Morocco
Morocco – an evocation of Africa with a heavy hint of Arabia, France and Spain – delivers a blend of gorgeous golden beaches, laidback evenings, traditional Berber villages, incredible scenery and ancient ruins. The souks are enticing, the medinas fascinating, and the food deliciously spiced. Ride a camel on the beach, venture into the Sahara, entertain yourself with watersports, and stroll by the water’s edge.
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Morocco is a land of spectacular natural beauty: the High Atlas Mountains give way to verdant valleys fed by roaring rivers, while on the plains groves of oranges and olive trees punctuate the rolling landscape. Far to the south, the undulating dunes of the Sahara Desert seem to go on forever.
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Things to Do in Morocco
Sights, sounds, smells and flavours – Morocco is an explosion of sensory overload drenched in colour, from the green of the rolling coastal plains and the cloudless blue sky, to the red walls of Marrakech, the golden desert sands and the kaleidoscopic rainbow of a thousand souks. Take a deep breath and prepare to be enchanted.
What to See
Marrakech, at the foot of the Atlas Mountains, is the capital of southern Morocco and has a history stretching back more than a thousand years. Surrounded by palm and olive groves, Marrakech is a lively oasis that rises out of the dusty plains like a blood-red mirage. At the heart of the city lies the medieval Jemaa El Fna square, alive with music, fire-eaters, snakecharmers and food stalls. Leading off the square, the ancient souks form a maze of tiny passages where craftsmen and traders ply their wares in an endless round of haggling.
Dominating the skyline is the 65- metre minaret of the pale pink Koutoubia Mosque. Further important sights include the Bahia Palace built by the Vizier Ba Ahmed Ben Moussa at the end of the 19th century, and the 16th-century Saadian Tombs with the ruins of the El Badi Palace.
For a change of pace, spend time in the city’s most beautiful gardens. The Jardin Majorelle belonged to Yves Saint Laurent and contains a small museum of Islamic art; the huge Agdal Gardens are a tranquil oasis of pools and orange groves.
What to Do
While Marrakech is the most visited of all Morocco’s imperial cities, the others each have their own unique characters, and the best way to get a feel for this fascinating country is to take an Imperial Cities tour. Casablanca has been forever immortalised on film and is the most European of Morocco’s cities. Here you will find art deco architecture and the glorious Hassan II Mosque. Fes is the oldest living medieval Muslim city in the world and its souks are renowned for the high quality of their craftsmen. Erfoud lies on the fringe of the Sahara, from where you can visit the spectacular dunes at Merzouga.
