Morocco
Set in the northwest corner of Africa less than 10 miles from Spain, Morocco is a world apart from Europe. Morocco is a country that draws you in, you’ll be spellbound by Morocco’s exquisite landscapes and exhilarating cities.
Discover the mystical imperial cities of Casablanca, Fes and Marrakech. Morocco also features a gorgeous coastline, the famous Sahara Desert, the jagged, usually snow-capped Atlas Mountains and colorful, aromatic markets filled with rich scents of spices. There is so much to see in this incredible North African country. Ruled at various times by Berbers, Arabs, Spanish conquistadors and the French and once home to a large Jewish community — Morocco represents a fascinating kaleidoscope of cultures.
Highlights
Chefchaoun
The beautiful city of Chefchaouen, known as the blue pearl, is set on the impressive Rif Mountains. Bright blue and white buildings with red tiled roofs make it a very picturesque sight. There are many legends behind the blue walls, one of them is that they were painted by the Jews who escaped from Hitler in the 1930's. Because it's the color of the sky and heaven, the blue color is a reminder to lead a spiritual life, or simply to keep the mosquitoes away. The city was founded in 1471 as a small fortress by Moulay Ali Ben Moussa Ben Rached El Alami to protect northern Morocco from Portuguese invasions. The charming town has a a lot to offer to guests. It considered the sixth most beautiful city in the world.
Markets
The bustling and vibrant buzz of Marrakesh medina sums up Morocco for many visitors and is a major tourist attraction. The old city is entered from the vast plaza of Djemma el-fna Square where, it seems, half the city converges throughout the day and into the evening to hang out with the stall vendors, traditional musicians, snake charmers, and random acrobats.
Once inside the medina itself, you enter a world of maze-like alleyways and shopkeeper hustle. It's an experience full of colorful and noisy local life and not to be missed on your Moroccan sightseeing trails.
Spices & Cuisine
Moroccan cuisine has influenced top chefs and restaurants all over the world, but you’ll never find it as tasty or as subtle as the food served up in a Moroccan home. Essentially, Moroccan cooking combines the desert nomads’ diet of mutton, vegetables and dairy produce with more refined and exotically spiced specialities – often of Syrian origin and introduced in Morocco at the time of the Arab conquest. But over the centuries it has also incorporated other influences: southern European (olives, olive oil, fruit, tomatoes), sub-Saharan African, and French
Desert Adventures
Inland, in Morocco's eastern Sahara region, are the grand and rippling sand dunes of the Erg Chebbi, where would-be explorers and adventure-seekers head to get a dose of desert action. This is prime territory for dune-surfing, four-wheel-drive dune-bashing, and the (much more authentic) camel trekking. For those with less of an active nature, just sitting amid the sand dune splendor is worthy enough of the long journey out here. For most travelers who make it this far, the highlight is spending the evening at a desert camp amid the dunes themselves.
History & Culture
Morocco has four imperial cities: Marrakesh, Fes, Meknes, and Rabat. Rabat is the current capital city. Although a modern city at first glance, it has several interesting historical attractions, such as the Kasbah of the Oudaias, the old medina, and the Hassan Tower. The gleaming Royal Mausoleum is also well worth a visit. Known as the Red City, Marrakesh is famous for its old medina, numerous souks, ancient palaces like Badi Palace and Bahia Palace, the striking Koutoubia Mosque, the energetic Djemaa el-Fna, and the Saadian Tombs. The former capital of Fes boasts plenty of stunning architecture, though it is perhaps most known for its large tanneries and for being home to one of the oldest universities in the world. Meknes has one of the most impressive monumental gates in all of Morocco, Bab el-Mansour. Horse drawn carriages are a great way to explore the charming and relaxed imperial city.
