Contributed by Travelista Journal
Morocco is a diverse and interesting country to discover. Its cobbled narrow streets, medieval medinas, enchanting places, great architectures, souks with spicy scents, colourful Moroccan decor, beautiful beaches and the glorious Sahara desert will really leave a lasting memory of your trip.
Also read: 10 Countries Filipinos Probably Didn’t Know They Can Travel To Without Visa
My husband and I explored Morocco in 3 weeks, and here are the highlights of our trip:
Casablanca is the economic capital of Morocco and a home to North Africa’s largest Jewish population, consisting mainly of well-off, middle-class Moroccans.
Hassan II Mosque is the worlds’ third largest mosque built to commemorate the former king’s 60th birthday. To see the interior of the mosque, you must have a guided tour. Guided tour costs 120 Moroccan Dirham.
The Mausoleum of Mohammed V has the tombs of the Moroccan king Mohammed V and his sons. It is considered as a masterpiece of modern Alaouite dynasty architecture, with its white silhouette topped by a green tiled roof.
Wander through the ruins of Hasan Tower and discover a part of Moroccan history that will forever remain incomplete. Hasan Tower is an incomplete project of majestic proportions.
Wander around the streets of Boulevard De Paris in Casablanca to admire the French colonial architecture.
Also read: 7 Off The Beaten Track Destinations in Morocco
Tangier a fascinating city in the Strait of Gibraltar and it’s just twenty miles from the coast of Spain. It is a gateway for many travellers.
Explore the souks of Tangier, connect with the local people and experience first-hand tradition of Moroccan buying and selling of a wide range of goods.
Chefchaouen is a city in northwest Morocco. It is the chief town of the province of the same name and noted for its building in shades of blue. It is a small gem with a bewitching atmosphere tucked in the Rif Mountains.
Also read: Chefchaouen: The Famed Blue City of Morocco
The women of Morocco prepare the bread dough at home and take it to the baker to cook.
Volubilis is a partly excavated Berber and Roman city in Morocco situated near Meknes, between Fes and Rabat, and commonly considered as the ancient capital of the kingdom of Mauritania.
Volubilis was a Roman settlement constructed on what was probably a Carthaginian city, dating from 3rd century BC. Volubilis was a central administrative city for this part of Roman Africa, responsible for the grain producing in this fertile region, and exports to Rome. Much of the best excavations have been moved to the Archaeological Museum close to the royal palace in Rabat, but Volubilis offers ruins of quite good quality, and about 30 high-quality mosaics still stand in their original place. There is an admission fee of about 20 Moroccan Dirham.
After lunch from Volubilis, we drove through Meknes to visit the Hri Souani – Granaries of Meknes. This is another great construction of Moulay Ismail in Meknes. It is a complex of three different buildings just to the south of the royal palace. The main structure is the real granaries built to store massive quantities of food and water in case Meknes had been under siege. This amazing place has been used as a scene for many films, the most famous of which is The Last Temptation of Christ in 1988 by Martin Scorsese.
Fes is a northeastern Moroccan city often called the country’s cultural capital and is primarily known for its Fes El Bali walled medina, with medieval architecture, vibrant souks and old-world atmosphere.
The medieval labyrinth medina of Fes is one of the largest walled cities, and its ramparts and alleys are lined with fresh fruits, mounds, spices, intricately woven Berber carpets and many other Moroccan objects.
This is an interesting place to see the leather tanning process in Fes, Morocco, but be very careful, some touts would approach you and lead you to their shop and try to sell multiple leather goods for sky-high prices. There are more bag stalls in the souks or better shop in the Marrakech market but try to haggle over the price.
This is a guided tour where you will see their artists at work and how their porcelain and potteries are all made by hand. I bought some ceramics but again, try to haggle over the price. Their prices are a little high compared to the ones in the souks. Products are shipped to all parts of the world.
The Middle Atlas is a mountain range in Morocco which is part of the Atlas Mountain range. It can be accessed from Fes or Marrakech.
Erfoud is an oasis town in the Sahara Desert.
The Sahara is the largest hot desert, and the third largest desert after the Antarctica and the Arctic.
Also read: A Spontaneous Roadtrip to the Sahara Desert in Morocco
1. Camel Back Riding
2. Sand Surfing
3. Stargazing
4. Watching the Sunset
Todra & Dades Gorges is a scenic, beautiful section of the Dade River valley separating the Atlas Mountain from the Anti Atlas. It is known for its mesmerising scenery and the Kasbah, which is set precariously amongst it overlooking the river below.
Quarzazate is noted for its film-making scene, with Morocco’s biggest studio inviting many international companies to work here. Over the years, Quarzazate has served as a shooting place for Alexander the Great, Black Hawk Dawn, Kingdom of Heaven, Babel, The Mummy (1999), Star Wars (1977), The Living Daylights (1987), Martin Scorsese’s Kundun (1997), and many others, including Ridley Scott’s epic Gladiator (2000), starring Russel Crowe, and Body of Lies (2008) also starring Russel Crowe along with Leonardo DiCaprio.
The Kasbah today is partly ruined but the place has been restored with help from UNESCO. The Kasbah is one of Morocco’s most spectacular historical legacies of wealth and power. With almost 300 rooms and a true maze of passageways, steps, and key lock doors, it’s easy to feel lost within the immense structure that only connects to the outside world through a narrow entrance doorway.
The Atlas Film Studios wasn’t built until 1983 when Moroccan entrepreneur Mohamed Belghmi recognised the need for a permanent studio in the area. But Quarzazate was first used as a movie scene by acclaimed British director David Lean for his 1962 epic Lawrence of Arabia. Familiar with the area, Lean knew that the site could offer an authentic setting for any ancient, desert-based story.
Marrakech is a former imperial city in western Morocco. It is a major economic centre and home to mosques, palaces and gardens.
It took French painter Jacques Majorette (1886-1962) forty years of passion and dedication to create this enchanting garden in the heart of the “Ochre City”.
The mosque is famous for its magnificent minaret, the oldest of the three great Almohad minarets remaining in the world. The highlight of the Koutoubia mosque, which non-Muslims may not enter, is the beautiful minaret. Rising almost 70m, it dominates the Djemaa el Fna square and can be seen from much of the city.
Djamaa el Fna Square is predominantly occupied by orange juice vendors, water sellers, snake charmers, magicians, and paddlers of traditional medicines. The square is along one side of the Marrakech souk, a traditional North African market catering both for the common daily needs of the locals and for the tourist trade.
Built in the late 19th century, Bahia Palace has been regarded as the greatest palace of all time. The name means brilliance. It is intended to capture the essence of the Islāmic and Moroccan style. There is a two-acre garden with rooms opening onto the courtyards.
Essaouira is a picturesque fishing town lying on the southwest coast of Morocco, with an exquisite beach to the south. Essaouira is one of Morocco’s most popular coastal towns. Many of the countries wood carvers and artists make Essaouira their home.
As you explore the beach, watch the kite surfers, enjoy camel and horseback riding and wait for the stunning sunset of Essaouira.
In the harbour area, there is an array of seafood restaurants where seafood is freshly cooked for you.
At the medina, shop for souvenirs as gifts for your loved ones back home.
We headed North along the coast of Safi, El Jadida, up to Casablanca and went back to Hotel Le Doge.
If and when we will definitely go back to Morocco in a heartbeat!
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