Morocco can be described in a single word - exotic. Located in North Africa, this is a land of mystery and myth.
Camel caravans on the Sahara Desert. Bartering in 900-year-old outdoor marketplaces (Medinas). Roman ruins. Trading routes for slaves, gold, and ivory. It is not a coincidence this was the setting for the movie Casablanca.
Amazing experiences of Morocco are not hard to come by.
Geography
Present day Morocco can be divided into three parts: Moroccan Plateau (containing the major cities), Atlas Mountains, and the Sahara Desert. Each of these has its distinct feel.
Historical Morocco included Timbuktu (Mali) in the south and Carthage (Tunisia) in the east.
Facts & Figures
Morocco by the Numbers | |
|---|---|
Population | 35.6 million |
Major Cities/Towns | Rabat (Capital) Casablanca Marrakesh Fez |
Employment | 73% agriculture |
National Income (Majority) | Port, transportation, industrial infrastructure, phosphates, iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc, |
Religion | Muslim 99% (official; virtually all Sunni, <0.1% Shia), other 1% Jewish population is about 6,000 |
Language | Arabic (official), Berber |
Ethnic Composition | Arab-Berber 99% |
GDP per Capita (USD) | $8,600 |
Climate | Mediterranean, becoming more extreme in the |
Government Type | Parliamentary Constitutional Monarchy |
Source: World Bank, Economist, CIA Handbook. 2021.
2,500 Years of Moroccan History in 250 Words or Less
Depiction of Arab Invasion of Morocco
Moroccan history is about two things – conquest and trade.
First there were the Phoenicians. Although indigenous nomadic Berber tribes existed for over two thousand years before being colonized by the city-state of Carthage in the 5th century BC, recorded history begins with the Phoenicians (source).
Then there were the Romans, beginning the 1st century AD (source). The strategic location of Morocco - with coasts on both the Atlantic and the Mediterranean - probably wasn't missed by the Romans.
The region was a full province of the Roman Empire, with Volubilis as its capital. Remains of this capital city, including a triumphal arch, exist today.
Carthage Ruins
Volubilis Ruins
Eventually there were the Muslims. Around 650 AD the Umayyad Caliphate extended their control over Maghreb, which included present day Morocco (source).
In 711 the Arabs together with recruited Berbers (together known as Moors), invaded the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal). They dominated the region over the next seven centuries.
The Arab Caliphates were followed by centuries of rule in Morocco by Berber kingdoms. During this period the indigenous Berber tribes combined Islam with their existing beliefs and rituals to create a distinct identity.
Throughout the Berber kingdoms Morocco grew wealthy sitting at the convergence of trade routes.
Under the Berber Almoravid (AD 1060 – 1147) and Almohad (AD 1147-1248) Dynasties, Morocco controlled much of North Africa, Spain, and Portugal. Even today in Southern Spain you can see Moorish architecture.
Camel caravans from sub-Saharan Africa stopped along oases controlled by the Berbers. They acted as middlemen in the exchange of valuable commodities.
One of the more famous oases was Timbuktu, in present day Mali. It was a major trading hub for slaves, ivory, and gold (source).
Present Day Timbuktu
Of course, somewhere in there were conquests by Vandals, the Byzantine Empire, French and others. But let’s try to distort history as much as possible by keeping it simple.
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Amazing Experiences of Morocco: Fez Medina
Fez Medina
The oldest of Morocco’s imperial cities, Fez feels like you are entering the times of the movie Ben-Hur. The city was founded during the 8th-9th centuries AD (source). The old town (Medina) is a walled city which remains as it was in the eighth century when it was founded as Fes el Bali.
A medina is a large, labyrinthian, outdoor marketplace containing squares with markets on them (souks). These souks specialize in one type of good. No hunt for the amazing experiences of Morocco can be complete without a visit to Fez’s 1300-year-old medina.
The place assaults your senses. Narrow alleyways in existence since the middle ages greet you. You see, smell and hear crowds, noise and donkeys carrying goods. The size of the labyrinth gets you lost easily and would take days to navigate thoroughly.
Narrow Lanes of Fez Medina
Your eyes will be splashed with bright colors and your ears will hear the clanking of metal against metal, as craftsmen ply their trade. Much as their ancestors did for generations.
