Luxury Morocco Holidays

Nine miles off the southern coast of Spain, Morocco is a totally different world, with a cosmopolitan mixing of cultures and influences. We concentrate on fascinating Marrakech, one of the most magical and evocative cities in the world. It has an ‘in your face’ intensity and energy that is instant, yet it still manages areas of quiet charm.

Marrakech is a very popular year round destination, just 4 hours flight from London. The months of November to February tend to be bright and crisp with clear blue skies, day time temperatures around 20 degrees, with cold evenings when your in-room fire place will be put to use - good months for sightseeing, with the snow capped Atlas Mountains in the distance. As the year progresses, the temperatures rise rapidly, reaching a mid summer peak of 40 degrees plus.

In short a fascinating city break, offering superb hotels, exciting shopping and restaurants. Highly recommended.

Marrakech is also a convenient based for exploring other parts of the country, and we particularly recommend an extension to the Atlantic coast resort of Essaouira with its delightful Riad style hotels.

Or visit Ouarzazate, just a couple of hours south, once an outpost of the French Foreign Legion and now an important centre for the film industry who have used the dramatic backdrop for Gladiator, Troy and many other films.

For those with additional time we suggest a tour to include Fez, known as the most complete medieval Arab city in the world, with its own fascinating souk and delightful little hotels.

Agadir
Agadir has a very beautiful beach, however it tends to attract the wrong kind of tourism. As the result of an earthquake in 1960, Agadir is a completely modern city, which reminded me of towns in Northern Germany. It is also permanently full of tourists, especially German tourists. It does have excellent luxury hotels, where activities are organized and there is some form of night-life. In addition, there are some beautiful golf courses. But if you are searching for the real moroccan atmosphere or examples of traditional architecture, Agadir is not a good place to spend much time. It does represent a useful transport hub and an easy point of access if your coming by plane. Cheap flights from Europe often go to Agadir. Furthermore Agadir is a good place to make daytrips from to nearby highlights including the old walled city of Taroudannt, Paradise valley and the Massa Lagoon. The Market of Agadir is worth a visit.

Atlas Mountains
The Atlas Mountains are a mountain range across a northern stretch of Africa extending about 2,400 km (1,500 miles) through Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. The highest peak is Jbel Toubkal, with an elevation of 4,167 metres (13,671 ft) in southwestern Morocco. The second highest mountain is the M'Goun of 4,071 metres (13,356 ft). The Atlas ranges separate the Mediterranean and Atlantic coastlines from the Sahara Desert. The population of the Atlas Mountains are mainly Berber tribes in Morocco and kabyles in Algeria. The terms for 'mountain' in some Berber languages are adrar and adras, believed to be cognate with the toponym. The mountains are divided into additional and separate ranges, including the Middle Atlas, High Atlas, and Anti-Atlas. The lower Tell Atlas running near the coast and the larger Saharan Atlas running further south terminate in the Aurès Mountains located in Algeria and Tunisia. The Atlas Mountains constitute one of the distinct physiographic provinces of the larger African Alpine System division.

Casablanca
Casablanca is a city in western Morocco, located on the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Greater Casablanca region. With a population of 3.1 million (3.85 million in the "greater Casablanca" (September 2005 census), Casablanca is Morocco's largest city as well as its chief port. It's also the biggest city in the Maghreb and the sixth biggest city in the entire continent of Africa. Casablanca is considered the economic capital of Morocco because it is the heart of Moroccan business; the political capital is Rabat. It is also the primary naval base for the Royal Moroccan Navy. Casablanca is the leading city hosting headquarters and main industrial facilities for the leading Moroccan and international companies based in Morocco. Industrial statistics show Casablanca retains its historic position as the main industrial zone of the country. The Port of Casablanca is considered as Morocco's chief port and as one of the largest artificial ports in the world. It is also the largest port of the Maghreb and North Africa.

Erfoud
Built by the French beside the perennial Ziz River, the little town of Erfoud is not characterised by the charm of a centuries-old settlement. It's red sand buildings, however, stand out in impressive contrast against the surrounding desert, and with its good hotels, restaurants and a lively souk, it is an excellent place from which to explore the surrounding landscape of desert and oases. In the latter, the people live in fort-settlements knows as ksour, whose high walls, tightly packed houses and intricate pattern of paths and alleyways are as beautiful as they are charming. Made from lime and the red sand of the region, they provided protection from both marauding nomadic tribes and the scorching sun. Surrounding these settlements are the large palm groves that have sustained these communities on the fringe of the desert for centuries. Not far, the desert offers its own tourist attraction, in the form of camel rides to the sand dunes of Merzouga.

Essaouira
Essaouira, is an isolated city / wilaya in the western Moroccan economic region of Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz, on the Atlantic coast. Essaouira has long been considered as one of the best anchorages of the Moroccan coast. The Carthaginian navigator Hanno visited and established a trading post there in the 5th century BC. Around the end of the 1st century BC or early 1st century AD, Juba II established a Tyrian purple factory, processing the murex and purpura shells found in the intertidal rocks at Essaouira and the Iles Purpuraires. This dye colored the purple stripe in Imperial Roman Senatorial togas.

