Morocco

Author: Anisa Omar

We flew into Agadir to start our Moroccan holiday.

Agadir, is a seaside resort destination. Lovely, calm and beautiful. It is on the Southern Atlantic coast. On the foothills of the Atlas Mountains. A resort destination known for golf courses, beach and seaside promenade lined with cafes, restaurants and bars. Agadir’s hilltop kasbah was destroyed, but its original old walls remain. Agadir to Marrakech is about 250 km away. We drove by car with a driver.

Marrakech is a more popular tourist spot. The heart of the medina is Jamaa el-Fna square, a vibrant marketplace. The main souk is called Souk Semmarine. If you make your way to the Jemaa el Fna Square, you will find the souks branching out from the square into narrow alleyways. It can be confusing and from here you can just wander and come across all the other souks. Lots of shopping and eating places.

Marrakech is also known as the city of luxury, with many famous palaces, 5-star restaurants, luxury spas and hammams and charming Riyadh (traditional houses) in the medina. The Kutubiyya Mosque, or Koutoubia Mosque is the largest mosque in Marrakesh.

Some 5 star attractions to visit if you have time and budget for.

• La Mamounia hotel and its enchanting gardens is a 5 star hotel across the Kutubiyya mosque.
• The luxurious Royal Mansour hotel for the hammam.
• The Namaskar Palace hotel for their refined cuisine.

2-3 day itinerary

We left Marrakech and visited the Atlas Mountains on the way to Casablanca. The Atlas Mountains are North Africa’s highest mountain range. Berber villages within the Atlas mountain and many canyons and ravines. Atlas mountain excursion is beautiful, very scenic. Lots of Argan oil products available. Buy original and authentic ones. Take a tour up the mountain. You will stop at the local shops, a tea merchants house and lunch along the river banks. Snow capped mountain peaks.

We had lunch at a restaurant on the river and left for Casablanca. Casablanca is a more modern city. It’s bustling streets and modern malls. Morocco Mall is the largest shopping mall in Africa with high end fashion stores.

Standing partially over the water of the Atlantic Ocean is the enormous Hassan II Mosque. A must visit. Listening to the history of how it was built, and where every item was pitched from to complete the mosque which was built by only Moroccans. From the floor tiles, marble walls, wooden pillars, lighting and retractable roof and the spectacular ablution facility, you will be fascinated.

We drove from Casablanca to Rabat. It is about a 90km drive.

Rabat.

Rabat, Morocco’s capital. It’s known for landmarks like Kasbah of the Oudayas. This royal fort is surrounded by gardens and overlooks the ocean. The city’s iconic Hassan Tower, is the minaret of an incomplete mosque in Rabat. Rabat to Fez is 200 km away. We visited these places on the way.

Meknes

Meknes is a city in northern Morocco. Bab Mansour, is a huge gate with arches and mosaic tiling in front of Hedim (Lahdim) Square. The gate leads into the former imperial city. You can take a horse and carriage ride from here to see parts of the city that you can’t access by car. It’s really a beautiful way to see more in less time and saves you walking the distance. We did it at night. The Mausoleum of Sultan Moulay Ismail, is inside and has courtyards and fountains. Meknes itself is a very beautiful city. Meknes to Fez is 70km.

40 minutes outside of Meknes is the ancient city of Moulay Idriss and the Roman ruins of Volubilis. It’s possible to visit these two places back to back as they are located right next to each other. The ruins of Volubilis are located just 5 km away from Moulay Idriss.

Volubilis

This ancient city is part of UNESCO’s protected sites. It’s a place where you see beautiful columns and well-preserved mosaics.

Volubilis to Fez

Fez is the cultural heart of Morocco where many of the countries handicrafts originate. It is one of the imperial cities of Morocco. It is famous for being home to the world’s oldest university, the University of al-Qarawiyyin. It has an ancient walled city, which many compare to the walled city of Jerusalem. Fez is famous for its leather tannery, and it’s one of the main tourist attractions. To get a view overlooking the tannery, you have to enter one of the many leather shops surrounding the tannery. The shops have large balconies and viewing platforms over the tannery. You can order jackets etc and have it delivered to you. If you are there long enough. We stayed in a Riyadh.

Chefchaouen is one of the most preferred destinations of tourists and also one of the most beautiful places to be in Morocco. Blue washed buildings.

Food

The main Moroccan dish people are most familiar with is couscous; beef is the most commonly eaten red meat in Morocco, usually eaten in a tagine with a wide selection of vegetables. Chicken is also very commonly used in tagines or roasted. They also use additional ingredients such as plums, boiled eggs, and lemon.

Currency

The Moroccan currency is the Dirham.

Transport

• Private car with a driver
• Trains but go first class

About the Author

Travelling the world with my husband and two sons. My husband is the main researcher and planner of our holidays. He enjoys it and does it in his spare time. He books all our trips himself from flights, car hire, tours and accommodation. My two boys have been travelling since they were born and now our travels revolve around their school holidays. I just go along for the ride, document my trip and I’m the official photographer.

Instagram @Anisa1810