You will be surrounded by spices, vegetables, dyes, carpets, leather goods, lamps and just about any other hand made artifact.
Vegetable Merchant
Spices
Artisan
The amazing experiences of Morocco must include the Fez Medina.
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Amazing Experiences of Morocco: Jemaa el-Fnaa
Jemaa el-Fnaa, Marrakesh (Early Morning)
Marrakesh holds a special place in Moroccan history.
Most of the Berber kingdoms had Marrakesh as their capital. Although not as old as Fez, it has stayed much the same since the city was the capital of the Berber kingdom known as the Almoravid Dynasty (1060-1147).
Consequently the city has the cosmopolitan flair of a capital which has existed for hundreds of years.
Perhaps the most impactful experience in Marrakesh is spending a day at Jemaa el-Fnaa.
On the surface it is a large square in the center of the city. Initially it feels not that different from Trafalgar Square in London or Red Square in Moscow.
You would be wrong. First impressions can be deceiving.
During the day, Jemaa el-Fnaa has a circus like atmosphere. You will see water sellers with traditional leather water bags and brass cups; young men with chained Barbary Monkeys native to the Atlas Mountains; snake charmers...well, charming snakes.
Water Seller (Early Afternoon)
Snake Charmer (Early Afternoon)
As the hours of the day pass, the square slowly changes. The crowds increase. Late afternoon brings out an eccentric group of characters. Dancers prancing about. Storytellers weaving tales of Berber conquests. Magicians doing their act. Purveyors of traditional medicines displaying their wares.
The evening brings on the final metamorphosis. Crowds reach their peak. Food stalls fill the square. Groups of young men and families sit around food stalls. They savor halal meat and drink mint tea. Singular light bulbs dimly light each stall. All around you are the pressing throng of crowds enveloping you.
Jemaa el-Fnaa (Evening)
Dining above the Jemaa el-Fnaa at dusk is definitely one of the amazing experiences of Morocco. There are plenty of roof-top restaurants to choose from.
Of course you watch the sun set. However, more importantly, you feel the mood change. The very energy of the square shifts. The personality alters. The frenetic pace of late afternoon turns to evening.
Dining Above Jemaa el-Fnaa in the Evening
Treat yourself properly. After dinner retire at one of the most luxurious hotels in Morocco. It is only 14 minutes walk from Jemma el-Fnaa. The Royal Mansour Marrakesh earns its 5 stars.
You will be transported to a different time. Royal in disposition, this is elegance suitably near - yet far enough - from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Polish off the evening with a night cap and Cuban Cohiba Siglo V at their cigar bar.
Cigar Bar - Royal Mansour Marrakesh Hotel
It will confirm for you why Marrakesh - not just that Jemaa el-Fanaa - is one of the amazing experiences of Morocco.
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Amazing Experiences of Morocco: Architecture
Alhambra Palace and Fortress - Granada, Spain
My first experience of Moroccan architecture was in Southern Spain. There in the city of Grenada is the Alhambra Palace. It seemed to be the inspiration for many other buildings of similar design throughout this part of Spain.
Why does the syntax of the architectural lines and forms differ from European architecture, I thought? On the one hand there was a minimalist component in the simplicity of the lines of the buildings. On the other hand, there was intricate tile work which was anything from minimalist.
When I found out that the architectural style was from the Moors and that they were from Morocco, I knew I had to go there one day. That day eventually arrived.
One of the first things you notice in Moroccan cities like Marrakesh, Fez and Casablanca are the doors. Intricate and unique doors. They surround you on a walk down the narrow corridors of the old town. The doors are a testament to the artisans who still ply their trade, in the ancient traditions passed on from one generation to the next.
Doors of Morocco
The second thing you notice is the intricate tile work.
Intricate Tilework of Morocco
The refinement of the architecture took me back to the peak of Arab civilization. To a time when Arabs excelled in the arts, mathematics, trade, and conquest.
In this context architecture is one of the amazing experiences of Morocco.
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Amazing Experiences of Morocco: Desert
Moroccan Desert
In Morocco it seems logical to go from the cities of the Western plateau to the Atlas Mountains in the center, to the Sahara Desert in the East.
