Discover Morocco: Beaches, Mountains, Markets & Adventures
Morocco is where adventure meets culture. Relax on Morocco’s best beaches, from sun-soaked Agadir to the windy shores of Essaouira. Hike the Atlas Mountains, climb Jebel Toubkal, or explore hidden Berber villages along the way. Lose yourself in the colorful souks of Marrakech and Fez, where spices, crafts, and tradition fill every corner. From coastal escapes to mountain treks and bustling markets, Morocco is the ultimate destination for travelers seeking beauty, history, and adventure.
BEST BEACHES AND SEASIDE TOWNS
Asilah,Favoured by artists, this whitewashed town south of Tangier is known for its vibrant arts festival, fish restaurants and pretty painted houses.
Tangier,There are dozens of beaches around this city. To the east are the beaches of the calm Med iterranean and to the west, long stretches of the Atlan- tic coast.
Agadir,A magnificent bay, year-round high tempera tures and a good choice of hotels make Agadir Morocco’s top seaside resort.
Qualidia,This pretty holiday resort, located between Casablanca and Essaouira, is famous for its oyster beds and popular for its calm, crescent-shaped lagoon.
El Jadida,Historic Portu- guese coastal enclave bounded by beautiful Atlantic beaches, including the hedonistic Mazagan tourist complex.
Essaouira,Beautiful whitewashed town with an endless expanse of pristine Atlantic beach stretching south towards the villages of Diabat and Sidi Kaouki.
BEST MONUMENTS
Koutoubia Mosque,Marrakech’s magnificent 12th-century mosque and minaret is the model for the Hassan Tower in Rabat and the Giralda in Seville Spain.
Hassan II Mosque, One of only two mosques in Morocco that can be visited by non-Muslims, this is the largest mosque in Morocco and the fifth- largest in the world.
Volubilis,he remains of this Roman town are some of the best preserved in the world and illuminate Morocco’s ancient past.
Saadian Tombs,These golden tombs date back to the 16th century and
house the remains of several sultans of the Saadian dynasty.
Jemaa el Fna,A living monument, the Jemaa el Fna is the cultural soul of Marrakech and the heart of Morocco’s storytelling tradition.
Kairaouine Mosque and University. The nation’s second-largest mosque and what claims to be the world’s oldest university.
BEST ADVENTURES
Hiking, ike up and around Jebel Toubkal, the highest peak in North Africa, explore Ait Bouguemez or the Rif Mountains, or trek through the Jebel Siroua.
Whitewater rafting and kayaking,Raft or kayak down the wild N’Fiss. Ourika and Ahansal rivers as they tumble down out of the mountains of the High Atlas.
Mountain biking,This is still being developed, but the pistes are ideal, especially around Jebel Siroua and in the Dades and Draa valleys.
Rock climbing,The Todra Gorge and the area around Tafraoute are best for this.
Kite-and windsurfing.These sports are increasingly popular, and there are near-perfect conditions in and around Essaouira and further south, in Dakhla.
Camel-trekking , Explore the Sahara on camel and sleep under the stars in a Bedouin tent: a quintessential Morocco experience.
BEST SOUKS
Marrakech ,Be dazzled by the Aladdin’s cave-like array of shoes, lanterns, leather bags, kaftans. carpets, spices and jewellery in Marrakech’s colourful souks.
Taroudant,This walled town, a mini-Marrakech, is famous for its Berber souks, filled with wares from across the south.
Tiznit,The souk here is best known for its ethnic Berber silver jewellery.
Essaouira. A more peaceful (and less expensive) experience than the souks of Marrakech, full of local thuya-wood handicrafts and the paintings and sculptures of local artists.
Fez el Bali. Ancient.labyrinthine souks,crammed with leather work, fine silks and I ceramics.
BEST ARTS AND CRAFTS
Leather work. Bags,shoes, belts and pouffes are made in softest camel or goatskin, coloured in a multitude of shades and often finely tooled or embroidered.
Carpets and kilims,Laboriously handmade, styled according to each region and often exorbitantly priced, a Moroccan carpet or kilim is something you’ll keep for life.
Jewellery,Vintage amber necklaces, silver rings, coral and turquoise cuffs – Moroccan tribal jewellery is impossible to resist.
Pottery,Handmade, brilliantly coloured pottery from Fez, Meknes, Salé and Safi, whether antique or new, is much sought after.Woodwork,Cedar and walnut from the Rif and thuya from Essaouira are
painstakingly carved by skilled craftsmen into intricate doors, windows, jewellery boxes and wedding chests.
Textiles,Silk-embroidered kaftans, finely woven jellabas, brightly coloured curtains and cushions – Moroccan textiles are lavishly beautiful, but won’t come with a high price tag.
Metalwork. Moroccan lanterns, crafted from copper, brass or iron and hammered, inlaid and cut into lacy Aladdin’s lamps are irresistible.
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