Morocco is less than 10 miles from Europe, separated only by the strait of Gibraltar, yet those who cross it are met with a completely different world. The population, history, medieval towns, desert and Atlas Mountain range make a trip to Morocco an unforgettable adventure.

The landscape of Morocco is unique; to discover it, you will travel from the Riff Mountains to spectacular fertile valleys with peach and almond orchards, to the snow-capped mountaintops of the high Atlas mountain range. A bit farther south, the Sahara dominates, punctuated by the date palm trees of the occasional oasis. Here you find kasbahs; robust, fortified settlements constructed from red clay where daily life has remained unchanged for centuries. Here, too, in addition to the Berbers and Arabs, you may also come across the nomadic Bedouins. Many women wear the traditional burkas but it is not expected of foreign women. Arabic is the national language but nearly everyone speaks English.

Marrakesh has something for everyone. Founded nearly a thousand years ago, it is Morocco’s most vibrant and exotic city set against a backdrop of the snowcapped Atlas Mountains. Often referred to as the Rose City because of the pale salmon coloring of the buildings, this city is a virtual carnival for the senses. Undisputedly cosmopolitan, yet respectful of its culture and traditions, Marrakesh is becoming extremely popular with sophisticated travelers. The city boasts a magnificent collection of mosques, gardens and palaces. Still encircled by ancient ramparts that were constructed to protect Sultan palaces, mansions of rich merchants, and some of the most lively bazaars in the world, many of which still exist today, enchanting Marrakesh remains virtually unchanged since the Middle Ages.

Once you look past the chaotic surface of noisy automobiles, mopeds, donkey carts, and pedestrians in the streets, you can feel the slow and unhurried pulse of the city, as you see people stop to talk with neighbors, living their days much as their ancestors did.

Upon passing through the enormous gates of Marrakesh you will immediately enter the busy Arabian souk (market). A shopaholic could spend hours here, browsing through the stalls of the souks’ winding, narrow alleys, enjoying the colorful, lively scenes of the markets or the bustle of the workplaces where the craftsmen make their wares by hand. Leather goods, carpets, brass lamps and candlesticks, wooden tables, chairs and games, painted pottery and crockery, jewellery, baboush (slippers), bedspreads, mirrors, fire-bellows, spices, olives, dates and prunes are just some of the things you will see. Haggling over the price is expected.

Sitting in a cafй watching the world go by is one of life’s pleasures in Marrakesh, especially overlooking the Djemaa el Fna square as it comes to life at sunset.
Passing carts overflow with fresh local produce and roasted grains. Snake charmers, fortunetellers, dancers, storytellers, potion vendors, henna ladies, astrologers, healers, acrobats, musicians and public scribes with their black umbrellas come together in the square. This huge market is a heaving mass of open-air barbeque stalls, fresh orange juice, nut and date vendors, singers, belly dancers and other characters with trinkets to sell or games to share. The grilled meats are safe, the juices delicious and the games are addictive.

You must indulge at least once in a traditional Moroccan feast in one of the splendidly restored townhouses, many of which are located in the Medina area. The food is endless … you will be fed dishes of exotic salads, tajine (a stew produced in a specially designed earthenware two-piece cooking vessel which typically would include lamb or other meats, a wide variety of vegetables stewed with fruits, olives, lemon slices, herbs and spices), couscous and fruit, but experiencing the atmosphere is even more important that the fine cuisine. The surroundings are straight out of an Arabian Nights fantasy … fountains, lanterns, mosaics, cushions, low candlelit tables strewn with rose petals, belly dancers and traditional musicians. Prices are usually fixed and include unlimited aperitifs and local wine.

Tucked away in the old Medina are a number of beautifully restored traditional homes build around an enclosed garden courtyard and known as Riads. Increasingly, they are being converted into luxury bed and breakfast accommodations. Prices begin at about $70 USD per night up.

The best times to visit are March through May and mid-September through mid-November. In the Spring you will enjoy lush valleys, flowers galore, snowcapped peaks, pleasantly warm and sunny conditions (typically in the 70s inland, cooler on the coast), but also the busiest season, particularly over Easter. In Autumn temperatures are also very agreeable, but the countryside tends to look parched.

There are non-stop flights on Air Maroc from Montreal and New York to Casablanca (8 hours), with options for internal flights within Morocco, and also flights from nearly every city in Europe (4 hours or less)

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