morocco weather

What's the weather like in Morocco?

It's hot and sunny for most of the year in Morocco. During the peak summer months it gets uncomfortably hot especially in Marrakech, Fes and southwest Morocco, towards the desert. Casablanca, Rabat and Essaouira are a bit more comfortable in the peak of summer because they benefit from a cooler ocean breeze.

Winters (November to February) are generally mild although temperatures at night can get down to the 40's Fahrenheit (10 C). A dusting of snow is not unusual in Northern Morocco and of course the Atlas Mountains get a lot of snow. You can even ski in Oukaimeden just outside of Marrakech. Winters in the north of the country and along the coast can be quite wet. Winters in the south are drier but colder, especially at night.

Scroll down to see what temperatures you can expect in Rabat (which are basically the same as in Casablanca) and Marrakech. There's more climate information for those planning trips to the Sahara Desert and the Atlas Mountains at the bottom of the page.

The Atlas Mountains

The weather is unpredictable in the Atlas Mountains and obviously it depends on what elevation you're planning to get to. The High Atlas Mountains have a typical mountain climate with very cold winters (November to March) and cool but sunny summers. The Middle Atlas Mountains get a lot of rainfall, especially from November to February. Summer temperatures average around 72-78 Fahrenheit (25 C) and winter temperatures can get as low as -4 Fahrenheit (-20 C).

Western Sahara

If you're planning a trip to the Sahara Desert it's best to hop on a camel during the fall or early spring. Temperatures average around 115 Fahrenheit (45 C) during the summer and it's obviously dry as a bone. Nights in the desert do get much colder however and you'll need a good jacket even if you're sweltering during the day. During March and April you have a good chance of dealing with sandstorms as the Sirocco whips up.

The Atlantic Coast

If you look at the temperatures for Rabat at the top of the page, this is basically what you can expect at Morocco's beaches. The weather is perfect in the summer, cooler than the interior and warm enough to heat up the ocean to make swimming quite pleasant.

morocco mall ouverture

morocco mall ouverture


             
The initiators of the Morocco Mall promised dream. But the final product surpasses all imagination. The new temple shopping Casablanca, which hosts 300 brands, is ready for its grand opening, scheduled for Monday 5 December. A 5-star mall, which extends over 70,000 m2. It is part of the top 5 world-class collects and superlatives and awards. This is the first time a mall started its activities with an occupancy rate of 98%. Morocco Mall won the "Arabian Property Awards 2009" for his avant-garde architect. In addition, the Galeries Lafayette are already in the Guinness World Record. Indeed, with a total area of ​​3390 m2, the store has the largest façade in the world, built in a mall. As for the franchise, it spans three levels totaling 10,000 m2. Salwa Akhannouch, president of the group Aksal and chief promoter of the project, organized in preview, Tuesday, Nov. 29, a housewarming party for the benefit of the press. The pride on his face: "No company has been able to create 5,000 permanent jobs in one shot," said the group's president Aksal, which employs alone, 1,500 employees in various mall stores.
Nestled on the cornice of the metropolis, the new mall is ready to receive visitors. Some shelf stockers and other merchandisers are still busy bringing the latest keys. Obviously, the goal is to present their goods in their best light. International brands such as Fnac or Galeries Lafayette chose to open from December 2. An entertainment program will accompany the inauguration. "We have three years to select the 300 brands proposed by the Galeries Lafayette, 90% are introduced for the first time in Morocco," said Drouet Vincent, Director of Purchasing. Other stores offer at the opening, Monday, promotions to attract and retain customers. The mall consists of three floors. The ground floor accommodates mid-range brands, while the first floor is dedicated to luxury. However, moving into the intricacies of the mall, there is some "commercial mix" between luxury brands and those providing public goods. A deliberate choice to maximize attendance mall for the benefit of all brands. At the food court, located on the second floor, about 70 signs restoring their home, including Venezia Ice Pomme de Pain, Mc
Donalds, Burger King ... There is something for everyone. In total, this section includes 1200 seats where you can sit down to enjoy a breathtaking view of the ocean. The outdoor area covers 30,000 m2 including 14,000 reserved for green spaces. In short, a true extension of the cornice of Casablanca. Side animation, the group has Aksal package. Morocco Mall is, in fact, with the 3rd largest musical fountain and water in the world, with an area of ​​6000 m2. Choreographed music and light is offered to visitors, day and night.
The aquarium will certainly be one of the attractions of the flagship mall. A large compensation for nostalgic one that was closed in Casablanca a few years ago. The Aquadream is the third of its kind built in a mall, after those of Berlin and Washington. A real connection between the mall and its environment as hosts nearly 3,000 living species, including tropical fish and corals from all over the world. Diving sessions will be offered in the mall. In Morocco Mall, the national heritage is no exception. A real traditional souk covering an area of ​​700 m2 was built in the temple of modern shopping, bringing a touch of Morocco. The space is divided into four zones, dedicated to Marrakech, Fez, the Amazigh culture and jewelery. Odors and materials used, such as cedar or zellige, is a nod to the national crafts. Designed by architect Abdessamad Acharaï, the souk also houses two mosques with spaces reserved for ablutions.
New tourist attraction
Morocco Mall expects to receive 15 million visitors per year. Customers who do not recruit only among nationals. The project promoters want to make it a tourist destination in its own right. Thus, from Morocco, tourists can kill two birds with one stone. There first visit to the country. Then, the possibility of shopping by finding the same items in their home country. But the advantage of the Morocco Mall is that it offers the possibility to benefit from a tax refund. In addition, management is available to customers of the 11 largest hotels in the city a free shuttle service to enable him to visit the mall.

Marrakech History - History of Marrakech

Marrakech History


A brief History of Marrakech
The imperial city of Marrakech was founded in 1062 by Sultan Youssef ben Tachfine who is credited with construction of the defensive walls that encircle the city. Extended to 19 kms during the dynasties of the Almohades and Saadiens, the spectacular city walls, varying in colour between pink and red, are punctuated by 200 square towers (borjs) and nine monumental gates. The prosperity of Marrakech at this time made it a fitting capital for an empire which stretched from Algiers to the Atlantic and from the Mediterranean almost to Senegal.

Following 400 years of berber dynasties emanating from the indigenous tribes of the Atlas mountains (the Almoravides, Almohades and Merinides, who ruled until 1465), the 16 th century saw the arrival of rulers of Arabic origin. The wealthy Saadiens (1554-1603) were responsible for unifying Morocco as one country. In 1659 the Alouites came to the throne (occupied from 1672-1727 by Moulay Ismail, the most famous of all the sultans) and still rule Morocco today.

One of the most notable sites in Marrakech from this period of Moroccan history is found in the Kasbah. Set in a small garden, the16th century dynastic tombs of the Saadiens are among the finest examples of Islamic art, not least for the intricate stucco decoration and cedar ceilings of the mausoleum.

