Explore Morocco

Armoud is a Berber village in the Ait Mizane Valley of the High Atlas Mountains. It is the highest village in the valley at 1900m and is a base for trekking to the Jbel Toubkal peak.

Ait Ben Haddou is a fortified fort along the former caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakech. It’s history dates back more than a thousand years. It is full of great examples of Moroccan earthenware clay buildings and has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1987. Although most citizens live in the more modern village in the other side of the village there are still 4 families that live in the ancient village. Inside the walls are a number of merchants houses as well as numerous souvenir shops selling both local wares and souvenirs from the Sahara. Numerous movies have used Ben Ait Haddou as a backdrop including Lawrence of Arabia and Gladiator Climb to the Granary at the top of the hill and marvel at the view

This visitors palace was built in 1900 and is one of the most beautiful places in Marrakech. A masterpiece of Moorish architecture state visitors are still put up here. The palace gives a clear indication of the luxury enjoyed by the princes and visiers

Beni Mellal is located in the country’s interior, it sits at the foot of Jbel Tassimit and next to the plains of Bel Amir. The walls of the city date back to Moulay Ismail in 1688 as well as the kasbah Bel Kush. Most of the city is more modern although the local area is agricultural and most of the produce is sold at the weekly market

Bin El Ouidane is a lake that sits in the centre of the Atlas Mountains between the wadi El Abid and Assif Ahanesal. It’s crystalline waters reflect the beauty of the surrounding nature. It is home to some of the largest carp in the world. The name Bin El Ouidane literally means “ between the rivers” and it is said that the poet, the dreamer, the painter, the sportsman, the fisherman each one can find there his dream

Casablanca is a port city in Western Morocco, it is also the largest city in the country. It’s French Colonial legacy can be seen in its Mauresque architecture a blend of Moorish style and European Art Deco. It’s history dates back to the 7th century and it has been ruled by many different countries since that time. It has been rebuilt and renamed several times in its history and remains most well known in recent times for its connection with famous film of the same name.

Hassan 2 Mosque Hassan 2 mosque is the largest in Africa and the third largest in the world. It can accommodate 105,000 worshippers at one time inside and out. It’s Minaret is the worlds second tallest at 210m. It was completed in 1993 and is partly built on the sea. It boasts an opening roof that can be fully open in just 5 mins.

The chellah is a mediaeval fortified necropolis located in Rabat. It’s on the South side of the Bou Regreg estuary and was established by the Phoenicians as a trading site. It was later the site of a Roman colony and has been designated a World Heritage site. It’s a fascinating place to meander around as it has become somewhat overgrown and adorned by storks nests. It is littered with Roman marble columns and statues and overgrown with shrubs, flowers and trees

The Dades Gorge is famous for its impressive rock formations as well as its enormous Kasbahs. It is close to the market town of Boumalne and 43 miles West of Tinghir

Things liven up in the square from late afternoon. You can feel the spirit of Morocco here more than anywhere else in the city. Be prepared to see snake charmers, jesters, storytellers and henna painters, a real assault on the senses. When you’ve had enough sit back and observe from a cafe on the edge of the square

Essaouira is a paradise for surfers and artists. It was founded in 1773 and known as Mogador. The magical medina is surrounded by ramparts and bastions and crisscrossed with narrow alleyways. There are plenty of small shops and fish restaurants and has an almost international feel. There is a small fishing port and you can buy fish directly from the returning boats. You can enjoy a coffee in the Place Moulay Hassan, explore the 18th century Portuguese fort or spend time in the medina

The largest area of sand dunes in Morocco, 40 miles Southeast of Erfoud it is everything a desert should be. High dunes, a sea of sand and fiery red sunrises. You can venture into the dunes on camels or walk under the stars in the moonlight to experience the real desert.

This little town is situated at the convergence of M’Goun and Dades rivers. In the background is Morocco’s second highest mountain Jbel M’Goun. Today El-Kelaat is principally a market town and as a starting point for treks

Fes is a northeastern Moroccan city often referred to as the country’s cultural and spiritual capital. It’s the second largest city in Morocco. It’s primarily known for its Fes El Bali walled medina, with medieval Marinid architecture, vibrant souks and old-world atmosphere. The medina is a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site and is home to religious schools such as the 14th-century Bou Inania and Al Attarine, both decorated with elaborate cedar carvings and ornate tile work. The Medina of Fes is considered as one of the most extensive and best conserved historic towns of the Arab-Muslim world and well worth a visit.

The Immouzer waterfalls are situated in the High Atlas Northeast of Agadir. They follow the Oued Tamrakht through Paradise Valley into the mountains. They are a popular destination for Moroccan holidaymakers and the journey there is picturesque

Imlil is a small village in the high Atlas Mountains. It is 1800 metres above sea level and is close to Jebel Toubkal the highest peak in North Africa. It’s a good base for hiking and trekking due to its unique position. Imlil is a relatively new village although the original communities still exist in the surrounding valleys. Imlil is well known for walnuts, apples and cherry production

Jbel Saghro is a mountain range in Southern Morocco. It is the driest area of the entire Atlas mountain range. Its landscape is desolate and harsh but nevertheless beautiful with rock formations that give it an austere lunar feel

The Kasbah was strategically built at the mouth of the Bou Regreg River and the Atlantic for defence purposes. Still inhabited it once comprised of the whole city including the castle of Yaqoub al Mansour. You can walk up the steps to the huge ornamental gate which is used now for art exhibits. You can see the mosque, originally built in the 12th century and reconstructed in the 18th century. There is a magnificent view across the river to the old quarter and you can walk down to the waters edge.

