Morocco, located on the North West African coast, is a magical place of Berbers, markets, deserts, kings and camels.
The monarchy of Morocco is a easy ferry ride away from Spain. Head down to Tangiers and use it as a perfect base to explore this country wedged between mountains, desert and sea - all this makes for some amazing photo opportunities and memories of a lifetime.
Tangier is a fascinating Moroccan city to visit. It has many of the things that travelers love - a sense of exotic mystery, interesting history, beautiful vistas, unspoiled beaches, and friendly people. The best way to truly explore it is to walk and it is a very easy city to navigate through.
After Tangier head for the Rif Mountains and Chefchaouen. This town boasts beautiful blue doors and a white-walled medina (which was originally a Berber post). It is also a popular shopping destination and offers many native handicrafts that are not available elsewhere in Morocco.
Only 3 hours away enroute to Fez you should stop over at Volubilis. Volubilis features the best preserved ruins in this part of northern Africa and you should make some time to see where Morocco's first Arab conquerors settled. In 1997 the site was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Fez is one of the oldest imperial cities in Morocco. The protected UNESCO Medina, with over 9,000 alleyways, makes up this massive maze and you'll have fun exploring the sights and getting lost. You will adore this magical, thriving medieval-like city with it's winding medina alleys, stinky tanning vats, curios and tourist tat on display, and cultural experiences all round.
Then of course there is Marrakech! No trip to Morocco would be complete without a visit to the 'Red City'. Marrakech has the largest open air market in Morocco and one of the busiest town squares in all of Africa. Wander through the streets with their pink tinted buildings until you get to the main square. Here snake charmers, vendors and Berber performers ply their daily trade and at night the square transforms into a busy and bustling bazaar. Just behind are the souks and you can get a bargain on everything from carpets to shoes to bags of spices.
A modern motorway connects Marrakech with Casablanca (made famous by the movie with the same name). No visit to Morocco will be complete without stopping over in one of the biggest port cities in the World. Casablanca has unique architecture with the combination of French and Moroccan styles. To wash off the dust and the sand, spoil yourself by reserving a room at the Le Royal Mansour Meridien for a night to remember at Casablancas most exclusive hotel. Immerse yourself in the romance of a city that featured in the Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman classic film - Casablanca.
Happy Moroccan Travels!
Dayne
