Haggle for handmade crafts in ancient souks, wander winding lanes through mud-walled kasbahs and medieval medinas, ride camels through a sea of sand dunes, hike or bike mountain trails and in the shade of palm-fringed oases or hilltop villages, meet proud nomadic people who maintain ancient tribal customs.

Regional highlights

Central High Atlas

Trek through rugged valleys and deep gorges to remote and often snow-capped mountains that rise up to 4068m in height at Ighil M'goun, north-east of Marrakech. Meet friendly Berber tribesmen in the Ait Bou Guemez Valley, a stunning expanse of green pastures and wildflowers crisscrossed with streams. Stroll through almond trees to watch rainbows forming in the plunging waters of Cascades d'Ouzoud, a 100m-high waterfall surrounded by lush woodland and olive groves. Explore the nearby medieval village of Tanagh-Melt, set on a steep slope and accessible only through semi-underground passageways. At Imi n'Ifri, discover a natural rock bridge offering spectacular views overlooking a collapsed underground cave system then cool off with a dip in a rock pool fed by the Wadi Méhasseur. Or take a four-wheel drive tour across the never-ending network of dirt tracks that range from rocky gorge to fertile valley.

Western High Atlas

Explore some of North Africa's highest peaks in one of Morocco’s most scenic regions. Hike green pastures and terraced fields past Berber villages in the Toubkal National Park and climb to the summit of the 4167m-high Jebel Toubkal from the picturesque mountain village of Imlil. Hike gorges and riverside fields in the pretty Ourika Valley, explore riverside trails on horseback at Ouirgane or hillside tracks by mountain bike at Amizmiz, home to one of the largest Berber souks in the Atlas (held every Tuesday). 

Eastern High Atlas

Explore this rugged region on a four-wheel drive tour. Try not to miss the ancient Berber custom, known as the Imilchil Betrothal Fair: girls adorned in ceremonial costume and boys in white djellabahs from neighbouring tribes gather to find the perfect partner in a three-day festival of music, dance and mingling. The Fair is held annually on the last weekend of September.

Central Morocco

Wander through lush date groves, fruit orchards and mud-walled Berber villages in the green Todra Palmeraie to visit one of Morocco’s finest natural sights – the narrow 50m-wide pink canyons of Todra Gorge. Here you can rock climb the 300m-high cliff face, stroll the sandy riverbank of the Oued Todra or explore the northern valley on foot, horse or by mountain bike. Then discover fortified kasbahs along the Draa Valley, including Tinerhir, a former garrison of the French Foreign Legion. Take a scenic 35km-long drive through hairpin bends and hilltop villages to the spectacular ochre-coloured cliffs of the 500m-deep Dades Gorge. Visit the pre-Saharan fortifications of Ait-Ben-Haddou village, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (seen in several films including Lawrence of Arabia and The Sheltering Sky), where earthen houses crowd together, surrounded by high defensive walls reinforced by corner watchtowers. 

The desert

Experience a four-wheel drive or camel safari into the 300m-high dunes of the Erg Chigaga, a 40km-long sand sea containing the highest dunes in Morocco. Or head to Erg Chebbi, a sweeping sea of sand 30km long and 7km wide, with red sand dunes reaching up to 150m high. Both are isolated from the Sahara Desert by the hammada, a flat, rock desert plain. Along the way look out for indigo-robed Tuareg nomads, camel trains, ruined fortresses and date palm oases.

Marrakech

Get happily exhausted by the sights, sounds and atmosphere of this boisterous ‘pink’ city, founded in 1062 at the crossroads of Europe, Africa and Arabia. Discover architectural jewels that date back to the 11th century, explore former palaces, mausoleums and harems of a distant culture and experience a slice of Moroccan life unchanged for centuries in the exotic spectacle that unfolds every day in Marrakech's main square – the Djemaa el Fna. Highlights of Marrakech include:

Djemaa el Fna – Experience an exotic spectacle that has changed little over the centuries at Marrakech's famed square – the Place of the Dead. Come at dusk and be amazed, excited and surprised by this open-air theatre crowded with snake charmers, fortune-tellers, musicians, acrobats, storytellers and dancers – who perform not merely for tourists but to earn a living. Weave through crowds to see deadly cobras sway to the eerie tones of snake charmers and witness acrobats turning wild tumbles and veiled women offering henna tattoos. Snack on sweet dates and sugar-coated peanuts or roasted sheep’s head and couscous, washed down with fresh grapefruit juice. Then sip on a glass of mint tea on the terrace of a rooftop café and watch the spectacle unfold before your eyes.

