ome countries seem almost unreasonably blessed with attractions for travellers, and Morocco is one of them. There are adrenaline-fuelling outdoorsy activities that take place against a diverse landscape, from kite-surfing the coast to trekking the Atlas Mountains and dune-biking in the Sahara. And there are cities so dazzlingly rich in culture and cuisine that bohemians, artists, designers, musicians, thinkers and dedicated bon vivants have been drawn here for decades, and have never left disappointed.
Visitors can choose to bed down in romantic riads, desert camps under the stars, bohemian surf shacks or hip city hotels.
The pandemic altered our travel tastes forever, and one big trend that Morocco is set to ride is that travellers now want to go deeper into a destination, stay for longer and emerge culturally enlightened, creatively inspired, gastronomically sated and heartened by the life-affirming hospitality and generosity of an unfamiliar nation.
S
Surf, souk and Sahara
Today, Marrakech is dream city-break territory for European and North American travellers worn down by the grey skies at home. Here is winter sunshine and warmth, alchemic culinary flavours, awe-inspiring design and artwork and elegant accommodation, whether in riad or hotel.
In Marrakech, the Bahia Palace and Dar Si Said are positively psychedelic displays of tilework and painted carved-wood ceilings; the Musée de Mouassine and Musée de Marrakech are also masterclasses in opulence and artistic splendour. The medina is a marvel, a riot of traditional craftsmanship.
And most of the city’s riads, affordable as they might be, are also celebrations of ancient artistry and divinely inspired design, making for some of the most memorable accommodation on the planet.
Opulent design
Morocco's interiors are a match for the beauty of its cities' architecture
Throw in a cuisine that magically melds Amazigh (the correct word for Berber, meaning “free man”), Arab, Jewish, Moorish and African influences, while having deep roots in the Mediterranean diet, and you have a city so enticing that it’s tempting to just stick to Marrakech. By contrast, an Intrepid Travel small group adventure taking in Fez, Casablanca, Tangier and the country’s wilder spots is a more fitting way to do justice to this richly rewarding destination.
Morocco offers adventurous travellers the whole spectrum of dramatic scenery, from mountains to ocean to desert landscapes.
In the southeast, in the lee of the High Atlas Mountains, Morocco is home to one of the most easily navigable swathes of the Sahara, the largest desert on the planet. It was in the red-hued Draa Valley that trans-Saharan caravans of camels embarked upon the legendary 50-day trek across the Sahara to Timbuktu. Today, camel excursions for travellers still venture out into the Erg Chigaga, a beautiful expanse of rippling, soaring sand dunes.
Whether you choose to absorb this spectacular landscape on a 4x4 adventure, sedate camel ride, energising e-bike tour or simply by gazing up at the stars, a trip to the Sahara is a must in Morocco.
A constant flow of ideas, people, art, music, traditions and beliefs has contributed to Morocco’s rich cultural heritage
The Kingdom of Light
Morocco reopened to
travellers in February
In February, Morocco, aka the Kingdom of Light, reopened to travellers. According to the Moroccan National Tourist Office, the country has since recovered 70 per cent of its 2019 visitor numbers, as post-lockdown travellers seek out destinations that truly deliver.
This is where Intrepid Travel comes in. It offers sensitively crafted itineraries of 4 to 18 days for small-group adventures – a decided upgrade on the average holiday. The company uses local guides and, with B-Corp status in its Morocco office, is committed to recruiting and training more female guides and staff. An Intrepid Travel winter adventure in Morocco is the ultimate feelgood experience for those keen to immerse themselves in another culture.
Every Intrepid itinerary includes Morocco’s greatest hits, and a few also feature off-the radar surprises in the mix. For travellers who crave a little indulgence, Intrepid’s Premium trips offer a higher standard of accommodation and service, and are a real investment in the trip of a lifetime.
The spirit of community, adventure, kindness, openness, curiosity, pride and progress are embedded in Morocco’s national character. A bridge between Africa and Europe for millennia, the constant flow of ideas, people, art, music, traditions and beliefs has contributed to Morocco’s rich cultural heritage, as well as the nation’s influence beyond its borders.
When it comes to culture, Moroccan artistic traditions attracted creative Europeans in the 1920s and 1930s; in the 1960s and 1970s, designers such as Yves Saint Laurent and musicians including Mick Jagger, Robert Plant and Cat Stevens came to Marrakech in search of inspiration. On a small group adventure with Intrepid Travel, it’s easy to see why.
