25 Exotic Places In Morocco You Should Visit This Year
From desert oases to blue-painted towns, these 25 exotic places in Morocco are must-visits for a magical and memorable trip this year.
Author:Sophia HarperReviewer:Liam JonesJun 25, 20251.4K Shares19.2K Views
I remember the first time I stepped into Morocco, I was caught off-guard by its colors, smells, and wild landscapes. Over time, I’ve found corners that few tourists ever reach. I’m sharing 25 of them; exotic, unique, and unforgettable.
1. Chefchaouen
When I first walked into Chefchaouen, I felt like I was inside a dream painted in blue. The town sits in the Rif Mountains, and every building seems dipped in sky or sea shades. I learned that people once chose the blue paint to avoid mosquitoes, but now those blue walls have become the town’s soul.
I spent hours wandering the narrow cobbled streets, sipping mint tea that cost less than a dollar in tiny cafés. I loved being there early in the morning, when the light made the walls glow and the streets were mine alone.
2. Ait Benhaddou
Standing before Ait Benhaddou felt like I’d stepped into history. This UNESCO World Heritage site is a collection of mud-brick kasbahs rising from the earth like a mirage. I recognized scenes from films like Gladiator and Game of Thrones, but seeing it today, in sunlight, felt even more real.
I climbed the steep alleys for about 20 minutes. At the top, the Atlas Mountains spread one way, the Sahara stretched the other. I watched the sun set, and the city glowed against the darkening sky magical.
3. Merzouga
Nothing prepared me for my first night under the desert sky near Merzouga. I rode a camel for two hours over wavering dunes before reaching a Berber camp just as the sun dipped low. The silence in the Sahara is pure no engines, no voices just sand and stars.
That night, the Milky Way stretched over us like a bridge of light. The camp had cozy tents with beds and bathrooms, but I chose a traditional nomad tent. Waking up before sunrise, I watched the dunes shift orange, pink, and gold. It felt like a dream.
4. Essaouira
Essaouira surprised me with its relaxed coastal charm so different from cities inland. The constant breeze made me feel alive the moment I landed. Built on the Atlantic, it attracted artists and musicians legend even says Jimi Hendrix played here in the 1960s.
I missed the crowds of Marrakech and wandered the medina at my own pace, admiring whitewashed walls and blue shutters. Watching fish catchers haul nets at sunset was peaceful while seagulls circled overhead. The fresh fish grilled on the beach tasted better than any restaurant.
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5. Todra Gorge
Driving into Todra Gorge felt like entering a grand stone cathedral. Towering limestone walls rose 400 meters on each side with a river flowing quietly between. In the morning, sunlight trickled down, lighting the orange and red layers of rock. Looking up, I felt small in comparison.
I even watched climbers attempting to scale sheer cliffs. At the narrowest point, I saw walls so close together that I could almost touch both sides at once. The river at the bottom created a cooler, green oasis in the desert.
6. Ouarzazate
When someone told me Ouarzazate was Morocco’s film capital, I was skeptical until I saw the Atlas Film Studios. I wandered through sets from The Mummy and Babel, and even saw a Roman colosseum in the desert. It was surreal.
The town sits at the crossroads of mountains and dunes it’s the perfect base for exploring both. Back in the marketplace, I wandered through the Taourirt Kasbah and pictured how wealthy families once lived in complex wooden and clay homes. Ouarzazate surprised me in every way.
7. Dades Valley
The road through Dades Valley gave me view after view that took my breath. The valley was a ribbon of green and red rock walls, with kasbahs scattered like chess pieces. I pulled over and met a local Berber family that invited me in for tea.
They told stories of droughts and celebrations. The “monkey fingers” rock spires rose above the valley and seemed to point at the sky. In spring, roses grow here and fragrance the air it smelled like wild perfume and powdered history.
8. Asilah
From the moment I arrived in Asilah, I sensed its creative spirit. The town’s old walls are covered in vibrant murals. Every year an arts festival draws painters, musicians, and performers. Even off-season, artists paint new murals overnight.
I walked along the ancient Portuguese ramparts that border the sea. I watched fishing boats returning as the sun set. It felt like a gallery built from wind and waves and I loved every step.
9. Ifrane
I stood in Ifrane thinking I’d taken the wrong flight. Tiled roofs, tree-lined streets, clean air, it was like Switzerland, only the signs were in Arabic. This hill town in the Middle Atlas sits at 1,665 meters above sea level and was built by the French to escape the heat.
In winter, it gets real snow and becomes a ski destination. In summer, locals flock there for cool air. Al Akhawayn University brings a lively energy. I felt a sense of calm and order here, different from any other Moroccan town I’d seen.
10. Taghazout
Taghazout was quiet when I first visited. A simple fishing village with argan trees dotting its coastline. But its waves are legendary, surfers from all over come here to ride. I rented a board and paddled out into the turquoise sea, feeling the power beneath me.
I’d return to the beach shack for fresh fish and mint tea at sunset. Even though the village is changing, it still feels real waves, wind, and an easy pace.
