Why
Travel to Morocco:
The
traveller's mecca in 60s-70s, Morocco is still a fascinating mix
of Islamic, Arab, African, and Berber cultures with a topping of
France.
Throw in some pleasant cities, eye-boggling landscapes, colourful
people, excellent beaches, good trekking, plenty of interesting
shopping and there's something for everyone.
Moroccans are mostly Muslim but not too obsessive about it, flights from the UK take no more than 3 hours and the time difference is negligible. Flights now go conveniently to Marrakesh as well as Casablanca.
Downsides:
- Although local people are friendly, it sometimes seems that
every male over 7 years old wants to be either your guide or take
you to his brother's shop.
- Some salesmen can be aggressive.
- Speaking French is not essential, but extremely useful.
- There are many great places out of the way for which you will
need to hire a taxi or arrange your own transport.
Morocco
Travel Guide, climate:
Best:
Sept-Oct, March and May [April often brings the famous African sirocco
sandstorms to and from the desert].
OK: winter months, Nov-Feb, are generally fine and warm except in
the north or up the mountains.
Worst: July, Aug. Up to and over 40C [104F] inland, though it can
be the most pleasant time on the coast [unless the sea mist rolls
in and obscures your southern beach!].
Ramadan can be an awkward time as many locals neither eat nor drink
during the day and may be tired. [Muslim fasting month, August 11- September 10, 2010. There's always a lively feast day, Idd al-Fitr, at the end of Ramadan].
Length
of stay:
Min. worthwhile stay, not incl. flights : 5 days [Marrakesh &
Draa/Ziz valley drive]
Recommended: 9 days - 1 month
Morocco's main attractions:
***Marrakesh [aka Marrakech] is home to some terrific buildings [mostly pink], especially
traditional riads, good museums and a great covered souk
[market] - the best place to find good quality crafts in Morocco
- but most of all Marrakech hosts Djemaa el Fna, the wackiest
square in Morocco and probably in Africa, where assorted weirdos put on performances and
in the evening food stalls serve excellent local cuisine. Marrakesh
Pictures
**Fès is the oldest imperial
city in Morocco and has the largest medina [old city] and souks
in the world, with great old walls and gates. You have to get lost
in this medieval maze of 10,000 tiny streets to feel the city.
Another fine old city - Meknes, is a good day trip from Fès. Fès
Pictures
***Sahara Dunes. Travel past Erfoud
[to Merzouga] or Zagora [to M'Hamid] to get to the dunes at the
edge of the Sahara desert, and stay two or three days or more to
get a real feel for the place. Sahara
Pictures
***Drive the lovely Ziz Valley from
Errachidia to Erfoud - then on to Merzouga and the Sahara desert.
Or along the Dràa Valley from
Ouarzazate to Zagora and on into the desert..
Also driving between Errachidia and Ouarzazate [the Kasbah Route]
with snow-capped mountains, valleys, oases, villages and kasbahs
is magnificent. Visit the Todra and Dadès gorges. Road
Pictures
***The Atlas Mountains. Driving Errachidia
- Marrakech through/beside the mountains is highly recommended;
navigation is fairly easy, the roads are uncrowded and views spectacular.
**Essaouria. For a cool seaside scene
try this pretty blue-and-white walled fishing port, rather than
the over packaged Agadir. It's relaxed but authetic and fronts a large, firm brown beach that is less than great for sunbathers and other inactive beach-goers due to a pretty constant NE wind, but much favoured by windsurfers, kitesurfers, sand-yachters and quad bikers. Get there via a spectacular road in a couple of hours from Marrakesh.
*Casablanca is a huge modern city with
not much ethnic interest bar the biggest mosque in the world and
the old quarter.
*Rabat, the capital and seat of government,
is smaller than Casablanca and much more traveller-friendly though
still not a must-see. It's relaxed, hassle-free, has some worthy
sights, fine architecture and masses of pleasant cafés.
*Tangier, Morocco's main port and only
an hour by ferry from Spain has a some interesting structures, a
couple of not-very-clean beaches and a run-down old town but is
useful as a transit point to the magic of the rest of Morocco.
The Sahara
Desert:
This notorious desert stretching across North Africa is the size
of the USA but only about 25% sand. The rest is composed of volcanic
hills, rock and gravel plains and some vegetation which is home
to around 300 species of bird and animals such as mongooses, snakes,
jackals, hares, deer, foxes and even baboons.
Desert experiences are not to be missed, though preferably on camel
back and for a couple of days, including sleeping under the stars.
Activities:
Trekking: Morocco's High Atlas offers not only mountain views
but due to the relatively high rainfall there are plenty of lush
valleys, rivers and waterfalls too. Villages - many home to colourful
Berber people - provide comfortable accommodation.
From half-hour walks to 3-10+ days treks or horse/mule expeditions
can be arranged by travel guides based in the Ourika Valley and
elsewhere.
