Morocco: traditions and wild nature
Where to stay?
I recommend these Riads:
Riad Mogador
Riad Tamarrakecht
Best time to visit
I think the best time to visit Morocco is September-October. I went in October and the temperature was absolutely perfect, mild and not too hot. Spring and autumn are generally the best times to visit Morocco, with pleasant temperatures and sunny days ideal for exploring cities such as Marrakech, Fes and Essaouira.
How to get there
With 25 airports scattered all across Morocco, there are several airports in Morocco that are able to serve your needs, while providing you with banking services, foreign exchange agencies, shopping malls fitted out according to the new concept of "walkthrough", catering and relaxation areas. The airport of Marrakech-Menara, being considered as the most beautiful airport in the world according to the 2017 ranking by the Skyteam Alliance that unites 19 world airlines, has a cultural identity that brings together authenticity and modernity.
Morocco Tour
The best solution to visit Morocco at its best is to set up a tour that includes the most interesting stages and that allows you to visit the most diverse realities within the country. I will tell you about and propose the tour that I did with my boyfriend and that started right from the beating heart of Morocco: Marrakech
Marrakesh comprises an old fortified city packed with vendors and their stalls. This medina quarter is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and contains the Jemaa el-Fnaa square, a large number of souks (markets), the Kutubiyya Mosque, and many other historic and cultural sites.
Among the main places to visit I suggest:
• El Bahia Palace famous for its splendid architecture, courtyards and gardens.
•The Ben Youssef Madrasa is an Islamic madrasa (college) in Marrakesh, Morocco. The madrasa is named after the adjacent Ben Youssef Mosque and was commissioned in 1564-65 AD by the Saadian Sultan Abdallah al-Ghalib. Functioning today as a historic site, the Ben Youssef Madrasa was the largest Islamic college in the Maghreb at its peak and is widely recognized as a pinnacle of Saadian and Moroccan architecture.
Someone said: "The show of Jamaa el Fna is repeated every day and every day is different. Everything changes: voices, sounds, gestures, the public that sees, listens, smells, tastes, touches. The oral tradition is framed by a much larger one, which we can call immaterial. The square, as a physical space, hosts a rich oral and immaterial tradition." and I agree with every single word. This square is wonderful, you can find yourself a few meters away from a cobra and with a cute little monkey on your shoulder. In the evening the light show of the characteristic lamps makes everything magical.
I recommend staying in Marrakech at least three days. I did so and then I left for a journey that lasted about seven hours in total towards the Merzouga desert but with stops along the path. This was the part of the trip that I liked the most and that requires a good dose of adaptation.
We left Marrakech and headed towards the Atlas Mountains. They run across Morocco for about 1000 km and separate the mild Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines from the harsh Sahara desert in the south. The mountains are home to arid desert landscapes dotted with burnt-orange rock, pines, cedars, snow-capped peaks and lush green valleys, often interspersed with the clay homes of the nomadic Berber population. The Berbers are the original inhabitants of these ranges. The Berbers have resolutely preserved their culture through oral storytelling and song. And their traditional belief systems have become an inextricable part of their lives. As you amble through villages, you will hear strains of the rhythmic beat of drums and flutes wafting through, to which the villagers dance to, in celebration and ritual.
High Atlas Mountains
After staying for one night in a mountain village, we set off towards Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO heritage fortified village. The village's buildings are grouped together within a defensive wall that includes corner towers and a gate. They include dwellings of various sizes ranging from modest houses to tall structures with towers. Some of the buildings are decorated in their upper parts with geometric motifs. The village also has a number of public or community buildings such as a mosque, a caravanserai, multiple kasbahs (castle-like fortification). At the top of the hill, overlooking the ksar, are the remains of a large fortified granary (agadir).The ksar has been significantly restored in modern times, thanks in part to its use as a Hollywood filming location and to its inscription on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1987.
From here we continued towards Ouarzazate which is called the gateway to the desert precisely because it is a stop that is usually made when heading towards the desert. The Kasbah Taourirt is the city's historic kasbah. It was owned and expanded by the Glaoui family in the late 19th century and the 20th century. Built mainly of rammed earth, it is one of the most impressive examples of this type of structure, which characterizes the architecture of the predominantly Berber-inhabited Atlas mountain and oasis regions of Morocco. A short distance west of the city is Aït Benhaddou.
As we continued, we came across places where nature is the protagonist. Lush vegetation that leaves you breathless, unique landscapes such as the Dades Gorges. The southernmost gorges are known for their large production of roses, used in the production of rose water. There are also groves of palm trees and almond trees.
