Morocco Dreaming – start planning your trip now: updated February 2022
If Morocco is one of your dream destinations, what should you be doing now? Here are some tips to start you planning for 2022 and 2023: *Read as much as you can about the country so that you can decide where you want to go and what you want to see and do. Lonely Planet’s
Fes Festival of World Sacred Music 2022
The Fes Festival of World Sacred Music will be held from 9-12 June 2022, with the theme Architecture and the Sacred. This is a shorter version than usual, due to recent events. The programme is now available in French on the festival’s site, and I will have the English translation ready shortly. FESTIVAL FACTS Accommodation
A Sunday morning wander in the Fez medina
We started in Lihoudi, in the northeastern corner of the medina. As you might guess from the name, this was once a Jewish area where jewellers and goldsmiths plied their trade. Out of respect for local residents, the mosque was built without a minaret so the call to prayer would not sound out over this
Morocco: read all about it!
Are you one of those people who loves to beef up on the history of the places you’re going to visit on your trip? Whether it’s the History section in a Lonely Planet guidebook or a deeper delve into the literature of the country, any insight you gain into your destination will pay off. You’ll
Shopping in the souks
Indulge your shopping habit in Morocco: it’s a feast for the senses Ceramics Fez is famous for its ceramics. Artfully painted in blue and green, plates, bowls, jugs, tagines and even bathroom basins can be found everywhere. Look out for the slightly greyer clay from Safi: the pure white is more fragile and will chip
Rabat – is it worth the trip?
A few years ago, CNN named Morocco’s capital, Rabat, as one of the top places to visit. Is the city worth a detour or more? Visitors to Morocco usually head for Marrakech, Essaouira or Fez and don’t even consider Rabat. It’s not a premier tourist destination, but perhaps that’s where it’s charm lies. There’s
Morocco in winter
December and January are good months to visit Morocco. It is a popular time of year, which means the souks and cities are filled with buzzing energy, but you can always seek out some quiet if you know where to look. Exploring the Sahara is perfect – while it’s cold at night, the days are
Visiting Morocco during Ramadan
Ramadan in 2022 starts around 1 April and ends around 28 April. We can’t be more precise because it depends on sighting the moon. So should you venture into Morocco during Ramadan? There’s no reason why not, and the insights you’ll gain into the people and culture will enhance your experience. What you need to
Chefchaouen
Take some dramatic mountain peaks, add a sprinkle of red-roofed houses chasing higgledy-piggedly down the mountainside, small houses with wrought-iron balconies and roof terraces with magnificent views. Now wash it all in an indigo-blue rinse and you have the delightfully laid-back town of Chefchaouen in northern Morocco. Originally built by Riffian tribesmen in 1471 as
Spring in Morocco
Spring is by far the best time to visit Morocco, and that’s March, April and May. The snow has gone except for the highest peaks, the valleys are full of spring flowers and it’s not yet too hot. March sees the first of the orange blossoms appearing on the trees and being sold in the
