Magical Morocco

As I write this, I am sitting inside a lovely villa in the middle of the Indian ocean staring at the white sandy beach in Maldives, and I’m smiling because travel makes me happy.

Whether I’m exploring a new destination, swimming in a different ocean, road tripping through the wilderness or walking on the pavement in a city, travel is the one thing I find the most rewarding, both personally and physically.

So there are not too many places one can visit during Winter’s. My sister who is a trip designer suggested Morocoo & we instantly agreed. We were not sure what it would have to offer. She runs this startup called Few Days Off Holidays. And has been planning my holidays since the time I have started travelling on my own. Her offerings are very interest based.

Morocco then-

Casablanca is often overlooked as a travel destination, since most tourists coming to Morocco make a beeline for the more exotic parts of the country: Marrakech, Fes, Rabat , the Sahara, or the Atlas Mountains. But Casablanca is the place we landed into first – Instead of writing off Casablanca and immediately starting our road trip it’s worth it to spend at least a day or two in Morocco’s industrial capital. 

This is something I learned after visiting the city twice on the same trip , I’d read the same guides as everyone else, saying Casablanca wasn’t worth much time. But I did like Casablanca . This was fortunate for me, as I had an expert tour guide. So before rushing off to Marrakech,  you should stay in Casablanca for more than a couple hours:

Casablanca has a very cosmopolitan dining and nightlife scene. Casablanca has enough new (and more affordable) trendy restaurants which are located near the corniche. 

Mosque Hassan II

Most Of us have never been inside a mosque, but Mosque Hassan II offers the rare opportunity to take a tour. Sitting on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, its one of Morocco’s top architectural wonders. It was commissioned by King Hassan II, took seven years to build, and can fit up to 25,000 worshipers.. We made a trip here twice and as luck would have it , both times the mosque was shut on the occasion of prophet Mohammed's birthday. 

Marrakech

I arrived in Marrakech fully expecting to dislike it and ended up surprised when I fell in love the second I arrived. Yes, it was chaotic and noisy and polluted, but it was also beautiful, exciting, and full of history. 

We Walked to the square by our own and started going around the souks and finding our way to the mosque and museum, there were some touts around who tried to follow us but we kept following the crowd  to avoid any tension. We did have a Guided tour the very next day but the excitement to see everything kept us. 

I loved getting lost in the never-ending streets of the old city.

Spend a night in the Sahara Desert – The Sahara is exactly how it is portrayed in the movies – vast, empty, and absolutely spectacular. Visited with a guided tour and explore the desert on a  camel!. You can spend the night in a simple tent in the dunes, or splurge a little for a luxury one. This was my favorite activity while in the country and I highly recommend it. The stars go on forever and there’s no light pollution to block them out. (The camel ride isn’t that comfortable though!)

Visit Fez – This old and powerful city is definitely worthy of a visit. The medina of Fès el-Bali, or “Old Fez”, is the most visited part. Its narrow streets are filled with wonderful aromas, mosques, craft shops, and crowds upon crowds of people. Though Fez can be a bit overwhelming, once you get used to the pace of the city, you’ll enjoy its charm and charisma. It’s a great city to shop in too.

The High Atlas – The rugged and beautiful Atlas Mountains stretch over 1,500 miles, from the West Coast of Morocco all the way to Tunisia. This mountain range is home to Jebel Toubkal, North Africa’s tallest peak at 13,671 feet. .

Wander thru Kasbah les Oudaias – Located in Rabat, this Kasbah is found in the oldest part of the city. Its tranquil, picturesque with its narrow streets of white houses, and a great place to wander around. Its elevation offers beautiful views of the river and ocean.

See the Ancient City of Volubilis – A major trading center and the southernmost settlement during Roman times, Volubilis is one of the best preserved (and least frequented) such ruins in the world. I found it empty of tourists, not built up, and open in a way that really lets you get up close and see the structures without being behind ten feet of barriers and jostled by crowds. Most of the city is still unexcavated so the site has a very raw feel to it. I’ve been to a lot of Roman ruins in my travels, but I love this one the best. It’s a lovely day trip away from the crowds and noise of Fez. Entrance is 20 MAD.

Enjoy the Meknes Medina – Pleasantly stroll the Medina in Meknes without being pestered. This authentic market sells handicrafts made in Meknes such as the hand embroidery and Meknes “Damascene” ironwork. If the Medinas of Fez and Marrakesh overwhelm you, this is the place to go.

Morocco  is very relaxed, offers reasonable accommodations, and is visually stunning. The streets and buildings are painted a vibrant sky blue, and the mountains in the backdrop are rugged and dramatic. It is a mélange of French, Spanish & Arabic cultures which is what makes it Magical.  It’s a great place to wander, shop, and sip mint tea.