weavers on Berber looms.

Asilah - a day spent in Asilah is the perfect, most relaxing way to end the trip. It was built by colonial Portuguese and the Medina is entirely fortified, surrounded by 15th century, whitewashed walls. Here you can enjoy much cleaner beaches than in Tangier. There were also lots of camels cooling off in the sea and locals riding horses along the endless stretches of sand. It is a haven for art lovers as well. Artists from across the globe flock in to paint their murals on the walls of the town.

OPTIONAL EXTRA STOPS

The Sahara Desert can be visited as a 2-3 night tour from Marrakesh. Most tours include staying in a Berber village, riding camels and all food. The overnight train from Marrakesh to Tangier travels along the Atlantic coast which means stopping in the famous town of Casablanca is very easy. Rabat is another easy stop on the overnight train. Generally, people seem to think there is more to do in Rabat than Casablanca.

THINGS TO CONSIDER

Transport - travelling by train is by far the easiest option and a likelihood in any backpacking itinerary for Morocco. The overnight train I took cost 250 Dirhams which is about £50. I felt completely safe. There are women-only carriages if you prefer or you can buy all four beds in a carriage! I was travelling with three friends so it worked out really well. Travelling by bus is cheaper but would have taken too long from Marrakesh to Tangier. However, the day trips I did from both bases were all done via bus. You can book them through Riads, hotels or hostels.

Clothing - Morocco is a predominantly Muslim country so it is best to cover your shoulders to be respectful especially when entering mosques. I went in September and it was sweltering so I covered up to stop getting burnt too.

Catcalling - As I mentioned before, it took me a few days to get used to all the unwanted attention I received from men during my time in Morocco. They were pretty relentless but you get used to brushing them off. Because I am blonde I also found people were quite interested in my hair but again I got used to it. Overall the catcalling was pretty harmless. Check out my post on dealing with unwanted attention if you are worried.

Morocco is a great place to backpack. In fact this was my first ever backpacking trip which I took with three school friends before starting university. It is well travelled and an exciting country to explore. I'm sure you'll have an amazing time, whatever route you take!

We are reminded daily in the news, on social media and by our surroundings that the climate crisis is a serious issue. So, the pressure is on to make small changes in the way we live, with the aim of becoming sustainability queens! Keeping the planet in mind, there are simple steps we can all take to be more sustainable in 2020 which won't break the bank or terrify those of us slightly set in our ways (myself included!).

Seven Worlds, One Planet is a BBC documentary exploring the diversity of life found on the seven continents and how it is being affected by climate change. I binge watched over Christmas and found the series incredibly eye-opening. It highlights how fragile environments are being destroyed all over the world due to destructive human activity. David Attenborough does offer a little hope at the end of the final episode, saying that if we determine to do so, we can make positive change. He talks about how extensive conservation efforts have grown gorilla population numbers to over 1,000 for the first time since records began. And the worldwide whaling ban has allowed whale populations to recover too.

So don't be struck down by climate anxiety! We can make a difference and we will. Here are 10 simple ways we can be more sustainable in 2020. (Can you tell, the series has left me feeling inspired!).

1. Off-Set Your Flight Emissions

This might be a new one for many of you, the concept of off-setting flights is something I have only recently heard of too. By using an online emissions calculator you can work out how much CO2 was produced during a flight. Then using a charity like The Gold Standard you can donate to a project (such as reforesting in the Amazon) that lowers CO2 emissions, balancing out what was produced by your flight. The more you donate, the more CO2 you can off-set. Genius!

2. Walk or Use Public Transport

Walking more is great for so many reasons such as improving your health, saving money and benefiting the planet too. You get to know the area you live better as well. Public transport is the next best option as ride-sharing lowers your personal carbon footprint. If you're curious to see if your carbon footprint is below or above average, check out the WWF Carbon Footprint Calculator.

3. Invest in Sustainable Period Products

Sustainable period products are easy to get your hands on. Mooncup offers free delivery in the UK and you can buy reusable sanitary pads on Amazon. Although they take a little while to get used to, it is worth the investment. Having a plastic-free period makes a huge difference for our oceans, currently 2.5million tampons are flushed down toilets in the UK every day.