In 1912 the Treaty of Fes recognised Morocco as a French Protectorate under the notional sovereignty of the sultan. During the next 40 years the country made significant economic progress thanks to development by the French of rail and road infrastructure and the introduction of hydro-electrical installations, irrigation systems and national education. The modern commercial and residential quarter of Guéliz, outside the Marrakech medina, was completed shortly before Morocco became a fully independent country once



Achaeologists have found that the site of Marrakech has been almost continually occupied since Neolithic times, but the modern city has its origins in an Almoravids garrison town of the 11th century. In 1062, Abu Bekr, an early commander of the Almoravids, threw up a wall of thorn bushes to protect his camp and built a fortress amid his tented army, the Ksar el Hajar,the tower of stone. Nine years later he appointed his young cousin, Youssef ben Tachafine, to command this new post. The meteoric conquest of Morocco and spain by Youssef ben Tachafine from this base marks the true foundation of both the city and the Almoravid Empire. Marrakech's position on the border of three agricultural regions meant that it soon eclipsed the older towns of Aghmat and Nfis to become the main market for the farmers of the Tensift valley, the nomadic pastoralists of plains and the Masmuda Atlas tribes. It still has that feel to this day. It was Youssef ben Tachafine's son and successor, Ali ben Youssef, who built the great circuit of walls, two large mosques, palaces and fountains, which were all superbly decorated by Andalucian carvers.

The Almoravids brought the technology of desert survival and used it to improve the city's seasonal water supply. Long khettera (pipes) were built to carry water underground from the High Atlas mountains to the houses and gardens of Marrakech.

The Capital City Of The Almohad Empire 1147 - 1269
After Decades of warfare between the Almoravid Sultans and the Almohads, whose head-quarters were tucked up in the High Atlas moutains, the walled city of Marrakech finally fell in 1147. The Almohads deliverately demolished any evidence of the previous dynasty and remade the city their own image. It did, however, remain the capital city of a great empire, and the monumental buildings of this period-the Koutoubia Mosque, the El Mansour Mosque, the Bab Agnaou-still dominate the city. Almohad princes ruled on in Marrakech decades after the rest of their empire had fallen into hands of rival dynasties. Like the Almoravids before them, they were fated to die defending the walls of the city, which were finally breached by the Merenids in 1269.

A Decaying City 1262 - 1524
Under the Merenids Sultans (1248-1465) Morocco was ruled from Fez, and Marrakech stagnated into a provincial town. By the early years of the 16th century even this comparative prosperity had ended. Portuguese cavalry raided up to the walls of the city, Ottaman Turks were poised to advance from the east, and the authority of the central government, threatened by dozens of rival dynasties, had shrunk to the area around Fez. In 1524 the dilapidated city welcomed the rule of Mohammed ech Cheikh, forceful founder of the Saadian dynasty, whose power was based on the tribes of the south. Using Marrakech as his base, Mohammed ech Cheikh succeeded in subduing the rest of the country. He was murdered in a High Atlas valley by an Ottman assassination squad. The governor of Marrakech prompty ordered the murder of six of his sons, to clear the succession for Abdullah el Ghalib.

The Golden Capital Of Saadians 1524 - 1668
The reigns of Abdullah el Ghalib and his half-brother Ahmed el Mansour, the victorious (also known as El Dehbi, the golden), witnessed a magnificent revival in the prosperity of Marrakech. Abdullah founded the mellah, rebuilt the Kasbah and the Ben Youssef Mosque and Medersa, and built a hospital and the new Mouassine Mosque. Ahmed el Mansour built the incomparable El Badia Palace and the Saadian Tombs, and sprinkled the city with fountains, foundouqs, libraries and hammams. The prosperity of Marrakech in these centuries was partly based on a thriving trade in sugar, saltpetre, cotton and silk. The city become the collection and transit point for the produce of the Sahara and sub-Sahara-slaves, gold, ivory, gum arabic and ostrich feathers-which was then exported through the Atlantic ports.

Alaouite Marrakech, The twin Capital 1668 - 1912
The vicious civil wars of the late 17th and early 18th centuries, in which Marrakech was repeatedly beseiged and plundered, were a disaster from which it never entirely recovered. Sultan Moulay Ismail (1672 - 1727) restored the religious shrines of the city but decided to rule from a new capital in Meknes. Later Alaouite sultans attempted to check the city's continued decline by alternating government between Fez and Marrakech, and many of the city's finest buildings date from the 18th and 19th centuries. The comparative order and prosperity of Moulay Hassan's reign (1873 - 94) is revealed in the large number of opulent merchants houses and palaces of the Bahia and Dar Si Said, built by viziers during the minority of his son, Abdul Aziz.

But the City remained pitifully backward. At the turn of the 20th century there were no wind or steam mills in the city, and trade depended on pack animals being safely escorted past the Rehamna tribes to Essaouira.

The 20th Century And Beyond
Growing European influence was bitterly resented, culminating in the lynching of a French resident, a Dr Mauchamp, after he attached an aerial to his roof in 1907. Personal resentment against Dr Mauchamp was intense, from both native healers and city traders who were influriated that with his aerial the doctor could dicover prices in Essaouira days before they could. The city mob for their part were convinced the aerial was a sorcerer's device, for i twas well known on the streets, and with some truth, that Mauchamp had great knowledge of the occult. This lynching proved to be one of several incidents that provided the excuse for the french landings in Casablanca in the same year. Five years later the French army occupied the city, having destroyed the tribal army of El Hiba, the Blue Sultan, at Sidi-Bou-Othman.

Marrakech become an important centre of French infulence in the south, though the city sold predominance was deliberately shattered with the location of the new commercial centre at Casablanca. In Marrakech the French buit a new town, Guéliz, to the west of the old city, its ordered avenues and quit leafy suburbs overlooked by their enormous army barracks. Within a generation they had adorned the region with roads, hotels, pylons, railways, schools, irrigation works and hospitals. Apart from the roads, these technical advances were for the benifit of colonial farmers and the caidal allies of the French. Their chief ally was Si Thami el Glaoui, the fabulously wealthy Pasha of Marrakech, who ruled a medina in which an estimated 20,000 registered prostitutes lived.

Independence in 1956 bright a swift and bloody end to the pasha's corrupt regime. Greater Marrakech today houses a rapidly expanding population of a million. It is the most important administrative and intustrial centre of the south, and earns valuable foreign currency as a tourist destination. Marrakech is a natural marketplace, with a cultural life that recalls both the splendour ofits periods as imperial capital and the traditions of its rural Berber hinterland.in morocco,moroccan culture,hercules cave,hercules cave morocco

Mohammed VI

Media sources have said qu'importantes preparations are in the city of the Middle Atlas, Ifrane, to accommodate for the holiday season, King Mohammed VI.