For hiking Toubkal National Park, lakes, waterfalls and Mt Toubkal [in the High Atlas Mountains, just an hour or so drive from Marrakech] start from Imlil; to visit Berber villages try Tafrout
as a base.
April-October is the best time for Morocco hiking.
Rock Climbing: the Todra Gorge, near
Tinehir.
Ziplines: to try Africa's longest flying fox, over ravines and tree tops but safe, head for Terres d'Amanar, 30 minutes drive from Marrakech.
Camel trekking: Can be arranged at
the hotels in the desert area or tourist offices. Best time is Sep-Oct.
Driving: car rental is reasonable and
available in most cities, driving is relaxing and some routes are
amazingly beautiful. You don't need 4 wheel drive. A small Renault
will do fine.
Water sports: Resorts on the coast
such as Agadir, Asilah.
Windsurfing and surfing: winds and
waves are regular and especially potent around Essaouira and to
south.
Skiing: Oukaimeden, 70kms from Marrakesh,
is popular. Best December - March.
Beaches:
The Mediterranean coast offers warmer,
calmer waters than on the Atlantic side but cleanness may be a problem,
such as on the beaches around Tangier.
Plage [Beach] Quemada near Al Hoceima [half way between
Tangier and Algeria] is one of the best Moroccan Med beaches, tho'
inevitably crowded.
On the Atlantic side waves and currents
can be difficult and the water is always chilly but big, pleasant
beaches are not hard to find though solitude - in season - is. e.g.
just south of Tangier Grotte d'Hercule is clean and popular,
as is Larache beach further down the coast.
Rabat and El Jadida both sport good beaches while calm and pretty friendly
Essaouira port to the south is known for constant wind so loved
by wind/kite surfers.
Agadir in the south sports big beaches, 300
days of sunshine a year and is the province of tour groups and monster
resort hotels.
However, 20 miles+ past Agadir on the way to Tiznit are some stunning
beaches visited by few [perhaps because there's a distinct shortage
of hotels around here]. Sidi Rbat is possibly Morocco's
best beach.
Festivals:
June, Fes Sacred Music Festival - actually wacky world music...
June, Essaouria Festival of Music.
June, Marrakech Festival of Popular Arts, 10 days of arts attack.
Aug, Imilchil Engagement Festival, 3 days of Berber instant match-making.
For some precise dates, more suggestions and information see: Exotic Festivals
Electricity:
127/220v 2 round pin plugs [like France]
Visa
advice:
A 3 month permit is available on arrival to citizens of the EU,
USA, Australia and New Zealand.
Cuisine:
Traditional Morocco food is nourishing though a little dull, with
couscous [semolina] the national dish, served with stews of lamb,
chicken and vegetables.
Main towns, like Fes, have lots of international restaurants at
reasonable prices.
Alcohol is freely available to travellers/tourists.
Languages:
Arabic mainly, a lot of French and a fair amount of English in
tourist areas.
Berber Teppich
Anti-tout
information:
Carpet sellers and similar can be a total pain and you
need to learn to handle them to enjoy your Morocco travel experience. This boisterous, pushy approach is actually a Marrakchi
characteristic and not just a way of tormenting tourists! So, like children, treat them firmly but without losing your temper:
Look briefly at them and forcefully say 'La!' [no] or 'La,
shookrun' [no, thank you]. Then there's 'Mish eise hagga'
[I don't want anything'] for the linguists.
If you're getting on well with a Moroccan say 'al hamdou lillah'
[praise God] when you/he mention something positive, or 'Inshallah' [God willing] when you discuss the future e.g. "See you tomorrow
Hamed. Inshallah." He will be delighted!
Anti-hassle
advice:
Moroccans can be lovely, hospitable people if you get the chance
to know them. However... most offers of hospitality such as 'come
in for a cup of tea!' - in regular travel destinations will result
in a sales campaign. So don't accept any.
- don't trust what young men on the street tell you and don't
tell them where you're staying.
- be very clear and firm about your needs; indecision and vagueness
could lead to unwanted pressure.
- all sorts of tricks are used to develop a relationship that
will lead to sales, from the simple 'where are you from' to 'could
you tell me what this says'. Best to reply distantly to greetings
and nothing more...
Sad, isn't it? But Morocco really is worth the hassle and
non-sales people are relaxed, friendly and generous!
Accommodation:
Travellers who want to stay somewhere more authentic than a western hotel could consider renting a riad. This is a traditional Moroccan house, inwardly facing [ie often with no exterior view but delightful fountains or gardens inside]. Marrakech is a particularly good city to find superb riads for rental.
Women
travellers:
The
hassle-factor for lone females or even pairs can be tough. Do
wear very conservative clothing - certainly not tank
tops or short skirts and preferably long everything, plus a headscarf.
Stay with crowds and away from solitary low-light areas.
Essaouira beach has a problem with large groups of rampant teenage
boys.
Morocco
Tours | Marrakesh activities |