No logic, however, can capture the sheer beauty of the Sahara Desert.
Desert as far as the eye can see. Sand shifts by the hour. An endless landscape so harsh it is still best moved through on a camel.
Experience the desert through glamping. Luxurious tents with service to salve your every need. Try Tassali Luxury Desert Camp for a great glamping experience.
Tassali Luxury Desert Camp
What does one do in the desert while riding camels ? Why not go in search of Kasbahs ? These are North African desert fortresses, with walls made of dirt and stone.
They were designed so that the highest part of the Kasbah provides a high vantage point to watch for approaching enemies. Lost and abandoned villages with Kasbahs are littered throughout this harsh terrain.
Moroccan Desert Kasbah
Many visitors to Morocco only visit the cities. That is a mistake. Experiencing the Sahara Desert is definitely one of the amazing experiences of Morocco.
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Amazing Experiences of Morocco: Cuisine
Morocco’s food pedigree is exotic.
Moroccan cooking attains its uniqueness because of the country’s history. The indigenous Berber cooking is combined with Arabic, Persian, Ottoman (Turkey), Andalusian and French influences.
The Persians introduced stuffed vegetables and kababs (source: FN1). The Turks provided coffee; however, it is served in French style. Mint tea was the contribution of the Berbers.
Moroccan Mint Tea
There is even Chinese influence. The Persians learned the art of making thin pastry from the Chinese (source: FN1). This produced the “warkha” – a spring roll pastry not coincidentally similar in look to the Chinese equivalent.
The ingredients for cooking are almost all produced in abundance domestically in Morocco. They are enhanced by spices introduced by the Arabs. You will find in the cooking, lemony eggs, sweetened almonds, couscous, garlic cloves, paprika, dates, cumin to name just a few ingredients.
Perhaps nothing is as associated with Moroccan cooking more than Lamb Tagine with Dates. A Tagine is a Moroccan stew in which the ingredients are cooked slowly in an earthenware pot with a tall, conical lid. These specialized pots are pieces of art in themselves.
Tagine Earthenware Pot
Moroccan Lamb Tagine with Dates
With the historical confluence of so many cultures in Morocco theirs is not a culinary tradition of extremes. Take spices. They have many indigenous spices, as one can see in the Medinas. However, their food is not overpowering.
In fact, Moroccan cuisine is relatively mild compared to many other countries, like India.
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Amazing Experiences of Morocco: Ourika Valley
If Morocco can be divided into the Western Plateau, Atlas Mountains and the Sahara desert, then the Ourika Valley needs to be part of the story. Located in the Atlas Mountains the valley is a respite from the urban marsh of Marrakesh.
On your drive to Ourika Valley you will see snow-capped peaks; groves of peach, almond and walnut trees; waterfalls; ancient Berber culture ensconced in mud-built Berber villages. You will also see locals carrying their wares on donkeys.
High Atlas Mountains
Try having a country-style breakfast with a Berber family. It will be simple but hearty. Usually freshly baked bread, honey, olive oil and mint tea.
Listen to them (albeit through a translator) and you will hear of an ancestral way of living – very different from the lifestyle of Morocco’s city-folk – which many thought had disappeared.
Which gets one thinking. What makes Berber villagers so relaxed? Why do they greet you with smiles instead of the scowls? Why is it they believe they have everything they need, when New Yorkers believe they need more ?
Berber Villagers
In this exotic locale in the High Atlas Mountains it is perhaps fitting to find an endangered primate. The Barbary Macaque (Macaca Sylvanus) is primarily only found in this location in the world (source). See one before they disappear.
Barbary Macaques in the High Atlas Mountains
There are many famous valleys in the world. You have the Kashmir Valley. There's Chile's Valle de la Luna. Not to mention Russia's Valley of Geysers. The Ourika Valley deserves its place on this list. It is simply one of the amazing experiences of Morocco.
Conclusion – What Can Morocco Teach Us?
Morocco’s legacy cannot be separated from its history.
The invasion of the Berbers by Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs and French created a sort of mean reversion. The culture is not prone to extremes.
