+212 615 346 108
What is Morocco known for?
As we are a tour company in Marrakech specializing in Morocco desert tours, many people throughout the year ask what Morocco is famous for or give us some reasons to visit Morocco. For that purpose, we have already written a detailed Moroccan travel guide. Also, those interested in visiting Marrakech should read our blog post on Things to do in Marrakech. But today, we combined a list of specific things Morocco is known for. Although we are natives of Morocco, we can combine a list of hundreds of items you can find in Morocco in this article; we united Marrakech desert tours most popular topics about morocco and tried to explain them in a simple and brief manner. So, without further a do let’s see what is Morocco Known for.
Rich History and Magnificent Monuments:
One of the dominant things for which morocco is known is its rich history and magnificent monuments. Talking about the recent history the region was conquered by the Muslims in the 7th century AD but it was Phoenicians who penetrated the western Mediterranean before the 8th century BCE. To this day you will find the footprint of Phoenicians and Romans in the form of Monuments in Morocco.
Talking about the Monuments there are several famous monuments in almost every city in Morocco. But the cities which are particularly famous are Meknes, Fez and El Jadida. Some famous ones are Prison de kara of Meknes, Bab bi al-Jounoud also known as Blue Gate, the main gate of the Old City of Fez, and Bab el Mrissa, the largest and oldest gate of Morocco and can be found in the city of Sale.
The most dominant history of Morocco is of Arabs, and after they conquered the region back in the 7th century A.D, they built many historical buildings in Morocco. To this date, you will find a number of powerful monuments in this region and you would be amazed to see how powerful the Arab civilization would be at that time. Apart from Arabs, you will also find the footprints of European and French cultures, especially in the city of Casablanca and Rabat, where you can find a number of buildings built on European and French models. Talking about Casablanca, you must go to Hassan II Mosque, the largest function mosque in Africa.
Food Diversity:
Morocco is also known for its diverse delicious foods offered in its different cities. Apart from the famous Beef Tagine, Morocco offers deliciously cooked vegetables, salads, meat with delicious spices, and mouthwatering soups. Talking about cities then every city in Morocco provides something unique to eat Essaouira is famous for its Seafood you can catch some fresh seafood from the port of Essaouira. They will catch the fish live In front of you can you can ask them to fry it and eat it on the spot.
The best thing about Moroccan food is that it is cheap and delicious. Therefore, you will find many restaurants and Cafes which offer you very good food at a very reasonable price. Finally, if you want to learn how to cook Moroccan food at home, you will find many cooking classes in every major city, especially in Marrakech.
Morocco is also famous for its tasty breakfast like mint tea, goat cheesecake, marinated olives, etc. Finally, the best food, the national food of Morocco, is Tagine, which you will hear a lot once you come to morocco. Do try it because besides taste it is very healthy too. If you want to learn Tagine, do not forget to buy some good tagine pot from Medina. You can only cook it in that pot. The best part about that pot is that it gives a special smell and flavor to the Tagine and preserves essential vitamins in the food. Also, it helps not to overcook the Tagine. Before buying Tagine, tell the seller that you need to buy a Tagine pot because there are many other pots you will find in the market, so it’s best to say to the seller about your purpose.
Medinas of Morocco:
Medina is just an old part of the city that can be found in almost every city in Morocco. This part is often walled and contains narrow streets, mosques, dead ends, and sometimes fountains also. The place is usually crowded with locals and you will find a number of cheap hotels and riads in that area. We always recommend our customers to see Medina if they wanted to experience the culture of Morocco firsthand. Fes, Marrakech, Essaouira, and Tangier are a few cities of morocco where you should explore their Medina and see how locals live there. See the heavy goods transferred on mules and donkeys even on Cows. When you take our Marrakech to Fes Sahara desert tour, you will have the opportunity to see both magical Medinas and stay in beautiful old riads.
Camel Ride Sand Dunes and Quad Biking:
Camel riding is the best thing you could ask for in morocco. Especially if you visit Marrakech then must experience a Camel ride in Marrakech. You may wonder what Palmeraie is? Actually, it is an oasis of palm trees situated just outside of Marrakech, and riding a camel there feels like a king or Omer sheriff from Lawrence of Arabia.
You will also find a number of Sand dunes in the deserts of Morocco, especially in the Sahara where you will find some tallest sand dunes in North Africa. You can do sand skating on that, and besides Camel riding and Sand Skating, another very popular activity is Quad biking. If you wish to know more about quad biking on your next morocco tour Click here to know more. We provide an Automatic self-drive Marrakech quad bike tour which you should not miss.
The Staggering Atlas Mountains:
Another this that Morocco is known for is its great mountain ranges special the Atlas Mountains range which divides the Mediterranean and Atlantic coastlines from the Sahara Desert. The special thing about the Atlas mountain or the Great Atlas is that is the highest peak Toubkal falls in the South of Morocco. The height of the Toubkal is about 4100 meters (13451 feet). So, if you are a professional mountain climber, you must visit morocco and conquer this peek.
If you are not a mountain climber then do not worry because still, you can explore a lot on Atlas Mountain there are many villages on the Atlas mountain where you can see how these people live and can experience their culture firsthand. Also, if you want to go further, join Our Day Trip to Atlas Mountain where you will be served delicious Tagines in the Berber family house. This is the best way to see how they live, what their day-to-day chores are their source of earnings etc.
Variety of Beaches:
Morocco is home to incredible beaches. There are beaches for surfers, kite flyers, picnic lovers, seafood enthusiasts, Camel riding, or even quad biking. Also, if you want to spend some quality time with your loved ones, you can go to Agadir or Tangier has some best quiet beaches. The beach of Asilah is also a good option for young couples because the beach usually opens in summer and the place is not that crowded although the service in the area is minimal it’s a good place to spend some quality time. There is another popular white sand beach located in the town of Martil where you can go to relax in the view of the Green mountains and can swim in warm water in the off-season you can do horse riding and camel riding at that place finally if you want to encounter a wild beach, goto Tamara plage, which is located about j5 km away from the capital of Rabat as it is a wild beach so swimming here can be dangerous.