According to the newspaper Al Akhbar reported that Yaoum this information in its draw Monday, December 31, the monarch would have flown to the winter resort since the city of Agadir where he was staying these days.

The same sources indicated that the city had received more snow this week, the King's wife, Princess Lalla Salma and her two children, Princes Moulay El Hassan and Lalla Khadija, during school holidays.

Each year, Moroccans comemmorate the exile of Mohammed V on 20th August and then, on 21st August, the birthday of his Grandson, the current King Mohammed VI.

Ten years and one day after his Grandfather, Sultan (later King) Mohammed V, was sent into exile (only to return triumphant), Mohammed Ben Al-Hassan was born, the eldest son of King Hassan II of Morocco.

Mohammed VI was born on 21st August 1963 and succeeded his father on 23rd July 1999.

On Saturday, 21st August 2010, HM King Mohammed VI celebrates with his people his 47th birthday.



To nominate a blog for the Best of Morocco Blogs, just make sure it fits the criteria at this post and then let us know about it!

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Hercules Cave - YouTube

The Ouzoud Waterfalls

Breakfast and depart to the Cascades d' Ouzoud to experience one of the most spectacular sights in Morocco. Located in a plush valley, within friendly Berber .
Ouzoud Falls. Cascades d'Ouzoud.jpg. Ouzoud Waterfalls. Location, Morocco. Type, Multi-step. Total height, 110 m (330 ft). Number of drops
Though chiefly associated with rolling sand dunes and desert vistas, Morocco also features some spectacular sights that one wouldn't expect to see in a North African country. Case in point: the Ouzoud Waterfalls. Located in Morocco's Azilal province 95 miles north-east of Marrakech, the Ouzoud Waterfalls (or "Cascades d'Ouzoud" in French) present a striking picture of beauty that is all the more unexpected compared to the ruggedness of the surrounding country.

The Ouzoud Waterfalls are a complex network of waterfalls that cascade one into another through 3 major and several minor drops. From top to bottom, the chain of waterfalls stretches 330 feet. The brilliant white of the stirred-up water contrasts dramatically with the rich red sandstone outcroppings of the El Abid river gorge. As one of the most popular tourist destinations in the region, the Ouzoud Waterfalls offer visitors a number of options to best view this astonishing natural wonder.

From the base of the falls, a path winds between ancient olive trees that have given their name to the falls - "Ouzoud" means "olive" in the Berber language. For those who prefer a bird's eye view, there are a number of small roads that lead to the summit and then descend to the bottom. Be sure to watch carefully as the sun sets: that's when extended family groups of the local monkeys visit the falls to play amongst the splashing waters and rising mists.

As befits its importance to Morocco as a scenic destination and as recognition of the fragile ecosystem around the Ouzoud Waterfalls, local, regional and national government bodies are spearheading conservation projects intended to protect the area and prevent its exploitation. Should you be lucky enough to visit the Ouzoud Waterfalls, perhaps as a side trip from a vacation in Marrakech, do your part by not discarding litter. Preserving the Ouzoud Waterfalls for future generations to enjoy is a gift to both future visitors and sign of respect for your gracious Moroccan hosts.


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Hercules Cave - YouTube

Hercules Cave - YouTube

According to our Moroccan tour guide, the Hercules Cave in Tangiers has 2000 years of history.
Located 14 km west of Tangier in Cap Spartel, the north-western extremity of Africa's Atlantic coast. Cap Spartel is heavily wooded, but below it the Robinson Plage stretches off to the south. The caves are located about 100 meters from the Robinson Plage Holiday Village and surrounded by some expensive cafes.
The caves has been used as a dwelling since Neolithic times. Archaeological excavations have produced human bones and flints. For a long time locals quarried stone here, then, in the first half of the 20th century they were used as brothels, until it was found that tourists were a more lucrative venture.
It is recommended that one visits the caves very early in the morning to avoid being hassled by the locals. The Caves of Hercules are Tangiers premier tourist attraction. Apart from their great beauty and archaeological interest, they are reputed to have been the dwelling place of Hercules who founded Tangier and made the Straits of Gibraltar, with one blow from his sword.
From the entrance kiosk, the guide leads the party along a concrete path, past the old quarry working to a second entrance overlooking the Atlantic ocean. This is called "The Map of Africa", as the outline of the entrance is said to resemble this feature. This entrance is impassable at high tide.

Text by Tony Oldham (2004). With kind permission.
This cave and its neighbouring caves the Al Alia Cave, the Al Khil Cave and the Cave of Ace Sayfia contain prehistoric remains from the Neolithic. The findings are currently exposed at the museum of Kasba of Tangier. They include smooth, red pottery, polished rocks, cut flint and terra cotta figurines.

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All the Majesty of the South

All the Majesty of the South


Not to be missed this summer is a mega exhibition on cultural relics of the Qin dynasty. On view from 25 July through 26 November, The Majesty of All Under Heaven: The Eternal Realm of China’s First Emperor, will offer 120 exceptional artifacts, including terracotta warriors and horses, rarely seen bronze objects, and lifelike acrobat figures. The little kiddos will be amazed with the magnificent showcase of the Emperor’s grand Terracotta Army!

Time: Mon & Wed- Sat 10am- 6pm Sun 10am- 7pm




1st day: Marrakesh – Ouarzazate Morning departure from your hotel/riad in Marrakesh at 8 o'clock and driving across the High Atlas mountains. At panoramic viewpoints, there will opportunities to stop and take photos. The first scheduled stop is at the Kasbah of Telouet, which served as a palatial residence and the headquarters of the powerful Glaoui tribe. Then the route crosses the Oumila Valley and leads to the Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, the oldest and most famous Kasbah in Morocco and a UNESCO World Heritage site where we have lunch. After visiting the Kasbah, you continue to see another famous one of the area, Kasbah Tifoultoute. In Ouarzazate you spend the night in one of Desert Majesty’s apartments or a riad.


2nd day: Ouarzazate – Toudgha Morning departure to the Toudgha Gorge, passing the Oasis of Skoura, where numerous ancient kasbahs, some sadly in ruins, stand amongst the palm trees. From here, our route takes us through Kela’a M’gouna, the Valley of Roses, where we stop to see cosmetic articles locally-made from the valley’s abundant roses. These products are well-known throughout Morocco and are highly valued We drive off-road to the Dades Gorge for lunch, after which there is time for a stroll alongside the river before continuing to the Toudgha Gorge for the second night in a hotel or kasbah there.


