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Tag: Merzouga

Topics and Articles About Tourism in Merzouga, Morocco.

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Desert & Sahara Historic Sites Moroccan Tourism

Mark Wiens’ Moroccan Food Experience: A Love Story in Rabat, Casablanca & the Desert

Mark Wiens' Moroccan Food Experience
Mark Wiens in Morocco

Mark Wiens’ Moroccan Food Odyssey: A Love Story in Rabat, Casablanca & the Desert! Join the American Travel and Food Blogger on His Culinary Journey Through Morocco’s Delectable Delights

Rabat food experience :

Moroccan street food in Rabat offers a wide variety of delicious and unique dishes, as well as the opportunity to experience traditional home-cooked meals with local families.

  • A food tour in Rabat, Morocco featuring unique stringy bread, sweet and salty street food, and a UNESCO world heritage site in the Old Town.
  • A family in Morocco has been making Shia Shia Shia sweet since the 1960s, street food includes crispy pastries and grilled sandwiches, speaker describes the delicious flavors and textures in Rabat.
  • The street food in Rabat, Morocco is incredibly tasty, including steamed cow head, fluffy sardines, and fresh sugar cane juice with ginger and lemon.
  • A food tour in Rabat, Morocco, featuring vibrant markets, a community oven, and a local restaurant with traditional Moroccan dishes cooked in clay pots.
  • Moroccan street food tour featuring a variety of dishes with harmonious spice blends, including meatballs, beef with caramelized prunes, and chicken with olives and preserved lemon.
  • Moroccan street food offers unique flavors and dishes, including preserved lemons, vegetable tajine, couscous with beef and raisins, and sweet/savory pastries, followed by a visit to the Kasbah of the Uas fortress in Rabat.
  • A food tour in Rabat, Morocco, includes trying sweets, enjoying mint tea by the river, and having a home-cooked Moroccan meal at Muhammad’s mother’s house, followed by a huge feast of seafood, vegetables, and salads with the family.
  • The street food in Morocco is delicious, with flavorful dishes like chicken with onions and green sauce, seafood platters, and beautifully decorated fruit platters, and the speaker had an amazing home-cooked meal.
Mark Wiens in Rabat

Desert food experience :

Mark enjoys the unique Moroccan food in Rissani, including the medfouna and camel milk, while exploring the vibrant markets and desert of Morocco.

The medfouna is packed and loaded with meat, making it a truly delicious and satisfying dish.

  • “Literally you cannot find this dish on the internet hands down that’s like the greatest tasting scrambled eggs you’ll ever have in your entire life.”
  • The preparation of the stuffed pigeons includes a mixture of kebab meat, spices, and eggs, creating a flavorful and unique stuffing for the dish.
  • Hands down that’s like the greatest tasting scrambled eggs you’ll ever have in your entire life and I can’t even imagine how it’s going to transform that pigeon deliciousness overdose stuffed pigeons.
  • The cooking process and flavors of the pigeon meat make it succulent, oily, and unbelievably tasty, creating a harmony of flavors in your mouth.
  • The fresh camel milk is rich, creamy, and frothy, tasting like natural cappuccino foam.
  • The experience of riding camels into the sunset in the Sea of sand is absolutely breathtaking.
  • Riding camels for the sunset is a must-do experience in Morocco.
  • Riding a camel through the desert is an amazing and graceful experience.
Medfouna

Casablanca food experience :

Mark Wiens goes on a food tour in Casablanca, Morocco, trying modern breakfast, camel meat, Moroccan mint tea, and delicious street food, while also exploring the city’s iconic mosque and traditional bakery.

