Areas of Morocco

Situated 100 miles in land, Marrakech holds a highly important strategic position between the Mediterranean and Rif in the north, the deserts to the south, the Atlas Mountains to the east and the Atlantic coast to the west. It is a true crossroads - the meeting of all aspects of Moroccan culture and tradition. Founded 1000 years ago Marrakech is an astonishing city which has a proud and turbulent history. It brings together ancient customs and beliefs and marries them with the most modern outlook of today's Morocco. Within its city walls are reminders of its Berber and Arab heritage, the great builders and craftsman who brought this city to life over the years. Today it encapsulates all that is Morocco - a proudly Muslim country whose roots are in Africa, whose ambition is to marry Islamic reform with economic and personal freedom and whose outlook is, in part, undoubtedly European. Marrakech is a city which welcomes visitors with open arms. Its people are friendly and extremely helpful, happy to share their city and its beautiful palaces, mosques and gardens and its fascinating souks centred around the unique main square, the Place Jemaa el-Fna.

Marrakech can be visited at any time of the year although we usually only recommend a few days if you planning on staying in the centre of medina during mid summer - it can get very hot and a better option is to stay in one of the rural areas just outside the city at this time. Spring and autumn are the best times but mid winter is also good although it can be quite chilly at nights.

Essaouira may not be what you would expect from Africa. Situated in a prime location on the Atlantic coast, Essaouira was first established by the Phoenicians in the 7th century BC. A trading post, naval port and former Portuguese stronghold, today it is a charming seaside resort, a maze of streets lined with lime-washed buildings nestled in the ramparts and medina walls. One of the town's main attractions is its long, wide sandy beach - one of the finest in Africa - where windsurfers and kiteboarders enjoy the prevailing Atlantic winds. The beach and the sand dunes are perfect for quad-bike tours and slightly surprising for many there is great camel trekking. Essaouira has a strong European influence (a French architect was responsible for its layout) and the narrow streets are complemented by wide avenues and small squares. It remains very much a working harbour, with fishing fleets leaving the port early each morning and returning mid-afternoon with their catch. Essaouira is also home to artists and craftsmen. In the1960s it was a favourite haunt of the hippy in-crowd and retains some of that atmosphere still. Today it is a quiet mix of the exotic and the familiar with a "north Cornwall meets North Africa" feel. It is a great place to relax and the perfect antidote to the hustle and bustle of Marrakech.

Essaouira has a genuine year-round climate thanks for the effect of the Atlantic Ocean. There is a small risk of rain in the winter but you get beautiful clear warm days most of the time. The temperature is of course hotter in the summer but the wind which makes the beaches so famous for water sports also keeps the temperature down and evening can be cool at any time of year.

When you cross the threshold of the medina, you are instantly transported into a forgotten, medieval world of charming cobbled streets, groups of local children playing in the courtyards, the odd donkey straining with its more than generous load of wares, and the ever-abundant cart-men scuttling about the narrow alleyways, wrapped up in their work. Fes is an international heritage site - a living organism of over 100,000 people and not a single car in sight. (With a total of 13,380 historic buildings, the area of the medina was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981).

With plenty on offer to satisfy every sense, it is easy to become enamoured in this intoxicating city, with its wonderful cacophony of sounds mixed with a multitude of colours and an overpowering bouquet of aromas. Fes has been less developed than Marrakech as a tourist destination and many people prefer it for that. It is more difficult to get to but a highly rewarding visit for those you make the effort. Fes has a similar climate to Marrakech making it ideal all year except mid summer.

There is almost no part of central Morocco where you are not aware of the looming mass of the Atlas Mountains and in particular on a clear day in Marrakech you feel as if you can reach out and touch them while having breakfast on the roof terrace of your Marrakech Medina riad. The best place to explore the mountains is from a base in Marrakech or just outside. There you will find the highest peaks in North Africa and a place for serious trekking and climbing. But they are equally accessible for less strenuous visits for a day trip or a couple of nights in a mountain retreat - See the Transport and Tours or the Atlas Mountains Trekking sections for more ideas.

The Atlas Mountains can be visited at any time of the year. They offer a welcome respite from Marrakech's heat and bustle in the summer. They are also worth visiting in the winter - you could be walking up to the snowline or even skiing for a day.

Few names conjure up such a strong image as that of the Sahara and making a visit part of a trip to Morocco is must for many people. That said, it is some distance from Marrakech (your usual starting point) and whilst technically it can be done in just one night two or three is really the minimum - this allows you to combine a night in the Atlas (which you have to cross to get to the desert) and to take in some of the many sights en route including the famous fortified Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah and the beautiful Dades valley. When you get there we strongly recommend a night under canvass in the dunes with transport provided by camel or quad bike - this is invariable the highlight of any trip to Morocco. See the Itineraries section for ideas on how to build the trip into your itinerary or better still give us call for advice on how to use your time.

The Sahara can be visited year round although it can get uncomfortably windy in the mid summer. The winter months are fine (although nights are cool) but a challenge can sometimes be driving across the Atlas to get the desert. The passes are very high and occasionally close for a few hours while a snow fall is cleared.