I’ve just spent nine days in Morocco, which is barely enough time to make a dent in this large and complex country. Out of the many places to visit, I chose to allocate three days to Marrakech, two days to a drive to the desert, and four days to Fes (one of which was spent almost entirely at Volubilis). Here are my Morocco itinerary highlights — the best of the best.

Erg Chebbi: Dunes & Camels

The desert at Erg Chebbi was an absolute highlight, mostly because I’d never seen anything like those dunes …

… or had so much fun riding a camel (granted, the last time I rode a camel, I was about eight).

From the Desert to Fes: A Scenic Road Trip

The drive from the dunes up to Fes, while long, was also really special. It’s amazing to see the vast geological formations and the life springing up out of the desert.

Volubilis: Roman Ruins and Mosaics

Our day trip to Volubilis, an important Roman city from the first century AD, was another stand-out.

The site is enormous and impressively well-preserved, and it’s well known for its many intact mosaics.

Marrakech Highlights: Bahia Palace and Madrasa Ben Youssef

My favorite stop in Marrakech had to be Bahia Palace, an elaborate 19th-century home built by two viziers. The palace is empty of its original furnishings, but it is notable for its fabulous painted ceilings.

I would also happily return to Marrakech’s Madrasa Ben Youssef, an Islamic college that was built in the mid-1500s and stayed open for the next 400 years.

The madrasa is rightly famous for its carvings and tile work.

Fes: Alleys, Rooftops, Doors, & Cats

In Fes, one of my favorite things was studying the lovingly-restored details of my small guest house, Dar Seffarine. Over 600 years old, it is an excellent example of the traditional Moorish architecture of Fes.

I also enjoyed meandering through the narrow alleyways of the Fes medina …

… and keeping an eye out both for interesting doors …

… and for the dozens of cats that inhabit the town.

Fes is also a great place to sit up somewhere high and look out over the rooftops (unlike Marrakech, it has a hilly and varied skyline).

Traditional Arts & Crafts (and a Rooster)

Of course, both Marrakech and Fes are known for their shopping …

… but I was even more excited in both cities to have opportunities to view the making of different objects.

If you take the time to wander down less-traveled alleys, you’re likely to find someone making anything from filigree work to the tiles that will end up in the country’s fountains, tables, walls, and floors.

Another thing worth seeking out in Morocco is the traditional music. Here we have musicians playing the oud, the krakeb, and the doumbek.

Last — but certainly not least — one of my favorite things was this guy! I’m not sure if he’s a regular on Fes’s knife-sharpening street, but I’d go and take a look.

• Love ancient history and mosaics? You’ll definitely want to read Should You Visit Ancient Volubilis? Absolutely — Here’s Why.

• Thinking about adding a desert adventure to your trip? Here are Top 10 Reasons to Drive to the Moroccan Desert.