Ski Resorts of Morocco:
Morocco also offers very good skiing opportunities. The biggest ski resort is Oukaïmeden ski resort in the Atlas Mountains just near Toubkal. If you are in Marrakech, you need to travel around 75-80 km to reach this resort. It offers 10 kilometers of slopes which is the highest in Morocco. Apart from Oukaimeden, you can also find many other good skiing resorts in morocco, like Ifrane, a city in the Middle Atlas area of Morocco that was built in the French era. Just outside of Ifrane you will find Jebel Mischliffen. Jebel Mischliffen was built back in the 1950s and it is good for amateurs because they offer short slopes. But if you are an expert and want to explore other ski resorts besides Oukaimeden, go to Toubkal Mountain.
Recently heli-skiing is becoming very popular in Morocco, where skiers reach the top of the mountain by helicopter and then drop down to ski down to the summit. However, this is only for experts and no new skiers are allowed to do heli-skiing.
Unique Culture of Morocco:
When you come to morocco then you will find yourself in a completely new culture especially if you are from Europe or from the US. Morocco is an Islamic country and the dominant culture over there is Islam you must have to embrace and respect their culture. The way they dress, their foods, their everyday norms, their language, etc. Overall, the morocco culture is known for its friendliness, so do not worry about anything. They are accommodating and friendly. If you come to their Sacred month, Ramadan, you will see an utterly different morocco. Ramadan is a sacred month for Muslims all over the world where you have to fast from Dawn to Dusk. During Ramadan, most of the Cafes and restaurants would be closed and open after the sunset. After the last day of Ramadan, they celebrate Eid-Al-Fitr, which is the day of celebration after Ramadan, and on that day, people eat, enjoy life, travel, and meet relatives. Another big Festival is Eid-ul- Adha where people sacrifice animals like sheep, cows, and camels for the willingness of God. On both Eid, people give food, charity, and clothes to poor people and help the underprivileged as much as they can. Talking about banning Alcohol is banned and illegal in Morocco but you could find Alcohol in more progressive cities like Marrakech and Agadir. Finally, if we talk about the dress code of morocco, you can wear pretty much anything but do not show a lot of your skin, especially if you are a woman.
World’s First University:
Yes, you have heard it right Morocco is the home to the world’s first university of Al karaouine, located in Fez. It is founded as a mosque back in 859 AC by the intellectual woman named Fatima Al Fihria. The aim of Fatima was to give local access to science and technology and religious studies. It is still operating today and is listed in UNESCO and Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest university in the world. It changes its status from Madrassa to university after world war II by the Europeans in 1963. A plethora of Morocco’s famous philosophers, politicians, businessmen, and scholars are alumni of this Institute.
Hammams of Morocco:
Morocco also offers different ways to relax and chill, whether by lounging at the beach, riding a camel, desert camping, or massaging at Hammams. Hammam is a steam room where people go for a steam bath to relax and cleanse. Not every Hammam offers massage, and they also vary from cheap to luxurious. In luxury Hammams, use Aragon oil, rose petals, and clay to deeply cleanse every pore of your body. After about an hour you will feel relaxed and refreshed like never before. Besides refreshing, there are many other benefits of taking Hammam, like it helps boost your immune system, reduces soreness in muscles, balances the blood flow in your body, and many more. Although we stated that there are expensive Hammams but they are not that much expensive when compared to traditional Spas and massage Centres so do not worry about the money and must try Moroccan Hammams on your next visit to morocco.
Experience Berber Culture
Berbers can be found throughout Morocco and their culture is very unique and interesting. Both men and women of Berber wear colorful dresses and display their culture proudly. In addition, you will find them wearing specific ruffian hats. Furthermore, they usually marry and look for a partner in their annual festival “Moussem” in the Center of Atlas Mountains at Imilchil at the end of September. Finally, if you like to know more about their culture, we recommend going Al-Hoceima, known as the capital of Northern Berbers. You will find many modern resorts in the town operating by the Berbers.
The Astonishing Sahara Desert:
The Sahara Desert is one of the top reasons Morocco is known. Many travelers throughout the year just come to morocco to Visit the Orange desert. The desert is equipped with full of mysteries and morocco welcomes travelers to explore the Sahara. From gigantic Orange Sand dunes to Different species of Wild Plants and Animals the Sahara Desert offers many things to explore. It is also the mecca for photographers. Many tourists first land in Marrakech or Fes and then book their itinerary to the Sahara Desert. You can not see the whole Sahara Desert in a day so a day trip to Sahara will not be a good option. You have to spare a minimum of 3 Days to experience the Desert tour. You can book 3 days desert tour from FES to Marrakech where we tailored Private Fes to Marrakech desert tour for our customers.
Hidden treasures of Morocco:
As we have already mentioned above, Morocco is known for its Medinas but did not tell you that there are many other things besides pottery and Tagine pots that you can buy from Medina or from other big shopping malls in morocco. Like there are world-class handicrafts, leather goods, rugs, and most importantly, jewelry, Morocco’s best selling for several years because all these things are hand made, which makes it different from others. The craftsmen who made these products with bare hands are experts in their fields. Often, families associated with these businesses transfer the skill from generation to generation. When you go to Medina one tip which might be helpful to you is to avoid hiring a guide and shop all the things by yourself because the guide often charges both the parties that are from you and the seller and often made a hefty commission on your purchase. Instead, go to sellers all by yourself and they are often very helpful and give you what you need.