Travel guide Morocco

The arts and crafts are numerous and each as impressive as the next! You can visit tanneries in Taroudant, potteries in Merzouga and tapestries in Marrakech. Buildings are richly decorated with a thousand different styles and aesthetic moldings. And last but not least, Berber culture brings the science of jewelry-making.

It is the divine grace, and generally the luck in the Arab world. It is obtained by invoking the memory of a holy man or, better still, by making a pilgrimage to the site of his shrine (kubba or zaouia). To ensure the baraka, it is necessary to collect earth near the mausoleum and keep it preciously like a relic!

In the south of Morocco, expect to do some driving. Fortunately, they are mostly in good condition, either new or recently rebuilt. Sometimes, however, you'll have to take sandy roads, and manoeuvring can be tricky. In any case, be patient: it takes around 15 hours to get from Agadir to Dakhla!

A veritable fortified village belonging to the lord, the kasbah served as a refuge for peasants in case of attack. It is built of pisé, a mixture of clay soil and pebbles, surprisingly resistant to time. Southern Morocco conceals the most beautiful kasbahs, some of which date from the 17th century. That of Aït Benhaddou is a beautiful example.

The dromedary is the quintessential symbol of southern Morocco. Firstly, for the exotic side of this humped ruminant, but above all, for the historical image it reflects. Indeed, for centuries it was a necessary element in the caravan routes of desert nomads. And the development of the region owes much to it.

Also known as caravanserai, fondouks are old inns where merchants and their camels used to come to rest. Today they have become places where goods are stored. There are 155 fondouks in the medina of Fez, some of which have been restored. The most beautiful is undoubtedly the fondouk Nejjarine.

Outdoor climbing attracts climbing tourists from all over the world. Indeed, a number of rock faces are becoming popular playgrounds for climbers. The best known is just over two hours from Ouarzazate, at Todgha, and boasts over 350 routes, from amateur to advanced.

There's no shortage of opportunities to relax in a hammam in Morocco! As well as purifying the body, these steam baths also play an important social role. Everyone goes there to wash, but also to meet and chat with fellow human beings. There are usually two public hammams: one for women, the other for men.

The other backbone of the country, along with the king, is the Muslim religion. In southern Morocco, as throughout the country, prayers are held five times a day, and can take place in the street, in the middle of a trek, or in the middle of a 4x4 outing. It's not surprising to see one of your guides taking a break to pray!

It is the Koranic schools that were formerly responsible for the education of students in theology, history or science. Under the Merinid sultans, they multiplied everywhere in Morocco. The prayer room is a pure architectural jewel, decorated with chiselled zelliges. The only religious monument open to non-Muslims, enjoy it!

In just a few years, the town of Dakhla has become one of the most popular spots in the surfing world. Barack Obama and Prince William have even visited! It has to be said that conditions are favorable all year round, which is one of the most attractive criteria for sports enthusiasts. Further north, Essaouira also attracts visitors.

It's the old town inside the ramparts, very popular and bustling with activity. The medinas of Marrakech and Fez bewitch with their maze of alleyways, intense aromas and myriad craft stores. To lose yourself in their winding alleys is to plunge into a timeless medieval atmosphere!

Literally "the old city", the medina is the historical center of the cities you will visit. Not all of them are of similar size, and above all, do not benefit from the same state of conservation. If most of them are preserved and enhanced, the medina of Agadir for example, has been entirely refurbished for tourists.

A member of the mosque, the muezzin calls for prayer from the top of his minaret by modulating suras from the Koran. In the past, he was chosen for his thunderous voice, which would echo throughout the city. Today, loudspeakers have replaced his long breath, which does not alter the disorientation generated by the five calls per day.

The King's role in Morocco goes beyond the glitz and glamour. He is a founding element of national unity, one of the pillars uniting all Moroccans across the country. Popular, he interferes fully in politics, and has real executive powers, such as dismissing an incompetent minister or calling new elections.

The Berbers had the brilliant idea of introducing this tree from Mesopotamia and planting it where there were springs in the middle of the desert: the oasis had just been invented! Not very demanding in water, the date palm has adapted well, as can be seen from the green flows along the oases. Delicious dates are harvested here and are very much appreciated by the locals.

If Morocco were a house, the Sahara would be its garden! And what an area it is! Half the size of France, the Moroccan part of the Sahara is one of the gateways to a vast desert that stretches across a dozen countries in Africa. Always disputed, the Western Sahara is regularly the subject of claims by Algiers.

This is often referred to as a house, but it is an abuse of language. The riad is actually the inner courtyard of a house. With its central fountain and lush vegetation, this space is a delicious haven of peace and freshness, inspired by the Andalusian patio. You can spend pleasant moments with your family, isolated from the bustle of the medina.

The souk is one of the main attractions of Moroccan culture. One goes there by strolling, letting oneself be carried by the smells, attracted by the colors or caught by an eye-catching merchant. It is a place of permanent wonderment where the ancestral tradition of trade is expressed in each alley and becomes, over the days, a fun game.

A mixture of lime, white cement and pigments, tadelakt is a decorative coating, the preparation of which requires a certain know-how. It is traditionally used to dress bathrooms and hammams, as it has the advantage of being waterproof. To the touch, it offers a feeling of softness, which is polished with pebbles.

If food is one of the country's main assets, with many rich and spicy dishes, the tajine remains the national mascot, and we enjoy comparing the different flavors depending on the restaurant. Tajine dishes can sometimes become real works of art, and vary according to the cities you pass through on your trip.

Simply unavoidable! And if one drinks it all over Morocco, it is in the South that its consumption is the most important. Mint tea is a whole ritual that obeys precise rules, from its preparation to its tasting. Difficult to decline the invitation, wait for at least the third glass so as not to offend your guests.

It can be drunk at any time and in any environment. But if it's omnipresent in the culture of southern Morocco, it's always drunk in a convivial atmosphere. Tasting it is a real ritual! Purists will appreciate distinguishing all the steps, pouring the tea back into the teapot, pouring with height... and so on.

This is the building that houses the tomb of a marabout. The faithful come here to pray, and to enjoy the baraka of the late holy man. From the 18th century, the zaouias gave birth to a real cult of marabouts, which this term ended up designating religious brotherhoods in general. They are forbidden to non-Muslims.