2009 is the year for a frugal lifestyle, so everyone says, and I’m sure you’ve read story after story about how the weak Pound is affecting value-for-money holidays in the Euro-zone. So, why not travel to Morocco? But wait a minute that’s surely going to cost more, isn’t it…
Well, actually the Pound is still going strong against the Moroccan Dirham. Flights from major UK airports take around 3.5 hours – the same time it can take to travel to Turkey or Greece.
Here are ten things you didn’t know about Morocco, which could inspire you to visit this exciting destination.
Moroccan Grand Canyon- Goats can climb trees in Morocco
- You Can Ski in Morocco
Visit UNESCO Heritage Sites
Surfing All Year Round
“The Gladiator” Was Shot in Morocco - A hint of Santorini, Greece – in Essaouira
- Luxury in the Sahara Desert
- Watch Shooting Stars
- Step Back in Time in The Blue City
The Dades Valley of Morocco offers the same peace and tranquility you will find in the Grand Canyon. Stretched between the peaks of the High Atlas Mountains and Jbel Sarhro Mountains, Dades Valley offers a spectacular view of a snowy mountain on one side and a semi-desert on the other.
In south-west Morocco, you can frequently find goats climbing trees – an unusual photo opportunity! The goats eat the fruit from the argan tree and spit out the pits. The locals collect these pits to extract the bitter kernels inside, which are ground and pressed to make nutty argan oil used in cooking and cosmetics.
Morocco is probably the only place in the world where you can see snow, desert and sea in one trip. Between January and February you can ski or snowboard in Oukaimeden up in the High Atlas Mountains. If you’re looking for an alternative ski holiday look no further than Morocco.
Morocco is an ideal destination for a cultural holiday. Apart from the prevalent Islamic presence, you can find traces of diverse cultures, including Phoenician, Roman, Byzantine and many others. Many of these are UNESCO World Heritage sites, such as the Roman Ruins in Volubilis, one of the best preserved historic sites in Morocco.
With 3,000km of coastline, Morocco is an ideal surfing destination. Surfing classes for adults and children are available all year round. But if you are a seasoned surfer and looking for a challenge then the best time for you is from late autumn to March. There are many unexplored areas to surf south of Agadir and you may find yourself to be the only person out on the waves.
Walk in the footsteps of Angelina, Colin Farrell, Sir Anthony Hopkins and many more Hollywood stars who have filmed in Morocco. Re-live the infamous battle scenes from Russell Crowe’s Gladiator or imagine you’re Omar Sharif in Lawrence of Arabia. You can even take a guided tour of the film studios at Ouarzazate.
It is easy to mistake Essaouira’s white and blue seafront for Santorini in Greece. Once one of the most prosperous cities in Morocco, it is now home to craftsmen busy making marquetry, traditional Moroccan ornamental furniture from the roots of the thuya tree. Only two hours’ drive from Marrakech, it’s a stunning place for a short break on the Atlantic coast.
What could be more romantic than watching the sun rise over the Sahara desert? This doesn’t have to be a backpacker’s experience! You can travel in comfort from your hotel in Erfoud or Merzouga and spend the night in your own luxury tent in the desert with carpets, beds and hot showers.
The night of August 12th to 13th is the culminating point of a meteor shower with rates of over one hundred meteors per hour. You can find many luxury hotels in the High Atlas Mountains or the Sahara desert where light pollution won’t spoil visibility. SaharaSky hotel in Zagora has its very own astronomical observatory!
Chefchaouen, a picturesque little town in the Rif Mountains in the north of Morocco, was closed off to the outside world until the 1920s and has remained unspoilt ever since. Breathe in mountain air and stroll through the meandering streets of this charming and friendly town.
For more information on what to see and do in Morocco, visit The Best of Morocco, the specialist tour operator with over 30 years experience in luxury holidays to Morocco.
