Holidays in Morocco
What is the quintessential holiday in Morocco? Staying in a riad in Marrakech and immersing yourself in history and culture? Enjoying a family holiday on the beach at Agadir, Morocco's most popular seaside resort? Escaping to the Ourika Valley to relax amid the natural splendour of the High Atlas? In reality, Morocco offers such an amazing choice of different types of holiday across all price ranges and to suit all levels of activity (or inactivity) that there is no typical Moroccan holiday. There are, however, two or three key decisions to be made to ensure that you enjoy your dream holiday in Morocco.
Decisions, Decisions, Decisions
Perhaps the most important consideration is to determine the sort of activities and experiences you are planning to enjoy on your Moroccan holiday - culture, relaxation or romance, or specific activities such as surfing, trekking, or building sand castles. Following on from this, are decisions about where in Morocco to stay and what sort of accommodation to choose. Although the three decisions are interdependent, deciding on the type of holiday and holiday activities you are looking for will narrow down the choice of suitable locations for your holiday. Once you've decided where you're going to be visiting in Morocco, you can choose the holiday accommodation appropriate to your budget and the requirements of you and your fellow travellers.
City, Coast or Countryside?
In the section on Morocco holiday destinations you'll find information about not only the popular places to visit in Morocco, cities such as Marrakech, Tangier and Fes and the coastal resorts of Agadir and Essaouira, but also the less visited parts of Morocco. For those who want to experience a different facet of Moroccan life, head away from the coast and the major cities into the Moroccan interior, which is dotted with ancient towns and villages and inhabited by Berber tribesmen whose way of life has changed little over the centuries. From the barren expanses of the Sahara desert, through the verdan vallies of the fruit (and cannabis) growing Rif, to the magnificence of the Atlas Mountains, the Moroccan countryside offers the opportunity to enjoy varied activities such as camel caravanning, trekking, bird watching or skiing, or to simply to relax and unwind.
Hotel, Villa or Riad?
The terminology used to describe Moroccan holiday accommodation can give rise to some confusion. There are hotels, which range from five-star establishments run by international hotel chains, through to small, local hotels which offer only basic facilities and levels of service. There is also a variety of different types of holiday property available for exclusive rental, meaning that the hirer has the use of the entire property. The hire of such properties, which include villas, apartments and private riads, may be on a self-catering basis or may include resident staff to cook and clean. Finally, there are riads which are not available for exclusive rental, but where you may stay as a house guest. The most luxurious of these are operated by trained hoteliers and are, to all intents and purposes, hotels, although the majority are more akin to an English guesthouse or bed and breakfast establishment. For those visiting Morocco on a tight budget, there are hostels affiliated to the International Youth Hostel Association and numerous, although not necessarily very salubrious, campsites.
Booking a Moroccan Holiday
The Moroccan Holiday Companies section provides information about booking holiday accommodation in Morocco. There are a number of holiday companies offering packages to Morocco which include flights and accommodation, but many holidaymakers prefer the flexibility offered by booking their flights and arranging accommodation separately.