Rough Guides
  • Rough Guide to
    • Africa
      • Egypt
      • Morocco
      • Kenya
      • South Africa
      • See all destinations
    • Asia
      • Cambodia
      • China
      • India
      • Japan
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Nepal
      • Philippines
      • Singapore
      • South Korea
      • Sri Lanka
      • Taiwan
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
      • See all destinations
    • Australasia
      • Australia
      • New Zealand
      • See all destinations
    • Central America & the Caribbean
      • Belize
      • Costa Rica
      • Dominican Republic
      • Guatemala
      • See all destinations
    • Europe
      • Belgium
      • Croatia
      • England
      • France
      • Germany
      • Greece
      • Iceland
      • Ireland
      • Italy
      • Netherlands
      • Norway
      • Portugal
      • Scotland
      • Spain
      • Sweden
      • Turkey
      • Wales
      • See all destinations
    • Middle East
      • Jordan
      • Oman
      • See all destinations
    • North America
      • Canada
      • Mexico
      • USA
      • See all destinations
    • South America
      • Argentina
      • Bolivia
      • Brazil
      • Chile
      • Ecuador
      • Peru
      • See all destinations
  • Rough Stuff
  • Gallery
  • Shop
    • Books
    • eBooks
    • Apps
    • Travel Insurance
    • Hostels
    • See all products
  • Community
Inspire Me
FacebookTwitterNewsletter
  • Register
  • |
  • Log in
  • Africa
    • Introduction
    • Egypt
    • Morocco
    • Kenya
    • South Africa
  • Morocco
    Overview
    • Introduction
    • Fact file
    • Where to go
    • When to go
    • Getting there
    • Getting around
    • Accommodation
    • Food and drink
      • The media
      • Festivals
      • Sports and outdoor activities
      • Culture and etiquette
      • Shopping
      • Travelling with children
      • Travel essentials
    Inspiration
    • Things not to miss
    • Itineraries
    • Features
    • Gallery
    Explore
    • Tangier, Tetouan and the northwest
    • The Mediterranean coast and the Rif
    • Fez, Meknes and the Middle Atlas
    • The Atlantic coast: Rabat to Essaouira
    • Marrakesh
    • The High Atlas
    • The southern oases routes
      • Agadir, the Souss and Anti-Atlas
      • The Tarfaya Strip and Western Sahara
    Shop
    • Books
    • eBooks
    • Apps
    • Travel Insurance
    • Hostels
  • Things not to miss
Simply the most beautiful small town in Morocco, its blue-washed walls enclosed by mountains. The most complete medieval city in the Arab world, Fez’s labyrinthine streets conceal ancient souks and iconic monuments, none more so than the exquisitely decorated Medersa Bou Inania Venture into the Sahara on an overnight camel trek from Zagora, M’Hamid or Merzouga. The nerve-shredding Tizi n’Test and the higher Tizi n’Tichka wend up over the Atlas mountains, providing breathtaking views along the way. The most dramatic of the country’s waterfalls, with overhanging cafés, and inviting pools to plunge into. The symbol of Marrakesh, the Koutoubia’s twelfth-century minaret is visible for miles around the city. This great Almohad building stands isolated in an Atlas river valley. From carpets and carpentry to leatherwork and ceramics, Morocco’s craft tradition is extraordinarily vibrant, and on magnificent show in its souks. “Whisky Marocain” (mint tea) is the accompaniment to any discussion or transaction. The most beautiful gate of the medieval Moorish world. An evocative relic of the time when the infamous Glaoui clan ruled over the Atlas and Marrakesh. Musicians, acrobats and storytellers converge each night on this spellbinding city square. Take a walk (or a climb) in the majestic Todra Gorge, with its towering 300m canyon walls. Troupes of macaques populate the dense cedar forests of the Middle Atlas. This old Spanish colonial town retains a seductive array of Art Deco buildings. This relaxed seaside town – setting for a first-class cultural festival in August – is home to one of the best beaches on the northwest coast. Relax by the Atlantic at Morocco’s most popular resort, home to a growing windsurfing scene. Volubilis was the chief city of Roman Morocco and is today a beautiful, extensive ruin. The old “International Port”, sometime home of Bowles and Burroughs, has a seedy charm of its own. Casa’s colonial architecture blends traditional Moroccan designs with French Art Deco into a distinctive style known as Mauresque. Morocco’s southern oases are dotted with crumbling kasbahs and mud-built villages. The Moroccan cultural calendar is packed with festivals but few can match the largesse of Imilchil’s three-day “Marriage Market”. Morocco offers much to birdwatchers, from storks nesting on minarets to desert bustards, via bee-eaters, flamingos and falcons. A lovely, mature botanical garden, maintained by Yves Saint-Laurent and filled with the sound of birdsong. These renovated old mansions, centred on a patio and often full of stylish designer touches, provide a tranquil retreat from the outside world. The High Atlas offer fantastic trekking opportunities, from day walks in the Toubkal Massif to expeditions through isolated valleys.