North of the African continent, in the lovely country of Morocco, is a site that tourists will never forget since there is so much Things to see and do in Morocco. Have you ever come across such stark contrasts all in one location—snow-capped mountains, luscious woods, the scorching Sahara Desert, ski resorts, roadside vendors, fortune tellers, snake charmers, and magnificent riads—in one nation?
If not, you must visit country as soon as possible to discover Things to see and do in Morocco there! That’s why we decided to go by car across this amazing country, where you can find just about anything!
Things to see and do in Morocco: Fez
This city was the starting point of our tour, and we stayed there for a few days. Fez is a city of artisans and tanners with a 1,000-year history. The medina, or historic center of the city, is said to have 6,000 streets, though no one is aware of the precise figure. By the way, it’s one of the largest pedestrian zones in the world. Your rambling has no end, and using the navigation system won’t help. In the city, there are a ton of street merchants and hustlers. If you even sneak a glimpse at it, they’ll come up to you and try to sell you something.
Fez captivated us from the very first second. It feels like entering a completely different universe to walk through the streets among the spices and scattered linens, just like in the movie “Clone,” remember?
Fez still desires to be referred to as the country’s cultural hub, despite the fact that Rabat is now the capital of Morocco and one of the major tourist destinations. Medina has changed so little since the Middle Ages that it is astounding.
There is a wide variety of riads (hotels or guest houses) to suit all preferences and budgets, making it simple to locate a somewhere to stay. The local cuisine can be enjoyed in Fez as well. There are many restaurants and cafes on the streets, and customers aren’t afraid to try the food or drink the tea.
Chefchaouen, the Blue City
Chefchaouen, which is recognized by the buildings’ diverse blue and blue colouring, is one of Morocco’s most popular tourist sites. The country’s far northwest is where it is located.
This city’s blue color is explained by numerous myths. According to one of them, Andalusia’s Jews began painting their dwellings a sky-blue tint when they left Spain in 1492.
The tradition simply continued after that. The second story is that the locals began painting their buildings blue to symbolize harmony and tolerance after years of hospitably hosting large numbers of refugees. Whatever the case, Chefchaouen now attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists because of its remarkable color and architecture, and we were one of them.
Fluvial Ziz.
Another wonderful spot for a stroll and taking pictures. We saw a lookout point while we were driving along the road, and that is how we found it. We looked because we were wise to do so. The peak of the river Ziz offers breathtaking views.
Alpine Village Ifrane
While most tourists from other countries desire to Things to see and do in Morocco the sand dunes of the Sahara Desert or get lost in a city’s medina, Moroccans visit this odd community and call it the “Switzerland of Africa.”
Ifrane, which is located in Morocco’s Middle Atlas at a height of 1713 meters above sea level, has a significant European impact because it was built by the French. Ifrane, which attracts both residents and tourists from abroad, is regarded as Morocco’s top ski resort.
Todra River Gorge
In the eastern part of the country, in the High Atlas Mountains, is the Todra Canyon, a popular tourist destination and one of the greatest places to visit. The closest town to it is Tinghir, where you may also make accommodations. The canyon’s final 600 meters—a stretch that spans more than 40 kilometers—are its most breathtaking. The nearby Berber tribes that transport items on donkeys all day and sell trinkets to tourists Things to see and do in Morocco so from inside of their tents.
Because the walls in the Todra Gorge can exceed 400 meters in a number of locations, climbers adore it. Here, overnight accommodations are offered in hotels with 2 to 3 stars. If you’re not planning on staying the night, you can at least enjoy a snack. The greatest time to explore the canyon is early in the day, when the sun is just beginning to warm the slopes of one of the cliffs. As soon as the sun starts to set below the cliffs here in the evening, it immediately gets cold.
Erg Chebbi as well as Merzouga
If viewing the Sahara Desert was one of your vacation goals, you should go to this place. Directly at the beginning of the desert is where Merzouga is located. It is around 500 kilometers from Fez. At Merzouga, the air is hot, dusty, and congested. All excursions start from here, whether they be on camels or in jeeps, and many travelers who drive or ride their own vehicles across the Sahara also stay the night.
The wind constantly shifts the beautiful desert of Erg Chebby. The sand dunes are capable of rising 150 meters. It’s beautiful when the sun sets.
The sun was already setting when we parked our car at Merzouga, waited for the camels, and then walked to view the endless sand dunes because we planned to spend the night in a desert tent.
Merzouga Sahara Desert
The best Things to see and do in Morocco while traveling through is to spend the night in the desert. Do you have any past camping adventures in the Sahara Desert? additionally, with all the amenities! I immediately associate the name with either Aladdin or the geography textbooks I studied in school. It’s probably just hard to describe the amount of enthusiasm! An magnificent starry sky, dinner, and campfire dance. This is the best memory we have from Morocco, and we strongly suggest trying it.
