Morocco things to Do

As in all of Morocco, the market business is conducted in a leisure environment, with the accompaniment of endless glasses of all variety teas. The valley of Ouergha to the north of Fès is also famed for its souks and Morocco's most celebrated gathering of riders.

With its four distinct mountain ranges – the Rif, the Middle Atlas, the High Atlas and the Anti-Atlas – Morocco offers outstanding opportunities for hiking, trekking and camping trips. One of the most popular treks in the High Atlas is the ascent of Jebel Toubkal (4167m/6668ft), North Africa's highest peak. The Toubkal area is about a one-hour drive from Marrakech and the usual starting point for this trek is the picturesque village of Imlil. Trekking is possible all year round, but the best time is from April to October. The canyons and gorges are best tackled from June to October.

 Golfing is a popular sport and several clubs organize pony treks in the Middle Atlas. In the winter you can indulge yourself with ski 44 miles away from Marrakech or in Fes or Meknes. The combination of traveling by mule and skiing is characteristic to the High Atlas and can be carried out from February to April. A useful brochure, The Great Trek through the Moroccan Atlas, is available from the Moroccan Ministry of Tourism or the Moroccan National Tourist Office. Camel riding is also available, both in the Atlas Mountains and around the Sahara Desert area in the southwest.

Sandy beaches offer safe swimming, although the Atlantic can be cold even in summer. Mohammedia, Agadir, El Jadida, Oualidia, Safi and Essaouira are all good bathing resorts. The Mediterranean coast in the north, opposite Spain, is being developed; resorts include Cabonegro, Al Hoceima and Mdiq. Another option of water sports is whitewater rafting on the rivers in the High and Middle Atlas ranges, particularly the Oum-er-Rbia or deep-sea fishing at Dakhla in the Sahara or Mohammedia near Casablanca.

Tourist Information