3rd day: Toudgha – Merzouga After breakfast, there is time to walk by the river before continuing to Toudgha to the very different gorges there. Lunch will either be here in the gorges or later at the bivouac at the Erg Chebbi dunes. You drive there via the Oasis of Tafilalet, Erfoud and Rissani. In the afternoon you can take a two-hour camel ride in the Sahara. The sunset from the top of the dunes is spectacular (250m) and afterwards there is dinner and the night in a nomad tent at the foot of the dunes.


4th day: Merzouga – Agdez If you wake up early enough, you can watch the spectacle of the sunrise, when the colour of the dunes and the play of shadows are an awesome sight. The drive back east to the Dra’a Valley takes us via the villages of Tazzarine (featured in the film ‘Babel’) and N’Qob, where we have lunch. In the afternoon we drive to Tanasikht, along the track of the ancient caravan route, reaching the Dra’a valley, abundant with large palm trees and ancient kasbahs, at Agdez. We spend the night at the oldest Kasbah in the village, Kasbah Tamnougalte.


5th day: Agdez – Cheggaga Departure in the morning by 4x4 from Agdez through the Dra’a Valley along the track of the ancient caravan route to Zagora. From here the trip continues along paved roads to the village of M’hamid, which marks the end of the paved road and the beginning of the Sahara. Here we pause for lunch in a riad set in a beautiful garden full of palm trees and with a swimming pool. In the afternoon, we leave for the Erg Cheggaga dunes (300m) with 60km off-road. This route passes different features of the desert; ‘erg’, ‘reg’, ‘hammada’, oases. These dunes are far away from civilization, in the desert proper ……. and the silence and the expanse of the sand are overwhelming. Dinner and the night are in a bivouac there.


6th day: Cheggaga – Taroudannt After breakfast we drive another 90 km across the Sahara over the stony desert, “reg” and “hammada” and across the now dried-up Lake Iriqui. In the middle of this lake we can search for fossils. At the edge of the desert at Foum Zguid, we drive north to Taznakht, famous for its Berber gelims and carpets, where we stop for lunch. After crossing the Tizi-n-Ikhsane and Tizi-n-Tighatine passes, we reach Tilouine, the heart of the saffron growing region. The road takes us onto to Taroudannte where we stop for the night in a riad.


7th day: Taroudannt - Tassaouirgane In the morning a visit to the town known as “the little Marrakesh”. It is spectacular for its massive ramparts and beautiful medina. Then we climb back up the High Atlas Mountains across the famous Tizi-n-Test pass, stopping at the Tinmal mosque, which may be visited by non-Moslems. Lunch will be in a mountain restaurant with superb views. From here we continue through the mountains to the village of Tassaouirgane where we leave the main road and follow a valley up to a mountain retreat for the night. Here the quiet and beauty of the view down the valley over the gardens full of fruit trees is overwhelming.


8th day: Tassaourigane – Marrakesh After breakfast, we descend the valley again back to the main road. We turn towards Marrakesh following the Ourika River and all its waterfalls. In Imlil we stop to walk and look up at Toubkal Mountain, the highest peak in North Africa. Further down the Ourika Valley we stop for lunch with a Berber family. And then back to Marrakesh.

Guesthouse Dar Zohra

Guesthouse Dar Zohra
Twirling the souks of Marrakech, buying handiras, searching for vintage Beni Ouarain carpets and building guesthouse Dar Zohra in the High Atlas Mountains

We have decided to name our guesthouse Dar Zohra which translates into English as House of Zohra.

Our goal is to build a boutique accommodation where people can unwind in luscious comfort whilst at the same time experience a feel of authentic life in the Atlas Mountains. An excellent starting place for mountain walks or discovering the local villages, some of them more than 300 years old.

The guesthouse will have six spacious rooms and two suites. Each room has its own private terrace with a spectacular view of the mountains, the river and the nearby Berber villages.


In the restaurant and on the terraces beverages and meals will be served to our hotel guests or passing visitors. A peaceful environment to lounge with a traditional mint thee serving while observing the breathtaking view that spreads out before you.

On the agenda are a modest swimming pool and a private hammam to be build in the traditional style of a Moroccan bathhouse. We would like to offer our guests the opportunity of pleasant relaxation in an oriental ambiance, feeling revitalised for new adventures to come.

What do I know about Morocco?

What do I know about Morocco?



Not much really. The world's a big place and I just haven't managed to get around to expanding my travel knowledge to Morocco.
So, I asked Emiel van den Boomen from the travel blog Act of Traveling for a bit of education on this mysterious land.  Here Emiel has given us some great stories and tips he picked up on his family's journey to Morocco.  There is just something so otherworldly about Morocco, just look at Emiel's photos. Definitely a destination our family will be adding to our world travels.
Thanks to Emiel for all the help and Enjoy Morocco!
I have heard that Morocco, in particular Marrakech, can be a overwhelming and aggressive for travelers.
Was this your experience?  Did you find a big difference between Marrakech and other Moroccan cities?
Absolutely NOT! Overwhelming yes, but in the positive sense of the word.  Aggressive?  No Way.
We decided to not start our trip in one of the major cities in Morocco. So we kicked off in Ourazazate, close to the Atlas mountains and the desert. The beauty of the landscape was overwhelming: red rocks, long straight roads crossing the desert, beautiful!
Of course Marrakech is a big city, so you automatically encounter lots of traffic and people wanting to earn a buck from you. That's normal but I have to be honest that we expected a lot more hassle. People wanting to sell their stuff, trying to get you in their store. We were warned about the souks: “Don't talk to anyone because you cannot get rid of them once you have shown the slightest interest in their products”, they told us. The reality was totally different. Even in the soukhs we could easily walk around with our kids, no problem at all! We looked at shops, bought something if we wanted to and the kids had a great time. You can even take a horse and carriage to get you back to your hotel, it's a nice way to view the city.
We actually like bigger cities, because of the buzz and the many people to watch. Really, Marrakech to us was never aggressive. I know Marrakech seems an inappropriate destination right now, after the bombing that killed so many innocent people. Our experience dates from before that.


I know very little about travel in Morocco.  How did you get around while during your travels?
If you want a bit of luxury travel, you just rent a 4 wheel drive. Bags and suitcases go on top. You will see many of these cars crossing the country as it's a popular way for travelers to get around.
In Marrakech it's very easy to get a taxi. So-called petit taxis are allowed to carry only 3 people (plus the driver). Negotiate on beforehand about the price and just take another one if you believe they ask too much.
From Marrakech to Essaoiura (on the coast) we took a local bus. You can choose between local busses or somewhat more luxury busses. The last one is excellent when you travel with kids. It will take you to the coast in less than 3 hours and still for a very low price!


