Journey Beyond Travel...going beyond the destination

Tucked into the hills of the Middle Atlas Mountains, Azrou is a welcome break from the crowds and noise of the imperial cities, and, at nearly 3,940 feet (1,200 meters) in elevation, it’s also a great place to escape the heat.

Azrou, which translates literally to ‘rock’ in the local Amazigh language, is named for the large, black volcanic outcrop in the center of town. The name is fitting in more ways than one. The verdant Middle Atlas rise above Azrou, with hardscrabble cliff faces serving as the only break in the landscape. The city also serves as the foundation of regional trade and social life. Locals in mountain villages nearby make use of the bustling market as their weekly source of food, supplies and gossip. (more…)

Taliouine is a small village located near the city of Taroudant, in the southern Souss region of Morocco. The village is situated in the Anti Atlas Mountains, which tend to be less hospitable due to hotter temperatures, rockier terrain and the harsh desert, which lies at its base.

Despite the difficult living conditions, Morocco’s history here was written by Glaoui (or El Haj T’hami el Mezouari el Glaoui), who moved into the area and decided to become “Lord of the Atlas.” Glaoui and his brother ran the Aglawou tribe of southern Morocco. In the 1800s, they created a Kasbah in Taliouine and Telouet. Today, though the Atlas Mountains are primarily populated by the Berbers, in Taliouine, you will meet descendants of Glaoui’s servants. (more…)

Located in northern Morocco in the Middle Atlas Mountains, west of Ifrane National Park, is the city of Ifrane, an oasis with verdant forests. Lakes, fountains and greenery in the city offer a breath of fresh air from some of the other busier, dustier cities in Morocco.

Built by the French in the 1930s, Ifrane became a retreat of sorts. With wide avenues for driving, European-style villas and natural green spaces within easy access, you might feel like you’ve stepped into a summer resort in Switzerland with the sloped roof chalets and natural springs. During the winter months, Ifrane becomes a destination for skiers, and there are several resorts set among the hills. In the summer, these same hills are lush and green and become a hot spot for hiking, walking, mountaineering and rock climbing. (more…)

With a population around 50,000 people, Azrou, Morocco, in which “Azru” in the Berber dialect means “stone” or “rock,” is one of the more-populated towns in the Middle Atlas Mountains. Dwarfing nearby Ifrane in number, Azrou is an important Berber town and functions as a junction to the market centers of Fez, Meknes, Midelt, and Kenifra.

With surrounding pine and cedar forests, high meadows, and blooming wild flowers (in the spring!) Azrou feels nothing like its population suggests and is truly a place to get off the beaten path, relax, and unwind. Moreover, Azrou is has a massive weekly souk (or souq, currently every Tuesday from 10 a.m. until about 3 p.m.) where animals, produce, and even Berber carpets are brought in for locals and tourists alike to test their bargaining skills. (more…)

Ifrane is a small city of less than 10,000 people (50,000 in summer) located in the Middle Atlas Mountains of Morocco, just 58 kilometers south of Fez. The town was set up by the French during their colonization period as a quasi-ski resort, and they actually took the name from nearby Sidi AbddalSalam Zawiya, a small Berber village 15 kilometers away. Not many tourists spend a whole lot of time in Ifrane, but giving it a day or two is worthwhile once one discovers the outlying natural gems that surround the region. (more…)

Volubilis is not a town in Morocco, but rather a set of Roman ruins situated near Moulay Idriss and outside of Meknes. The spot was probably chosen for its rich soil that would reap abundant crops, especially olives.

Volubilis is one of the best preserved archaeological sites in Morocco and has been a Unesco World Heritage Site since 1997.  The most interesting artifacts of Volubilis are the mosaics which have survived time. (more…)

Morocco trekking tours are recommended to explore th prepossessing M’goun region in Morocco. The tour guides are often natives, familiar with the area as well as the local customs. Utilize the services of an educated tour guide through a Morocco tour operator to better explore this authentic Berber villages. Satiate your lust in Wanderlust by trekking through pastoral valleys, indulging in the sights and sounds offered only in this part of Morocco. The coupled Mgoun and Ait Bougmez Valley proffer villages, people and ways of life unique to only this region in all of Africa. (more…)

You are headed to the African nation of Morocco. Your Moroccan tour operator has told you about visiting Berber villages. You have heard all about the Berber craftsmen, their knowledge of the land, some of their indestructible history and maybe a bit more. Or perhaps you’ve never heard of them at all. Just who are these Berber people? A Moroccan pre-Arab culture has ruled unperturbed and unconquered for hundreds of years. Let’s take a look at this amazing people. (more…)

It’s been a long winter. You are looking forward to a vacation in a new and exotic place. But your partner says they want to go skiing. Besides, you promised skiing this year as the beaches have lost there aura with you. The answer to all your holiday woes is a Morocco holiday. (more…)