Ali Ben Youssef Medersa – Explore one of Marrakech's most important Islamic monuments, a well-preserved former 16th century Koranic school, now part of Marrakech’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed medina. Stroll around the rectangular pool, centred in a huge square courtyard lined with wide columned arcades on two sides. Admire exquisite gibs (stucco plasterwork), zellij (mosaics) and carved cedar. Enter the elaborately decorated prayer hall and discover rare palm motifs and Islamic calligraphy: each one extols Saadian craftsmanship.
 

Saadian Tombs – Stroll meandering paths amid palm groves and flowerbeds to explore lavish mausoleums that house the remains of 16th century Saadian rulers. Wander into the cool, dark and ornate central mausoleum that contains the tombs of Ahmed el Mansour and his family. See Italian marble columns, carved cedar doors and the huge vaulted roof. 

El Badi Palace – Clamber around the crumbling ruins of this once-magnificent palace, a 16th century playground for Saadian princes. Back then the palace was paved with gold, turquoise and crystal; today it’s home to nesting storks. Discover underground corridors and dungeons. Plan to visit between 11 to 15 July 2009, when the ruins come to life during the Moroccan Folklore Festival. 

Koutoubia Mosque – Gaze up at Marrakech's towering Moorish mosque, built on the site of the original 11th century Almoravid mosque. Its towering minaret, 68m-high and 13m-wide and topped by three golden orbs, dominates the Marrakech skyline and is the oldest and most complete of the Almohad Dynasty’s great towers.

Dar Si Saïd Museum – Stroll through shady courtyards filled with cypress trees and flowers in this former 19th century palace to see a fascinating collection of antique Moroccan crafts including pottery from Safi and Tamegroute, Berber daggers, kaftans, carpets, leatherwork and jewellery made of amber, ivory and silver. Don’t miss the upstairs salon, elaborately decorated with gibs cornices, zellij walls and a carved-cedar ceiling painted with bright colours in intricate patterns. The salon also houses the museum’s most treasured artefact – a 10th century marble basin from Islamic Spain.

La Bahia Palace – Wander down passageways lined with mosaics and through intricately decorated wooden doors into rooms adorned with exquisite stucco, tadlak (shiny marble) finishes and carved-cedar and zouak painted ceilings. Discover shady tree-lined courtyards in this 19th century palace, formerly a harem of Sultan Moulay el Hassan I.

Menara Gardens – Escape the noisy, bustling streets and souks in this peaceful retreat. Relax beneath the elegant green-roofed minzah (pavilion) or stroll around the lake, surrounded by an immense olive grove that dates from 12th century. 

Almoravid Koubba – Discover Marrakech’s oldest monument, which dates from the 12th century and housed a revolutionary waterworks system that provided running water for toilets, showers and drinking. Descend into the building to find a richly decorated interior containing some of the oldest Maghrebi scripts in Africa, the original water cistern and remains of the water fountains used by the faithful to perform ablutions before prayer.

Medina walls – Enjoy a leisurely caleche (horse drawn carriage) ride around the medina's well-preserved 15km-long wall. Admire the Bab Agnaou, one of the original 14 babs (arched entry gates) leading in and out of the medina and probably the best preserved of the eight arches still in use today.

Marrakech’s souks – The seemingly never-ending labyrinth of shops located between Jemaa el Fna and the Ben Youssef Mosque is home to several souks. These include: the Souk des Teinturiers, a colourful dyers' souk where wool and fabric are dyed and hung across alleyways to dry; and the carpet souk, known as Souk Zrabia or Le Criee Berbere (the Berber auction) – once the site of Marrakech's slave auctions. Bargain for jewellery in the Souk des Bijoutiers, for leatherwork at the Souk Cherratin, for perfume at the Souk el Attarin and for Moroccan slippers at the Souk des Babouches.