  • Explored the iconic Hassan II mosque, learned about Islamic art, and visited a traditional bakery in Casablanca.
  • Tried Moroccan pastries and mint tea, experiencing the tea culture, and exploring the strong coffee culture and variety of pickled and fermented foods available in the market.
  • Mark visited a meat market in Casablanca, tries camel kebabs and hump meat, and describes the unique flavors and textures of the camel meat.
  • The seafood market in Morocco is like a Disneyland of seafood, with so much elevation and variety of seafood available.
  • The Seafood Feast is intense and unbelievable, showcasing the Chef’s impressive culinary skills.
Mark Wiens in Casablanca

Categories
Desert & Sahara Historic Sites Moroccan Tourism

Errachidia: The Hidden Gem You Must Visit

Errachidia - The Hidden Gem You Must Visit in Tafilalet Morocco

Visit Errachidia, Tafilalet and merzouga, the three indivisible destinations

Errachidia was founded in 1959 under the name “Ksar-es-souk” in Arabic and “Imetgheren” in Berber. The city was renamed Errachidia in 1976. According to the 2014 census, its population is 418,451.

Tafilalet is a vast lush palm grove that spans along the banks of the Ziz and Ghris rivers. Its wide desert creates a stunning Saharan space. Merzouga‘s dunes are crucial for seeing Erg Chebbi, an area of golden sand that reaches a height of roughly 150 meters.

Tafilalet was a thriving economic hub throughout the Middle Ages. Located at the entryway to the desert, the primary caravan route to Sudan, and a crossroads of trans-Saharan commerce, particularly the slave trade, gold, spices, salt, and so on.

Erg Chebbi

Sijilmassa had a bright heart. A Middle Ages urban treasure from the XIII century. Sijilmassa was a thriving trading center. It had amazing magnificence and prestige as a result of its casbahs, market, workshops, palace, primary home of the emir, gorgeous mosques, Medersas (schools), and so on.

Tin-Hinan, the Tuaregs’ progenitor, the queen Berber Tin-Hinan, would be from this region. In 1631, Tafilalet witnessed the founding of the Alaouite dynasty, led by Moulay Ali Cherif. The Moroccan monarchy is still ruled by this dynasty today.

Errachidia now serves as the regional council of Drâa-Tafilalet’s headquarters. This enables it to initiate a dynamic of infrastructure building and extension to meet the demands of the new territorial division of 2015 formed region.

Rest and relaxation in the deep south

A spectacular nature in Morocco‘s south inland, turning away from the sea, the town of Errachidia, will make you experience an entirely new Morocco. It provide exquisite vistas between the heights of the Middle Atlas and the immensity of the Sahara.

Errachidia is a highland village. The reliefs block off the horizon like a background here, providing the feeling of quiet and tranquillity. Cedars and fir trees cap these heights, adding to the sense of tranquillity, while oaks, date palms, and olive trees thrive in the valley. Many trips are planned to take you to these breathtaking places.

Ukhuwwah Mosque - Hayy Amzouj - Errachidia - Morocco

The desert promised surrounding Errachidia has arrived at Merzouga’s doorstep. The small town has vanished into the dunes. It is in these circumstances that the tallest dunes in Morocco and the most magnificent dawn in the world stand, that a palm grove spreads, that dynamic waters of bird flight unfold:

it is Lake Dayet Srij and its migratory community. One-time adventures and multi-day trips allow you to go in front of these gems and uncover all the richness that the desert hides.

There is no longer any mention of beach Morocco in these faraway locations! At every curve of the route, you will uncover a wild nature and adventure!

Traditional festivities and authenticity, Men and traditions mosaic

To admire this magnificent region that has been preserved and embrace its secular culture, you must realize that the present is still mixed with the past. If the province still has witnesses to its rich past, such as the tomb of Moulay Ali Chérif, an ancestor of the Alaouite dynasty in Rissani, or the ruins of Sijilmassa, a historic merchant city that contains 400 walled settlements that previously housed a community with shared interests, you will learn its traditions above all via interactions with the people.

Many cultural and artistic events, including as the International Dates Fair in Erfoud, the Wedding Festival in Imilchil, the Merzouga International Festival of World Music, and the Apple Festival in Midelt, will be available to those who are fortunate enough.