What did your children think of their time in Morocco?
What were some of the highlights and lowlights for your kids?
One lowlight turned into a highlight quickly for our youngest son (4 years at that time). We went for a camel ride on the beach of Essaouira, but my son was so scared of the camels at first! Look at the picture! But after a couple of minutes he started to smile again, enjoying being a Prince of Persia!
The children remember the desert, the camel ride, the cultural differences (“Dad, why are these women wearing clothes when they swim in the sea?”). The travel to Morocco was terrible, as we had a six-hour (!) delay before we could continue with our flight from Casablanca to Ouarzazate. And I can tell you, there is nothing to do at Casablanca airport! Lowlight for sure...


The culture is very different in Morocco when compared to the Netherlands.
What culture differences stood out or surprised you, both good and bad?
Of course the culture is very, very different. When we waited at the airport, a man got on this knees and started to pray. Time after time he bowed his head, almost touching the ground. My son asked us: Dad, is there a hole in the ground? Hilarious! Of course we explained about the Muslim culture and so we did a couple of more times during our trip.

I might read a lot of guidebooks before embarking on a trip to Morocco.
Tell me a few popular places I should feel free to skip and some Moroccan destinations or experiences I must partake in before I leave the country.
Popular places are Ait Benhaddou, a must-see place also for your kids. Our kids loved the climb up hill with a spectacular view of the country.
Also popular is Essaouira, a nice pitoresque city, but certainly NOT a place to stay if you want to lay on the beach and enjoy the sun. It's windy and therefore a popular place for surfers!
The highlights for me was the part from Ouarzazate into the mountains (Dades valley) and the desert.
In Marrakech, go to the Marjorelle gardens. An oasis of peace where you can take a rest after walking the busy streets. Be prepared, it can become very busy. At night, you MUST go to the Djem El Fnaa square in the middle of Marrakech. Every night the square turns into an open-air restaurant. Don't worry, the food is safe. We experienced it ourselves.


A lot of families I know are going to be cautious of traveling to Morocco with kids in tow.
What can you tell them about your own experiences that might ease their concerns?
We chose Morocco because for us it was a totally different world yet very close by (3.5 hours flight from Holland). We decided not to travel the whole country, but only a limited part. Morocco is great because you can easily combine large cities with smaller towns and elongated landscapes.
When you decide to travel to Morocco, make sure to get your vaccinations. But after that, and I am very honest here, we did not encounter anything that got us worried. You will immerse in a totally different world.


What are your 3 best tips for families traveling to Morocco?
1) Don't start in one of the big cities like Casablanca or Marrakech. Start smaller and work your way to the big city. It helps your kids to get used to a different culture.
2) Focus on a smaller part of the country and do not try to travel all the major cities, plus the desert, the mountains and the beach  Stay in places at least 2 or 3 days.
3) Book hotels with a swimming pool! There is nothing more needed after a dusty day in the desert to play in the water!

Things to see and do in Morocco
3
Atlantic Coast
Whether it’s a stay in Asilah, the little whitewashed town near the beaches popular with Moroccans, Agadir for the huge stretch of sand replete with western comforts, or the beautiful and wild deserted shores reaching through the Oued Massa, Souss Masa and El Houceima National Parks, Morocco’s Atlantic coast is a beach-lovers dream.

Casablanca
Inside the urban sprawl lies a charming whitewashed old-town, where faded art deco glories from the city’s day as a French protectorate sit alongside intricate Moorish architecture (including the largest Mosque outside Mecca). Casablanca’s citizens are also the most westernized and culturally progressive in the country.

Cascades d’Ouzoud
What could be more of an attraction in an arid, semi-desert country than roaring waterfalls plunging through a burst of greenery? The Cascades d'Ouzoud in the Central Atlas are Morocco’s largest and do just that, making them a popular stopping point between Marakech and Fez. Try the spring water here, so cold and refreshing you won’t want to leave.

Chefchaouen
This breathtaking old town, with a medina comprising painted blue houses scattered down a slope in the heart of the Rif Mountains, is one of Morocco’s prettiest. Having been claimed by Spain as part of Spanish Morocco in the 1920s, the architecture through its steep and winding cobbled streets is a unique blend of traditional Arabic and Andalusian.

Djemaa el Fna, Marrakech
Djemaa el Fna is the hub of life in Marrakech, and locals and tourists alike flock here to watch the daily spectacle unfold. As night falls the vast square comes alive as a thronging, open-air stage filled with acrobats, storytellers, snake-charmers and musicians, all perfumed with the smoke from a hundred food stalls. Unchanged for centuries this is surely one of the world’s ‘must see’ cultural wonders.

Draa Valley
The Draa Valley is a ribbon of fertile green, scattered with Berber villages and impressive casbahs, some built into the valleys rock walls. The valley is a wonderful place to explore, and never more spectacular than in the evenings, as the dipping sun sets fire to the red earth.

Essaouira
With its picture-postcard medina and fortress ramparts jutting into the sea, not to mention great seafood restaurants, boutique hotels and a charming souk, this historic, romantic, artistic seaside town on the coast west of Marrakech is a perennial favourite. The broad, blustery beach, perfect for world-class windsurfing, seals the deal.

Fez
Unravel the mystery of Fes, the refined ancient centre of sacred learning and imperial power. Labyrinthine streets are anchored by the soaring minarets of the Al-Qarawiyin and Al-Andalus mosques (not open to visitors) and centuries of history are captured at the Dar Batha Museum. Fez’s medina is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the largest, continuously populated medieval city in the Islamic world.

High Atlas Mountains
Explore the spectacular mountain range running nearly the full length of eastern Morocco, and challenge yourself with a trek to the summit of its highest peak, Jebel Toubkal, standing at 4,167m (13,667 ft). As your breath returns you’ll be rewarded by breathtaking views. The trip can be made in a day, but most trekkers take a leisurely three.

Jardin Majorelle, Marrakech
The antithesis of the Djemaa is the hidden oasis of Jardin Majorelle. These immaculately presented gardens were created in the 1920s by French artist Jacques Majorelle. Purchased and restored to former glory sixty years later by Yves Saint Laurent, today this haven of tranquility blossoms with rare botanical specimens; palms, cacti and bamboo, surrounding limpid ornamental pools heavy with water lilies.

Meknes and Volubilis
Although smaller and more relaxed than Marrakech and Fez, Morocco’s third imperial city is equal in charm. Improved in the 17th Century by Sultan Moulay Ismail, the city is easily navigated without a guide, and a showcase of Islamic architecture. Outside the town are the ruins of Volubilis, the largest site of Roman remains in North Africa, illustrating once again the cultural diversity and richness of Morocco’s history.

Rif Mountains
The fascinating and scenic range in the country’s north is the stronghold of the Berber people. Wonderful trekking opportunities avail, including through the fir forests in the Talassemtane National Park.

Sahara Desert
Witness the vast empty majesty of the Sahara from its western edges at Ouzina and Merzouga. Venture out across the shifting ocean of sand, trekking by camel to visit nomad settlements, oasis, and the mighty dunes of Erg Chebbi.