Fez

In the spiritual heart of Morocco, explore the first Islamic and Arab city to be designated a World Heritage site and discover the world's largest still-functioning medieval city – Fez el Bali. Highlights of Fez include:

Fez el Bali – Wander a winding maze of alleyways through covered bazaars surrounded by an ancient wall broken only by monumental gateways. Admire the two famous mosques of Al-Qarawiyin and Al-Andalus, see fine examples of Hispano-Arabic architecture and shop for carpets, rugs and ornate metalwork in one of the world’s largest medinas (market) – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Don’t miss Chouwara tannery, where the skins of camels, goats, sheep and cows are stretched, dried and dyed, just as they have been for centuries.

Bou Inania Medersa – Explore one of the few religious sites in Morocco that is accessible to non-Islamic visitors – a 14th century residential university whose green-tile roof and tall minaret are easily seen from Bab Bou Jeloud gateway. Here, stucco walls carved in floral and geometrical motifs and ceramic tiles covered in cursive Arabic script rise from marble floors to cedar eaves, Koranic verses decorate every available surface of the courtyard and wood mashrabiyya screens separate the marble-paved courtyard from arcaded corridors.

Fontaine Nejjarine – Examine geometrically decorated tiles and intricately carved cedar eaves at one of the most beautiful and historic ablution fountains in Fez el Bali. 

Kairouine Mosque and University – Admire the most important mosque in Morocco, and one of the oldest universities in the world. Non-Muslims can peek through the doorway and spy the brightly painted and intricately carved ceiling that can cover 20,000 worshippers at any one time.

 
Meknes

Although often overlooked, hassle-free Meknes offers a medina of narrow winding lanes and grand buildings and is close to the Roman ruins at Volubilis and the pilgrimage centre of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun. Highlights of Meknes include:

Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail – Wander down a series of pale-yellow courtyards to the tomb of Sultan Moulay Ismail – one the few sacred sites in Morocco open to non-Muslims. After removing your shoes, enter the tranquil sanctuary supported by marble columns, graceful arches and decorated with carved stucco and exquisite zellij tiles containing colourful geometric patterns.
 
Heri as Souani – Stroll beneath countless arches and alongside 3m-thick walls in the former Royal Granaries and Stables, one of Moulay Ismail's greatest engineering achievements. Once used to store grain to feed 12,000 horses of the royal stables, the uniquely designed granaries were kept cool by a cedar forest planted on the roof and by underfloor water channels fed by an underground reservoir.

Bou Inania Medersa – Built in 1358 and now open to visitors, this former theological school offers stunningly intricate decorative carving and calligraphy that covers the building. Climb up to the rooftop terrace for a panoramic view overlooking the medina.

Haras Regional – Watch purebred Arabian and Berber horses perform at this equestrian breeding and training farm, then saddle up and go for a ride. 

Place el Hedim – Explore the heart of the medina to taste famous Meknes olives, spices and fruit while listening to musicians and storytellers entertain the local crowds.

Dar Jamai – Pop inside this exquisitely decorated 19th century palace to see the Museum of Moroccan Art’s fine collection of jewellery, ceramics, woodcarvings, carpets and antique guns.

Moulay Idriss Zerhoun – Discover the pilgrimage centre and tomb of Idriss Ben Abdallah Ben Hassan Ben Ali, great grandson of Ali and Fatima, the Prophet Mohammed's daughter.  Idriss united the warring Berber tribes and founded what is regarded as the first Moroccan dynasty, the Idrissids. While the tomb and sanctuary is closed to non-Muslims, it’s possible to overlook the sanctuary and courtyards from the summit of the town. 
 
Volubilis – Clamber around the best-preserved Roman ruins in Morocco and a UNESCO World Heritage Site to see 3rd century buildings, including the Triumphal Arch, the Temple of Jupiter and several colourful mosaics.

Chefchaouen (north-west Morocco)

Experience a unique Andalusian (southern Spanish) village that still retains its Riffian (Berber) culture, nestled beneath the twin peaks of Jebel ech Chaouen, 190km north of Fez in north-west Morocco. In the medina, wander a maze of winding cobbled streets past traditionally dressed women wearing red-and-white striped skirts and discover a showcase of traditional Andalusian architecture with arches, arcades and white- or blue-washed homes covered with ochre-tile roofs. Explore the dungeons of the Musée de Chefchaouen, a 15th century kasbah, and climb to the roof for fine views over the town. Hike to the ruins of the old Spanish mosque for panoramic views over the limestone peaks of the Rif Mountains.