You can see this in its politics – Morocco was one of the few Arab countries to not be affected by the Arab Spring. You can see it in religion – extreme Islam does not dominate the country. You can see it in their foods – spices are not overwhelming.
The result is a country where the people are comfortable in their own skin. They don’t try to ape the West. They don’t hold themselves up as an Islamic Republic. They are just Moroccans. It is an unspoken understanding.
Theirs is a lesson in perspective. After thousands of years, their attitude is that things come and go. The Moroccans are not particularly worried about the latest invader, the latest fad or the latest political challenge.
Theirs is to ask: will it matter in a thousand years?
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Wow ! Great write-up. I want to go with my dad for his 70th birthday. You give a real feel for how the country differs from other countries. Look forward to your posts.
Thanks Prakash. You should definitely go with your dad. Morocco is one of those places where you will cherish the memories you create together.
Always heard about Timbuktu but never realized it was a real place! Also, never thought of it as part of the Morocco experience. Is it easy to go there?
Yes Timbuktu seems to have become part of the lexicon but many don’t realize that it is a real place! Unfortunately, visiting Timbuktu is not such a great idea right now. Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Magreb controls much of Mali and is fighting with the government over the territory it doesn’t control. Even when there isn’t a civil war there aren’t a lot of places to stay. However, if you have the risk appetite and don’t mind slumming it a bit the location is of tremendous historical importance. Would be a worthwhile trip – if you can make it back.
Good stuff. Took me back to my days in the Foreign Legion.
Sounds like a grand life you’ve lived. Would love to hear some stories over a cigar some time. Contact me through the Contact Us page.
Love the historical perspective you put on your posts. Would love to go to Carthage. Had no idea of its connections with Morocco.
Glad you enjoyed it. Yes we’d like to think our style of writing sets us apart from other travel blogs. One of the elements of the style is to put the location in a historical context.
We went to Morocco one year ago. Have to say that was a great experience. You asked in your Newsletter which location you should cover in your next post. My vote would be some place in SE Asia. But that is just me!
Saludos!
Thanks for the vote! That helps us prioritize. Yes we’ve been receiving input from our Newsletter subscribers about locations both on and off the list provided!
dude, totally rad! need to get there fast. sweet post.
Glad you liked it. If you sign up for our Newsletter you can be amongst the first to know about new posts.
You always hear about Moors. However, I didn’t know what that meant until I read this post. Thanks for this. Have subscribed to your Newsletter!
Veronika glad we could inform you in addition to taking you on a journey. Yes we believe one can’t understand what one is seeing without some historical context so we’re glad to have readers who feel the same.
Heard about Casbahs in songs etc, However, never really knew what one was. Always learn something new with your posts. Keep it up !
Gastan, we didn’t know what a Casbah was exactly until we visited Morocco. Quite impressive to look at. Go to Morocco and see for yourself!
Brilliant! You really give a feel for the place. It’s as if I was there. What I like about your site is that it doesn’t give the itineraries which so many blogs do (usually the same places!). My boyfriend and I are getting our travel list going and we need to first decide where we want to go. For this purpose this site is perfect. If we decide this is the place we want to go we can always go to the many other sites which list where to stay, which restaurants to go to etc. Oh, BTW you asked in your Newsletter which destination on your list we want for the next blog post. My vote is for Machu Picu! Keep up the good work. The only request I make is that you write more often! We look forward to these.
Sharon, you’ve captured the spirit of this website exactly. In fact, it’s said better than anything we could have come up with! You’re right. Use this website to get the “feel” of a place. Then look to other sources for your itinerary. We’ve made it easy for you to find itinerary type blog posts by having country specific “boards” on our Pinterest account. For example, check out our Morocco Board. We have similar boards for every location we cover on wingedfeet.net. Keep those insights coming!
yu good. want go Morrocco pero no puedo. thank yu por esta gran publicacion de blog.
De nada, Joaquin. Debes irte cuando puedas. Es un lugar muy exótico. Gracias por tus comentarios.
Had no idea Morocco had the Sahara desert as part of its territory. Since Morocco seems relatively more developed for Africa, Morocco seems the perfect place from which to experience the Sahara.