Fes
Fes or Fez is the fourth largest city in Morocco, after Casablanca, Rabat and Marrakech with a population of 946,815 (2004 census). It is the capital of the Fès-Boulemane region. Fes is one of the four so-called "imperial cities" (the others are Marrakech, Meknes and Rabat). It is separated into three parts, Fes el Bali (the old, walled city), Fes-Jdid (new Fes, home of the Mellah), and the Ville Nouvelle (the French-created, newest section of Fes). The Medina of Fes el Bali, the largest of the two medinas of Fes, is believed to be the largest contiguous car-free urban area in the world. Fes el Bali is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The University of Al-Karaouine was founded in 859 A.D. and is the oldest continuous operating university in the world.

Marrakech
Marrakech or Marrakesh, known as the "Red City", is an important and former imperial city in Morocco. It has a population of 1,070,838 (as of 2004),[1] and is the capital of the mid-southwestern economic region of Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz, near the foothills of the snow-capped Atlas Mountains. Like many North African and Middle Eastern cities, Marrakech comprises both an old fortified city (the médina) and an adjacent modern city (called Gueliz). It is served by Ménara International Airport (RAK is the code for the airport) and a rail link to Casablanca and the north. Marrakech is the third largest city in Morocco after Casablanca and Rabat.

Oualidia
The village is spread around the southern shores of an 11km inland lagoon filled by the sea which enters through two breaches in the coastal rock wall. Watching the coastal views from a terrace is akin to observing the ebbing tides on a river estuary - a constantly changing and remarkable spectacle. The 11 Km lagoon is flanked by a kasbah built in 1634 by Sultan El Oualid, and the Oulidia hotels look over the beach and lagoon. The sunny beaches with fine sand lend themselves to safe bathing, surfing, windsurfing and small fishing boat expeditions. Oualidia is the main oyster centre of Morocco. To the south, a variety of small sandy coves and rocky cliffs offer seclusion and splendid walks.

Ouarzazate
Ouarzazate, is a city in southern Morocco. Its name comes from a Berber phrase meaning "without noise" or "without confusion". It is also featured by its closeness to Atlas Mountains and Draa Valley. Once in its history, Ouarzazate had been a small crossing point for African traders seeking to reach northern cities in Morocco and Europe. During the French period, Ouarzazate expanded considerably as a garrison town, administrative centre, and customs post.

Ouirgane
Ouirgane is a lovely small town nestled in the Atlas mountains equipped with surprisingly beautiful hotels. It’s a wonderful place to stop before driving the terrifying but spectacular hairpins in the Atlas mountains called the Tizi n Test. It is a pleasant base for walking, mountain-biking and horse riding.

Rabat
Rabat, population 2 million (2007 estimate), is the capital of the Kingdom of Morocco. It is also the capital of the Rabat-Salé-Zemmour-Zaer region. The city is located on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the river Bou Regreg. On the facing shore of the river lies Salé, Rabat's bedroom community. Together the two cities with Témara account for a population of 2 million. Unfortunately, silting problems have diminished the city's role as a port; however, Rabat and Salé still maintain relatively important textile, food processing and construction industries; some are from sweatshop labor by major multinational corporations

Tangier
Tangier, is a city of northern Morocco with a population of about 700,000 (2008 census). It lies on the North African coast at the western entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic Ocean off Cape Spartel. It is the capital of the Tangier-Tétouan Region. The history of Tangier is very rich due to the historical presence of many civilizations and cultures starting from the 5th century BC. Between the period of being a Phoenician town to the independence era around the 1950s, Tangier was a place —and, sometimes a refuge— for many cultural diversities. However, it wasn't until 1923 that Tangier was attributed an international status by foreign colonial powers, thus becoming a destination for many Europeans and non-Europeans alike such as Americans and Indians.

Taroudant
Taroudant, is a Moroccan city located in the Sous Valley in the southern part of the country. It is situated east from Agadir on the road to Ouarzazate and south from Marrakech. It can be easily visited as a day trip from Agadir en route to the Sahara Desert. It has the feel of a small market town on some caravan route. It is also known for its local crafts like jewelry and carpets.

Zagora
Zagora, is a town in the valley of the Draa River in Souss-Massa-Draâ, southeastern Morocco. It is located at around 30°19′50″N 5°50′17″W / 30.33056°N 5.83806°W / 30.33056; -5.83806Coordinates: 30°19′50″N 5°50′17″W / 30.33056°N 5.83806°W / 30.33056; -5.83806. It is flanked by the mountain Zagora from which the town got its name. Originally it was called 'Tazagourt' the singular of plural 'Tizigirt', Berber for 'twinpeaks', referring to the form of the mountain. In old European maps the mountain Zagora is already indicated but the town itself was only built in the 20th century.