Morocco Holiday
With its fragrant gardens, bustling souks, exotic allure and world-class bars and restaurants, Morocco is a sexy, sensual and mysterious country, guaranteed to tease and tantalise the most intrepid of travellers.
Situated on the north-western corner of Africa, Morocco borders Algeria to the east and southeast, the barren plains of Mauritania to the south and the grand Atlantic ocean to the west.
The land is divided into three natural regions: the mountainous, fertile northern coast running along the Mediterranean Sea; the arid deserts of the south and east; and the lowlands nestling between the treacherous Atlas mountains.
Travellers have a long-running affair with Morocco. The merest whisper of Tangiers, Marrakech and Casablanca evoke excitement in even the most worldly of travellers.
Easily accessible from Europe (ferries leave regularly from Algeciras, in Spain, Genoa, in Italy and Sete in France) Morroco is a heady mixture of bustling markets, grand kasbahs and perfumed palace gardens where the ancient Berber people planned revolutions and mulled over their next conquests.
Morocco's culture is a rich blend of Arab, Berber, European and African as a result of its equally rich and turbulent history.
In 788, a century after the successful Arab conquest of North Africa, Moorish dynasties took over rule of Morocco. In the 16th century the Sa'adi monarchy under Ahmad Al-Mansur fought off foreign invasion and subsequently began what is known as the 'golden' age.
In 1860, Spain occupied northern Morocco and sparked a trade rivalry among other European power-houses which stretched across half a decade. Increasing European control saw the nation's sovereignty steadily fall away and, in 1912, France issued a protectorate across the entire country.
After a protracted struggle, Morocco won back its lost sovereignty, with Tangiers as its internationally-recognised centre.
Morocco annexed the territory in Western Sahara - and the land still remains a subject of dispute today.
Morocco still has a constitutional monarchy and the current king is Mohammed VI. The country is still considered a kingdom and the king plays an active role, although poltical parties are allowed, and the current Prime Minister is Driss Jettou.
The main language spoken in Morocco is Arabic, although French is often the language of business and politics.
Morocco is 99.9 per cent Muslim and a visit to the Hassan II mosque in Casablanca, the only mosque which allows non-muslims, is a rare insight into Moroccan life and religion for only 100 dirham.
If you are on a shoestring budget visit the ornate prayer hall of the Medersa Ben Youssef mosque in Marakech for free. You cannot actually enter the mosque, but the prayer hall is a sight in itself.
Marrakech is a great introduction to Morocco, where you can see snake-charmers, buy perfumes and spices brought in by camel trains and explore the labyrinth of winding streets.
Visit the Jemaa-el-Fna where you can watch fire-eaters and dancers and have your fortune told while you feast on barbequed kebabs, boiled snails and delicious 'tagines' as spicy and tantalising as Moroccan culture itself.
Marrakech often proves too rowdy for the weary travellers, so a trip to the capital, Rabat, is a good place to re-energise before you head onto the bustle of the port of Tangiers or the romantic city of Casablanca, made famous by the classic Humphrey Bogart film.
Start your day by watching the changing of the royal guards at the Royal Palace, then take a stroll in the breathtakingly beautiful Jardins Exotiques, followed by a visit to the quaint harbour of sister city, Sale.
From the snow-capped Atlas Mountains to the bustling souks of the country's enigmatic cities, travellers will never be disappointed by Morocco - utterly African, beautifully Arabian, and certainly never dull.