International Dates Fair in Erfoud

Without a doubt, the cultural wealth of this region will astound you!

Sports that are unique in the desert

A one-of-a-kind dynamic framework!

Your favorite sports, or those that are more odd, will allow you to experience this lovely location in a unique style that will never fail to amaze you.

Take a trek or a mule ride to see the magnificent Ziz gorges, which stretch from Amsed to Tadighoust.

You may visit a few museums illustrating the local nomadic culture, such as the fossil and mineral museum on the way to Rissani, the nomadic culture museum in Erg Chebbi, the Lalla Mimouna Sources museum in Tinejdad, or the location of the prehistoric rock carvings of Taouz.

There are also more than in the Tafilalet area. or from Assoul to Amellagou, one of the world’s top climbing areas.

Visit Erg Chebbi

You may also enjoy the Erg Chebbi dunes, Merzouga’s camel rides, and sand skiing at Merzouga. For the most adventurous, the erg Moulay Omar or erg Znigui will allow you to practice quad and 4×4 driving.

In the heart of the Eastern High Atlas, on the banks of the Tislit and Isli lakes, objects of a tale of an impossible love between two members of opposite tribes, where trout, pike, and barbel flourish, well-informed fisherman and winter sports enthusiasts will find their bliss.

Many caverns, such as those in Akhiam in the Imilchil area, await caving enthusiasts to divulge their mysteries.

Read more : how you can enjoy your New Year’s Eve in Morocco

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Moroccan Tourism

Morocco’s Remarkable Post-COVID Tourism Triumph (2023 Statistics)

Visit Fez Souk

Tourism in Morocco: a post-COVID success story

According to the Ministry of Tourism, Handicrafts, and Economy, visitor arrivals totaled 6.5 million persons in the first six months of this year, a 21% increase over the same period last year. “The figures for June confirm the upward trajectory that tourism has been on since January 2023.”

The number of arrivals is expected to reach 6.5 million by the end of June 2023, a 21% increase over the previous year, according to a ministry brief on tourist arrivals.

According to the same source, the volume of arrivals at border checkpoints reached approximately 1.4 million visitors in June, a +25% increase over 2019.

Several markets contributed to this achievement, including Spain (+79% vs. 2019), the United States, Canada, the Israeli market (+96% vs. 2019), the United Kingdom (+23% vs. 2019), and Portugal (+16% vs. 2019)

The ministry explains that numerous partnerships have been signed with Tour Operators and online travel agencies in order to secure 2.8 million customers for the 2023 summer season, which is double the volume secured for the 2019 summer season.

According to the press release, Fatim-Zahra Ammor, Minister of Tourism, Crafts, and the Social and Solidarity Economy, stated that “the indicators of the sector testify to the very good health of our tourism.”

And to add: “Our ambitions are obviously more important within the framework of the roadmap, and we will continue to work with the entire industry and deploy the necessary means to achieve our quantitative and qualitative objectives”

Tourism, a key foreign exchange earner, produced 41 billion dirhams (MMDH) in foreign currency receipts by the end of May 2023, representing a 42% increase over the same time in 2019.

Categories
Desert & Sahara Historic Sites Moroccan Tourism Nature & Mountains

8 Must-Have Experiences in The Desert : Morocco Desert Magic Tours

Morocco Desert Tours
Morocco desert trip

Get a memorable desert trip and an outstanding experience in the desert of Morocco

Have you chosen to visit Morocco for your next vacation?

With its beautiful desert landscapes, Morocco is one of the essential destinations for a change of scenery.

Its idyllic setting is conducive to all kinds of tourist activities that stand out.

Best activities to do in the Moroccan desert.

