Morocco: A Brief Introduction – 1 of 3

You can Read Part II of this article here: Morocco: An Introduction, Part II

Morocco is a country of varied sights, sounds, smells and tastes that will overwhelm your senses. You can look forward to a wide range of experiences while seeing the highlights of the country. Our aim is to help you enjoy the best Morocco has to offer and ease you into the culture and customs of the country by providing helpful tips and phrases.

On your trip, get ready to travel through ecosystems & sites such as mountains, valleys, gorges, waterfalls, rivers, lakes, desert, oases, plateaus, plains, beaches, forests, medieval cities, roman ruins, and more. From date palms to cedars, storks to Barbary apes, Morocco’s plant and wildlife is abundant. Other wildlife you may spot are camels, sheep, goats, hawks, woodpeckers, foxes, lizards and scorpions, just to name a few.

Just as varied as its landscape is its climate. Temperatures along the coast range from 12°C/54°F to 25°C/77°F in the winter and summer, respectively. However, you can expect much hotter temperatures inland, and much colder temperatures in the High Atlas and Middle Atlas mountain ranges. While it is a relatively dry country, expect rain or snow during the winter and early spring.

Marrakesh is Morocco’s hottest city with temperatures that have reached as high as 54˚C/130˚F in the summer. Morocco’s coldest city is Ifrane, nestled in the Middle Atlas Mountains. This city is reminiscent of a European alpine village with snow in the winter and temperatures plummeting to below freezing. One of the lowest temperatures recorded in Africa was in Ifrane in 1935 where it fell to an icy -24˚C/-11˚F.

You will see many different types of architecture, square, adobe huts in small, mountain villages, colonial-style buildings in the new cities, and lavish palaces in the Imperial Cities. The road between Ouarzazate and Erfoud is known as the "Route of 1000 Kasbahs". There may not be exactly 1000 kasbahs, but these fortified Berber structures are primarily made from the reddish-brown mud of the region. The most impressive kasbah in Morocco is the Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou. Other notable structures to look for are mosques and minarets, medersas (koranic schools), mausoleums, babs (medina entries), and riads (traditional Moroccan houses).

Some Unesco World Heritage Sites in Morocco:
- Fez Medina
- Marrakesh Medina
- Essaouira Medina
- Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah

In 1,000 Places To See Before You Die by Patricia Schultz:
- Fez
- Marrakesh & High Atlas Mountains
- Essaouira
- Sahara Desert

Must See:
- Marrakesh Medina: Koutoubia mosque, Jma el Fna, Medersa Ali Ben Youssef
- Fez Medina: Tanneries, Souks, Kairaoiune Mosque
- Merzouga: Sahara Desert

Should See:
Essaouira: medina and ramparts
High Atlas Mountain villages
Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah
Dades Gorge
Meknes & Volubilis
Rabat: Chellah Necropolis, Kasbah des Oudayas
Casablanca: Hassan II Mosque

If you have time:
Chefchaouen
Moulay Idriss Zerhoun
Ziz Valley Oasis
Ifrane