Tangiers
Head back to the decadent Bohemian days of Tangier in the Grand Socco and Petit Socco, where some of the 20th century's greatest writers, Beat poets, and rock stars like the Rolling Stones found inspiration while rubbing shoulders with tax-exiled aristocrats and international spies. Even today, this port-town’s raffish ‘ask no questions’ vibe still thrills.

The Souq, Marrakech
This legendary, bustling and chaotic bazaar is the city’s pulse, and entering its shadowy, vast canopy-covered labyrinth north of the Djemma el Fna always elicits a thrill. Everything from carpets to cardamom can be found in these twisting lanes - and remember, the haggling’s all part of the fun.

Todra and Dades Gorges
These stunning, red-cliffed sister canyons arguably offer some of Morocco’s most beautiful scener and are at their best in late spring and early summer when roses carpet the canyon floor. There’s also rock-climbing and white-water rafting activities available here, but most people simply come to loose themselves in the sublime surroundings.



Much thanks again to Emiel at Act of Traveling.  You can follow Emiel and all his adventures on Facebook and Twitter.

Don't forget to check back every Sunday for more great stories from traveling families around the world.


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The Takchita Princess -Princess Lalla Salma of Morocco

The Takchita Princess - Princess Lalla Salma of Morocco

TAKCHITA THE PRINCESS seal mixture between tradition and modernity cravings, with or without the bolero takchita princess allows a choice has provided you do not move away from our roots.
Lalla means ‘lady’ in Morocco and it is a part of the royal title of Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Salma the Princess Consort of King Mohammed VI of Morocco.  Lalla Salma is the first wife of Moroccan royalty to be publically acknowledged and awarded a royal title and she has entered the world stage with a portfolio of state duties and charitable causes.


This is Morocco’s First Lady and a very stylish and striking blend of the traditional and the modern Arabic woman. Lalla Salma is 33 years old and has two children. She was born Salma Bennani in the Morrocan city of Fez to a middle class Moroccan family and she is a computer science graduate.
Lalla Salma is an exotic beauty, a reflection of the influences of both Arab and French cultures that makes Morocco so scintillating, and what makes her all the more fascinating in the Arab world is her porcelain complexion and curly red hair. I think that this lends her a doll-like quality when dressed in the traditional Moroccan dress of the takchita.
And here is Princess Lalla Salma in all her takchita glory…
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Summer with Splash Morocco

Summer with Splash Morocco

2 Night Rafting Expedition Spring 2013 – Book Now!

What better way to see some of the less-travelled spots of Morocco than from the comfort of a white water raft.  Our exciting trip down the Ahansel is available for adventurers of most ages and abilities.  Choose to either stay in camps for the two nights next to the beautiful Ahansel River (£239pp) or select or new for 2013 luxury package with hotel accommodation each night overlooking Lake Bin el Ouidene(£399pp).

Also available is a 4 night break, including a night of hotel or riad accommodation either side of your trip in Marrakech plus airport transfers(£299pp or £449pp for luxury).

Those summer holidays have arrived with a boom and here in Marrakech, we’re offering a range of activities and accommodation options to give the last minute holiday planners some food for thought.
Right now we have some limited availability in our two central Marrakech riads, Splash and Dar Atta.  Contact us for exact dates.
Activities available include canyoning, trekking, sightseeing tours, quads, dune buggies, hot air balloon flights, desert tours and mountain biking.  Feel free to drop us a line using the contact form on this page or a direct email to us – info@moroccoadventuretours.com

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Imperial Cities and Deserts

12 days tour starts and finishes in Casablanca. This tour will take you to discover the five imperial cities of Morocco and the countryside. Live Moroccan diversity culture and enjoy the landscapes of the country

Highlights

visit the jewel of the atlantic ocean called Essaouira

Experience camel riding over the impressive dunes of Erg Chebbi

Enjoy the landscapes of the midlle and high Atlas mountains

Explore the most sightseeing of the imperial cities; Casablanca, Rabat, Meknes, Fes and Marrakech

Tour details

Day 01: Casablanca.

Arrive at Casablanca Airport where you will be welcomed by your driver guide who will accompany you to your accommodation.

Day 02: Casablanca – Rabat.

After breakfast drive to visit one of the best highlights of Casablanca: The Hassan II mosque. Then departure to the imperial city of Rabat; administrative capital of the Kingdom. Visit Mechouar (ramparts and walls surrounding the Royal Palace), the Oudayas Kasbah and the magnificent Mausoleum of Mohammed V and Hassan II. Accommodation at the hotel.

Day 03: Rabat – Volubilis – Fes.

Departure in the morning towards Meknes. Visit of the Medina, also surrounded by ramparts. visit the Jewish quarter and the Roman ruins of Volubilis. Accommodation at the hotel/riad in Fes.

Day 04: Fes – Fes.

The whole day dedicated to visit the city of Fes, the oldest imperial city in Morocco founded in the eight century by Moulay Idriss II. You will visit the Medina, Medersas Attarine, Ennajarine Fountain, Mausoleum of Moulay Idriss and Karawiyin Mosque, as well as the new medina in Fez Jdid. Check-in at the hotel/riad in the evening.

Day 05: Fes – Azrou – Midelt – Erfoud – Merzouga Dunes.

At Fes we drive on the road through the Middle Atlas mountains and the cedar forests well known all over the world. Cedar was already used by Phoenicians and Romans to build seaworthy boats and ships and make woodcrafts and essences.

We pass through Ifran, a Moroccan Swiss-style town and Azrou, typical Zayan Middle Atlas Berber village. We will then cross the valley of Ziz and Ziz gorges on the way to the Oriental Sahara Town of Erfoud. From Erfoud we will take a rocky desert trail to Merzouga. Overnight at hotel near the dunes.

Day 06: Merzouga – Erg Chebbi – Merzouga.

The day is dedicated to discover the oriental Sahara desert. We will drive into the desert on a 4×4, visit the nomads, oasis and the dunes of Erg Chebbi. We go to the village of the dark skinned people Khamlia to enjoy original and folk music of the Gnawa people. From there back to the Hotel. Camel riding at sunset and overnight stay in Berber tent in the heart of the dunes. A day full of adventure and culture.

Day 07: Merzouga – Todra gorges – Ouarzazate.

Early morning wake up for camel riding and admiring the spectacular sunrise. Return to the hotel for refreshing and breakfast. We will cross the town of Rissani and Tafilalet, the heart of the Alaouite Dynasty, on the way to the stunning Todra Gorges overlooking the valley from the hillside. We pass through the nice town of Boumalne Dades.

