Exploring the Regions of Morocoo

Marrakech is popular for a long weekend. But have you ever thought about discovering the rest of our beautiful country? Here’s a rundown of the key regions of Morocco, what you can see in each – and all the reasons why you should extend that minibreak into a longer holiday. 

HIGH ATLAS – for mountains, nature & hiking 

While the Atlas Mountains stretch all the way from Morocco to Algeria, their highest point is just a two-hour drive from Marrakech. Mount Toubkal is a hikers paradise of wild flowers, stunning scenery and treks that range from a relaxed kind of walk to a full on nine-hour hike. Add in rural villages, the hospitality of the mountain communities and air that feels piped straight from an oxygen tank and it’s the perfect place to immerse yourself in nature. 

CENTRAL MOROCCO – for huge scenery & desert

If you want huge skies, big scenery and everything from endless vistas and giant gorges to the giant Saharan dunes then this is the region for you. Drive through the spectacular Todra and Dades gorges, past palm-filled oases and ruined kasbahs with a stop at Atlas Studios – the world’s largest film studios just outside Ouazarzate. Then journey into the Sahara on camels before a night under the stars in the dunes at Erg Chebbi. 

MIDDLE ATLAS – for history & culture

If history and culture are your thing then the Imperial cities of Fez and Meknes are a must. Fez is home to Morocco’s most ancient – and dense – medina and it feels very much as if time has been suspended there. For many Moroccans, Fez is the beating heart of their culture: packed with artisans, twisting streets and traditional rhythms. Meanwhile, Meknes is home to museums, mausoleums and sites to visit. This region to the west of Morocco also offers a very different kind of landscape of rolling green fields and technicolour wild flower life.  

NORTH WEST MOROCCO – for countryside & our most up-and-coming city

Chefchaouen in the Rif Mountains is a photographer’s dream: picture perfect blue-washed houses tumbling down a hillside. Drive from there up to Tangier, once a slightly down at heel coastal city but now the next big thing in Morocco thanks to its buzzing creative scene. Or head along the Mediterranean coast to check out the beaches. Or down to the Atlantic beaches of Asilah.

ATLANTIC COAST – for wild coastal scenery & hidden lagoons

Both Casablanca and Rabat are coastal towns and both have fine museums. But if you’re interested in the beach proper then you’ll need to go to Essaouira (it’s just a 2.5 hour drive from Marrakech) or smaller towns like Safi and El Jadida. Oualidia is also a beautiful lagoon town so its quieter waters are great for kids and there’s a clutch of stunning hotels here. The views on the coastal road in this area are also a highlight. 

SOUTHERN MOROCCO – for laid-back beach towns & surfing

Agadir is the best-known name in southern Morocco. But for us this area is really about the smaller towns and villages like Taghazout, Sidi Ifni and Mirleft. Taghazout is the ultimate surfing holiday spot and packed with great places to stay and eat. Sidi Ifni and Mirleft are less developed but perfect if you want to discover really authentic Moroccan beach life. If you want nature, kite surfing – or see a giant sand dune surrounded by Atlantic lagoon – then Dakhla is the place to go.