There are destinations you visit for the beaches, others for the food and some simply because the photos looked good on Instagram. Morocco manages to give you all of that while still feeling unlike almost anywhere else you’ve travelled. It’s a country of contrasts. Ancient medinas sit alongside contemporary hotels. Bustling markets eventually give way to the stillness of the desert. One day can involve getting deliberately lost through narrow streets; the next, staring across an enormous landscape with barely another person in sight.
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Start in Marrakech
For many first-time visitors, Marrakech provides the perfect introduction. Inside the historic medina, getting slightly lost is practically part of the experience. The souks are packed with leather goods, rugs, ceramics, spices and seemingly endless opportunities to test your negotiating skills.At the centre of the action is Jemaa el-Fnaa, the famous square that transforms as evening approaches, filling with food vendors, performers and crowds. But Marrakech also knows how to slow things down. Behind unassuming doors you’ll find riads built around peaceful interior courtyards, while hammams offer a welcome reset after hours spent exploring.
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Come hungry
Moroccan food deserves to be one of the primary reasons for visiting. Tagine may be the country’s most recognizable dish, but it’s only the beginning. Expect couscous, grilled meats, fresh breads, olives and combinations of spices that make even seemingly simple dishes memorable. And then there’s mint tea. You’ll drink it everywhere: at restaurants, hotels, shops and sometimes while negotiating over something you had absolutely no intention of buying five minutes earlier.
Escape the city
The mistake would be visiting Morocco and experiencing only its cities. The Atlas Mountains offer a dramatic change of pace from Marrakech, with mountain villages and hiking opportunities providing another perspective on the country. Then there’s the Sahara. Getting there requires some commitment, but spending a night near the dunes is one of those experiences that earns its place on the itinerary. Camel rides may make the photos, but watching the landscape change colour as the sun disappears is the part you’ll remember.
Why Morocco works
Morocco can feel luxurious without requiring you to isolate yourself inside a resort. It can be adventurous without demanding an expedition. And it offers enough history, design, food and culture to make doing absolutely nothing feel like a wasted opportunity. Come for Marrakech. Eat everything. Buy the rug you swore you wouldn’t. Then make sure you leave enough time to discover just how much more there is beyond the medina.
Feature image: Diji Aderogba
