Morocco

Morocco brims over with contrast, colour and mystery and all you can do is simply catch your breath in wonder. It has a timeless quality that no longer exists in the modern world, a sense that the past with all its glory and savagery still lives on, threading in and out of the present, informing with its every word and gesture. On arrival you are plunged into a culture, a religion and a lifestyle utterly unlike anything that you have ever experienced before; a mystery tour of a land of endless surprises, enchantment and enduring fascination.

Marrakesh
Marrakech is one of the worlds enchanted places where time becomes suspended and, through its open door, you catch a glimpse of the past so rich and so remote and yet so palpable. You can sense the atavism propelling every trick and turn in the Djemaa el Fna, Marrakech's pulsating main square and one of the worlds great theatres. The Djemaa is a spectacular pageant of singers, tumblers, sorcerers, herbalists, raconteurs, impostors, preachers and snake charmers, all competing for your eye. There is nowhere else in Africa which so effortlessly involves you, blows aside travel cynicism and keeps you returning. If you get tired, observe the spectacle from one of the overlooking rooftop cafes.

Fes
It seems that the city of Fez is still lingering back in the Middle Ages. As you arrive in the city and begin to walk around your senses are torn between beautiful sights, intricate sounds and colorful smells. Much of the city still is still holding on to its French roots. Thus around 200000 of Fez's inhabitants stay in the city of Fez el Bali . Staying a few days in Fez el Bali will make you recognize that it's hard to avoid the paradox of the place. Fez el Bali is a place with a constant source of interest.

Rabat
Morocco's capital, Rabat is a modern city with wide boulevards, gardens and light, white buildings, for the most part a far cry from the hectic warrens of the other Imperial cities of Marrakech and Fez, but no less steeped in history with its origins going back to the 7th century. The King of Morocco lives here in his palace amid trees and flowers. Being an administrative capital the city is somewhat conservative and serious, but there is some local colour to be found in the old part of the city, the Medina, and the Kasbah.

Activities and Tours

Ait Benhaddou
There is no more than a handful people living here now. But even in
Its heydays there can’t been movre than some hundreds. Ait Benhaddou is a village made up of seeral small fortresses kasbahs, each stretching some ten metres into the air. The effect of this has attracted movie makers from far away and films like Lawrence of Arabia was partly shot around here.

Djemaa el Fna
The famous town square of Marrakech, Jemaa l Fna, owes little of its fame to its own beauty, but to the continuous day and night life. During most of the days, perfomers of every kind put up their shows, continuing until the food stalls start to move in. From the Jemaa there are several entries to the fantastic suuqs, and for anyone who needs to relax for a while, there are plenty of cafés around the Jemaa, where the main attraction is looking at the ongoing activities.

Hassan II Mosque
The Hassan II Mosque is the second largest mosque in the world and is located in Casablanca, the economic and business capital of Morocco. Michel Pinseau, a French architect, designed the Hassan Mosque and its accompanying minaret. Pinseau designed the building in such a way that it is able to endure earthquakes. At night the minaret has lasers that shine in the direction of Mecca. Today, the minaret is considered the tallest in the world, standing at 689 feet or 210 meters.

Volubilis
Volubilis was a Roman settlement constructed on what was probably a Carthaginian city, dating from 3rd century BC. Volubilis was a central administrative city for this part of Roman Africa, responsible for the grain producing in this fertile region, and exports to Rome. Volubilis was also administering contacts with the Berber tribes which the Romans never managed to suppress, but who only came as far as to cooperate with the Romans for mutual benefits.

Travel Tip and useful information

Climate
Generally the climate in Morocco remains quite dry for most of the year. You can expect a little bit of rain between November and March. The Moroccan climate also varies greatly depending on where you are. The temperature is incredibly high in the southern and south eastern desert areas. On the other hand, the temperature drops considerably in the

Population
It has often been said that the people are the pulse of a nation. The rich culture and diversity of Morocco is reflected in every inch of the vibrant nation that trade frantically and enthusiastically in the bustling streets as songs of worship ring out overhead. These people have a long and fascinating heritage and though they've slowly started to embrace the modernizing of their world; there is a sort of captivated timelessness which still hangs over them all.

Transport
Buses are usually cheaper than the shared taxis and they do more regular routes. Shared Taxis will bring you to your destination much faster, but the buses are far more comfortable and safer. The Shared Taxis are one of the best features of Moroccan transport. They operate on a wide variety of routes and are much quicker than the public buses. The fares are very reasonable. The taxis are usually big Mercedes cars carrying six passengers. The trains in Morocco are very comfortable and fairly inexpensive. They cover a limited network of routes, but travel between the major cities they are easily the best option. They are reliable, comfortable, fast, and efficient.

Currency and credit cards
The currency used in Morocco is the Moroccan Dirham, often abbreviated as Dh. Travellers cheques or foreign currency may be exchanged at the Bureau de Change at the airport on arrival, at a bank or at your hotel. Most hotels and reputable shops will accept major credit cards VISA, Master Card and American Express. Even in the markets when buying such things as carpets, leather or any other major item, certain cards may be accepted. Maestro and other cards are less widely accepted.

Dress Code
As tourists, it would be wisest to pay attention to your own dress as what you wear could offend locals or cause harassment. Legs and shoulders are considered to be ‘private body parts’ in most parts of morocco, and men and woman should do their utmost to keep these areas covered. Woman are generally covered from wrist to ankle and men are covered elbow to below the knee. This sort of covering will be accepted in most areas of Morocco and woman not covered sufficiently will often get harassed.

Safety and security
Pay close attention to your personal security at all times and monitor the media for information about possible new safety or security risks.