Must See
Rabat
Morocco's capital city has many attractions, including:
- the Gate of the Ambassadors
- the Oudaias
- the National Museum of Handicrafts
- the Oudaias Kasbah Gate; the Royal Palace
- the Archaeological Museum
- Hassan Tower, the grandiose minaret of a vast, uncompleted 12th-century mosque
- the Mohammed V Mausoleum, an outstanding example of traditional Moroccan architecture
- the Chellah, with superb monuments, delightful gardens and Roman ruins
Casablanca
Join a tour of the imposing Hassan II Mosque, the largest mosque in the world, built recently with sufficient space for 100,000 worshippers and featuring a magnificent 200-metre-high minaret; the tallest structure in the country.
Essaouira
Ride the waves or just relax on the fine beaches of this likeable eighteenth century coastal town, a haven for surfers. The town also has a maze-like medina and a picturesque harbour, frequented by fishing boats unloading the day's catch.
Fes
Explore enchanting souks, caravanserais, and medersas (Islamic colleges) in the labyrinth streets of this historic walled city, one of the world's largest intact medieval towns. Officially encompassing two cities (El Bali and Jadid), Fès is famous for the Kasbah and Karaouine (Al-Qarawiyin) University, the Er Rsif and Andalous (Al-Andalus) mosques, the Nejjarine Square and Fountain, the Royal Palace and the Dar Batha Museum.
The old part of Fès (Fès El Bali) is centred around the two famous mosques of Al-Andalus and Al-Qarawiyin, and still retains the magical, bustling atmosphere of an ancient time, with its maze of winding streets and covered bazaars. Its medina (market) is one of the largest in the world and great for buying carpets, rugs or ornate metalwork.
High Atlas
Trek the steep rocky trails around North Africa's highest peak, Djebel Toubkal, or hike the challenging Todra Gorge. Visitors can sleep overnight at a home-stay to enjoy the warm Berber hospitality.
Marrakesh
Known as 'the Pink City' due to the colour of the local earth used in its construction, Marrakesh is a city of secluded palaces, labyrinthine alleyways, mosques, museums and markets. In the city's famous market square, Djemaa El Fna (Place of the Dead), visitors can watch a wondrous array of storytellers, fortune-tellers, street dancers, acrobats, musicians and snake charmers who perform among the open-air food stalls. Tables are piled high with a vast array of exotic foods, including grilled brochettes, fresh salads, steaming hot stews and roasted sheep heads.
Also in Marrakesh is the Ben Youssef Medersa, which is the largest theological site in the Mahgreb and a World Heritage site, and is crammed with architectural masterpieces. Other highlights include Koutoubia, the 12th-century mosque, which is as tall as the towers of Nôtre Dame in Paris; the Saadian Tombs that house the remains of rulers of the Saadian Dynasty; the sumptuous Bahia Palace; the famed camel market; the Menara and Aquedal gardens; and the Dar Sisaid Museum.
Ouarzazate
Ouarzazate (the door of the desert), is a city in southern Morocco that hosts one of the largest film studios in the world, Atlas Studios. Several historical movies were shot here, such as Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven, Alexander and Babel. The town also houses a Museum of Arts and Crafts, the kasbah of Taourirt and the Carpet Weavers' Co-operative Shop.
About 30 km (19 miles) from Ouarzazate lies the World-Heritage-listed Ksar of Aït-Ben-Haddou. This traditional pre-Saharan habitat consists of a group of earthen buildings surrounded by high walls and featured in a number films, including Lawrence of Arabia.
Approximately 100 km (63 miles) east of Ouarzazate lies one of Morocco's highlights, the magnificent ochre-coloured rock formations and cliffs of the Dadès Gorge.
Tangier
In Tangier, visit the the Sidi Bou Abid Mosque, Mendoubia Gardens, the Forbes Museum, the Merinid College and the Moulay Ismail Mosque.
Volubilis
Step back in time at the country's largest Roman ruins, dating largely from the second and third centuries AD; there is also an interesting archaeological museum.