11. Moulay Idriss
When I first stepped into Moulay Idriss, I felt a calm energy wash over me. This holy town is built around the tomb of Moulay Idriss I, the man who founded Morocco’s first Islamic dynasty and was the Prophet Muhammad’s great‑grandson.
Until recently, non-Muslims weren’t allowed to stay overnight, which makes this place feel very authentic and untouched. The white buildings spill down two hills facing each other, like a quiet amphitheater.
12. Skoura
After hours driving through dry land, Skoura felt like a sudden dream. It appears as a lush oasis, full of date palms, olive trees, and old kasbahs. At Kasbah Amridil, I joined a guided tour that taught me about Berber architecture and how water from faraway mountains keeps this desert oasis green.
I walked beneath the date palms, almost like being inside a living cathedral. It amazed me that this old farming system has supported life here for over a thousand years.
13. Telouet
Telouet’s crumbling kasbah told me a dramatic story as soon as I arrived. Once the seat of the powerful Glaoui family, this palace guarded important passes between Marrakech and the Sahara.
From the outside, it looks empty, but inside I found rooms decorated with beautiful tilework, carved cedar ceilings, and painted plaster treasures hidden in ruin. A guide explained how the Glaoui lost power after Morocco’s independence in 1956, and how the palace has slowly fallen apart.
14. Akchour
My hike to Akchour’s waterfalls began in a small village. The trail followed a river through thick forest and over rocks, sometimes needing to climb a little. After 45 minutes, I reached a small waterfall that emptied into a clear swimming pool.
I kept going for another 30 minutes and reached God's Bridge, a natural rock arch over a waterfall. I spent the afternoon swimming, jumping from rocks, listening to only birds and water. It was the best way to escape the desert heat.
15. Legzira Beach
Arriving at Legzira Beach, I was stunned by giant sandstone arches framing the Atlantic waves. These red rock formations seem sculpted by nature. The beach stretched on with almost no buildings, giving it a raw beauty.
During low tide, I walked out to the arches and explored tide pools under bright sunlight. Though one arch fell in 2016, the remaining ones are still breathtaking. I stayed until sunset, watching the red rocks sparkle against the darkening ocean, it felt like standing inside a dream landscape.
16. Volubilis
Volubilis surprised me with its well-preserved Roman ruins, set on a gentle hillside and looking out over farmland that has hardly changed. I walked among mosaic floors that showed Roman life, like sea creatures and myth scenes, holding up after nearly 2,000 years.
At the House of Orpheus, the dolphin mosaics were so detailed, I could almost hear the ocean. Exploring old streets, I imagined citizens going to the baths or buying bread. These ruins bring a powerful sense of history into modern-day Morocco.
17. Larache
Larache has a vibe I hadn’t expected, it feels a bit Spanish. Once part of a Spanish protectorate, the town blends colonial buildings with Moroccan style. It lies where the Loukkos River meets the Atlantic, and its harbor has seen traders for over 2,000 years from Phoenicians to Arabs and Europeans.
I walked slower through the relaxed medina, enjoying wider streets and open plazas. I even heard Spanish words in local speech. Larache felt like a hidden crossroads of history and culture.
18. Zagora
Zagora sits at the edge of the Sahara where old caravan routes once carried gold, salt, and people across the desert. A sign reading "Timbuktu 52 days" still stands reminding me of the epic journey traders once made. The town grows around a date palm oasis with water channels from distant mountains.
I visited its weekly market and saw nomads trading livestock, dates, and crafts in many languages, using traditional methods to weigh saffron and argan oil. It felt like stepping into a living caravan story.
19. Tafraout
Tafraout is surrounded by pink granite mountains shaped by wind and time into strange, beautiful formations. During my visit in February, almond trees bloomed, dusting the valley white and pink. It felt magical against the red rock backdrop.
I also saw the painted rocks by artist Jean Verame, giant boulders dipped in bright blue. It was surreal to see art melting into nature. Tafraout felt like a living canvas shaped by earth and creativity.
20. M’hamid El Ghizlane
M’hamid El Ghizlane is where paved roads end and the wild Sahara begins. It has a desert frontier feel where nomads, tourists, and old-timers meet. I joined a three-day camel trek from here into the empty desert.
We used stars for navigation, found water in hidden wells, and slept under the open sky. There were no other travelers for days. It taught me what real desert life feels like quiet, vast, and endlessly beautiful.
21. Bin El Ouidane
I couldn’t believe my eyes when I first saw Bin El Ouidane. I didn’t expect to find a place that looked like the Swiss Alps in the middle of Morocco. This large lake is man-made and sits in the middle of the Atlas Mountains.
All around it, there are tall pine trees and snowy mountains nothing like the desert I had just left behind. I rented a small boat and spent hours on the water, stopping in quiet little bays. Eagles flew above me, and the air felt fresh and cool. The lake is clean enough to swim in, and many people fish for trout.
