Often hailed as the meeting point between Africa and Europe, Morocco is an enticing mixture of east meets west. With year-round sunshine, ancient medinas, cosmopolitan cities, sandy beaches, barren desserts, impressive mountain ranges, rich cultural heritage and tasty cuisine, a visit to Morocco has something for every adventure seeker. Check out our suggestions for the best activities in Morocco.
1. Explore Marrakech Markets
Within the Medina you’ll find many souks in Marrakech, the most famous of which is in Jemaa el-Fna square. Here you’ll find a tempting array of goods, from aromatic spices, rose water and preserved lemons to decorative metal-work lamps, leatherwork, jewellery and pottery. Bargaining is a major part of the shopping experience. Do as the locals do and never pay the first price quoted, take your time and decide what you think the item is worth before striking a deal.
2. Experience the Tanneries in Fez
Fez is the world’s oldest and largest mediaeval city, it’s also where you’ll find the famous dye-pits and tanneries. The Chouara Tannery is the largest in the city and still retains its traditional processes. Treat yourself to some authentic leather goods, which can be much cheaper than home, if you’re looking for a souvenir from your trip to the Moroccan tanneries.
3. Drive through the Atlas Mountains
At over 2,260 metres above sea level, the Tizi-n-Tichka mountain pass offers one of the best drives in the world. The Atlas Mountains stretch for over 2,000km across Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco.
4. Take a Camel ride in the Sahara desert
The Sahara Desert is the largest hot desert in the world covering over 9m square kilometres. A camel ride through the sand dunes, along with experiencing an incredible sunset and camping under the stars is an unforgettable travel experience.
5. Stay in an authentic Riad
To get an authentic local Moroccan experience, we recommend staying in a riad, a traditional large house built around a central courtyard or garden. Friendly and gracious hosts will usually provide a simple home cooked meal.
6. See the largest Mosque in Morocco
One of the top ten largest in the world, the Hassan II Mosque is located in Casablanca. Designed by French architect Michel Pinseau, it took six years to be built and it can hold over 100,000 people. Non Muslims are allowed to visit, where you can see Moroccan artisanship at its finest. It overlooks the Atlantic Ocean due to a Quran verse which states that God’s throne was built upon the water.
7. Discover Ait Benhaddou
The UNESCO World Heritage site and fortified village of Aït Benhaddou is one of the top sights in Morocco. Its buildings are made from earthen clay using mediaeval construction methods and designs. Only a few people live there now and you may recognise it as it's often used for Hollywood filming locations like The Mummy, Gladiator, Lawrence of Arabia and Kingdom of Heaven.
8. Learn more about the Berbers
Berbers are an ethnic group indigenous to North Africa and their culture dates back more than 4,000 years. When you camp in the Sahara desert on our Moroccan trips, you can catch a glimpse of their lifestyle by experiencing authentic food during the camp dinner and enjoy traditional music .
9. Visit Rabat
Although Rabat is the capital of Morocco, it’s often overlooked by more famous Moroccan cities. Located on the coast, you can see some interesting sights such as the Kasbah of the Udayas in the old quarter of town and Hassan Tower.
10. Cook Moroccan food
On our tours, when we visit Fez, we’ll learn how to cook authentic Moroccan cuisine with a local chef. Moroccan food is world renowned, spicy, healthy and delicious. Some of the famous dishes of Morocco include Couscous, tagines of lamb or chicken, flavoured with spice mixes known as Ras el Hanout, meatballs of lamb or beef (kefta) and Pastilla, a fine pastry stuffed with pigeon and almonds. Fruit is used as commonly as vegetables in cooking. Vegetarians will be happy with ‘meze’, small dishes usually including spiced aubergine dip, herbed potatoes, honeyed carrots, puréed pumpkin with cinnamon, and roasted tomato relish. Refreshing mint tea is the nation’s favourite drink.
So if you are looking for an adventure of a lifetime, discover Morocco with us. We offer much more on our Explore holidays, with each trip you can expect an opportunity for cultural immersion, independent exploration, along with seeing all the key highlights. You can also join us on our Morocco Photography holiday, it’s the perfect destination to learn and develop your documentary, street and landscape photography skills.