Hi Linda! Thank you for your comments. Never thought of your idea of evaluating where the best places are to enter the Sahara desert. The Sahara borders many countries: Chad, Egypt, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Sudan, Tunisia. Of these Morocco probably tops the list along with perhaps Egypt. However, Tunisia might be on that list too. Of course this changes with the political winds. However, as of 2021 that seems to be the answer. Really appreciate your bringing up this interesting question. Might even be something to mention in the next revision of the blog post!
Loved, just LOVED the way you captured the way Jamaa el-fna changes its character from morning to night. The tour company I was with didn’t let us spend enough time there to see this happen. Will have to go back! This time on our own.
Diane, know what you mean about tour companies. They are great for a first trip, especially to countries not easily maneuvered by English speakers. However, once one has a lay of the land it’s much easier to return on your own and see the country from a more nuanced and less rushed way. Thanks for your comments.
I just love Winged Feet!!!!
cant wait for each new issue…..
When are you going to review the Black Forest mineral baths?
Thanks Benjamin. Glad to see such enthusiastic followers. Since our emphasis is on “experiencing” a locale we never write about places we’ve never been. However, I’ll put Germany’s Black Forest mineral baths on the list of places to go! Appreciate the suggestion.
Well, well, well, you certainly rocked this Kasbah! Another completely brilliant post full of perfectly judged nuggets of historical insights as well as that Winged Feet trademark sense of just being there.
I know I end up saying this about everywhere you tempt us to, but I seriously have always wanted to visit Morroco! As a child one of my favourites things about winter was those fragrant boxes of tangerines with their ‘Maroc’ stickers. These, and the fact that I learned they came from places called Tangiers and Marrakesh (possibility the best name ever for a city) just made my (then much smaller) feet want to flutter.
Also, Casablanca! Oh how I love that film and all the romanticism that goes along with it. But this is as nothing compared to your descriptions and images of Jemaa el-Fnaa at dusk. Oh my word! I can just feel myself there with the warm breeze and some lovely floaty scarf I’ve bartered for whispering around me in the evening breeze. (In this picture I am actually very young, and beautiful, and possibly being played by Isabella Rossellini, but I digress…)
As someone who is always a sucker for the doors of places whenever I get to go abroad, I really enjoyed the ones you’ve show us here, as well as the close up of the tiles. Too often, these are the sorts of essential details that people might miss, tragically walk by on their way to tick off somewhere ‘famous’ on their bucket list. But every single tile and basket of heady ras-el-hanout goes into making up the whole of the ‘famous’ places. I would love to be able to take these sorts of images myself!
I have seen films set in Morrocco and I always love the way the Medina seems like this full on frenzy of assault on the senses and then they open a door into what looks like somewhere designed by a meditation gugu to soothe the soul. So, while I definitely get the idea of staying in royal splendour (I mean, who wouldn’t, right?!) I think I’d also love to find somewhere to stay where I can open the door and or window and hear the beating heart of the Medina.
Meanwhile, you had me at the Barbary Macaques! I would so love to see them in person – and I wonder if they throw snowballs? (Which, if I’m being honest – and why not? – I had no idea there was snow in Morrocco and if anyone but Winged Feet had suggested it I would have assumed it was a wind up!)
Thanks SO much again for sharing all your local knowledge. I am off to Google when flights to Maroc will open up again!
Melanie, you write so beautifully. Loved your little anecdote about receiving fragrant boxes of tangerines. Not sure I kn0w what you mean (I’m only 28) but it sounds so wonderful. Never saw the connection with Tangiers.
Let’s not be ageist Melinda! How do you know Melanie is not 21? 🙂 Perhaps her feet were small only 12 years ago.
Thanks Melinda! I will confess that our Moderator has perhaps knocked a decade or three (okay, so closer to four) off my age. But isn’t it amazing how memories come flooding back through the sights, sounds and scents evoked here? When I imagine having dinner overlooking these lights, I am 21 again in my head!
Oh wow. “…warm breeze and some lovely floaty scarf I’ve bartered for whispering around me like a breeze.” What fantastic writing. Are you a writer?
