Medinas, mountains and nights under Saharan stars.
Morocco is a sensory jump just a short flight from Europe. The souks of Marrakech and Fes are mazes of spice stalls, leather tanneries and hidden riads, while the High Atlas and the Sahara offer silence on a scale few places can match.
Spring and autumn are ideal; summer is very hot inland, and desert nights get cold in winter. Mint tea, tagines cooked for hours and a tradition of hospitality are at the heart of any visit.
Best time to visit Morocco
March, April, May, October, November.
Places to visit in Morocco
Marrakech: The buzzing Jemaa el-Fnaa square, sprawling souks and peaceful riad courtyards.
Fes: A thousand-year-old medina and one of the world's largest car-free urban areas.
Chefchaouen: A blue-washed town in the Rif mountains, made for wandering and photography.
Sahara (Merzouga): Towering Erg Chebbi dunes, camel treks and a night in a desert camp.
Essaouira: A breezy fortified port town with fresh seafood and a relaxed pace.
Rabat: Morocco's orderly capital, with a clifftop kasbah, Almohad monuments and a relaxed medina.
Casablanca: Morocco's commercial capital, with art deco architecture and the Hassan II Mosque built over the Atlantic.
Tangier: A port city facing Spain across the Strait of Gibraltar, with a hilltop kasbah and a literary past.
Aït Benhaddou: A fortified earthen village on the old caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakech.
High Atlas: North Africa's highest mountains, with trekking from Imlil to the summit of Jebel Toubkal.
Essentials
Currency: Moroccan dirham (MAD)
Language: Arabic and Tamazight; French is widely used
Plugs: Type C / E, 220 V
Driving: Right side
Time zone: UTC+1 (changes during Ramadan)
Tipping: Small tips are customary for most services
Getting around: Trains between major cities; drivers or tours for the desert and mountains
Entry: Check the official rules for your passport before booking