Introduction

For centuries Europeans have been drawn to the mysteries and majesty of the Moroccan Maghreb. It has been home to great civilisations, pilgrims, poets, artists, writers and spiritual seekers. This is a country with a past as colourful as its carpets. Indeed the country has been conquered, colonised and re-conquered too many times to mention.

The northern and western coasts provide beautiful beaches and a sunny, sub tropical climate. Much like the European Mediterranean, the coast is dotted with farmlands and olive trees, the link of beaches only broken by seaside cities and towns like the capital Rabat, and Essouira.

The three ranges of the Atlas Mountains dissect the country from north-west to south-east. The Mid, High and Anti Atlas descend from north to south and are all distinctive regions in their own right. The Middle Atlas features rolling hills covered in cedar, ash, oak and juniper forests, and quiet cascades. Cradled between their folds are the famous royal cities of Fes and Meknes. The High Atlas contains Djebel Toubkal, the highest mountain in North Africa; its peaks provide a range of tantalising trekking possibilities.

The royal city of Marrakech sprawls out to the scrub of the semi-desert, within sight of snow-capped peaks. The Atlas tumble down to the southern plains and valleys of the pre-Sahara and the oases and kasbahs of legend. The dunes at Merzouga are among the highest in the world, with the pre-Sahara extending to the disputed southern borders. The arid Anti Atlas is altogether different again and home to Tafraoute Village, with its bizarre blue painted boulders and craggy clay-coloured contours. Altogether this makes for a dizzyingly diverse range of environments. Whatever your itinerary or interests, beauty abounds.

Marrakech

One of Morocco’s most important cultural centres; Marrakech has ochre-coloured ramparts which stand out against a permanently blue sky and snowy Atlas Mountains as a backdrop. Plunge into an extraordinary world where there is plenty to see, including palaces, museums and gardens. Place Djemaa el-Fna is a huge square in the medina where jugglers and storytellers jostle for position with snake charmers and magicians. As its sunny almost all year round Marrakech has plenty to offer visitors in terms of activity options including jeep safaris, cultural visits, trips to the Atlas Mountains, camel rides and sand dune quad biking.

Casablanca

Immortalised through the eponymous Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman movie (shot in Hollywood !) and forever associated with honorary citizen Sir Winston Churchill, Casablanca is a sprawling, vibrant metropolis of close to 6.5 million inhabitants, 3.5 million of them living in the city itself. Though not the seat of government, it is Morocco’s undisputed commercial capital, an enigmatic meeting place of western modernity and Arabic tradition. Casablanca (‘Dar el-Beïda’ in Moroccan Arabic, which translates as ‘White House’ in English) or Casa as it is known colloquially, was a tiny Berber settlement that became a home port for privateers, before turning into a trading post with Europe. Then, in the era of the French protectorate at the dawn of the 20th century, it mushroomed into what is today one of Africa’s four largest cities.

Fes

Fès (also spelled Fez and in Arabic, Fas) is the third largest city in Morocco, after Casablanca and Rabat. It lies in a valley bordered by the foothills of the Atlas Mountains, and on the old crossroads of caravan routes connecting the Saharan empires like Timbuktu with the Atlantic and the Mediterranean shipping lanes.

Its medina is an un mappable maze of more than 9,000 alleys where mules are the only form of transport and life is a fascinating blend of medieval and modern. A far reaching conservation campaign has been attempting to preserve and interpret the remarkable historic legacy, with new uses being sought for fabulous old palaces, many of which are being restored by both Moroccan and foreign families.

Rabat

Rabat is the capital city of Morocco, home to the grand palace of the king of Morocco. It is one of the country’s most modern cities, with wide streets and well-maintained gardens. It has a quieter and more serious atmosphere than some of Morocco’s other cities. However, Rabat is also a city steeped in history. It traces its origins to the seventh century, and the Kasbah and Medina sections will transport you back to the city’s medieval heyday. A world class golf course, fine restaurants and beaches are nearby, making it easy to mix history with pleasure.

Weather

The climate varies from region to region in Morocco. While the coast enjoys a Mediterranean climate of warm summers, the inland regions are characterised by being hotter and drier throughout the summer – more akin to a continental interior climate.

Highland areas enjoy a cooler climate although even in winter in Marrakech you can expect an average temperature above 21°C. The wettest season occurs Nov-Mar although most rainfall is confined to the coast.

Visiting in the height of summer can be very hot. The most comfortable time to visit would be in the Spring – Mar-Apr and Autumn – Sep and Oct.

Average Weather Guide:

Temperature in Degrees Centigrade

Rainfall in Millimetres

The tables above are intended as guidelines only.