When to Travel to Morocco?
Best: Sept-Oct, March-May
OK: winter months, Nov-Feb, are generally fine and warm except in the north or up the mountains.
Worst: July, Aug. Hot inland, though it can be the most pleasant time on the coast.
Ramadan can be an awkward time as many locals neither eat nor drink during the day and may be tired [Oct 15 – Nov 14 ‘04, Oct 5 – Nov 4 ‘05].
Length of stay:
Min. worthwhile stay, not incl. flights : 5 days [Marrakesh & Draa/Ziz valley drive]
Recommended: 9 days – 1 month
Main Morocco festivals:
June, Fes Sacred Music Festival; actually wacky world music…
June, Essaouria Festival of Music.
June, Marrakech Festival of Popular Arts, 10 days of arts attack.
Aug, Imilchil Engagement Festival, 3 days of Berber instant match-making.
Related Travel Information
Some anti-hassle hints for Morocco Travellers
Moroccans can be lovely, hospitable people if you get the chance to know them. However:
- most offers of hospitality - 'come in for a cup of tea!' - in regular travel destinations will result in a sales campaign. So don't accept any.
- don't trust what young men on the street tell you and don't tell them where you're staying.
- be very clear and firm about your needs; indecision and vagueness could lead to unwanted pressure.
- all sorts of tricks are used to develop a relationship that will lead to sales, from the simple 'where are
Why Travel Morocco?
The traveller's mecca in 60s-70s, Morocco is still a fascinating mix of Islamic, Arab, African, and Berber cultures with a topping of France. Throw in some pleasant cities, eye-boggling landscapes, colourful people, excellent beaches, good trekking, plenty of interesting shopping and there's something for everyone. Moroccans are mostly Muslim but not too obsessive about it.
Morocco has mountains, deserts, ancient cities, and some of the friendliest people anywhere in the world. Most Morocco holidays are based in Marrakech, with easy access to trekking in the Atlas mountains, especially for climbing Mount Toubkal. Just 2.5 hours from the UK yet
Morocco - Food and Dining Guide
Traditional Morocco food is nourishing though a little dull, with couscous [semolina] the national dish, served with stews of lamb, chicken and vegetables.
Main towns, like Fes, have lots of international restaurants at reasonable prices.
Alcohol is freely available to travellers.
Oujda
Oujda is the easternmost city of Morocco and has been influenced by Algerian music and culture for years. This is, for example, where the best Rai ( a kind of Arabic music) is made. When the Algerian border was closed in 1994, Oujda suffered from the drying up of cross-border traffic.
The distinctive atmosphere of Oujda makes it a place worth visiting when in Morocco. It does not have any major sights, but should be included in any itinerary to the east of Morocco. The center of Oujda, along Boulevard Mohamed V is where you will find hotels, banks and
Introduction : Morocco
Morocco is situated on the northwestern corner of Africa. Morocco is bordered with Algeria to the east and southeast, Mauritania to the south and to the west by the Atlantic Ocean.
The country is divided into three natural regions;
(1) The fertile northern coastal plaint along the Mediterranean which contains Er Rif, mountains varying in elevation up to about 8,000 ft;
(2) The rich plateaus and lowlands lying between the rugged Atlas mountains, which extend in three parallel ranges from the Atlantic coast in the southwest to Algeria and the Mediterranean in the northeast;
(3) The semiarid area