4. Reduce Plastic Packaging Consumption

Grocery shopping makes cutting back on plastic consumption very difficult, everything is wrapped in plastic! 2019 saw supermarkets using 900,000 tonnes more plastic despite promises to cut waste packaging. So if we can't rely on the supermarkets to do it for us, what can we do? Try to buy loose fruit and veg and even better, visit your local markets where it is normally much easier to buy plastic free. You can also find out if there is a zero waste shop in your area so you can take your own containers and pay for products by weight. Usually these shops sell washing up liquid, hair care products, laundry detergent and nuts, spices and grains.

5. Switch to Shampoo & Conditioner Bars

With Brexit on the horizon, I regularly find myself thinking about how lucky I was to participate in the EU funded Erasmus scheme. Studying a semester of my degree in Austria really helped me find a job after graduation and made me feel confident that I'd be able to do that job well. Studies show that students who study abroad are 20% less likely to be unemployed six months after graduation. But why does studying abroad make you more employable? And what will happen to UK students post Brexit? If the involvement in the Erasmus program isn't confirmed soon, the best we can hope for is continued funding for studying abroad and the negotiation of new exchange programs with countries in the EU.

Universities UK have launched a campaign urging the UK government to commit to continuing funding study abroad options for UK students in the case of a no-deal Brexit. Currently, the government has no plan in place for the 17,000 students at risk of missing out on opportunities to study abroad next year. This is despite their plan for a 'Global Britain' post Brexit. You can read more about the Universities UK campaign on their website and do your bit to support their aims.

Why Does Studying Abroad Make You More Employable?

Employers look for globally aware, experienced graduates with second languages being a huge plus. Research by the CBI has found that 39% of employers are dissatisfied with graduates’ intercultural awareness and 49% of employers are dissatisfied with graduates’ language skills. They also point out that seven out of ten small and medium sized enterprises believe that future executives will need foreign language skills and international experience. So the research speaks for itself. But there are many other ways studying abroad makes you a more appealing candidate for employment. It helps you develop useful life skills and from my experience, there are five main reasons studying abroad makes you more employable.

1. Studying Abroad Makes You More Independent

It's likely that your study abroad semester or year will be the first time you have lived abroad. Therefore, the whole experience is a steep learning curve. You are far away from home, even more so than moving to halls at the start of university. So, you have to learn to fend for yourself and start making decisions independently. In a situation like this, you naturally become more independent and this is something employers like to see. Someone who can use their own initiative.

2. And a Better Problem Solver

Inevitably complications will arise while you are abroad, be it with accommodation, university courses or just navigating a new city. You have to start solving problems on your own. It's even more pronounced when you're in a country that speaks a different language to your own. I didn't know the shops close on Sundays in Austria. Unfortunately, I timed my arrival on a Sunday, expecting to be able to go out and buy food and bedding. I was forced to sort this situation out on my own and the experience made me a better problem solver for it.

3. You Are Able To Adapt Well To New Situations

Universities work differently abroad as do many regular situations you find at home. But being able to settle in well to a new environment, make friends where ever you're based and being able to thrive in a place that isn't what you're used to are such valuable life skills. They also happen to be skills that make you way more employable.

4. And Potentially Speak Another Language

Speaking another language is one of the main skill gaps highlighted by the CBI's research. Now, don't get me wrong, my German is far from fluent. But having a solid grounding means that if I were to move to Germany, I know I'd pick the language up quickly. And it's a nice feeling to have that option. Usually, on Erasmus, you take a language course as part of your semester credits so it's inevitable that you'll speak a bit of the new language by the end of your exchange.

5. It Sets You Apart From Your Peers With The Same Degree

I've found that having a semester abroad on my CV has caught the interest of many employers. It sets you apart from the thousands of other graduates with the same grade and degree. Your horizons are naturally broadened and I think this is one of the main advantages of studying abroad. It serves you well in interviews, showing you have life experience. You also end up with lots to talk about compared to your peers.