You are right Camille. The problem is that with such good comments Melanie puts my writing to shame. Not fair. How did I miss that scarf whisperer visual? 🙂
Hi Camille! To me, all of us here are writers. Travellers sharing our experiences, and hoped-for destinations through words.
Melanie, well said! As a photographer I notice things others often miss. Interesting architectural features like doors and windows are amongst them. Good to hear of someone like you who appreciate these finer things of life.
Thanks for your comments Roger. I agree with you. Photography is really a way to see more.
Melanie you are a rock star! Your insightful and spirited comments are highly appreciated. What I like the most about your comments – in this post and previous ones – is the way you weave personal connections with the locations. It makes for a powerful connection between the reader and the subject. Namaskar!
So glad you mentioned the movie. Was wondering if it was just me who made that connection with Morocco. I too have this romanticized image of Casablanca, Morocco from the Humphrey Bogart movie. Bit odd that Barfo didn’t mention the city. It was conspicuous in its absence. Wonder why.
Melanie, I love your sensibility. I was in Morocco for the first time 8 years ago and I just went back twice; it is such a wonderful place it is hard to explain. But I’d definitely say that you really get to really see the coutnry the 2nd time you visit it ans the ones thereafter. You woud probably agree given your style of really noticing the small things,
Marco, I agree with you 100%. Melanie seems to have a particular way to look deeper into her travel experience.
Mr partho. You do good. I enjoy verry greatly.
Gratified hearing it, Aditya.
Really appreciated your non-Western perspective. Your pointing out the leadership of Arab civilization in mathematics and so many other areas is not well known. Even by Persians. Perhaps because I live in Maryland I know the very Euro-centric history my two teenage sons receive in school. The curriculum needs a broader view of the contribution of many civilizations.
Thank you Faisal. I think you are onto something!
Didn’t know that Morocco is a religiously moderate Muslim country. Nor did I know about its interesting history. I actually learned something, Bravo!
Much obliged Leo. Glad to see our style of composing the posts is standing out to you.
My husband Dave and I are retired and homeless traveling the world (currently house sitting in Ireland). Throughout our travels there were always some “touchstones.” Your post brings to life some of ours, even if they were different from yours.
For me one of those touchstones was when Dave and I attempted to ride a bicycle in a Moroccan village. I hadn’t ridden a bike for decades nor had Sam but we embraced it with gusto, anxiety and laughter. It was a rickety old bike ridden along a crazy busy one lane road in the country side – of course with no helmet!
Dave isn’t what he used to be. Not sure we can be so adventurous again. However, what we do have is the memories. Thank you for helping me relive some of mine.
I was just thinking about my trip to Morocco (which was a bit overwhelming) and I think the best was riding on an overcrowded bus to get to Rabat to see some beaches. It was full of local teenagers who started chanting soccer songs in such a volume had to cover my ears! But the energy was great and I quickly started enjoying it. Thank you for letting me go down memory lane with your post.
I find it difficult to explain in words why I fell in love with Morocco. We stayed with a Berber family one night deep in the High Atlas Mountains. One night after dinner our hosts started playing traditional music in a courtyard, playing on hand drums, tambourines, plastic buckets and whatever home utenses they found lying around. We danced and sang late into the night underneath a starry sky.
My best friend and I went to Morocco two years ago. I too felt the magic you describe. However, my friend and I (two 20 year old females traveling alone), also saw a darker side of the country. We experienced a lot of harassment from men in Fez which did really get to us towards the end of our trip. We met some Australian guys who loved Fez. However, it was my least favorite place in Morocco because we were treated very differently from men, On the positive side, we did a 3 day came trek in the Sahara and I think for me that would be the “touchstone” of my trip. Morocco was definitely the most interesting and different place of all my travels. I
Thank you for your perspective Rebecca. Sounds like Morocco was one of your worst and best experiences at the same time. Sort of like the country itself – a nation of contradictions.
My husband and I went to Morocco a few years back. You manage to capture the magic of the place. Can’t describe it. However, there is a very unique, magical, quality about the place. You mention that they are moderate Muslims. Good that you pointed this out because it is an important distinction, having traveled to a number of Islamic countries myself. Nevertheless, as someone else pointed out, cat calling is a problem for women. I got a weird vibe from the men. Especially in the medina.