Where to go in Morocco

Colorful Marrakech is a beautiful, exotic and mysterious city, with an exciting mix of old and new. Its thousand-year history is rich and turbulent, with a cast of characters that includes princesses and sultans, fortune hunters, slave traders, magicians and colonialist. In the centuries-old souks (markets), barrels overflow with spices like saffron, cinnamon, ginger and turmeric, tucked among the hookahs, tapestries, antiques and traditional clothing. The main square, Djemaa el Fna, is the place to be with a wide range of food stalls featuring everything from aubergine fritters to steamed sheep’s head.

This mountain range in central Morocco is the highest part of the Atlas Mountains which separate the Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines from the Sahara Desert. They’re home to networks of scenic hiking trails and dirt roads that snake through the mostly unspoiled landscapes, fertile green valleys, remote Berber villages, goat herds, wild herbs and snow-dusted peaks. When you visit, you’ll see a way of life, including flat-roofed homes made from the earth and stone, that’s barely changed over a thousand years, with the Berbers the original inhabitants, a civilization that dates back over eight millennia.

The gateway to the Sahara Desert, Ouarzazate is south of the High Atlas Mountains. Sometimes referred to as “Morocco’s Little Hollywood,” its exotic backdrop has been used as a filming site for everything from “Game of Thrones” to “Gladiator.” The magnificent medieval ksar of Ait Benhaddou is one of the best-preserved examples of a fortified village in the world. Ouarzazate is an ideal launching pad for the desert, gorges and mountains, the city is also a popular base for outdoor adventurers, with everything from sand surfing, camel treks and 4X4 safaris to climbing and hiking can be enjoyed from here. The town itself is quiet, but there are plenty of affordable and tasty eats, a souk and local stores for shopping.

The cultural center of Morocco, Fes is the Arab world’s most complete medieval city, a unique and magical mix of Middle Ages meets the modern world. An imperial city established more than a thousand years ago, the oldest part is surrounded by hall walls, with the twists and turns of the ancient streets in the medina fun just to get lost in, dining on street foods like pastilla along the way. Known for its leather products which can be found at the leather bazaar, be sure to visit the pungent, colorful tanneries, to witness the time-honored practice.

Morocco’s capital city sits along the Atlantic coast at the mouth of the river Bou Regreg. It offers lots of charm with palm-lined boulevards and lovely outdoor cafes relatively free of traffic in ville nouvelle, while the picturesque walled medina is especially atmospheric and far less touristy than others. There are shops of craftsmen and traders, selling carpets, leather goods and Moroccan crafts. The evocative Kasbah of the Udayas is adjacent to the medina overlooking the sea, with its narrow streets lined with whitewashed homes, while Andalusian Gardens sits at its southern edge.