Family trip to Chefchaouen in northern Morocco !

Hello everyone,

Today I'd like to share with you a trip that's a little bit special... A moment that I shared with my family, and which will remain engraved in my memory for a long time. It was an escapade full of charm and discovery in one of the most emblematic towns in northern Morocco: Chefchaouen, also known as the Blue Pearl.

Situated between the Rif mountains, Chefchaouen is a small, historic town. Its blue-painted alleyways, flower-filled staircases and small wooden doors with antique handles are all soothing. You get the impression that time passes more slowly here...

But Chefchaouen is not just an ‘Instagrammable’ town, as some would say. It's also a place steeped in history. Founded in the 15th century, it was for a long time a refuge for those fleeing foreign occupation. Andalusian influences can be seen in the architecture, the shady patios and even in the way the locals decorate their homes. It's a city proud of its identity, its Amazigh culture and its crafts.

It was in this unique atmosphere that I was lucky enough to travel with my mother, my brother, his wife and their two adorable little girls. We all needed a break, to spend some time together, away from the noise and stress of everyday life...

In the rest of this post, I'm going to show you some photos taken by my brother with his Redmi Note 13 Pro smartphone. He captured these moments on the road between Meknes and Chefchaouen, from the hotel where we stayed at the entrance to the city, as well as during a pleasant stroll through the charming little streets of the old medina...

As we left Meknes, we were already feeling that little surge of excitement you get before a trip. The car moved slowly northwards, and as the kilometres went by, the scenery around us changed completely. The familiar wide plains were gradually giving way to more undulating, wilder landscapes, almost as if they were hidden from the world.

In the distance, you could begin to make out the Rif mountains. Majestic, peaceful, they stood there with their grey rocks at the top and their slopes well covered with greenery. What I love is that little cloud that sometimes comes to rest quietly on a summit. In the car, nobody really spoke. We were all staring out of the window, captivated by what we were seeing. Even the little girls, usually so full of energy, remained silent in wonder.

At every bend in the road, the landscape changed again. Hills covered with olive trees, a few fig trees, and from time to time, a white house standing alone in the middle of nature. The light was incredible, clear, soft, almost unreal. It gave the mountains a special charm, as if they came from another world. We felt tiny, but deeply serene.

Then, suddenly, as we rounded a bend, Chefchaouen came into view. The town slowly unveiled itself, nestling at the foot of the mountains. You could see its red roofs and its first blue corners. It was like a beautiful promise opening up before us: that of a few calm days, filled with beauty and nature.

As soon as we arrived in Chefchaouen and put our bags down in the hotel, the first thing we did was open the curtains... The view was simply breathtaking. From the balcony, the city spread out before our eyes, calm and colourful, nestling at the foot of the mountains, as if seeking protection 😊.

We could make out the narrow, winding streets, the flat roofs and the little balconies full of flowers. And behind it all, like a great natural backdrop, rose the majestic mountains of the Rif, there was a kind of silent poetry in this landscape.

The air was pure, slightly fresh, and carried a discreet scent of wood and damp earth. It was our first real contact with Chefchaouen, and the view alone was already worth the trip. We had the impression of being both very far from home and yet strangely at home.

We decided to take a stroll around the Medina, and as soon as we got there, we immediately felt like we were entering a world of our own. The narrow, stone-paved streets seemed to meander like blue rivers between the walls of the houses. Blue was everywhere, in all its shades: from the palest to the deepest, from turquoise to lavender. It was as if each wall had been carefully painted to soothe the spirit and invite a slower pace.

You went down a few steps, then up again, then down again... Each corner revealed a new scene worthy of a postcard: a door decorated with potted flowers hanging from the walls, an old cat asleep in the shade, a small sculpted fountain, a souvenir shop with a thousand colours. It was a bit like walking through a film set, but very real.

At every turn, our eyes were drawn to charming details: a flowery balcony, a hanging lantern, a colourful ceramic sign. Some places exuded an almost silent, intimate atmosphere, as if time had stood still.

We also stopped for a few moments in front of the stalls selling local crafts. Leather, pottery, traditional clothing, colourful soaps and decorative objects, all shone with authenticity. There was the simple pleasure of strolling around, looking at things, chatting with the shopkeepers, sometimes bargaining a little, always in a good mood.

One thing's for sure, you couldn't get enough of walking. Even the little girls, who were often tired from this kind of walk, were wide-eyed and kept pointing out things that were ‘too pretty’ or ‘too blue’! Every alleyway was a discovery, every step a surprise.

Chefchaouen isn't a town you visit, it's a town you feel. And in these tightly-packed alleys, sometimes silent, sometimes bustling, we simply felt at home... where we belonged.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to read these lines, to walk a little with us, and to discover this little corner through my photos and my words.

I'll see you very soon for a new post, another destination, an emblematic historic site in the centre of the city... Take care and see you soon.

I'm Redwan from Morocco ! I've always had a passion for travelling and discovery. Nothing gives me greater pleasure than exploring new places, whether historical, archaeological or in the heart of nature. Through my blogs, you can discover the hidden gems of Morocco, whether you want to admire the fascinating architecture of a historic site, delve into the legends surrounding an archaeological site, or simply marvel at the beauty of Moroccan nature!

All photos taken with a Redmi Note 13 pro smartphone and edited on canva !