10 Experiences in Morocco You Shouldn't Miss

Morocco packs an astonishing variety into one country: imperial cities and labyrinthine medinas, snow-capped mountains, Atlantic beaches and the dunes of the Sahara. These are the ten experiences that make a trip unforgettable.

1. Feel the energy of Jemaa el-Fnaa in Marrakech

Marrakech's main square changes through the day, from orange-juice stalls and snake charmers in the morning to a huge open-air food court at night, with smoke rising from the grills and musicians playing until late. Our full Marrakech guide covers everything else the city has to offer.

As the sun sets, smoke rises from the food stalls, drums and pipes fill the air and storytellers and musicians gather crowds – it's chaotic, intoxicating and unforgettable.

2. Sleep in the Sahara

The dunes of Erg Chebbi near Merzouga are the most accessible part of the Sahara. Ride a camel at sunset, eat a tagine in a desert camp and fall asleep under a sky full of stars. From Marrakech, it's usually a two- or three-day trip.

Your camel rocks gently over the dunes as they turn orange in the setting sun, and at night, under a blanket of stars, the silence of the desert is total.

3. Get lost in the medina of Fez

Fez el-Bali is one of the largest car-free urban areas in the world, a maze of thousands of alleys with workshops, mosques and madrasas. Hire an official guide for your first visit, then wander on your own.

In the narrow lanes, donkeys carry goods, coppersmiths hammer and the smell of fresh bread drifts from the communal ovens – you will get lost, and that's part of the magic.

4. Watch the dyers at the Chouara tannery

From the terraces of the leather shops around Fez's famous tannery, you can look down on stone vats of dye where hides are still processed by hand, as they have been for centuries. The smell is strong – shop owners often hand out mint leaves.

From a terrace above, you look down on a honeycomb of coloured vats with workers knee-deep in dye – hold a sprig of mint under your nose against the smell.

5. Walk the blue streets of Chefchaouen

In the Rif Mountains, the old town of Chefchaouen is painted in every shade of blue. It's calmer than the big cities and a lovely place to slow down for a couple of days.

Every wall, step and door is painted in shades of blue, cats doze in doorways and the mountains rise behind the town – calm and photogenic.

6. Visit Aït Benhaddou

This fortified earthen village on the old caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakech is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has appeared in many films. It's an easy stop on the road to the desert.

The earthen kasbahs glow red at sunset, and from the top of the hill, the desert stretches away in every direction.

7. Trek in the High Atlas

The village of Imlil is the starting point for walks through Berber villages and walnut groves, and for climbing Jebel Toubkal, the highest peak in North Africa. Read more about Toubkal in our guide to incredible national parks around the world.

Mule paths wind past Berber villages and walnut groves, and mint tea in a family home is the warmest welcome.

8. Explore Roman Volubilis and Meknes

The ruins of Volubilis have some of the best-preserved Roman mosaics in North Africa. Combine them with the imperial city of Meknes, which is quieter and less touristy than Fez.

Mosaics, columns and a triumphal arch stand among wheat fields and olive trees – often almost deserted.

9. Relax in Essaouira

The breezy Atlantic port of Essaouira has whitewashed walls, blue fishing boats, sea-facing ramparts and excellent grilled fish. It's a favourite with windsurfers and kitesurfers.

The Atlantic wind, the gulls over the blue fishing boats and the relaxed white medina – it's the perfect place to slow down.

10. Learn to cook a tagine – and take a hammam

A cooking class, often starting with a market visit, is a great way to understand Moroccan food. Finish the day in a hammam, the traditional steam bath, with a vigorous scrub.

The scent of cumin and preserved lemon fills the kitchen as your tagine simmers; afterwards, the hammam's steam and black soap leave you glowing.

Getting around

Morocco's train network links Tangier, Rabat, Casablanca, Meknes, Fez and Marrakech, including the high-speed Al Boraq line between Tangier and Casablanca. For the mountains and the desert, join a tour or hire a driver.

Planning a wider trip to the Arab world?

Jordan offers a very different kind of desert adventure – see our whirlwind trip to Jordan.