The High Atlas Mountains in Morocco are also known as the Grand High Atlas in numerous guides. The range is actually split up into three different ridges that climax just south of Marrakech – home of the Jbel Toubkal National Park. All the ranges extend to the Atlantic Ocean, especially via an underground fault lines that has wrought devastation to coastal towns throughout history. When hiking the High Atlas Mountains, one can easily distinguish the lower, fertile valleys versus the dry, pre-Sahara terrain that makes Morocco so diverse.Read More on JBT...

Casablanca is a city with a diverse personality. While Rabat may be the official capital of Morocco, Casablanca is the economic center. Many internationally based companies have their headquarters in this city. Casablanca has the largest port of the Maghreb. It is also the home port for the Royal Moroccan Navy. Read More on JBT...

This Moroccan city, Tangier, has quite a history. Phoenicians founded Tanjah in the fifth Century BCE, however, the name is possibly Berber in origin. Berbers were already in The Rif Mountains before the Carthaginians arrived. Some ancient coins found show the name of Tinga, Berbers had a goddess by this name, along with Tenga and Titga. In Berber mythology, this city was built by Sufax, the son of Tingis, the wife of Antaios, a Berber Hero.

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Rifs are mountains found in northern Morocco. They stretch from Cape Spartel and Tangier in the west to Moulouya River in the east. The southern boundary is the Ouargha River while the Mediterranean Sea is the northern one. Not part of the Atlas Mountains, these belong to the Cordillera Betica. Mountains in Southern Spain are part of this group. Rif Mountains making the coastline of the Mediterranean in Morocco is rugged with few places suitable for harbors. Read More on JBT...

Imagine walking down a narrow passageway that is crowded. People are hurrying past; you hear chatter and laughter. Sometimes, you come upon those having a deep, serious conversation. Before your eyes, you cross bright colors of fabrics or baskets of fruits and the wonderful aromas of spices. Buyers are bartering, sellers maintaining their prices. All of this and more infiltrate the senses in Morocco’s souks.Read More on JBT...

Ouarzazate is a small city when compared to other cities in Morocco. Approximately 40,000 people inhabitants call it home. The fairly new city is considered the door to the Sahara Desert. Many begin their journey to the Sahara through the Draa River valley. The Draa River’s source is a lake caused surrounded by the Barrage d'El Mansour-Eddahbi, or one of the south's largest dams.Read More on JBT...

The cuisine of Morocco is rated among the best in the world, and rightly so. Few places exist where food is as carefully and artistically prepared as in the Kingdom. Cooking in Morocco falls into two specific categories: the first is intended for important guests and is the work of skilled chefs, where the host oversees the banquet with his sons, servants, and apprentices. Men squat on mattresses or pillows around a low, beautifully inlaid table. A silver ewer of perfumed water is taken around and poured over three fingers of the right hand of each guest. The feast begins and ends with Bsmillah – in God's blessing.Read More on JBT...

This modern, fast paced city was built after an earthquake destroyed the old city in the 1960s. With a backdrop of the High Atlas Mountains, while sitting perched overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, Agadir is a popular tourist destination with a plethora of popular seaside resorts.

Warm winter temperatures attract tourists, while the nearby national parks, such as, Souss-Massa River Park and the walled city of Taroudant; keep their itineraries full of interesting places to visit. Besides tourism, sardine fishing, the exporting of cobalt, manganese and zinc, the citrus fruit industry of Agadir is an important part of numerous families’ livelihoods.Read More on JBT...

Saharan sands stretch across northern Africa from the Atlantic to the Red Sea. It’s halted in its path to the Mediterranean Sea in Morocco by the High Atlas Mountains. Erg Chebbi Dunes of the Sahara Desert continue past the Algerian border. The dunes are of the highest dunes in the Western Sahara, some standing 350 meters high. The Berber village of Merzouga, which sits at the desert’s edge, is the largest in the area. This region has become a popular tourist destination, especially after the visit of Hillary Clinton in the 1990s.Read More on JBT...

Morocco’s High Atlas Mountains are the highest of the ranges that begins near the Atlantic Ocean and stretch all the way to Algeria. They serve as a natural barrier keeping the Sahara Desert from infiltrating completely over Morocco. These mountains also serve as a weather barrier. The high peaks of the High Atlas range keep clouds on the Moroccan side, resulting in the ample rainfall necessary to give the mountains lush green valleys and enough snow in the winter for winter sports. Snow in the High Atlas lasts well into spring. Many untapped mineral resources of gold, silver, lead, zinc, iron, manganese, antimony, phosphates and petroleum are waiting to be discovered. The High Atlas Mountains are home to several million people, mostly Berbers.Read More on JBT...