The Koutoubia Mosque is the largest in Marrakech. It is located un the South West of the medina quarter near the famous Jemma El Fna. The mosque is ornamented with curved windows and a band of ceramic inlay with decorative t and pointed merlons and was built in the 12th century. The Minaret tower is 253 feet and is an important landmark in Marrakech

Marrakech, a former imperial city in Western Morocco has stood for close to a thousand years, a city of history and culture. It is the 4th largest city in Morocco and is a major economic centre, home to mosques, palaces and gardens. The medina is a densely packed, walled medieval city dating to the Berber Empire, with maze like alleys where thriving souks (marketplaces) sell traditional textiles, pottery and jewellery. A symbol of the city, and visible for miles, is the Moorish minaret of 12th-century Koutoubia Mosque. Marrakech is possibly the second most important of Morocco's four former imperial cities. One of the most evocative places in the world, just the name conjures up images of this cultural melting pot – sandstone buildings, dusty streets and towering minarets against deep blue skies immediately spring to mind

Merzouga is a small town in the Sahara desert close to the Algerian border. It’s known as the gateway to Erg Chebbi a huge expanse of sand dunes to the north. Here soaring peaks of sand change colour with the shifting light and camel trains create romantic silhouettes. Berber villages act as remote oases in an environment that hasn’t changed for thousands of years. Merzouga also has the largest natural underground body of water in Morocco

Hassan Tower is the Minaret of an incomplete mosque, it was commissioned by Abu Yusuf Yaqui al Mansour. It was intended to be the largest Minaret in the world however when al Mansur died construction stopped and the tower only reached half of its intended height of 260 feet. The rest of the mosque was also left incomplete and today the site forms an important historical and tourist complex.

The Mausoleum of Mohammed V is located on the opposite side of the Hassan Tower on the Yacoub Al Mansour esplanade in Rabat. It contains the tombs of the Moroccan king and his 2 sons, King Hassan 2 and Prince Abdallah. It is considered a masterpiece of modern architecture with its white silhouette, topped by a typical green tiled roof. It was completed in 1971

Meknes is a city in North Morocco known for its imperial past with remnants including Bab Mansour a huge gate with arches and mosaics which leads into the former imperial city. Here you will find the Mausoleum of Sultan Moulay Ismail with its courtyards and fountains. It’s root are in the Spanish- Moorish style surrounded by high walls with great doors where the harmonious blending of Islamic and European styles are still visible today

Moulay Idriss is a town located in Northern Morocco and spread over 2 hills at the base of Mount Zerhoun. It holds a special place in the heart of Moroccans as it was here in 789 that Moulay Idriss arrived bringing with him the religion of Shiism and starting a new dynasty. He also initiated the construction of Fes. Moulay Idriss is compact and has narrow streets. It is famous for its round Minaret, the only one in Morocco. The hills around Moulay offer many hiking and photography opportunities

This little oasis lies off the beaten track if it’s peace and quiet you’re looking for you’ve come to the right place

This is the collective name for several waterfalls that empty into the El Abid River gorge. It is located in the Middle Atlas village of Tanaghmeilt. The falls are the largest in Northern Africa and the prettiest in Morocco as they tumble 110 metres through the red rock gorge

Ouarzazate is a modern little town. It has become an important movie making location with the Atlas studios nearby. The backdrop is impressive with the High Atlas to the North, the desert to the South and the Al Mansour Ad Dhabi reservoir to the East.

Rabat is Morocco’s capital city a blend of Oriental flair and European ambience. The city borders the Atlantic Ocean in the West and the Bou Regreg River in the North. Here tradition merges with modern times, the bazaar is not too hectic and there are many sights for the visitor which promise an interesting stay

Rissani is a small desert town 14 miles South of Erfoud with picturesque mud villages around. Especially interesting iof these is Ksar Abouam with its Kasbah Moulay Ismail, this village has many beautiful courtyards and is crisscrossed with narrow alleyways. There is a lively market on a Sunday

Situated in the heart of the kasbah the tombs were only rediscovered in 1917. They were hidden behind solid walls for centuries and fully intact when they were eventually discovered. Dating from the 16th century they house the tomb of Sultan Ahmed el Mansour and his family. The tombs are surrounded by gardens and housed in 2 magnificent mausoleums

Tinghit is a city in the region of Drâa-Tafilalet, south of the High Atlas and north of the Little Atlas in central Morocco. It is the capital of Tinghir Province. Its name originally referred to the foothills of the Atlas Mountains, but its area has expanded to encompass surrounding villages and the entire oasis.is a market town and the transport hub for the local area. It sits on the Road of the Kasbahs. It’s an agricultural town with most inhabitants making a living from farming. Todra Gorge has put Tinghir on the international map.

The gorge begins to the east of Tinghir and stretches for 9 miles to the North. In the lower reaches mud villages line the river clinging to the rocky slopes. Todra is known as the most beautiful oasis in the country. The gorge narrows the further up you go until the cliffs are almost touching. Shepherds still drive their sheep along the tracks.

The Roman site of Volubilis gets its name from the bindweed that grows here. It is situated on the edge of a vast plain that slopes down from the Zerhoun hills some 19 miles North of Meknes. The city dates back to around 25 AD and reached its heyday in the 3rd century. You can take time to explore the ruins and their unique mosaics along with the triumphal arch and Via Maximus Bab El Mansour

The Valley of the Roses gets its name from the many rose gardens right up into the mountains. It’s well worth a visit when the weekly market is on or during the festival in May