We continue through the deep Rose Valley, known for it’s cultivation of roses. Admire the different colored mountains and palm groves, sweet corn and fig cultivations, as well as numerous Kasbah ruins of all shapes, also known as the Road of the Thousand Kasbahs. Arrival to Ouarzazate in the evening. Overnight at riad.

Day 08: Ouarzazate – High Atlas – Marrakech.

From Ouarzazate driving to Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou, Mother of all Kasbahs. Enchanting Berber architectural structure about 800 years old. On the top of the Kasbah hill admire the great view towards the ancient caravan roads to Marrakech and the faraway peaks of the High Atlas mountain chain. Visit of the Kasbah ruins that still reveal the ancient culture of the Kasbah inhabitants.

We will continue atop the mountains on a dirt road for about 8 km, which further on joins with the main road to Marrakech. Passing through a valley of almond trees, the Berber Shluh of Amerzgan, Agouim and Ighrem, we will reach the Tizi N’Tichka pass (2260 m a.s.l.) and have lunch at the Berber village of Tadart. Arrival to Marrakech in the evening.

Day 09: Marrakech guided tour.

After breakfast, the group will enjoy a guided tour of Marrakech, the southern pearl of Morocco. You will discover the Bahia and Badi Palaces, Saadian Tombs, Menara basin and many other hidden treasures. Lunch will be at one of the finest traditional restaurants in Marrakech.

After lunch, tour to the magnificent Koutoubia Mosque and the famous market square Djemaa el Fna, well worth a visit, as one of the center attractions of Marrakech, which comes alive at night with local storytellers, snake enchanters, entertainers... and mouth-watering barbecues.

Day 10: Marrakech - Essaouira.

After breakfast heading to Essaouira; known as Mogador or the jewel of the Atlantic. After one hour of driving you will stop for short break in Sidi lmkhtar. Continue the road for about 1/2 hour to get the second stop to take a picture for some goats climbing the trees of the Argan.

Arrive Essaouira then visit the fishing port with it’s ramparts, the old Medina known as Skala and the museum of Sidi Mohammed Ben Abd Llah. Walking in the Souk (market) and experience different crafts manufactured in the town. Enjoy the fresh seafood in a local restaurant near of the port or in the beach. Overnight at hotel.

Day 11: Essaouira – Essaouira.

Free day in Essaouira. Over night at hotel.

Day 12: Essaouira – Casablanca airport.

End of the tour.

Surfing in Agadir

Blessed with some of the world’s best waves and most diverse surf spots around, the Southern region of Morocco is one of the top places to learn, improve or practice surfing…whatever your ability. Surfing in Morocco ticks all the boxes.
Depending on your ability and the conditions, we’ll aim to take you to as many different beaches within the area, so you get the chance to experience different waves.
With The Spot’s local surf knowledge that is second to none, we’ll take you to some of the following world class spots and help you score the wave of your life!


Swell
Air Temp
Sea temp
Wetsuits
Sept – Nov
4 – 8 ft
25c – 30c
18c – 21c
Shorts/Shortie
Dec – Feb
4 – 15 ft
18c – 26c
16c – 18
3/2 Full Suit
Mar – May
4 – 6 ft
20c – 30c
18c – 20c
3/2 Full/Short Arms
Jun – Aug
2 – 4 ft
25c – 30c
21c +
Shorts/ Vest


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Sahara

Sahara (As-Sahara صحراء, listen, in French: desert or steppe) is a desert ecoregion located in the northern part of the African continent and is the western part of a vast dry diagonal extending to Mongolia, extends beyond the Red Sea and is then called Sahara-Arabian desert, stretched over 7500 km and covering 12 million kilometers carrés1. Considered the largest hot desert in the world (see list of major deserts by area), it divides the continent from north to south. It covers vast expanses of territory and extends over ten countries: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Chad, Niger, Mali, Mauritania and territory disputed Western Sahara.

Sahara (Arabic) is the name given to a desert region of Africa called Tiniri (or Ténéré) by natives who speak Berber language. It is the largest and the only true desert in the geographical sense because it has hyperarid regions (less than 50 mm annual rainfall but with extreme interannual irregularity), dry (less than 150 mm annual rainfall and vegetation concentrated in wadis), semi-arid and dry sub-humid. The diagonal dry which it belongs includes Sahara, Arabia, the Syrian desert (Syria, Jordan and Iraq), Dasht-e Kavir (Iran), Dasht-e Lut (Iran), Thar (India) and continues with the temperate latitude deserts of Central Asia (the Karakum, the Kyzyl Kum) and Chinese (the Taklamakan and Gobi).

This dryness can be explained by the loss of two major sources of precipitation: the polar front and the equatorial currents of Western Canada.2 and it leads to droughts particularly important in intensity and duration.

La Route des Casbahs

La Route des Casbahs


Dans le Grand Sud où le sable ne demande qu’à tout envahir, ils forment le cours de la vie. Vergers, champs, palmeraies, roseraies, leurs rives déroulent un long ruban fertile où les hommes font des miracles. Ce sont les oueds Drâa, Dadès, Ziz.


Le Désert

Le Sahara… Son histoire se confond avec celle de l’humanité. Univers minéral qui féconda autrefois tout un continent, préservant en son sein des richesses longtemps insoupçonnées. Immensité de sable et de rocaille, de mirages et d’oasis, restant pour toujours le territoire de nos rêves et de nos évasions.
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Tags : Tarfaya, pêche, Cap Juby, Sahara, plage de Tan-Tan, Ad'Dakhla, Rio de Oro, Sud, plage, désert,Saguia Al Hamra, Laayoune, Visite guidée
Ouarzazate

A la croisée des chemins entre les vallées du Drâa, du Dadès et du Ziz, Ouarzazate marque le début du périple en éblouissant le voyageur avec deux magnifiques casbahs. Celle de Taourirt, ancienne résidence du Glaoui, est ahurissante de beauté. Des tours émergent d’une masse de maisons serrées les unes aux autres, poussent leurs créneaux vers le bleu du ciel et se disputent la première place au soleil.
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Tags : Aït Benhaddou, Glaoui, kasbahs, Taourirt, Casbah de Taourirt, Ziz, Sud, Ouarzazate, Drâa, Dadés,Visite guidée
Marrakech


MARRAKESH : LA VILLE SPECTACLE
Marrakesh s’éveille. Comme chaque matin depuis 800 ans, avec les mêmes inflexions chantantes, l’appel du muezzin résonne du haut des 70 mètres de la Koutoubia, le phare spirituel de Marrakesh.
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Tags : Koutoubia, palmeraie, Musée Dar Si Saïd, el Badii palace, bijoux Berbères, tanneries, tangia, Sud,Marrakech, Abou el-Hassan, Mosquée Ben Youssef, Visite guidée
Essaouira