22. Azrou
Azrou is a calm mountain town with a big rock in the middle of it that’s where it gets its name. But what I loved were the huge cedar forests around it. I visited Gouraud Forest nearby and saw wild monkeys called Barbary macaques. They live freely in the forest and sometimes come close to people, but I was careful not to feed them.
In town, I found beautiful hand-woven Berber carpets. I sat with some local women who showed me how they weave using traditional tools. The carpets had patterns that told stories from their lives and culture. They used natural colors made from plants and minerals. It was peaceful and full of history.
23. Immouzer
Immouzer is a small mountain village that many people pass through to reach Paradise Valley, but I think it’s worth stopping in. It’s a calm and pretty place, surrounded by hills filled with wild herbs like thyme and rosemary. That’s why the honey here tastes so good.
I visited a local beekeeper who showed me how they use wooden hives and old techniques. The honey had a sweet, rich flavor that I had never tasted before. Not far from the town, Paradise Valley offers natural pools with smooth rocks and clear water. It’s like a secret mountain water park, surrounded by palm trees and cliffs.
24. Ouzoud Falls
When I saw Ouzoud Falls for the first time, I was amazed. The water falls three levels and drops over 100 meters from the cliffs. You can hear the rushing water before you even see it. The area is green and full of trees, especially old olive trees, Ouzoud means "olive" in the Berber language.
I walked down a trail through gardens and villages to reach the bottom. On the way, a guide pointed out herbs used for medicine. At the base, the mist from the falls made everything cool and fresh. Sometimes, I even saw rainbows in the water spray. Barbary monkeys came down from the trees to drink from the pools. It felt like a hidden jungle.
25. Lalla Takerkoust
Just 40 minutes from Marrakech, I found Lalla Takerkoust a place where desert and water meet. The lake here is man-made, but it feels very natural. On one side, I saw the dry, rocky desert. On the other, snowy Atlas Mountains rose in the background. The mix of views was something special.
People come here for fun on the water jet skiing, kayaking, and swimming. I joined a camel trek and stopped by the lake for a picnic. Some eco-lodges around the lake offer comfort with nature. I stayed in one that used solar power and had mud walls like traditional Berber homes. It was quiet, simple, and beautiful.
People Also Ask
What Is The Most Beautiful Part Of Morocco?
Widely considered to be Morocco's most beautiful city, Marrakech is often known as the red city. The sights and sounds of Jemaa el-Fnaa square in the city's medina epitomise the charming beauty and dynamic energy of Morocco.
Which City In Morocco Is The Finest To Stay In?
Marrakech is rightly-popular for being the gateway to the Sahara Desert. It's also worth visiting as a destination in itself, being one of Morocco's liveliest cities. Marrakech has some of the country's best and most well-preserved architecture, not to mention some of the best riads in Morocco!
Are There Beaches In Morocco Worth Visiting?
Yes, Essaouira and Al Hoceima are perfect. I’ve stood under natural arches at Legzira Beach, watching waves carve sandstone cliffs at sunset.
When Is The Best Time To Visit Morocco’s Exotic Destinations?
For most places, I go in spring (March-May) or autumn (September-November). It’s warm but not scorching. The desert dunes are gentler then, and the air smells of orange blossom in the valleys.
Final Thoughts
Morocco is a country of contrasts: mountains and desert, sea and oasis, history and modern life. My journey has taught me that the real magic lives in unexpected corners the worlds beyond Marrakech and Fes.
I hope these 25 exotic places inspire you to create your own path. And remember sometimes the best place to be is where you least expect.
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Jump to
1. Chefchaouen
2. Ait Benhaddou
3. Merzouga
4. Essaouira
5. Todra Gorge
6. Ouarzazate
7. Dades Valley
8. Asilah
9. Ifrane
10. Taghazout
11. Moulay Idriss
12. Skoura
13. Telouet
14. Akchour
15. Legzira Beach
16. Volubilis
17. Larache
18. Zagora
19. Tafraout
20. M’hamid El Ghizlane
21. Bin El Ouidane
22. Azrou
23. Immouzer
24. Ouzoud Falls
25. Lalla Takerkoust
People Also Ask
Final Thoughts
Sophia Harper
Author
Sophia Harper’s photography acts as a portal to the soul of the places she visits. Drawn to South America’s landscapes and cultures, she has spent years capturing everything from the majesty of ancient ruins to the vibrancy of urban streets.
Sophia’s work isn’t just about documenting moments; it’s about evoking the emotions and stories behind them. A dedicated photographer, she has worked with local communities across South America to capture their rich cultural narratives through her lens.
Liam Jones
Reviewer
Liam Jones has made it his mission to prove that adventure doesn’t need a hefty budget. Having traveled to over 40 countries, he specializes in finding affordable ways to experience the world, from the best street food in Bangkok to hidden gems in Lisbon.
Liam’s travel tips have reached thousands of readers, empowering them to see the world on a shoestring budget without sacrificing quality. With a deep passion for local cultures, he continues to share his travel hacks, ensuring adventure remains accessible to all.
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