How do I plan a Morocco trip from Belgium?

Belgium punches well above its size when it comes to Morocco. Because of the large and long-established Moroccan-Belgian community, Brussels and Charleroi run dense, frequent links to Morocco year-round — you’re rarely stuck for a flight, and fares stay reasonable. For my Belgian guests the practical upshot is a short, easy hop of around three and a half hours with no meaningful jet lag (Morocco is one hour behind Belgium in winter), and French spoken almost everywhere you go, which makes the country feel immediately navigable.

I always start a Belgian itinerary with the same two questions: how many days, and what do you want to feel? A 7-day loop — Marrakech, the High Atlas, a night in the Sahara dunes and the kasbah road through Ouarzazate — is my standard recommendation for a first visit, because it gives you the full sweep of Morocco without a punishing pace. With 10 days we add Fes and the imperial cities for a deeper, more historical journey. Both routes are laid out on our 7-day and 10-day itinerary pages so you can feel the rhythm before deciding.

For the mechanics, book your flight first — Belgian fares are best outside the Flemish and Walloon school holidays and the summer peak — then lock in your ground arrangements. For a first trip I steer people firmly toward a private driver-guide rather than a hire car; the mountain passes and desert tracks reward local knowledge, and you’ll see far more of the quiet, beautiful corners. Pack layers as well: it’s easy to be in shirtsleeves in Marrakech and reaching for a fleece at dawn in the dunes.

One honest note Belgian travellers sometimes overlook: your Belgian health cover does nothing in Morocco, so take simple travel insurance. And the dirham is a closed currency — you can only get it inside Morocco, so use the airport ATMs on arrival rather than trying to buy dirhams at home. Beyond that, leave an evening or two free; the unplanned rooftop dinner or souk wander is usually what my guests remember most fondly.