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Morocco Introduction
Morocco is located in Northern Africa and is a popular destination for holiday makers each year. If you are looking for a holiday with some excitement, some intrigue, colourful towns, good food, scenic mountains and beautiful sandy beaches with a variety of water sports such as windsurfing, water skiing, scuba diving and sailing then Morocco is the place to go. Away from the beach there are a number of activities like walking, climbing, hiking, pony trekking and more.
Morocco delightfully mixes its North African links to its European links, bringing together the cultures of African and Arabic with a perfect combination of aromas, sights and sounds. Wander through the bazaars, try to find a bargain in one of the souks and enjoy haggling for the best price.
Morocco's climate is superb almost all year round, so you can enjoy its wonderful beaches and secluded little coves whilst lapping up the sun. However, in winter the mountain ranges of Atlas often have snow; with their peaks topped with snow they make wonderful photographs. Oukaimeden, is one of Morocco's ski resorts.
Marrakech is the ancient capital of Morocco which has heaps of bazaars, palaces, museums and mosques. The narrow winding streets and alleyways invite you to explore and in the city square Djemaa el-Fna, by day and night it leaps into action. You will find dancing, fortune-tellers, musicians, acrobats, storytellers and snake charmers all supplying an air of mystery and magic and will always surprise you.
It is well worth taking a visit to Fez which has some beautiful architectural buildings originating from the middle ages. The Medieval buildings will fill you with awe as you gaze, and no doubt, will want to photograph them.
The existing capital of Morocco is Rabat, which is believed to have been built in the 12th century. There are many monumental arches and gateways, the streets are full of trees and flowers making it delightfully colourful and the sweet fragrance you will smell all around. There are some nice cafes where you can stop and spend some time just watching the world go by. In Rabat there is the Mamora forest which is nice to visit for some tranquility and to look at flora and fauna. Rabat has many nice beaches which are popular with tourists.
Morocco will enchant you: whether it is its beaches, its snow capped mountains, visiting some of its historical sights or simply enjoying the traditional atmosphere, you will be amazed.
Morocco Location
Morocco is situated in Northern Africa next to Algeria and the Western Sahara. It sits with the Northern Atlantic Ocean to one side, the Mediterranean Sea to its tip next to the Strait of Gibraltar.
Weather in Morocco
Morocco's climate has hot sunny days during the summer, being dry with the Mediterranean Sea temperatures remaining good throughout the summer. Like most Mediterranean resorts the summers are hot and the winters are mild.
April and May sees some rainfall as does October and November. In winter temperatures can drop very cold, enough so as to see a sprinkling of snow, or certainly some frosts, particularly in land and in the mountainous regions.
Marrakech tends to be sunny almost all year round with warm summers and mild winters. July, August and September are the hottest months but there is no humidity, so the warmth of the sun is pleasant. Again, in winter temperatures can get very cold. If you were to visit Marrakech in December or January, you would find daytime temperatures a pleasant 21°C, so you can still enjoy a holiday to Morocco in the English winter.
Transfers from the airport in Morocco
Arriving at a foreign airport can often be a strenuous affair and with most customers traveling independently these days having a pre-booked airport transfer is an essential part of your holiday package. Local taxis at the airport can sometimes be limited or with long queues, by booking a pre-booked you can not only make a fantastic saving on your transfer but also avoid all the stress of queues and haggling with taxi drivers. Book your airport transfer service here now >>
Airport shuttle bus service in Morocco
In most of our gateway airports you can pre-book an Airport Shuttle Service. This is a pre-booked only service that operates between the relevant airport and holiday resort. In normal times you can expect to wait up to 30 minutes for your shuttle bus to arrive however as this is a pre-negotiated service and only available to participating travel companies then expect to pay far less to get from the airport to your destination accommodation than other traditional forms or transport such as local taxis. Book your airport shuttle service here now>>
Car Hire in Morocco
Most of the major hire companies have agencies in the major towns of Morocco, however car hire is quite expensive. Depending on your budget you might be able to find a better price at one of the local agencies. You will need to remember that you will need an international driver's license in order to hire a car. You will also need to have your wits about you - especially at night when hikers, cyclists and animals pose an unseen danger. Also of danger is the fact that a car is allowed to travel under 20 km/h with no lights on so you will really have to keep on the look out. Otherwise, driving is really straightforward and since not many locals have access to vehicles or have the need to drive long distances, the roads are usually clear and easy to navigate.
Shopping in Morocco
As Morocco is not part of the European Union it is a Duty Free Destination which enables you to purchase items much cheaper than in the UK. Bargains are easy to find particularly at the Souk's where it is part of daily life to barter for the best price.
Carpets and rugs are a good buy in Morocco, as well as leather items, particularly bags and jackets. Moroccan leather is usually a good quality but prices and quality will depend on where you shop.
Ceramics are a good price in Morocco and the two towns famous for their designs are Sale and Safi.
