A unique country with an intriguing character, Morocco offers the mighty snow-capped Atlas Mountains with the snake charmers of the world famous souks. Mixing the magic of the Islamic and Arabic worlds, it is an exotic and intoxicating destination.
Some say Morocco’s history dates back to the 11th century BC, when the Phoenicians first landed on the Atlantic coast of North Africa, somewhere around present-day Tangier. Palaeontologists push this date back to 200,000 BC, however, thanks to the remains of human fossils found at Sidi Abderrahman near Casablanca and the skeletons of the cousin of Homo sapiens discovered in the cave at Ouled Bouchikha (formerly used by smugglers) in the Rabat region.
During prehistoric times, the Berbers were the country’s first inhabitants. Nomadic tribes of Semitic, Indo-European and Negroid stock soon crossed each other’s paths and intermingled, sharing a common language and customs. Two main groups emerged: the Riffians in the north and the Chleuhs in the south. They subsequently became fierce defenders of their lands and cultures, which neither the Phoenicians nor the Carthaginians succeeded in conquering and subjugating. Throughout the Roman occupation-Morocco was annexed in AD 42-the Riffian mountain tribes maintained constant pressure on the invaders. Then the Arabs arrived in the 7th century, and ‘Allah’s horsemen’ occupied the entire territory, settling down to stay. In the name of the Prophet, they hurried to convert the pagan Berber-tongued population to Islam, while wisely granting certain freedoms
Hundreds of fishermen line this side of the Atlantic coast where the desert meets the sea. Travellers from all over the world-from antique collectors, musicians, artists and especially thos...
A world unto its own unfolds as you enter the ancient gateways of the city, where you’ll be visually bathed in the sight of tempting goods, cascading fountains, exotic fruits and shimmering...
From sumptuous stucco mouldings and carved cedarwood to ornately designed mosaic, a walk through the old town of Fez feels like an endless art gallery by itself. Offering a complete immersio...
Tangier lies just a 15-minute flight away (or a 2-hour boat ride) from continental Europe. Here is where the Atlantic mingles with the Mediterranean, producing an intriguing mix of East and...
Besides magnificent Kasbahs, adobe architectural buildings and the breathtaking desolation of the Sahara Desert, Quarzazate is a famous oasis whose photogenic qualities have been exploited b...
All foreign nationals arriving should have a valid passport with at least 6 months left to get an entry visa upon arrival.
YOUR HEALTH
Vaccination against polio and typhoid is advised. A minimal malaria risk, exclusively in the benign vivax form, exists from May to October in rural areas of the Chefchaouen province. Seek the advice of a health-care adviser before departure.
CLIMATE
The coast boasts a warm Mediterranean climate with a drier, hotter climate in the inland areas. April to August is the most popular time to visit, with most of the rainfall from November to March in the coastal areas.
