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Morocco by Dale Nolan

The stunningly exotic kingdom of Morocco is a nation that bedazzles your senses with its dizzying blend of vibrant colours, aromatic spices and fantastic attractions. This ancient land boasts historic royal cities, red-splashed kasbahs, bustling markets, rugged mountains and a winding coastline lined with long, golden beaches. Fascinating and astounding in equal measures, Morocco is a chaotic treasure trove blessed with Arabic charm and stunning African landscapes, which has now become one of the continent’s boldest tourist destinations.

Morocco was once part of the great Maghreb region and some of its first settlers were the seafaring Phoenicians and the mysterious Berbers. In 146BC, the Phoenicians were defeated by a combined Roman and Berber alliance and for a brief period Morocco fell under the control of Berber kings. Rome’s desires to control the Mediterranean however led to their occupation of Northern Africa and they remained for some time. In the Seventh century, Arabs took control of the Moroccan region converting its population to Islam. Over the next several centuries several Moroccan dynasties flourished and their influence stretched as far into Europe as Spain and France. Later, the European powers managed to push the Arabs from Spain and back across the Strait of Gibraltar but the power of the Moors remained strong for some time. In 1912, Morocco became a French protectorate and despite strong local resistance remained so until 1956 when it finally achieved its independence.

Today, Morocco retains strong Arabic and French undertones and these delightful influences, as well as many more, have helped its tourism industry flourish. Modern Morocco is well placed for exploration and some of the most popular attractions in the country are its glorious royal cities and its fabulous beaches.

Colourfully exotic and dramatic Marrakech is arguably the nation’s most visited destination and boasts a labyrinth of covered souks, bustling squares and noisy entertainers set within the vast confines of aging ramparts. Once the capital of the kingdom, medieval Marrakech is a welcome stop-off on way to Morocco’s coast and mountains and includes an array of fascinating sights. Some of the most memorable include romantically lit Djemaa-el-Fna Square with its snake charmers, musicians and storytellers, the magnificent Koutoubia mosque with its 230-foot minaret and the lavishly decorated Saadian Tombs. All in all, Marrakech is an intoxicating introduction to Moroccan life and offers some of the country’s best and most eclectic shopping opportunities.

To the north of Marrakech lies its royal sister cities of Fez and Meknes and these spellbinding ancient centres are a myriad of culture and captivating beauty.

Fez is the intellectual and spiritual hub of the kingdom and is a haphazard jumble of alleyways, fountains and elaborately tiled arches. Some of Fez’s must-see attractions are the peaceful Boujeloud Gardens, ideal for a relaxing afternoon mint tea, and the enormous Medersa Bou Inania - a local college and one of Morocco’s most spectacular buildings.

Just west of Fez and resting in green and fertile countryside is the serene and prosperous city of Meknes. Once the playground of excitable and insatiable sultans, this picturesque city boasts an ancient medina, a clutch of gardens and an awe-inspiring imperial city lined with vibrant buildings and palaces. There are also a variety of other attractions within easy reach of the city and one of the most impressive is historic Volubilis – a world heritage site and one of North Africa’s most stunning and best -preservedRoman ruins.

Surrounding and dominating Morocco’s gorgeous royal cities are a series of staggering mountains, gorges and valleys that form the backbone of the kingdom. Criss-crossed with caravan routes and littered with national wonders and mud-brick kasbahs, the Atlas Mountains have become the nation’s newest adventure playground and are awash with breathtaking excursions. The most exhilarating destinations are the lush and pink mountains of Ameln Valley, the refreshing lakes and villages of the Middle Atlas, heart-thumping Todra Gorge and the palm-lined, ornamental kasbahs of the snowy High Atlas and sun-drenched Draa Valley. Amongst them are some truly inspired opportunities for mountain biking, camel excursions, hiking, wildlife spotting and superb trekking.

The wealth of attractions across Morocco’s vast interior is impressive but the nation’s generously warm climate makes its winding coastline equally welcome. Here visitors can kickback and enjoy exotic beach resorts and easygoing cities across the kingdom’s blissfully generous Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts. Some of the most idyllic resorts and cities sprinkled along the Moroccan coastline include the golden sands of Agadir with its great restaurants and water sports, movie-famous Casablanca with its ample bars, colonial Rabat and Tangier, enchanting Essaouira with its windsurfing and picture-postcard medina and the sandy beaches of sunny Plage Robinson and Cala Iris.

The variety of options across the length of the country’s coastline is plentiful and the list of resorts continues to increase with each passing year.

For those wanting something truly unique, then no visit to this mesmerising nation would be complete without experiencing Morocco’s scorched-red desert. To the south and east of the country are a variety of spectacular areas to explore and easily the most worthwhile are the shifting sands of the Ziz Valley and the awesome dunes of Erg Chebbi. Both provide some unforgettable chances to take in the blazing scenery of Morocco’s isolated but inspired Sahara regions and give an alternative picture of this richly diverse nation.

With its mountainous interior, beautiful coastline and royal cities, it is no surprise that Morocco continues to attract ever-increasing visitor crowds. From the striking mountains of the Atlas and the sweeping hills of the Rif to modern coastal resorts and ancient mosques, exotic Morocco is an exhilarating destination to stay in packed with ample doses of adventure and relaxation.