Taroudannt (southern Morocco)

Explore an authentic Berber town enclosed by an almost unbroken 16th century wall, located 223km south-west of Marrakech. Explore the 5km-long ramparts on foot, caleche (horse-drawn carriage) or bicycle; browse for leatherwork, rugs, ceramics and jewellery in the souks; watch storytellers, musicians and snake charmers in the Place al Alaouvine or people-watch as the friendly locals go about their daily lives, without being hassled by overeager touts.

Things to do

Morocco offers a wide range of activities for the adventurous traveller. Catch a wave before breakfast at El Jadida or Safi on the Atlantic coast, hike or mountain bike through the Toubkal National Park in the Western High Atlas or take a camel safari to the edge of the vast Sahara Desert. Along the way, experience Morocco's diverse culture and natural landscapes.

Biking – Explore a diverse network of dirt tracks (pistes), mountainside footpaths and paved roads (but beware of Morocco's erratic drivers). Popular bike routes include pistes that weave through pink granite boulders around the village of Tafraoute; along the Ait Bou Guemez Valley; the Draa or Ziz valleys; and the spectacular Tizi n'Test pass between Marrakech and Taroudannt.

Desert trekking – From astride a camel, explore vast islands of sand dunes, known locally as ergs. The largest and most easily accessible are Erg Chebbi, at Merzouga, and Erg Chigaga, south of M'hamid. Choose from overnight to multi-day trips on camel or by four-wheel drive.

Surfing – Catch an Atlantic wave year round from Mehdiya Plage (north of Rabat) to Sidi Ifni (south of Agadir). Check out El Jadida and Safi for excellent right-handers, as well as between Essaouira and Agadir, and at Anchor Point, just north of Taghazout. The best surf beaches are often best accessed by hire car.

Kite surfing & windsurfing – Head to the 3km-wide, reef-free shallow bay of Essaouira for good conditions for kite surfing and windsurfing: daily winds range from 20 to 35 knots. Or head to the beach of Moulay Berzouktoune, 20km north of Essaouira, renowned as one of the best wave-sailing locations outside of Europe. 
 

Skiing – The Western and Central High Atlas offers the best skiing between November and April. Morocco's better-known ski fields are less than an hour’s drive Marrakech or a 2-hour drive from Fes. The ski resort at Oukaïmeden, 70km south of Marrakech, offers up to 20km of trails on eight marked pistes. Best skiing at Oukaïmeden is generally between mid-January and mid-February. Or try off-piste ski mountaineering, known as ski randonné, in the Western High Atlas and on the slopes above Ait Bou Guemez Valley in the Central High Atlas.

Bird watching – With more than 480 species of bird life recorded, Morocco offers year-round bird watching opportunities, with March to May considered the optimum season. Look out for lesser kestrels, black kites, Egyptian vultures, short-toed eagles, ospreys, African march owls and Moussier's redstart. Head to the Merja Zerga lagoon, located 80km south of Tangier, to see more than 1000 greater flamingos and thousands of ducks, Eurasian coots and waders. From Souss-Massa National Park, 70km south of Agadir, sight avocets, oystercatchers, spoonbills, white storks and perhaps the endangered waldrapp, also known as the northern bald ibis.

Driving – Morocco offers several great drives, including: the Dadès Gorge – a 35km drive renowned as one of the most scenic in Morocco; Ouarzazate to Zagora – a 168km drive through beautiful mountain scenery including the rocky and barren Jebel Anaouar and a string of palm groves and oases in the Dra Valley; Asni to Imlil – a 17km drive past pretty cliffside villages overlooked by the often snow-capped peak of Jebel Toubkal; Tizi n'Test Pass – a drive from Marrakech to Taroudannt through the 2092m-high Tizi n'Test Pass, uncovering some of the country’s most spectacular mountain scenery as it cuts through the Western High Atlas; and the Dadès Valley – a 70km drive past hundreds of desert forts along the aptly-named Valley of the Kasbahs.

Best time to go

Generally the best time to visit Morocco is spring and autumn (March, April and October). However, summer is the best time to explore the High Atlas and winter is best time to explore the desert. 

Non-Muslim travellers should avoid Morocco during the month-long fast of Ramadan, when cafés and nearly all restaurants are closed during the day. Ramadan starts in late August 2009 and lasts for around 30 days.