Like-minded travellers
Intrepid Travel offers itineraries of up to 18 days for small-group adventures
PROMOTED CONTENT
Here is winter warmth in all
its guises: great food, artistic splendour and tremendous hospitality
And beyond the dunes, there are also countless memorable delights on the menu of an Intrepid Travel trip to Morocco. Whether you fancy getting airborne with a kitesurfing course in the coastal enclave of Essaouira, or get off the beaten track with a multiday trek in the Atlas Mountains, Morocco is an adventure playground for adults.
In recent years, windswept Essaouira has become a paradise for wakeboarding, windsurfing, paddleboarding and kitesurfing (the combination of strong yet steady winds and a protected lagoon makes it suitable for beginners and experienced kitesurfers alike).
The Atlas Mountains offer both micro and macro adventures; choose between a day’s hike or a multiday trek taking in the ever-changing landscape and rewarding terrain of this region, just a few short hours from the hustle and bustle of Marrakech’s souks.
All of this is underscored by one of the most hospitable cultures on the planet; city-dwelling Moroccans as well as Amazigh communities pride themselves on offering a warm welcome to dusty travellers, as they have done for centuries.
For culture, comfort and adventure in equal measure, Morocco is a destination like no other.
See for yourself
To find out more about exploring Morocco or to book your own adventure, click HERE
For culture, comfort and adventure in equal measure, Morocco is a destination like no other
Absorb the wonders of the Sahara on a 4x4 tour of the dunes, a camel ride or
by simply gazing up at the stars
Warm days and dizzying diversity await winter adventurers with a thirst for the real Morocco
A culinary adventure
Moroccan cuisine is
an inspired fusion
of Mediterranean, Amazigh, Arab, Jewish, Moorish and African
Cultural pursuits
From Amazigh communities in the desert to city dwellers, Moroccans are renowned for their hospitality
ome countries seem almost unreasonably blessed with attractions for travellers, and Morocco is one of them. There are adrenaline-fuelling outdoorsy activities that take place against a diverse landscape, from kite-surfing the coast to trekking the Atlas Mountains and dune-biking in the Sahara. And there are cities so dazzlingly rich in culture and cuisine that bohemians, artists, designers, musicians, thinkers and dedicated bon vivants have been drawn here for decades, and have never left disappointed.
Visitors can choose to bed down in romantic riads, desert camps under the stars, bohemian surf shacks or hip city hotels.
The pandemic altered our travel tastes forever, and one big trend that Morocco is set to ride is that travellers now want to go deeper into a destination, stay for longer and emerge culturally enlightened, creatively inspired, gastronomically sated and heartened by the life-affirming hospitality and generosity of an unfamiliar nation.
In February, Morocco, aka The Kingdom of Light, reopened to travellers. According to the Moroccan National Tourist Office, the country has since recovered 70 per cent of its 2019 visitor numbers, as post-lockdown travellers seek out destinations that truly deliver.
This is where Intrepid Travel comes in. It offers sensitively crafted itineraries of 4 to 18 days for small-group adventures – a decided upgrade on the average holiday. The company uses local guides and, with B-Corp status in its Morocco office, is committed to recruiting and training more female guides and staff. An Intrepid Travel winter adventure in Morocco is the ultimate feelgood experience for those keen to immerse themselves in another culture.
Every Intrepid itinerary includes Morocco’s greatest hits, and a few also feature off-the radar surprises in the mix. For travellers who crave a little indulgence, Intrepid’s Premium trips offer a higher standard of accommodation and service, and are a real investment in the trip of a lifetime.
The spirit of community, adventure, kindness, openness, curiosity, pride and progress are embedded in Morocco’s national character. A bridge between Africa and Europe for millennia, the constant flow of ideas, people, art, music, traditions and beliefs has contributed to Morocco’s rich cultural heritage, as well as the nation’s influence beyond its borders.
When it comes to culture, Moroccan artistic traditions attracted creative Europeans in the 1920s and 1930s; in the 1960s and 1970s, designers such as Yves Saint Laurent, and musicians such as Mick Jagger, Robert Plant and Cat Stevens, came to Marrakech in search of inspiration. On a small group adventure with Intrepid Travel, it’s easy to see why.