Situated to the north of the foothills of the snow-capped Atlas Mountains and fringing the famed Sahara, the bustling UNESCO-listed city of Marrakesh is an enchanting travel destination. Marrakesh is also home to the largest traditional Berber market in Morocco and one of the busiest squares in the world, known as Djemaa el Fna. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit this square in the evening as it transforms into an enormous, open-air restaurant, and browse through exquisite carpets, spices and a myriad of other items. Art, design and architecture enthusiasts flock to the city to see its incredible artisan achievements, so beautifully expressed at the glorious Bahia Palace, Dar Si Said and Saadian Tombs, as well as at several museums. The other-worldly Jardin Majorelle is also unmissable.
Tucked away on the edge of the Argan Valley, just a short drive from Agadir, Azrarag offers travellers a serene escape into southern Morocco’s quietly powerful landscape. White-washed homes cling to terraced slopes, while the warm scent of argan trees drifts on the breeze and ancient canyons echo with bird song. Here one may trace Berber footpaths, taste freshly pressed argan oil in a village workshop, or test one’s mettle on sun-baked rock faces in the narrow gorge known for climbing routes. As dusk falls, flickering lanterns light open-air meals under star-spangled skies, and the simple rhythm of village life invites deep stillness.
Amid the semi-arid expanses of southern Morocco, Tighmert is a green oasis that contrasts sharply with its desert surroundings. Located about 17 kilometres from Guelmim, this oasis has long been a key stop on ancient caravan routes, tracing its origins back to the trans-Saharan trade era. Visitors can explore the traditional mud-brick ksars and palm groves that showcase the region's enduring architecture. The nearby Guelmim Camel Market adds to the cultural experience, offering a glimpse into the area's pastoral heritage.
Resting on the Saharan plain at the foot of the Jebel Bani mountain range, Tata is an attractive little Moroccan town near the border of Algeria. What was once a busy slave market town and a regular stop on the trade route from West Africa is now a popular tourist base and a vibrant market town attracting hundreds of visitors each year with its lively atmosphere and its spectacularly scenic surrounds. Tata is centred around a lovely town square filled with colourful cafes and restaurants where you can enjoy sampling the delicious local food and interacting with the friendly locals. Visitors can also look forward to discovering a number of historic ksours and traditional adobe Berber houses, as well as exploring the areas beautiful gardens, fruit orchards and palm groves.
Rising up from the desert, the town of Foum Zguid is situated in the Tata Province in southeastern Morocco. Foum Zguid, meaning the mouth of the Zguid River, rests on the banks of this wide, life-giving river. Visitors can look forward to exploring the dusty streets of the town, enjoying thrilling 4x4 adventures into the red lunar landscape, sampling local Moroccan cuisine and immersing themselves in local culture. This oasis-type town is surrounded by spectacular scenery dotted with ancient structures offers magnificent desert vistas. Don’t miss the opportunity to venture south to the amazing Iriqui National Park set in the southern foothills of the Anti-Atlas Mountains as well as spending a night under the stars in a secluded tented camp in the desert.
The town of Skoura is a beautiful palm-grove-lined oasis, resting on the banks of the seasonal Amerhidl River in the Ouarzazate Province of Morocco (within the scenic Dades valley or ‘Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs’). This flourishing location takes in scenes of the enthralling Atlas Mountains and boasts a multitude of Moroccan castles, vibrant souks, and lush groves of palm, olive, fig, and almond trees. Visitors can look forward to a wide array of impressive sites including the Marabout Sidi M’Barek, a magnificent pre-Islamic Muslim shrine; and the 17th-century Amerhidl Kasbah, a high-walled crenellated fortress known to be one of the largest in Morocco. Other popular Kasbahs include the Dar Ait Sidi el-Mati Kasbah, as well as the spectacular Amar and Ait Ben Abou.
As previously described