  • Camp or bivouac in the Moroccan desert

A trip to Morocco is an opportunity to escape from the daily routine and live an unforgettable experience. Among the best tourist activities suitable for this purpose, there is the bivouac in the heart of the Moroccan desert.

bivouac in the Moroccan desert
Bivouac in the Moroccan desert

Like the nomadic peoples of the Saharan desert, camp for several days in Berber tents. Nothing like sleeping under the stars, around the fire, to immerse yourself in Moroccan culture.

Spending the night in the desert also allows you to admire a beautiful sunset and sunrise. Thus, the bivouac in the Sahara desert is therefore perfect for discovering Morocco differently and living a unique experience.

  • Sandboarding in the desert of Morocco

Are you a board sports enthusiast? “Sandboarding” or “sandboarding” is the activity you absolutely have to try. If you are familiar with snowboarding, this activity, also known as “Berber snowboarding”, will not leave you indifferent.

Indeed, the two disciplines share the same principles and the same equipment.

Only the playing field changes from the mountain of snow to the great dunes of the Sahara. This tourist activity specific to the Moroccan desert is ideal for thrill seekers.

Also, do not wait any longer and come and enjoy the benefits of sand boarding with a stay in Morocco.

  • Walks on the dunes of the Sahara

A walk in the middle of the Moroccan desert will do you the greatest good. It is the ideal activity to commune with nature while admiring the beautiful desert landscapes. Among the must-see spots are the film studios at Ouarzazate, the imperial cities and the valley of roses.

Desert Sahara Walk
Walks on the dunes of the Sahara

But for a stay in Morocco, the tourist site not to be missed is the dunes of Merzouga or Erg Chebbi. The latter offers a breathtaking spectacle with these plays of light that change with the sun. Come and admire this spectacle during a camel or camel ride.

Note that for a circuit in Morocco, you can also take a quad, mountain bike or 4×4 ride.

  • Hiking or trekking in the Moroccan desert

For a road trip that challenges your body and your mind, opt for hiking in the Moroccan desert. The desert setting of the Sahara is ideal for venturing off the beaten track.

On a spiritual level, this trip to the desert is an opportunity to release your stress and forget your daily worries. This adventure is the perfect opportunity to recharge your batteries and learn more about yourself.

A hike in Morocco also allows you to meet new people like the Berber tribes. The latter live in the heart of the desert and in the Atlas Mountains. So, don’t wait any longer to test your limits with trekking in Morocco.

The desert is an extreme place and only the most seasoned and experienced travelers can explore it on their own. The warm daytime temperatures plummet at night and if you don’t have the right equipment, you’ll get very cold.

Also, if you were to have a mishap with your vehicle, communicating the exact position and rescuing your 4×4 would be very difficult.

Traveling in the desert is no joke and it is highly recommended that you rely on the experience of the locals by taking a tour guide.

In general, the Sahara is best visited during the winter. Between November and February, the climate is more pleasant, while during the rest of the year, temperatures can easily reach 55 degrees Celsius.

If you’re traveling in the warmer months and don’t want to forgo a ride through the dunes, it is recommended to take a night camel ride. This way, you will avoid melting in the middle of the day.

Trekking Morocco's Scorching Desert
Trekking Morocco Desert

Best Desert Excursions in Morocco

  • Quad biking through the palm grove

For a taste of the desert experience, you won’t have to stray far from Marrakech. The Red City Palm Grove is an arid landscape dotted with palm, olive and fruit trees. This natural area borders one of Marrakesh’s wealthiest neighborhoods. Even so, it has retained much of its charm and is cross-crossed by a myriad of unpaved tracks.

  • Stargazing in the desert of Agafay

This excursion will take you to the nearby Agafay Desert, which is about 30 kilometers from the Red City. Get the typical picture of the dunes out of your mind: this natural landscape is characterized by arid terrain covered with stones and pebbles and almost no vegetation.

  • Day and night excursion in the Zagora Desert

Zagora is about 360 km from Marrakech and is very popular with tourists who only have a short time available. In fact, two days and one night are enough to visit it, while other destinations require at least one more night.