Another stop along the way caught our attention: The town of Tinghir (jamaat tinghir). Massive palm trees cover about 30 miles (48 km) in 500 to 1,500-meter (550 to 1,640 yd) wide stretches along the Wadi Todgha. After the Todra Gorge, the Wadi Todgha has a difficult passage along the southern slopes of the Atlas Mountains (Tizgi); then it flows across the plain, winding for just over 20 kilometers (12 mi) to Ferkla. The dense, scattered palm oasis is watered by a network of irrigation pipes and canals. Occasional heavy rains are absorbed in a few days.
From here on the journey continued and had as its only destination the desert. Obviously there were stops at very characteristic service stations where there was certainly always the opportunity to have lunch with a tagine and couscous. Many villages remained in my mind, the custom of tasting tea when entering the homes of Berber families and their welcome will always remain in my heart.
Towards the desert
I suggest to stock up on water as soon as you can because when you are about to approach the desert it will no longer be possible from a certain point onwards. I will never forget the feeling I had at the sight of the Merzouga desert. Upon our arrival a caravan was waiting for us and once we got on our dromedary we headed towards our tent camp to spend the night. Crossing the desert is an experience to live at least once in your life and getting on a camel or dromedary is one of the most fun 😂.
The night in the desert is magical but be careful. Small animals could be your guests in the tent. We had a visit from a scorpion and a desert rat so if you are not a person with a great spirit of adaptation think carefully if this can be the ideal experience for you. All in all after the night in the tent in the morning we got back on the camel and admired the sunrise.
Along the road to Marrakech
After the sunrise in the desert we continued towards Marrakech passing through other Berber villages where we met wonderful people who gave us information about their culture and customs. Back in Marrakech we came across one of the most beautiful things:
Le Jardin Majorelle
Le Jardin Majorelle is a botanical garden created by the French orientalist artist Jacques Majorelle over nearly forty years, starting in 1923, and includes a cubist villa designed by French architect Paul Sinoir in the 1930s. The property was the residence of the artist and his wife from 1923 until their divorce in the 1950s. In the 1980s, the property was purchased by the fashion designer Yves Saint-Laurent and his commercial director Pierre Bergé who worked on its restoration. What makes this garden special is the large collection of cacti and exotic species.
Traditional food
Moroccan cuisine is made up of a series of dishes that no traveler should miss. In fact, tasting these dishes is an essential part of visiting this city. Moroccan cuisine ranges from tajines to couscous, from harira to tangia, and is characterized by the presence of spices that greatly enhance its flavor.
The "tajine" takes its name from the container in which it is cooked, as in the case of Spanish paella, which is a clay pot with a lid in the shape of an elongated cone. Various types of vegetables are cooked in the pot along with the chosen meat (lamb, beef or chicken) and various spices are added, such as turmeric and cumin. Cooking in its most traditional form must be slow, to the point that the dish requires several hours to be completed. In addition, the particular shape of the container allows the steam to remain inside and the meat to be more tender and flavorful. Although they are all known as tajines, there are actually different types depending on the ingredients that are added. Some of the most popular are lemon chicken, plum beef and, on special occasions, lamb.
Wherever I have been, harira soup has always been served before every meal. Harira soup includes vegetables, grains, meat and legumes, usually chickpeas. However, what gives it its delicious flavour are the herbs (such as coriander and mint), tomatoes, lemon and, of course, spices such as harissa, which gives it a spicy touch. The whole thing is thickened with a little flour.
The protagonist of Moroccan tables is certainly couscous, almost always accompanied by tajine.
Restaurants
-Dardar Rooftop : Cocktails & Eat
-Nomad
-La trattoria
Practical tips
Safety
Avoid carrying valuables to reduce the risk of loss or theft. You need to be careful with raw foods and tap water that could cause gastrointestinal problems. Don't forget that you will most likely find yourself in front of cultures that you are not familiar with so treat everyone with great respect.
Language
In Marrakech they really speak a great number of languages and therefore you will certainly have no problem making yourself understood by the locals. Moroccans are good at communicating so don't worry too much.
Conclusion
Morocco is a land that stays in your heart. When you return home you still feel a hurricane of overwhelming sensations. The streets smell of spices, they are full of colors, people, sounds, breathtaking landscapes. I would go back and maybe this time I would visit other equally interesting destinations such as Fes, Agadir, Essaouira.
Thanks Morocco!
The home for unique & authentic travel
