What should I pack for a 2-week Morocco trip?

A two-week trip almost always spans wildly different climates — sweltering Marrakech, the cold-at-night Sahara, the cool High Atlas and maybe the breezy Atlantic coast — so the art of packing for it is building a mix-and-match wardrobe that layers up and down rather than packing separate outfits for each region. I work in a neutral palette of breathable cotton and linen pieces that all go together: loose trousers, a few tops, a couple of dresses or shirts, one warm fleece and an insulated jacket, plus a packable waterproof shell. Everything should earn its place by working in at least two of those settings.

Because you will hit genuinely cold spots, do not let the heat of the cities fool you into under-packing warm layers. Two weeks usually includes at least one desert overnight and often some time at altitude, where evenings are cold even in summer and near-freezing in winter. So a fleece, a warm jacket, a hat and a scarf travel with me regardless of the season, alongside the light summer pieces. The scarf in particular does endless duty over a fortnight — sun shade, modesty layer, dust barrier and warmth — so I pack two.

Logistics matter more on a longer trip. I recommend one medium suitcase plus a small soft-sided overnight bag and a daypack. The overnight bag is for the desert leg, when your main case stays in the vehicle and you carry only one night's essentials to camp; a soft bag straps onto a camel or fits a 4x4 far better than a hard case. Pack enough underwear and socks for about a week and plan to do a laundry midway — riads and laundrettes turn things around quickly, and washing once frees you from dragging fourteen of everything across the country.

For two weeks I also pack a slightly fuller toiletry and medical kit, since you are away long enough that running out is a real nuisance: your own sunscreen, any prescription medicines in their packaging, rehydration sachets, blister plasters and the usual personal items. Throw in one smart-casual outfit for the nicer rooftop dinners, comfortable closed walking shoes plus sandals, a refillable water bottle, a power bank and a type C/E adapter. Crucially, leave real space and a little weight allowance for shopping — almost everyone fills a fortnight with rugs, lamps, ceramics and spices, and you will be glad you did not pack the case to bursting on day one.