  • The Desert of Merzouga

This safari will take you through Boumalne Dades, a village of 2,000 inhabitants. Here live the Imazighen, the descendants of the original inhabitants of North Africa, Tinghir, the Todra Gorges, a corridor of rock reminiscent of the Grand Canyon in the United States.

These mountains are the result of centuries and centuries of erosion; the Todra River has shaped the cliffs to give us this breathtaking scenery, the dunes of Erg Chebbi, in this fairy tale landscape, you can end the day with an unmissable activity: a camel ride at sunset.

camel ride in the Moroccan desert
Camel ride

The road back to Marrakech will take you to Ouarzazate for the opportunity to admire the Kasbahs of Taourirt and Tifoultoute.

There is no doubt that those excursions are very complete excursion, and if you feel like traveling with all the comforts, you can opt for superior quality rooms or tents for your stays available on all the spots in the Moroccan Desert.

Check out all the private Morocco tours from Marrakech, Fez, Casablanca …

Categories
Desert & Sahara Historic Sites Moroccan Tourism

Zagora : 10 Things About This Magnificent Desert

Visit Zagora Morocco Desert
Visit Zagora

Dusty streets, terracotta buildings, huge skies. Zagora, in the south-east of Morocco, is a place that is inextricably linked with the Sahara Desert.

Named after the nearby mountain, Zagora was once a stronghold of the Almoravid people, and their legacy can still be seen in the surrounding hills.

Outside the town is the amazing Draa Valley, which follows the twists and turns of the river – an unforgettable place where thick groves of palm trees line the twists and turns of the river, while the Jbel Saghro mountain range rises in the background.

Riding Camels in Zagora Desert

Everything You Need To Know About Zagora :

1. Zagora culture


The culture you’ll find in Zagora is very different to that of the northern towns and cities. While you’re here make time for the Musée des Arts and Traditions de la Vallee de Draa.

This wonderful building is dedicated to the Amazigh way of life in the Draa Valley. With plenty of exhibits including jewelry, weapons, and even wedding outfits, this is a fascinating insight into the lives of the desert people.

And don’t miss the Festival of the Nomad in the nearby village of M’hamid where tribes from all over Morocco congregate to celebrate their unique culture.

2. Zagora cycling


The area around Zagora is ideal for enjoyable winter and spring riding. The weather at this time of the year is warm, but not overpoweringly hot, and riding in the desert under the Moroccan sun is an amazing experience.

The roads in the area are mainly good quality and work is ongoing to ensure that all roads are maintained. Once outside the town the road climbs gently up the Draa Valley, a lush valley lined with palm trees and greenery.

As you approach the high points, make sure you take time to enjoy the stunning views of the area.

If you’re more of an off-roader then you’ll find all the challenge that you could ever want, whether it’s dried up lakebeds, steep valley sides, or the sand of the Sahara itself.

3. Desert treks

Squad in Zagora Desert


The southern town of Zagora rests in the sands of the Sahara, making it an ideal base from which to take a desert trek. But it’s not all endless sands as far as the eye can see.

You can explore along the banks of the Oued Draa River, which bustles with wildlife, or travel by foot, 4×4, or camel through fields of date palms and into the stunning Draa valley.

The area retains its age-old charm with signs proclaiming that, if you were so inclined, it would take 52 days to reach Timbuktu by camel, (although we’d recommend getting the bus).

Hire a local guide or join an organized excursion, but make sure a desert trek is at the top of your ‘to do’ list.

4. Family days out


If you want a family holiday that is a world away from the usual beaches and theme parks, then a trip to Zagora is ideal. It’s a place where children can enjoy exploring the natural side of the world, in an environment that will captivate them.

Try a trek to the Draa Valley where your children can go fossil hunting or look for animals. The river that runs through it is perfect for a boating trip, and you’ll see traditional Amazigh villages and exotic wildlife.

