You can find camels, exotic souks, exciting adventures, and traditional Bedouins in Morocco. It’s also a great spot to go about and see several of Morocco’s top attractions without much hassle. One of the greatest places to visit for an interesting multi-city journey, whether you’re pinching pennies or spending the cash, is this country on the west coast of Africa, which is only a short flight from the United Kingdom. If you want to explore independently, this is a fantastic choice.
Sidi Ifni
The modest fishing hamlet of Sidi Ifni in the southwest of Morocco is a great spot to spend some time. It has some of the best world surfing and stunning natural landscapes. The Berber village has a rich history and culture to explore since it was only restored to Morocco in 1969 after decades under Spanish domination.
The city’s bright blue and white paint job makes it stand out beautifully from the barren landscape, and the scattered Art Deco structures provide a touch of class. Sidi Ifni is known for its laid-back atmosphere, yet the town’s seafront, souk, and old Spanish Town are home to many bustling cafés and restaurants. The Atlantic Ocean waves that crash on its magnificent beach are a major lure. You may go surfing or kitesurfing, or you can relax and soak in the shore’s breathtaking views and towering cliffs. Many visitors to Sidi Ifni also make the short journey to Legzira Beach, famous for its breathtaking 30-meter-tall rock arch.
Erg Chebbi’s Dunes
If you want to visit the dunes of the Sahara in Morocco, you’ll have to go to the country’s eastern desert area, which is close to the border with Algeria. Erg Chebbi is where most people go to see massive, undulating dunes.
You may go dune surfing, four-wheeling across the dunes, or camel trekking at dawn or sunset and then spend the night in a tent in the middle of the desert. The lengthy trek here is well worth it to relax in the beauty of the dunes and watch the star-filled Sahara sky at night.
However, you can also independently travel to Merzouga (the village beside the Erg Chebbi dune field) and organise activities once you get there. Many tourists book desert experience packages, which include round-trip transportation (typically from Fes or Marrakesh) and an overnight stay in a desert camp.
Essaouira
Essaouira, a port city on Morocco’s Atlantic coast that dates back to the 18th century, is a favourite vacation spot for locals and visitors alike. Kiteboarding, windsurfing, and other wind-powered water sports seem especially beautiful against whitewashed houses with azure blue shutters. Traditional arts and crafts like thuya wood carving and cabinet manufacturing may be seen throughout the city’s medina. Also well-established is the commerce in argan oil, produced by women’s cooperatives easily distinguished by their long white robes.
A natural harbour, Essaouira was once known as Mogador. It has been highly valued since the 1st century when Roman merchants utilised the bay’s safe harbour as a base for trading purpura shells, which they used to create the purple dye. The city’s Roman museum is called the Sidi Mohammed ben Abdallah Museum, which displays antiquities from the time period. The city was once surrounded by fortifications, several of which are still visible today. The fortifications, designed by Sultan Sidi Mohammed ben Abdallah, feature a fusion of European military architecture with African aesthetics.
The harbour is now one of Morocco’s most important fishing spots, and the city’s restaurants and seafront booths provide seafood of all kinds, from lobster to grilled sardines.
Essaouira has also emerged as a cultural hub in recent years. There is a proliferation of art galleries, and the city annually hosts the four-day Gnaoua Festival of World Music, which showcases various musical styles, including traditional Gnaoua African music. Essaouira has plenty of exciting activities for tourists, including camel rides along the beach and visits to the adjacent bird refuge on Falcon Island.
Ait Ben Haddou
Visitors are stunned by the spectacular setting of this adobe ksar (fortified settlement) with glittering stones. It’s a magical land, so it’s no surprise that the orange-hued turrets and winding passageways within have become a popular film backdrop for Hollywood.
You may even spend the night in the ksar to get the complete Ait Ben Haddou experience. However, those who need modern conveniences like power might want to go elsewhere.
Fez
The northern Moroccan city of Fez is a wonderful place to visit; a magnificent fort protects the Old Town.
The city has a very laid-back atmosphere; it was once a haven for hippies, and now you can follow in their footsteps by visiting any pubs with shisha pipes, hanging rugs, and other relics of the counterculture era.
If you want to see one of Fez’s most famous landmarks, the Blue Gate, you should have your morning mint tea in a café nearby. The leather shops are fascinating, too. The leather for all the world’s handbags and other leather goods is sent here to be dyed. From the observation decks built around the various excavation trenches, visitors may see the workers as they go about their day.
Morocco is one of the fascinating historical sites in all of Africa, with its wide variety of tourist attractions ranging from opulent Roman ruins to orange mud-brick kasbah architecture.
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