Souks, Sand and Surf: Why You Need to Visit Morocco

Hammam, mint Tea, tagine… what’s not to love about Morocco? From the moment you arrive, you will feel like you have been plunged into some beautiful, chaotic other world, where the smells of spices mingle in the warm air and you’re surrounded by a blur of colours, sounds and people. From the winding souks of Marrakech to breezy seaside villages to the vast Sahara, where you can sleep under a blanket of stars, this country really does have it all. Here are a few reasons why you’ll have a fabulous time in this beautiful country:

Culture

Your main problem in Morocco will be picking and choosing what to see, as it would be impossible to see everything! From ancient mosques and madrassas to beautiful riads and tiled floors – Morocco is a true feast for the eyes. You don’t need to be a history buff to appreciate the sheer scale and beauty of ancient buildings such as Marrakech’s Koutoubia Mosque, Ben Youssef Madrassa, El Bahia Palace or the now ruined El Badi Palace. (Word of warning: some enterprising locals may try to tell you that certain attractions are shut so they can take you to their mate’s tea house instead. Just ignore them!)

Souks Souks Souks

Morocco’s souks are wonderful to lose yourself in as you wander around a labyrinth of winding streets, sellers shouting their wares from all directions. Here you can find everything from spices, pastries and olives to beaded kaftans, slippers, leatherwork, cushion covers and painted furniture, crockery and glassware. Visit Marrakech’s souks in the evening and you’ll be greeted by the glinting light of thousands of lanterns and wonderful aromatic smells from tagines cooking in the old town square, Jemaa el-Fnaa.

Desert Cities

Ouarzazate, Aït Benhaddou and Tamnougalt are definitely places that should be on your itinerary. Ouarzazate, known as the gateway to the Sahara, is a city just south of the High Atlas Mountains, and serves as a good base for exploring the area. From here you can see Atlas Studios, where many famous films such as Lawrence of Arabia, The Mummy and Gladiator were shot. From Ouarzazate you can do a day trip to Aït Benhaddou, an ancient desert city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, which blends into the surrounds so well that it almost looks like a mirage. Game of Thrones fan? Aït Benhaddou was used as the city of Yunkai. Tamnougalt, built in an oasis in the middle of the desert, is a village surrounded by impressive 16th-century fortified city walls.

Surfing

Did you know that you can catch some sweet waves in Morocco? Taghazout is the place to go, a laid-back fishing village where you can find waves that are great for beginners and pros alike. There are plenty of companies based here offering surf lessons, and some do special yoga and surf packages where you get to stay in beautiful villas overlooking the sea. So why not treat yourself?

Riads

After all this exploring, wandering around the endless souks and eating delicious tagines and mouth watering pastries, you’ll need somewhere comfortable to sleep and just generally chill out. This is where the Moroccan riad (reeh-yad) comes in. These traditional Moroccan guest houses, despite often being built right in the centre of big cities like Marrakech and Fes, are little pockets of calm. Once you enter a riad, all the hustle and bustle of the city completely recedes and you’ll find yourself in a tranquil, cool courtyard, surrounded by beautiful geometric tiles and luscious plants (Riad does come from the Arabic for garden after all). Riads vary in size, extravagance and price, with the fanciest boasting extra features such as swimming pools and spas. Whichever one you choose, you’ll appreciate escaping from the heat into your own little oasis.

If you’re thinking about visiting Morocco then why not get a copy of the Morocco Lonely Planet here. Please note that I receive a small kick-back if you purchase a book through this affiliate link (the price of the book remains the same). This allows me to continue providing travel advice for free!

Pin this article for later…