A trip into the desert is a must, and what child could resist the chance to ride on a camel?

5. Food and drink


When it’s time to eat in Zagora you’ll have plenty of options for your dining pleasure. There are many restaurants in town, most towards the centre, and they serve a wide selection of traditional Moroccan dishes – fill your plates with couscous, tagines, or perhaps Madfouna – the ‘Berber Pizza’.

These delicious dishes have the dough on the outside, and are filled with all sorts of different foods such as lamb, steak, eggs, beef and vegetables. (Best Foods To Eat in Morocco)

It’s also worth visiting the souk and selecting your own wonderfully fresh food from the friendly stall holders.

6. Hammams


After a long hot day in Zagora, why not refresh yourself with a trip to a traditional hammam? There are several of these Moroccan bath houses in the town, usually family owned and run, and are an ideal way to cleanse yourself after a trip to the desert.

They’re also a great way to meet local Moroccans, who use their trips to the hammam as a social occasion as well as somewhere to get clean.

As well as the hammams in town, many hotels offer the same service. These are usually more similar to western style spas and more expensive than the traditional offerings, so the choice is yours!

7. People

Camel and Nomad


The people of Zagora have been shaped by their environment for many years. Centuries living on the edge of the desert have forged a strong sense of independence into these Moroccans, but at the same time they are friendly and welcoming to visitors to their town.

A mix of Arab and Amazigh, they have a proud past, and much of their ancestry can be traced back to the Almoravid dynasty who had a strong presence in this area during the eleventh century.

8. Zagora retreats

Sunset in Zagora Desert


If you’re looking for somewhere to go to get away from it all, rest, relax, and reconnect with yourself and nature then Zagora is the place to do just that.

The vast desert on its doorstep means that this is an extremely popular place to take a retreat, and there are many companies who will organize trips on which you can practice yoga, meditate, practice chakra flow and even desert flow in the quietude of the dunes.

9. Stayings

Riad Zagora
Riad Zagora

Zagora is a popular destination for tourists coming to see the desert so there are many hotels in the town to cater for visitors.

These are generally good quality places at reasonable prices, and many can organize treks into the desert and other excursions for you.

The traditional riad is another option, while a lot of people choose to get the full desert experience and spend the night in a nomadic camp outside the town. (Book Stays in Zagora)

10. Getting to Zagora

Zagora has an airport with direct flights from Ouarzazate, Casablanca and Marrakech.

Also people can choose to fly into Marrakech or Ouarzazate which can be reached with international flights from Europe, Asia, America… and get to Zagora by bus. (Book Flights to Morocco & Zagora)

The journey from Ouarzazate is around 100 miles, while Marrakech is approximately 225 miles away. There is a regular bus service to and from both these places to Zagora, which is by far the most popular and convenient way to arrive here.

To conclude :

Your journey will be enriched by the Zagora escape, an essential component of the plural Morocco, you will definitely be surprised by the difference and diversity of the region comparing to cities that may in first sight seem like Zagora, knowing that connoisseurs knows that every region in Morocco is unique in its own way.

Categories
Moroccan Tourism

Where To Celebrate The New Year’s Eve in Morocco (2024 update)

New Year’s Eve in Morocco

The best places where you can enjoy and celebrate the New Year’s Eve in Morocco 2024.

The term “festival” , as it is known everywhere, is simply an expression of importance and joy deeply related to a symbol of a certain social, religious, political or national affair.

Variant groups of people gather in festivals during a specific day every year in the memorial of a matter that means a lot to all of them. However, some of them might last for more than one day, which makes little children happier to celebrate the event with the different other individuals of adults and aged in an excited atmosphere. it is also familiar that the community which contains several sectors has a distinguished identity of cultural and secular diverse characteristics.

