Drift from spice-laden souks to rugged High Atlas mountains and surfer-friendly Atlantic beaches on holidays to Morocco.
Morocco is a land of exhilarating extremes, from the shifting sands of the Sahara Desert in the south to the snow-capped peaks and Berber villages of the central High Atlas. The medieval medina quarters of Marrakech and Fez present amazing contrasts. One minute you're marvelling at snake charmers and ducking past 1001 hawkers in the souks, the next you're sipping mint tea on a riad rooftop and floating in a petal-strewn pool after a hammam steam bath. Tracing the wild Atlantic coast north brings you to the elegant boulevards of European-flavoured Rabat and the cosmopolitan port of Tangiers overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar.
Best of Morocco holidays for...
- Shopping: Muleteers yell balek! (watch out) and hawkers cry bienvenue (welcome) in Marrakech's maze of souks. Barter like a Moroccan housewife for good deals on pointy babouche slippers, twinkling lanterns, hand-woven carpets and more.
- Kids & teens: Fez' labyrinthine medina - the old Arabic quarter - is a magic carpet ride of new experiences for kids. Each corner reveals surprises, from donkey carts rattling through the souks to dancing monkeys, colourful tanneries and pyramids of nutty nougat.
- Relaxing: It's all about the beach in Agadir - a broad 9km sweep of golden sand pummelled by the Atlantic. In the evening, watch the world go by from a laid-back café terrace on the palm-dotted promenade.
- Grown-up families: Up for some sun, sea and surf? Head to easygoing Essaouira for its sandy beach and big waves. Beyond the beach, you'll find boho-chic cafés, bustling souks and fish stands in the whitewashed medina. A camel ride along the coast at sunset is unforgettable.
- Romance: Say it with flowers on Morocco holidays in the sweet-scented Valley of the Roses. The canyon-like valley is at its blooming best during the Rose Festival in May, but come anytime for the romance of ruined Kasbah fortresses glowing on hillsides.
- Active types: Like a miniature Marrakech, the medieval walled city of Taroudant makes a great base for adventure in the High Atlas Mountains. Hike through Berber villages to 4167m-high Jebel Toubkal, North Africa's highest peak, or whiz down ski slopes in Oukaïmeden.
- Nightlife: Hang out in beachfront lounge bars and trendy nightclubs on Casablanca's seafront corniche. Want Sam to play it again? Do a Humphrey Bogart over cocktails and piano music in Rick's Café, which had a starring role in the 1942 blockbuster Casablanca.
