My Honest Take on Morocco’s Tourist Trap Problem

I came to Morocco expecting a magical, authentic, and cultural experience right away, and instead, I kind of felt like I had stepped into a live Instagram story full of tourist trapped vibes and staged experiences.

In some of Morocco’s popular destinations, like the Merzouga Desert, I felt so overwhelmed by outside influence and commercialization that I was completely taken aback. I wasn’t expecting this, and I haven’t heard many travelers talk about this side of Morocco.

There were moments where I felt the rich culture, the beautiful people, and the incredible experiences Morocco has to offer, but they were often overpowered by the sheer amount of European and North American tourists and influence.

Whether it was navigating the crazy markets in the Medina or on an overnight desert experience, I felt like so much of what I was experiencing was designed for the perfect Instagram post or TikTok video. Everything felt overly guided and staged, and I just wasn’t expecting that.

The Morocco I Thought I Was Booking

To preface, I have traveled to nearly forty countries, including places that are extremely off the beaten path, so I was expecting a true cultural experience, not a Europeanized version or something similar to heavily traveled parts of Asia.

My perspective may be different because of my prior travel experience, but I also spoke with many others who felt the same: it really just felt like Instagram had taken over.

When a Country Starts to Feel Like a Backdrop

What I mean by this is that so many experiences and sights seemed created for social media, and the country felt overrun with curated tourism. It was clear that locals were extremely familiar with tourism and knew how to maximize it, which in a way felt a little bit wrong.

Merzouga: The Desert Tour That Felt Like a Photo Conveyor Belt

I’ll never forget my experience on the Merzouga Desert tour from Fes to Marrakech for three days. I was excited for it to be over.

Every day, we would drive for hours along some of the most beautiful roads, passing quaint desert villages, only to stop for maybe two minutes just for Instagram photos before moving on.

The guides offered no historical context or cultural insight about the places we were seeing. Instead, the focus was always on the perfect angle for a photo or taking pictures of us in front of villages or viewpoints.

The Missing Piece: History, Meaning, and Real Conversation

I was looking for depth, cultural, historical, and religious insights about the people and the place, but instead, it felt like tourist trap after tourist trap. Even our meals seemed more about monetizing the experience than giving a genuine cultural exchange.