Cedar wood is used to make fantastic bowls, jewellery boxes and candlesticks. Try the shops in Essaouira where you will find a vast selection at good prices.
Silverware is in abundance, particularly Berber silver which is made in the south of Morocco. The best jewellery souks to find a bargain are at Tiznit, Taroudant and Essaouira. Name pendants written in Arabic are popular, these can be either silver or gold. Moroccan silver should have a hallmark.
Casablanca and Tangier are the two places to go shopping if you are looking for modern shopping malls with designer boutiques offering the latest fashions.
Marrakech is the place to go to spend a day wandering around the narrow streets taking in the sights, sounds and smells. A visit to Marrakech is not complete without going to the Souk, a tradition which is world renowned as being one of the best.
Eating Out in Morocco
Moroccan people like to take a long time over their eating, it is an occasion when friends and family get together to enjoy an exchange of information and fun. Moroccan food is full of spicy flavours, combining a mixture of both Arabic, North African and French cuisine.
Traditional faire is Tajine which is basically a delicious stew cooked in an earthenware dish over a long period of time so all the flavours seep into the sauce. Samosas are also a popular spicy pastry dish with a mixture of fillings like meat, rice, almonds or fish.
Cous cous is a traditional savoury accompaniment to meats and is usually cooked in a large vat with spicy herbs.
Fish is popular, particularly sardines which are often fried and often served with bread, tomatoes, egg plant and a spicy sauce.
You will find many restaurants in big cities like Fez, Tangier, Casablanca and Agadir serving international and Mediterranean cuisine with familiar dishes to suit all tastes and pockets. There is also a good selection of a la carte restaurants.
It is a common tradition in Morocco to eat with your hands: your right hand is the hand to put food into your mouth, not the left hand. Most dishes are served with bread which is ideal to scoop up the food to put into your mouth, why use a fork when you have a hand!
Soft drinks are always available, Moroccan wine and beer are good value and much cheaper than imported brands. As Morocco is an Islamic country, you will probably have to ask for the alcohol menu in restaurants. It is strictly frowned upon to be seen drinking any type of alcohol in public places.
Mint tea is a speciality of Morocco, you might find it quite refreshing and as the mint is grown locally, you will be sure of its freshness.
Along the streets and in the Souks you will find the Moroccan version of take away, which will usually be something like chicken spit roasted, corn on the cob, fries, salads and snacks. Ideal if you are on the go and looking for a quick snack.
Nightlife in Morocco
Most evening entertainment in Morocco is hotel based where you will often find belly dancing, snake charmers, discos and karaoke nights. Look out for local folklore events which are often held during the summer season to encourage visitors to learn a little about Moroccan life.
If you wish to venture out and try something a little different you can find locals gather in the bars and cafes, although these are to be found in the bigger cities such as Casablanca and Tangier.
Restaurants provide you with an evening of traditional atmosphere, you will find plenty of cuisine combining the Spanish, Arabic, European and African flavours and menus.
Local Tourist offices usually have a list of what is going on and where, so you can plan your evening of entertainment in advance.
Morocco is not the disco, club loving country like you will find in European countries so you will find nightlife quite sedate and laid back.
Beaches in Morocco
Agadir
Agadir has a huge sandy beach which is patrolled by policemen on horses and dune buggies. For those who love water sports you will find everything available including scuba diving, waterskiing, jet skiing, sailing and paragliding. The other sports which are available away from the beach are tennis, golf, horse riding and camel rides. All the hotels that are alongside the beach have been built very tastefully and don't detract from the astounding coastline.
Grottes d'Hercules
A clean beach which tends to get rather crowded and the other disappointment to the beach is that the sea is much colder here than the Mediterranean beaches at Tangier.
Dakhla
Dakhla beach is more a beach where you would take photographs as it is a fishermen's beach and tends to attract too much litter for a pleasant day of sunbathing. The views from the beach are stunning however, so you will get the opportunity for lots of camera use.
Plage Quemada, Al Hoceima
A nice beach which does get quite crowded during the high season. It is a clean beach and the sea is inviting.
Asfiha, Al Hoceima
The nicest thing about this beach are the views of the Spanish Island which sits closely to the shoreline. The water is shallow and quite dirty, although you could walk along the beach and admire the views.
El Jadida
A nice friendly beach which is situated not too far from the town. The water is shallow but clean so is ideal for sunbathing.
Lalla Fatma
Lalla Fatma is a wonderful beach for sunbathing and topping up your tan, but the sea is not very safe for swimming as there are strong waves and undercurrents, so please be aware of the safety flags.
Larache
This is a nice beach for sunbathing, and if you observe the safety flags and listen to the lifeguards, swimming is possible although sometimes the waves are strong with undercurrents.
Tangier Town Beach
The town beach is situated with mountains and sea around it and is several kilometers long. It is a popular beach, despite not being clean. The sea is also not very clean although the waves are soft. You can watch the ferries going in and out of Tangier port.
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