Take some time out of your busy schedule, ignore the hands of the clock for a moment and step into a magical and mystical world when time seems to have stopped in its tracks. It is a world of contrasts: rugged and stark mountainous terrain and colorful market places and modern cities with a cosmopolitan character to cities where the feudal air still hangs heavy. These are the Morocco popular destinations for you: diverse and dazzling.

            The Best Places to Visit in Morocco

Get ready for a fantastic journey trip. Travel all around Morocco through cities loaded with history, get a tan on sun-kissed beaches or sample its refreshing oases… Destination ideas coming up.

When you travel to Morocco, the best places to visit include; the imperial cities of Marrakech, Fes and Meknes. This is where you find wonderful Medinas, palaces and bustling town squares. Morocco is also famous for its beaches and some of the best seaside towns include Essaouira, Tangier and Asilah. Morocco also has natural beauty. You can hire a camel and trek through the Sahara; climb North Africa’s highest peak; or stay in a traditional Kasbah in the fascinating Dades Valley.

 

Marrakech .

Marrakesh is more than just a city. It is a pearl polished by history and its tradition of hospitality which, for centuries, has known how to welcome visitors.

Marrakech or Marrakesh (Berber: Mərrakəš or Murakuc, Arabic: مراكش‎ Murrākuš, local pronunciation: Mərrakəš), known as the “Ochre city”, is the most important former imperial city in Morocco’s history. The city of Marrakech is the capital of the mid-southwestern economic region of Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz, near the foothills of the snow-capped Atlas Mountains, being also the fourth largest city in Morocco according to the 2004 census.

Like many Moroccan cities, the city of Marrakech comprises both an old fortified city (the médina) and modern neighborhoods, the most prominent of which is Gueliz, for a total population of 794,620 and 1,063,415 in the metropolitan area (2004 census). It is served by Ménara International Airport (IATE code: RAK) and a rail link to Casablanca and the north. Marrakech has the largest traditional market (souk) in Morocco and also has one of the busiest squares in Africa and the world, Djemaa el Fna. The square bustles with acrobats, story-tellers, water sellers, dancers and musicians. By night food stalls open in the square turning it into a huge busy open-air restaurant.

 

 

Fes  .

Fes or Fez (Arabic: فاس‎ Fās) is the second largest city of Morocco, after Casablanca, with a population of approximately 1 million (2010). It is the capital of the Fès-Boulemane region. Fes, the former capital, is one of the country’s four “imperial cities,” the others being Rabat, Marrakech and Meknes. It comprises three distinct parts, Fes el Bali (the old, walled city), Fes-Jdid (new Fes, home of the Mellah) and the Ville Nouvelle (the French-created, newest section of Fes).

Fes el Bali is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its medina, the larger of the two medinas of Fes, is believed to be the world’s largest contiguous car-free urban area. The University of Al-Karaouine, founded in AD 859, is the oldest continuously functioning university in the world. The city has been called the “Mecca of the West” and the “Athens of Africa”.

Ouarzazate .

Ouarzazate (Berber: Warzazat, Arabic: ورزازات‎, lit. “noiselessly”), nicknamed The door of the desert, is a city and capital of Ouarzazate Province in the Souss-Massa-Draâ of southern-central Morocco. Ouarzazate is located at an elevation of 1,160 metres (3,810 ft) in the middle of a bare plateau south of the High Atlas Mountains. To the south of the town is the desert.

The town is chiefly inhabited by Berbers, who constructed many of the prominent kasbahs and buildings for which the area is known. Ouarzazate is an important holiday destination in Morocco, as a base for excursions across the Draa Valley and into the desert. The fortified village (ksar) of Ait Benhaddou west of the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Ouarzazate area is also a noted film-making location, with Morocco’s biggest studios inviting many international film companies to shoot their films. Films such as Lawrence of Arabia (1962), The Living Daylights (1987), The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), The Mummy (1999), Gladiator (2000), Kingdom of Heaven (2005), Kundun (1997) and Legionnaire (1998) were shot here.

Essaouira “Blue City of the Hills”  .

Essaouira (Arabic: الصويرة‎, as-sawīra; Berber Tassort) Essaouira is a delightful destination in Morocco. Filled with history, boasting a variety of activities and offering a break from the hustle and bustle of life, Essaouira is a tourist hotspot.

The area of Essaouira has evidence of occupation extending back to prehistoric times. The Medina of Essaouira, which was once known as Mogador in the 18th Century, has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Amongst the historical attractions are the ramparts of Essaouira. The ramparts offer exquisite views and tours are offered here. The city is ideally located, Essaouira stands in natural bay, protected from heavy waves by the Iles Purpuraires, while the island of Mogador guards the harbor against strong winds. The conditions here are ideal for fishing, windsurfing and kitesurfing. The harbor is a delightful diversion, filled with colorful boats that have been carefully decorated by local fishermen.

Chefchaouen .

Blue lime-washed houses, busy squares, steep alleyways, the best way to discover this holy town is to wander around it taking in the atmosphere.

Cut into the sides of two mountains, Chefchaouen is a city with blue and white lime-washed houses. A powerful charm that you really can feel in the Outa-el-Hammam square, in the cobblestone medina. Sat on the terrace of a cafe, you can enjoy the attractive view of the grand Tarik-Ben-Ziad mosque whose octagonal minaret is inspired by that of the Torre de Oro in Seville. This Andalousian architecture can be found in the kasbah and its gardens, at the center of the medina. Its walls and its 11 crenellated towers, of which one used to be a dungeon, house an interesting ethnographic museum.

Casablanca .

Also known as Casa or Dar el Baida, Casablanca is essentially the capital of Morocco. Any European citizen or traveler will feel immediately at home here and will have an almost instinctive understanding of the life here. There are plenty of hotels in and around Casablanca. Regardless of the size of your budget, you can find a superb place to enjoy a meal in this vibrant city. Entertain your wildest holiday fantasies in Casablanca!

Casablanca was established as a town in 1906 with a population of 20 000. Later in 1907 when the French landed here, Fez was its commercial center whilst Tangier was set up as the city’s main harbor. The French were soon ousted, however, and had to seek a new port altogether and Tangier remained Moroccan. Things have changed much since then. With a population of over 3 million, Casablanca resembles a Southern European city. Today all duties are handled here except for administration.

Desert Merzouga .

Watching the sun rise or set over the sand dunes of Merzouga may be the most spectacular experience you have on your trip to Morocco. The Erg Chebbi, the name of these sand dunes, is said to have some of the highest dunes in Morocco about 160 m alt. Indeed, the dunes and the desert wildlife are impressive. Merzouga is an excellent base from which to explore the desert and bird-watchers will be enthralled with what they see. In spring, a lake (SERJI) forms near Merzouga which attracts pink flamingos. Other rare birds stop here during spring migration. The desert is also the year Around environment for many desert reptiles and mammals.

A camel trip, for a couple hours, is a great way to see the dunes. For those who are used to getting saddle-sore, or are up for the ultimate adventure, there are two to ten days desert tours on camel. Taking an overnight excursion over the dunes is even better. You see waves and waves of sand dunes at sunset as you ride your camel.. In the morning, you watch the sunrise from Algeria border as it catches the dunes