This suggest that a country as Morocco is strongly connected to history that it celebrates more than one New Year in the same year (the Gregorian, the Hijry or lunar, and the Amazigh year). This might be unusual to some, while it is a mark of excellence to others gathering one, two, three and more iconic features from numerous times in the same place.

How do Moroccans celebrate the New Year’s Eve?

Cities of Morocco became much more elegant in The New Year’s Eve and Christmas where the major Casablanca, Marrakech, Agadir, Rabat, Tangier and the costal line of the Atlantic Ocean turns charming, what is that unbelievable unique spell of beauty?

Most of the Moroccan young people like to spend the new year’s eve in interesting modes, so that they prefer to attend one of the huge festivals where music and songs figures.

Various people from different places around the world visit Morocco in NYE to meet their celebrities in one of the festivals organized systems.

They are breathtaking moments filled with joy, enchantment and kindness where fireworks, lightening ropes and carnations are spread everywhere, in the streets, houses public places, gardens and hotels as that they welcome  the new beginning of chances?

Despites the misfortunes of life, people in Morocco like to enjoy the arrival of the New year praying to God in this special to fulfill every human’s wish of good health and fortune.

How you can spend your Christmas + New Year’s Eve in Morocco

  • Under the stars of the desert

A New Year’s Eve in Morocco, in the desert, for an unforgettable transition to the New Year, as one dreams of, in the oases of the Great Moroccan South.

Spending New Year in the heart of the Moroccan desert is a very unique and unforgettable experience. In the program? Walk in the dunes and camel ride before reaching your camp for New Year’s Eve. After a superb day of discovery, gather around a campfire and enjoy a friendly moment in the desert, under the stars of Morocco.

Your New Year’s Eve menu will be very original: bread baked in the sand, prune tagine then tea and Moroccan pastries, for a change of scenery!

You will then enjoy your New Year’s Eve in a friendly atmosphere, in the middle of the silent dunes of the desert. A New Year’s Eve in the Moroccan desert that promises to be unforgettable, to start the New Year in Morocco!

For a New Year far from the grayness of winter, choose Morocco to celebrate the transition to the New Year in a gentle way. Festive meals in local colors, cultural visits and lively evenings await you for your New Year’s Eve in Morocco.

  • Festive evening in Marrakech

Marrakech and its sweetness of life are an ideal destination to spend a lively New Year’s Eve in Morocco. Immerse yourself in the heart of a bustling, lively and welcoming city, and discover all the riches of the Red City. Perfect mix between wild nature and culture, take advantage of your stay to discover all the treasures that Marrakech hides.

La Palmeraie is the ideal place to start your day of discovery before celebrating the New Year in Marrakech. Peaceful and restful place, stroll in its alleys and appreciate the calm of the place, a real journey for the senses.

The Majorelle Garden is not to be missed in Marrakech, as is a visit to the souks and the medina, to soak up Moroccan culture. In the evening, gather around a festive meal in the colors of Morocco, between local cuisine and oriental dance, then end the evening in one of the city’s clubs to celebrate the New Year.

The New Year in Marrakech promises you great discoveries, in a warm and festive atmosphere! Read more about where to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Marrakech

  • A new year in the ocean in ESSAOUIRA

How about spending your New Year in Morocco, by the ocean this year? Essaouira will seduce you with its relaxed lifestyle and the beauty of its landscapes. At the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, discover all the wealth of the city, from the medina through the ramparts and the port, you will not have time to be bored in Essaouira.

The souks of the city are also not to be missed, this is the best place to meet the locals and immerse yourself in the local culture of Morocco.

At the end of the day, take the time to drink a delicious Moroccan tea before enjoying a meal in local colors in one of the city’s many restaurants.

Take advantage of your stay in Essaouira to taste the specialties of the country: leg of lamb with prunes, chicken tajine or even meatballs are among the most popular festive dishes in Morocco!

Extend the evening in a bar or take advantage of the mild evening to stroll on the beach and start the New Year gently in Essaouira.

