A Moroccan Adventure

The country that is the crossroad between Africa, Europe, and the Middle East has much more than just hot desert lands and overcrowded beaches. The Moroccan shores are enchanting the whole way down, and if you travel east along the Mediterranean coast, you will meet with the charming towns at the bottom of the Rif Mountains. The northern part of Morocco is mainly vast expanses of lush agricultural fields, forests, and vineyards. You can even go skiing or snowboarding near Marrakech, try out the superb golf courses, or stay on a resort featuring the warm summer climate of the Mediterranean.

Morocco has a timeless feel to it with a very unique culture, religion, and lifestyle unlike any other place you will visit. The atmosphere of these African towns is intoxicating with the various smells and sounds wafting through the air. Start your travels in Fès, the mystical and cerebral capital of Morocco and experience the 1200-year-old Medina, an ancient city enclosed with walls. Azrou is not as frequently visited city, but it is worth checking out. This is the wool-growing region so it is the ideal place to buy carpets and is close to the Fôret de Cèdres where the ancient cedar forest lays. A truly unique experience in this area is to organize a homestay with a Berber family who have tents set up by the river with Moroccan carpets lain on the ground during summer months.

Ancient Medina of Marrakech

The capital of the south and the hub of Moroccan tourism is Marrakech. This exotic city at the foothills of the snow capped Atlas Mountains has two distinct parts; the Medina, which is the old historic part of the city, and Gueliz or Ville Nouvelle which is the new European modern district. If you travel south across the Atlas Mountains, you will come across the small town of Telouet where the Glaoui Kasbah is located. This is a place where local leaders fled to when their city was under attack, which was necessary for a city to survive. This specific one is old and decaying, sustaining further damages after each rainstorm.

Tangier has more or less been the face of Morocco to the world, but is by far not the best place to visit. The aging city has grown tired looking, especially after police tackled most of the big hustlers. However, the nightlife is great and there is a cultural vibe to the city worth experiencing. Essaouira is the more laid-back town with an artsy influence and relaxing sea breezes making you sink deeper into relaxation. Casablanca is more of a modern European-style city that is bustling with lots of traffic and social problems; over 3.1 million people live in the city. Some of the city is modern and nice, where other parts of the city are rundown, but if it’s cosmopolitan that you want, here is where you’ll get it. Rabat is just as cosmopolitan as Casablanca, but is much cleaner and not quite as busy. The tree lined streets and boulevards make this city a bit less fast paced.

Plage de Lagzira

Morocco is such an interesting place to visit with so many different places to see. There are mountains to ski on, or during the summer, great hiking trails through the mountain valleys. The Sahara Desert is also in Morocco plus beaches galore. The many different cities and Medina’s are enchanting and mysterious and is guaranteed to spark your interest. Moroccans are friendly people, very polite and curious about the outside world. The religion of the country is Islamic, however it is extremely moderate, more relaxed and open-minded than in other countries. Be open to Moroccan hospitality; the culture is very generous no matter how rich or poor they may be, or whether they live within the cities or outside the city walls. Maybe you will even spawn a few new friendships with the locals.

Photo credits: Flikr, Wikimedia Commons, Wikimedia Commons

9 places are mentioned in this post!

1. Marrakesh
2. Fès
3. Azrou
4. Marrakesh
5. Gueliz, Marrakesh
6. Tangier
7. Essaouira
8. Casa
9. ar-Riba?

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