Essaouira carpet sale - Will Venn
Morocco Destination Guide
by Tina Banerjee
Summary
From the medieval wonders of its Imperial Cities to modern, sun-kissed beach resorts, Morocco has more than enough to captivate families and couples seeking a short break, or a one or two-week holiday. Blending together Arabic, African and French cultures, the country is exotic, exciting and extraordinary, and reassuringly safe to tour around too. Adventurers will also be spoilt for choice - whether they wish to go camel trekking across undulating deserts or trekking in the Atlas mountains, while honeymoon packages will seduce newly-weds.
Plush hotels, from the Art Deco-inspired La Mamounia in Marrakesh, a former haunt of Winston Churchill, to Richard Branson's sumptuous Kasbah Tamadot in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains, offer plenty of upmarket accommodation choices, including some specialising in spa treatments. For romance, consider staying in a luxury riad - intricately decorated guesthouses built around a central courtyard, which are found throughout the main tourist centres in Morocco. Exotic holidays don't get much better than this.
Getting there, getting around Morocco
The country boasts four international airports at Marrakesh, Tangier, Agadir and Casablanca. Scheduled carriers as well as low-cost airline easyJet offer flights and there are numerous ferries and jetfoils linking Tangier to Spain's Algeciras and Ceuta.
There are internal flights, the trains are comfortable, fast and safe and the bus network is efficient. Within cities, you have the option of buses and mustard-coloured petits taxis. Hiring a car is not cheap but it's worthwhile for touring the country independently. For the romantics, a horse-drawn carriage (caleche) is THE way to explore Marrakesh.
Quick facts
Currency: Dirham, divided into 100 centimes
Language: Arabic with Berber dialects, French and English
Flight time: 3.5 hours to Marrakesh
GMT: Same as GMT
Dialling code: 00 212
Weather: Morocco has a wide variety of climatic conditions. In coastal resorts like Agadir and Essaouira, it can get chilly at night. The skiing season lasts from December to March. The country's interior can be blistering hot. Marrakesh can get up to 40C (104F)
Electricity: 110V AC, 60Hz, two-pin pin plugs are standard
Djemaa El Fna, Marrakesh - Will Venn
Beaches in Morocco
First-time visitors to Marrakesh can escape the bustle with an overnight stay in romantic, bohemian Essaouira, with its ochre-coloured ramparts, white-washed medina and windswept coastline, which is a hit among surfers. Agadir is a purpose-built tourist resort for package holidaymakers with a wide choice of watersports.
If you want to mingle with celebrities, head to Casablanca's Ain Diah beach. The beaches north of Asilah or El Jadida on the north Atlantic coast are less crowded and unspoilt Dakhla to the south is a paradise for surfers.
Sightseeing in Morocco
You'll need a day or two to explore Marrakesh. Make sure you head for the bewitching Djemma El-Fna Square and its colourful mix of stall holders, acrobats, fortune-tellers and snake charmers. The city's Koutoubia Mosque, museums, palaces and gardens are also worth exploring.
Genuine culture vultures should not miss Fes, one of the country's four Imperial Cities. Stay in the old medina, a tangle of 9,400 streets where timeless traditions have been preserved. With its wandering donkeys, darkened alleys and chanting schoolchildren, it is a fiercely intoxicating place. A highlight is a visit to the tannery, where men still practise the ancient art of leather dying by foot. The capital Rabat and Meknes are less crowded but there's plenty to see.
Away from the cities, Agadir and Ouarzazate are gateways to breathtaking gorges, endless deserts, and crumbling kasbahs. From off-the-beaten track Chefchaouen head towards the green, unspoilt mountains of Rif.
Adventure-lovers can enjoy camel and 4WD safaris, quad biking, hiking, diving, mountain biking and white water rafting.
Family attractions in Morocco
Morocco fits the bill perfectly if you're seeking luxury family holidays. Children-friendly beach hotels mean your kids will be more than entertained if you're at the coast. Older children and teenagers will enjoy Marrakesh, Essaouira and a visit to the Atlas Mountains and many specialist operators offer country packages for families, which include camping, treks and desert safaris.
Day trips around Morocco
It's easy to book day trips from Marrakesh to the snow-capped Atlas Mountains for a glimpse of Berber villages, snaking valleys and hiking trails. The two-day trek up Jebel Toubkal is popular with tourists.
From Agadir, visit a nearby nature park, home to flamingos, cranes and bald ibises. Day-trippers from Fes can journey to nearby Meknes, a less spectacular but hassle-free Imperial City which is also close to several wineries, a legacy from French rule.
Atlas Mountains - Will Venn
Eating out in Morocco
Rich in flavours, Moroccan cuisine is renowned for its use of saffron, cumin and coriander. Tagines, a meat, vegetarian or fish stew served in a terracotta pot and pastille, a sweet/savoury chicken concoction encased in flaky pastry, is ubiquitous. Couscous, harira soups, flat breads, humous and excellent seafood are also available. Moroccan pastries and sugar-loaded mint tea are delicious for the sweet-toothed.
Some of Marrakesh's best restaurants include Dar Moha, a favourite with tourists, with its helpful staff, stylishly presentable food and talented musicians to help drown out bustling street noises. Dar Yacout's in an impressive setting within a riad and offers generous set meals, with vegetarians well catered for.
Nightlife in Morocco
Most action can be found in the larger cities and resorts like Marrakesh, Casablanca, Tangiers and Agadir. Modern bars, pubs and clubs abound and the luxury hotels often have clubs and cabaret shows that are open to non-guests. Due to Islamic law, drinking is not permitted in the old towns.
The opening of Pacha has upped the clubbing ante in Marrakesh and the city also has a Grand Casino at La Mamounia.
Shopping in Morocco
The country's labyrinthine souks are found in most of the major cities and towns - and are an experience in themselves. Take a guide to explore the warren of alleys, each one often dedicated to specific goods such as spices, jewellery, leather ware, furniture, brasswork or carpets.
Prepare to be hassled - and to haggle - in order to beat down the price. The sight of workers hammering metals, sculpting pottery, selling mysterious remedies or cooking steaming hot snacks is a feast for the eyes.
Related destinations
If you're interested in Morocco you may also like to look at these related destinations:
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