To conclude

The sources of cultural diversity, are numerous in Morocco that each aspect, festival, ceremony, is deeply rooted in authentic past. All components of Moroccan society are harmonically gathered in the land of the Kingdom to tell valuable stories to each new visitor.

Book your tour and excursion via Morocco Adventurous Tours – they can custom your Moroccan trip based on your interests too – just shoot an email : moroccoadventuroustours@gmail.com

Categories
Desert & Sahara Moroccan Tourism

Visit Merzouga: The Hidden Pearl of Moroccan Desert

Visit Merzouga the sahara desert of Morocco

Tourism Guide : Visit Merzouga

Almost everyone can be sure that the twelve centuries kingdom’s rich and diverse culture, have Inferred from its different natural habitats through the ages, which places the country in the very short list of unique places all over the world; from the green north painted mostly in blue, to the rocky mountains that makes great adventure stories, to its vast plains offering you the Atlantic horizons, and eventually the life vibrant Moroccan desert, famous for its best sands and warm climate in places like Merzouga, the biggest natural spa offered by our beloved mother nature.

The road trip: where it all begins

Merzouga is indeed the summit of all desert attractions we count on our rainy work days, to fulfill our very needed and deserved rest.

The southeastern wonderland of sand is 550 km away from Marrakech, reached by a 9 hours drive that simply makes you travel in your soul, passing by master key places like the city of Ouarzazate and her famous castles like the Kasbah Ait BenHadou , kelâat megouna with its breath taking fields of flowers and almond trees, the fascinating Dades Gorges with its colored walls range anywhere from 200 to 500 meters (650 to 1600 feet).

From then to now: the story of Merzouga

In the past the small village of Merzouga, like a number of regions and cities, was uninhabited and later became a transit point for merchants heading for Timbuktu. It later became a pilgrimage to the nomads of the Ait Atta tribes, until it will be known as a tourist destination to the current days. Safe as the majority of regions in Morocco, you can be sure that locals in Merzouga are generous, and full of hospitality and serenity.

Moroccans are deeply connected with the region; they have a traditional belief that Merzouga’s sands have medical virtue thanks to its warmness, and can cure different diseases like osteoarthritis.

Each year people from all over the country willing to take sand hammam hoping to feel better.

When you can visit Merzouga ?

Merzouga temperature
Merzouga temperature

With an average temperature of 89 F° (32° C), and 275 clear, sunny days every year, it is guaranteed that you won’t be craving for vitamin D even in December; which makes Merzouga a destination visited all year long and in every season.

What to see in Merzouga ?

Visit Merzouga

Once you have reached Merzouga you can be sure that you have made one of your best holiday choices, the place is an oasis that overflows of activities.

Merzouga has the best luxury desert camps in Morocco, placing you in the heart of the local’s culture in a beautiful setting that provides real comfort and luxury stays.
You won’t forget those romantic clear night skies enlightened with thousands of stars that we all have fancies at least once, and of course delicious Moroccan food that melt our mouths with delicious spices, served in the most original pots and tagines.

And of course you wouldn’t miss for anything the camel trekking through the Sahara desert to Erg Chebbi dunes that will make you redefine and contemplate sunrises and sunsets.

The lake of Merzouga is also known as Lake Dayet Srij, is the proof that Merzouga’s desert is full of life, the site is a spot for birds like flamingos and other Migratory birds, you can find a lot of biking and 4X4 tour companies that organize hikes to reach the site.

And if the artistic touch of nature didn’t suffice you, the laoun art gallery feeds your greed, with an exhibition of Berber painting and traditional music instruments that you can contemplate sipping a good cup of coffee in the middle of nowhere.

To resume Merzouga is a one time in life trip that will stay with you a long time after you leave the place, it’s the perfect place for those who are seeking meditation and refueling their energy, but also those who crave experiencing challenges and adventures, a rare combination that makes us love our Merzouga.