Morocco Escorted Tours & Guided Holidays

Touring holidays to Morocco frequently asked questons

What are the best tours to Morocco?

Morocco is a country of great wonder and so you will want a tour that will cover as many of the highlights as possible. If possible, you should see the diversity of the country - from coastal charm of Casablanca to the bustling city of Marrakech. On route take in the Roman ruins at Volubilis, awe-inspiring architecture at the royal city of Meknes, the jaw-dropping natural landscapes of the Todgha Gorge and of course,  experience the magnificent desert as you traverse all this unique country has to offer. Watch the sun set over the Sahara, journey along the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs and tour the palatial homes of the Sultans as you explore this fascinating culture and country.

What are the highlights of Morocco?

Morocco is a bright country in both colour and culture. There is an array of highlights to see but here are the ones you won’t want to miss.

Casablanca – Casablanca, the city of the 1942 film starring Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart is a city for true travellers as oddly not many tourists frequent this place, perhaps due to the fact that the film was actually made in Hollywood with sets and not in Casablanca itself! The city however is a gem that has a lot to offer.

The Architecture is varied and stunning ranging from Art Deco to Gothic to modern. One of the nicest examples of Art Deco design is the Cinéma Rialto. Another beautiful building is the Gothic and Art Deco mix, 1930’s cathedral that now hosts exhibitions and some concerts. Then there is the largest mosque in Morocco - The Hassan II Mosque. Its an intricate building that took more than seven years and as many as 10,000 artisans to build.

Looking for the French influence you’ll be hard to find a better street than that of the palm-lined Boulevard Mohammed V, right in the heart of old Casablanca, and then there is of course the Église Notre Dame de Lourdes, a stunning specimen of Brutalist architecture. Because of its beautiful architecture, no building goes to waste and you’ll find many an art shop or museum tucked into old, redundant houses. Casablanca is also home to a busy restaurant and café scene. The city’s waterfront is lined with cafés, restaurants and stylish lounges.

Meknes - Meknes is a city on the northern side of Morocco, acknowledged for its imperial past, with beauties such as the Bab Mansour, a sizable gate to the former imperial city, with its decorative mosaic tiled arches. Inside you’ll find a selection of ancient ruins to explore. You’ll also find the Mausoleum of Sultan Moulay Ismail. Then there is the old town - Meknes Medina, a warren of lanes full of lively bazaars and shops, an ideal place to haggle a bargain souvenir.

Volubilis - Any Historians will want to head just outside of Meknes where you’ll find the remaining ruins of the Roman Volubilis. Surrounded by countryside, high on a hill, it is an impressive sight. Alternativey a visit to the well preserved medieval Arab-Muslim town Medina of Fez.

Travel through Todgha Gorge and along the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs - a remarkable drive snaking through spectacular desert landscapes, villages, palm groves and passing hundreds of Kasbahs (fortresses) along the route. These fortresses are tall, windowless and with fortified towers. They were often bult by local leaders to portray their wealth and as protection for their land.

Marrakech – Marrakech is a bustling city full of colour, taste sensations and shopping extravaganzas. On top of that you will find stunning palaces and gardens alike.

What is the food like in Morocco?

Moroccan cooking is all about the roundness of flavour. With its mixture of influences including France and Spain, it pairs fish with fresh herbs and a subtle chilli heat, chicken with sharp citrus and tart olives and game with sugar cinnamon. Their combination of ingredients is intriguing but the results are delicious!

Tagine is the most popular method of cooking in Morocco. It is an earthenware pot in a conical shape. All ingredients, meat and spices are mixed in the base plate of the Tagine and then the conical shape top is placed on and gets to work by allowing the steam to rise, condense and then drip back down to remoisten the meat. In many ways it’s similar to a casserole but the unique shape makes for a moister environment ensuring a juicy dish.

Tagine dishes usually contain Chicken, beef or lamb with tomatoes, peppers, onion, garlic, tomato paste, meat or vegetable stock, cinnamon, saffron, turmeric, cardamon, nutmeg, cloves, fresh coriander and parsley, and sometimes nuts, such as almonds or cashews and fruit such as apricots or raisins. The ingredients combine together and melt down to make a rich fruity sauce. The finished dish is typically served with couscous. Spice wise it could be compared to a mild to medium curry.

B’stilla - This unusual pie mixes game with cinnamon sugar but is said to be a delicacy not to be missed. Layers of a paper-thin pastry encase pigeon meat, almonds and saffron spiced eggs, all topped off with a dusting of cinnamon sugar.

Fish chermoula – Chermoula is a fresh herb and chilli marinade which is used to coat fish before cooking and then also as a dipping sauce accompaniment.

B’ssara – A breakfast treat of pureed broad beans, topped with a drizzle of olive oil and cumin, then eaten by dipping bread in it.

Street food in Morocco gets even more intriguing with snails cooked in a broth that promises to ward of coughs and colds or lambs cheeks which are said to be very sweet.

For those Tea drinkers out there, it’s wise to remember that Moroccans don’t take milk with their tea so it will not be delivered to you without a special request for it. The main tea of choice in Morocco is mint tea so again it’s worth asking for English or plain tea so as not to be given mint by mistake.

What is the best time of year to visit Morocco ?

You can visit Morocco at any time of the year but generally the ideal time is between March to April and September to November when the weather warm, but not too hot and the evenings are cool but not cold. However, no matter when you travel please remember to pack a cardigan or jumper for those evenings and the difference in day to night temperature is very noticeable!