Eternellement protégée par les alizés, noyée au milieu des fleurs, Essaouira la Blanche embaume de toutes les essences que travaillent ses ébénistes. Charmante petite ville au caractère très particulier avec ses maisons aux volets bleus, l’ex-Mogador rappelle étrangement les îles grecques, tandis que ses remparts font penser à Saint-Malo. Bref, on se sent chez soi. En plus la température y est presque toujours de 25ºC, ce qui change des 40ºC de Marrakesh en été. Pas étonnant que de nombreux Marrakchis s’y précipitent, fuyant les fortes chaleurs.
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Tags : Porte de la Marine, Skala, place Moulay El-Hassan, Port d'Essaouira, Porte de Madne, Essaouira,ramparts, plage, Sud, Visite guidée
Agadir



AGADIR : QUE LA FETE COMMENCE !
Entre le vert odorant des eucalyptus, des pins, des tamaris et le bleu enchanteur d’une mer limpide, calme, vivifiante, délicieuse, bleu pur à peine plus soutenu que celui du ciel où, tous les jours, brille un soleil éclatant, s’étale une sublime plage de sable fin et doré, longue de dix kilomètres, la plage d’Agadir.
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Tags : Souss Massa, Taroudannt, flamants roses, Sud, oiseaux, Guelmin, ramparts, plage, Agadir, souk aux dromadaires, Visite guidée
Tetouan


DE TETOUAN A CHEFCHAOUEN
Au programme cet après-midi, promenade à Tétouan. La ville domine la verte vallée de l’Oued Martil. Pour entrer dans la médina, franchir ses remparts, vous avez le choix entre sept portes magnifiquement ouvragées. Et maintenant, suivez votre inspiration. Cette ruelle ombragée par une treille dégage une fraîcheur délicieuse. Observez les bâtisses ornées de céramique.
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Tags : Tetouan, plage, Chefchaouen, rivière Martil, Cabo Negro, Tamuda, cimetière juif, Café Moore,Nord, place Hassan II, medina, Musée Archéologique, Visite guidée
Tanger


TANGER : L’INSPIRATRICE
“Tourterelle posée sur l’épaule de l’Afrique”, Tanger a longtemps été convoitée pour sa position stratégique. Depuis la fondation de Tingis au IVe siècle avant J.C., Carthaginois, Romains, Phéniciens, Vandales, Espagnols, Portugais et Anglais se la sont disputée jalousement. Aucune ville d’Afrique qui ne soit plus proche de l’Europe, aucun Orient qui ne soit plus cher au coeur des artisites européens ou américains : peintres, musiciens ou écrivains.
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Rabat

Partout du bleu, bleu intense de la mer et du ciel, et blottie dans l’écrin ocre de ses remparts, une ville blanche avec un minaret qui joue avec les nuages : voici Rabat, la capitale du Maroc.
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Tags : Rabat, Capitale du Maroc, Salé, Yacoub el-Mansour, conquérant Almohad, necropole de Chellah,ville romaine, tour Hassan, thé à la menthe, Palais Royal, Casbah des Oudaya, Nord, mausolé de Mohammed V, Café Moore, rivière Bou Regreg, cornes de gazelle, Visite guidée
Meknes

Au coeur de la campagne marocaine, coup de coeur ! c’est Meknès, la ville impériale de Moulay Ismaïl. Avec une ardeur inlassable, une volonté inébranlable, il entreprit de faire de cette ville une capitale à son image.
Palais, mosquées, fontaines, terrasses, jardins, écuries, magasins, greniers s’édifièrent sans discontinuer pendant 50 ans pour combler le gigantesque périmètre dessiné par les murailles.
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Explore Morocco’s Mediterranean Coastline

Explore Morocco’s Mediterranean Coastline

You will be surprised by the earthly paradises hidden behind the majestic Rif mountain chain. From Tamuda Bay to Saidia, nature has gone to great lengths to provide you with an unforgettable vacation. The Mediterranean coast does all it can with its calm and crystal-clear waters and fine white sand. The panorama is astonishing. Whether you are tempted by an outing in a sailing boat, a dive (many hotels have their own centers), a romantic walk along the beach or a simple but pleasurable sun-tanning session, you will be more than satisfied in any event. Whatever you are looking for, as a couple or a family, the beach of your dreams is waiting for you. From the biggest to the most intimate, the most traditional to the most modern…




The Mediterranean coastline of Morocco includes the important seaports of Tangier and Tétouan, as well as a host of spectacular beaches and seaside towns popular with locals and visitors to this beautiful North African country. Visitors traveling from Europe by ferry will land in Tangier which is located a mere 20 miles from Spain across the strait of Gibraltar. Offering a curious blend of Spanish, French and North African culture, Tangier has long held a special allure and been the inspiration for talented and famous people, including French artist Henri-Émile-Benoît Matisse, American artist and decorative arts designer Louis Comfort Tiffany, and citizen of Tangier Antonio Fuentes, as well as writers Paul Bowles, William Burroughs, Tennessee Williams and Moroccan literary figures Mohamed Choukri, Abdeslam Boulaich, Driss Ben Hamed Charhadi, Mohamed Mrabet, and Ahmed Yacoubi.

A short distance inland from Tangier is the charming mountain town of Chefchaouen, known particularly for its winding alleyways, lined with white-washed buildings featuring blue doors and trim, set against the backdrop of the majestic Rif Mountains. Visitors to this Moroccan town can enjoy a hike into the scenic Rif Mountains, or up the Jebel al-Kalaa peak overlooking the town. The Talasemtane national park is also close by. The medina has plenty of arts and crafts on offer, with items made from leather being the specialty of artisans in the town, many of whom will make special request items.

The city of Tétouan is the other major port of Morocco located on the Mediterranean and is an interesting place to explore. The medina is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List and artisans can be viewed working at their chosen trade, including carpet weaving, jewelry making and manufacturing leather items. The royal palace of Tétouan is situated at one of the entrances to the medina. Outside the city is the spectacular new leisure development called Tamuda Bay – a low-lying wetland sanctuary which offers a range of accommodation options and a host of watersport activities.

The Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla are also located along the Mediterranean coast of Morocco. Although on the Moroccan mainland, the two enclaves are part of Spain and subject to the rules and regulations of that country. Border crossings are strictly regulated.



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Youth Day is a public holiday in Morocco

Youth Day is a public holiday in Morocco on August 21, the birthday of the reigning monarch, Mohammed VI of Morocco.

In the northern region, from Fnideq to Martil, vacation villages alternate with hotel complexes. These offer entertainment, sports and evening events. Further east, the atmosphere changes. There you will find the beauty of traditional Moroccan beaches. The wide, open spaces and picturesque countryside of natural sites such as Laou Wadi, El Hoceima and Saidia guarantee a refreshing break.





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