Morocco


Morocco is the most popular travel destination in Africa and for good reasons. Morocco is home to a fascinating culture and history. Morocco’s coasts and scenery offer a lot to interest tourists, such as fortified fishing ports, long beaches and the High Atlas Mountains. There are also imperial cities to visit in Morocco like Fes, Meknes, Rabbat, Tangier and Casablanca and Marrakech with their excellent examples of ancient Islamic architecture makes Morocco a great place to go fro adventure.

Major Attractions

Morocco has great tourist attractions including:

Todra Gorge

This place is located on the High Atlas Mountain’s remote east. The Todra as well as bordering Dades rivers have engraved cliff-sided gorges through the mountains. The Todra Gorge has a length of 600 meters and has short canyon of 10 meters wide and rock walls of upto 160 meters high, making it very spectacular.

Essaouira

This is a calm fishing port that is protected with a natural bay. Essaouira is popular for its windsurfing and kite surfing, with the strong trade wind blowing practically always on the sheltered bay. Parasols are used on the seashore as a shield against the blowing wind and sand. The Essaouira’s medina is home to a lot of small fine arts and crafts big businesses, remarkably wood-carving and cabinet making.

Draa Valley

Draa Valley is situated at the High Atlas Mountains’ south side. It’s lined with ancient Berber and Kasbahs villages as well as palm groves, stretched from Ouarzazate to Zagora. Certainly, driving through the valley is the most scenic journey in Morocco. The Draa River intersects the Draa Valley.

Erg Chebbi

These are dunes are situated in the Sahara Desert. There are amazing as they can be as tall as 150 meters, and one undoubtedly feels great in their shade. Erg Chebbi extraordinary feature is its stunning exceptional orange colored sand. Normally, excursions to the dunes begin from the Merzouga village of that is situated on the border of the erg. The most popular traveling option is camel trekking.

Fes-al Bali

This is the largest Medina in Fes and is almost intact medieval city. It has a population of around 150,000 inhabitants, making it the largest carfree urban region in the earth by population. Goods are mainly transported by donkeys, motorbikes and carriages. The whole medina is bordered by tall walls with numerous historic city gates. A number of restaurants and shops have a rooftop veranda that is a good way to run away from the busy streets. Above all, the views are magnificent during evening and after dark.

Ait Benhaddou

This is one of the fortified cities of Quarzazate. It is located along the old caravan road between the Marrakech and Sahara and Marrakech. The tall mud walls contain 6 kasbahs and a small several homes. Majority of the city’s inhabitants now reside in a more contemporary village on the opposite side of the river even though a number of families still reside inside the town walls. Aït Benhaddou has been featured in a number of movies, such as Lawrence of Arabia and Gladiator.

Where to Eat

Morocco offers one of the best cuisines in Africa. Their cuisine includes a mix of Berber, Arab, Moorish, Mediterranean, as well as African influences. Tagine is the most popular dish in Morocco, which is traditional tasty stew slow-cooked in a clay pot. Green tea is the most famous Morocco drink that is considered a significant habit and locals have it all through the day with colleagues and friends. Morocco also has the most excellent wines in the world. The best places to eat in Morocco include:

  • La Maison Arabe In Marrakech
  • Kasbah Toukbal in High Atlas Mountains
  • Le Ryad des Vignes in Ben Slimane
  • Thalvin winery
  • Heure Bleue Palais in Essaouira
  • At L’Amandier restaurant
  • Grand Café de la Poste
  • Majorelle Garden

Shopping

Soaks

The most memorable and amusing thing to do in Morocco is Haggling at a souk. The top places buy souvenirs and gifts are Souks. Soaks are found all over Morocco. You can get the most ostentatious souks in Morocco at Marrakech.

Djemma El Fna Market

This place is at core of the shopping and eating scene in Marrakech. In the morning, the square, which is located at the core of medina in Marrakech, is mainly packed with snake charmers as well as people with monkeys and a number of stalls. In the evening, the square is filled with magicians, story-tellers and hawkers of traditional medicines. At night, Djemaa El-Fna is crowded with plenty of food-stalls, and people are at their height.

Chefchaouen

This is an elegant mountain city found in the northeaster Morocco. The striking medina which rests in the spectacular background of the Rif Mountains is packed with overpowered homes that have distinctive, powder-blue accents. It’s a famous shopping destination offering scores of native handcrafts that you can’t find anywhere else in Morocco, such as woven blankets, and wool garments. Cannabis in Morocco is mainly produced in the region surrounding Chefchaouen. Hanish is sold throughout the city.

Centre Artisanale

This is a government run centre and offers quality and affordable arts and crafts items. There are a number of excellent pottery stalls located on the Place el-Hedim’s western side. Other shops are situated outside the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail.

Riad Alkantara

These consist of complex six grand houses surrounded by a garden and pool. There are numerous crafts and art workshops for children, music, a café, storytelling and evenings of poems. The health resort has a massage and hammam room, and offers lessons in yoga, movement and meditation.

Supersol Supermarket

This is the greatest place to buy basics and treats alike.

Where to Have Fun

Morocco has a vibrant nightlife that is exceptional and varies throughout the country from pubs, bars to traditional tummy dancing clubs. There are also great events and festivals that you can enjoy in Morocco, such as the Marrakech Arts festival, Ramadan and the World Sacred Music Festival. There are great places that you can have fun in Morrocco, including:

  • Marrakech where nightlife include local bars as well as street entertainment like live music and street performers.
  • Agadir resort which is the best hotel where you can dance freely and comfortably. It offers western-like night scenes.
  • Cabarets nightclub in Casablanca offers excellent bear, Moroccan music and belly dance performances.
  • Street cafes offer the best tea during the night. These cafes also offer flavored tobacco in big water pipes.
  • Montecristo offers shisha and drinks at reasonable prices. It’s a good place to enjoy diner aa well.
  • Café Du Livre also is a good place to enjoy casual drink.

How to Get Around

Train

Generally, trains are the best option as they are fast and comfortable. You can travel through the imperial cities, including the Marrakech, Tangier, Rabat, Meknes and Fez, of Morroco by train.

Buses

Buses are also good means of transport as they offer almost universal coverage, with odd departure times. Supratours buses are some of the luxury buses that are comfortable and offer reasonable prices.

Grand taxi

Shared taxi services as well operate between cities and have semi-fixed fares that are shared equally among travelers. They are therefore less expensive than the luxury buses.

Plane

Royal Air Maroc offers the best plane services. Other airlines include Jet4you.com and Air Arabia Maroc.

Renting a car

This is the best method to get around Morocco though it’s very expensive. There are many rental firms in Morocco.

Ferry

There are many passenger ferry services that operate in Morocco. Traveling using ferry can be fun and comfortable.

Jason Peterson

My name is Jason Peterson and I caught the travel bug during my time traveling the world in the Navy. I am super fortunate that my wife and I can now travel together and share our knowledge, hacks and tips with our friends and readers. Never hesitate to reach out with suggestions or questions. jason@howtotravel.info

Recent Content