Everything is very well planned out, from the opulent tents with hot water and toilets to the delectable dinner and breakfast, the sandboards for riding the dunes, and the friendly company.
There are alternatives for camels and jeeps. Alternatively, you might travel there on camel and then return by car across the sand dunes. Sincerity be damned, we genuinely preferred driving by car, however in this instance, it all depends on your driver’s desire to move you along “with a breeze”.
There are several offers and organizations that set up these overnight stays, but don’t skimp on quality. Prior to making your pick, make sure to read the reviews. A premium tent rental with dinner and breakfast should cost about $120 for two people. For $20 there are options, but the “backyard amenities,” to borrow a metaphor, will make the experience different.
Walking up mountains in the Atlas Range
There are various places to go trekking in Morocco. A notable landmark and never-ending are the Atlas Mountains. Numerous hiking trails exist, with lengths ranging from simple strolls to day excursions.
Our favorite area was the High Atlas, where we stayed with a local Berber family for the night. For us to spend the day, they suggested a number of great locations.
Meknes
Meknes, one of the most visited imperial cities in Morocco, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is located in the north of the nation. The city, often known as the “Moroccan Versailles,” offers a wide variety of sights to visit and souvenirs to buy. The Bab-El-Mansour Gate, stunning mosques, and a variety of other attractions are all within easy reach in Meknes.
The city’s modern section is divided from the historic medina. We thought it would be far more interesting to spend the night in the ancient town at a lovely riad (guest house). You may enjoy both traditional Moroccan cuisine and European cuisine in the many cafés and restaurants in Meknes.
In the old town, you might find hand-knotted carpets, silver from the Berber people, clothes, and shoes. Bargaining is expected here, so if you want to buy something, make sure you do it!
Living in cedar trees are monkeys known as moths.
Ifrane, a town in the Middle Atlas, is close to cedar forests. There are berber monkeys that are also referred to as magots or tailless macaques. This is the only macaque found outside of Asia.
We simply drove to this area of forest, parked the car, and went for a walk. Thankfully, there were no other tourists nearby. We had plenty of time to Things to see and do in Morocco the macaque families. They avoided us and made no requests for meals from us. Winter visitors will find the woodland covered with snow, which is also incredibly beautiful.
Ouarzazate and Ait Ben Haddou are two cities.
What sets from The Mummy, Gladiator, or Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time would you like to work on? These photos were all taken in Ait-Ben Haddou, along with others. The famed Atlas Film Studio is also located in Ouarzazate.
The town, or more precisely a walled settlement, that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site is located on the left bank of the river Ouarzazate, which originates in the High Atlas and eventually vanishes in the dunes of the Sahara Desert. Weary travelers would pause there as they were in an oasis when the caravan road used to pass through this region in antiquity.
The unusual multi-tiered architecture and red-clay constructions of the town now captivate tourists. The twisting alleys here resemble a maze. The town welcomes visitors at any time.
The Draa Valley
The Draa, which runs from Ouarzazate to Zagora and is frequently referred to as the “gate of the desert,” is the longest river in Morocco. Because it has both the lush greenery of the oasis and traditional Berber settlements, the Draa valley is a very beautiful place.
Henna, fruits, and vegetables have historically been produced on agricultural terraces because of the great fertility of the soil in this region. Near the center of the Draa valley is where the scenery is at its most beautiful. The top is excessively hilly, while the lower is almost completely dry. If you are driving to the Sahara Desert from Marrakech, the Draa River Valley is just next to you. Note the beauty in this!
Marrakech
You won’t get to experience much of Moroccan culture if you drive through this city. The city’s main square, Djem El Fna, draws a lot of tourists in addition to its mosques, churches, and gardens. It has a very strange ambiance and is always crowded with people. There are food stalls, street sellers, artists, acrobats, dancers, and fortune tellers.
Things to see and do in Morocco the main attractions of Marrakech, it is worthwhile to stay at least one day. In addition to a plethora of restaurants where you may enjoy genuine Moroccan food, there are several hotels and riads to satisfy every preference.
Casablanca
This city, which is the largest and most populous in all of Morocco, is situated on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. The Hassan II Mosque is the city’s most popular tourist attraction. One of the largest mosques in the entire globe, it is also the largest in Morocco. Along with 2,500 constructors, 10,000 artists and decorators worked on it.
Casablanca, the commercial center of Morocco, is modeled like European cities and has a business sector with skyscrapers. Despite the presence of technology, the city upholds its traditions and annually welcomes both businesses and visitors from all over the world.
Note:
It is challenging to visit everything in Morocco in just two weeks, as noted. We would create a general timetable of the locations we wished to see. But in reality, we often stopped to look at and photograph anything! Every turn reveals a new surprise, such as breath-taking gorges and mountains, intriguing old ruins, and stunning architecture! There is no doubt that we will visit this nation again, possibly more than once.