The Ziz Valley in the south of Morocco was part of a caravan route that took travelers from the desert near Merzouga to the Mediterranean Sea. The Valley itself is a welcome relief from the desert brown. Palm trees and dates grow in abundance. Entry point into the Ziz is Source Bleue de Meski. Men tending fields and donkeys carrying goods from one village to another are common sights. Up the river are the ruins of an old fortress or ksar. A steep climb gives a reward to the ruins and ancient structures of the area.Read More on JBT...

Erfoud, sometimes referred to as “the door of the Sahara”, was founded as a military outpost to bring the Bedouins in the region under French control in Morocco. Erfoud is now used as a base for tourists wishing to travel onward towards Merzouga, the Ziz Valley and other exotic southern locales.Read More on JBT...

Setting on a caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakech is the ksar (fortified city) of Ait Benhaddou. Considered to be an example of a traditional Moroccan village, it is made of many kasbahs. Built in the 11th century, it remains situated at the foot of the High Atlas Mountains along the Ouarzazate River. From its hilltop position, it gave the ancient village a commanding view of the surrounding area. Appearing out from the harsh desert landscape, it was a major stop for camel caravans carrying salt and other commodities across the Sahara. Read More on JBT...

Koranic schools in Morocco fill two needs. First, as the name implies, they teach children about the Koran, Islam and the Arabic language. Secondly, these schools provide pre-school education and prepare students for entry into public schools, mostly in urban areas. In the rural areas, Koranic schools may be the only school in the villages or the only school in the village that children attend. A Madrassa, sometimes referred to as a medersas, (theological colleges) were established through the ages to provide Islamic education. Usually, they were found attached to mosques and were prevalent during medieval times. Koranic schools today teach the basics of the Arabic alphabet helping students become literate in the Arabic language.Read More on JBT...

Welcome to Morocco, a land of mystery and contrasts. She has modern cities and medinas that date back more than a thousand years. You can relax in the lap of luxury or rough it in the mountains. The choices you have, here, are plentiful. Read More on JBT...

A resting place for a caravan? A staging area for troops? A sultan’s paradise? A religious center or modern city? What is Marrakech? Actually, the city has been all the above. From humble Berber beginnings as an oasis, this city has become vibrant international destination while keeping its ancient Islamic roots. Read More on JBT...

Can you imagine a caravan coming across Morocco hundreds of years ago? Rising up in front of weary travelers is a tower. Prayer time and hot quiet desert air allows the singsong chant of the muezzin drift out to meet them. Such sights and sounds have greeted travelers as they neared Marrakech for more than 700 years. Sitting in the center of the city is the Koutoubia Mosque and minaret. Read More on JBT...

Morocco’s flag is simple yet striking. Red, with a green five-pointed star in the center, it is known to hold Solomon’s Seal. Morocco has used flags as a symbol of the state since the Almoravid Dynasty in the mid 1000s. At that time, the flag was white. Prior to the Almoravid, banners were carried in battles, but were not used as a national symbol. Red became the color of choice for the Alaouite Dynasty in the early 17th Century. In 1912, a star was added to distinguish Morocco’s flag from other countries. A six-pointed star was used on Morocco’s flag until 1915 when the French General Lyautey changed it to a five-pointed one prior to sending Moroccan troops to fight in WWI. No explanation was ever really given as to what the change signified. The five-point pentagram has been used ever since.
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A unique, ancient, and appealing city, the Fez Medina holds true to its definition that it once was a non-European city in Africa or the Middle East. In Morocco, medina simply means “city”. And, Fez has two: the Fes-el-Djedid (new), built in the 14th century and Fez-el-Bali (old), which was built towards the end of the late eighth century. Built by the first Muslim Dynasty, the Idrissids, the renowned medina sits on the banks of the Fez River. Locals claim that the Kairouiyine Mosque, constructed during the reign of Yahya ibn Muhammed, is one of the oldest in Africa. In 859, the University of Karueein, as it is now called, was officially founded, giving the Fez Medina one of the oldest universities in the world. Read More on JBT...

While many online tour operator agencies claim that they offer you the best deals and service for travel services, you’ll have to discern a variety of factors before choosing which agency to work with – especially when you want to travel to an exotic destination, such as Morocco.

These aforementioned variables should also be weighed against what sort of adventure you and your travel group or family want to have. As you consider different options, the following points will help you to create a shortlist that will help you make an informed decision on which travel company with which to work.Read More on JBT...

One aspect of traveling in Morocco, especially if you are traveling in the cities, is the abundant amount of beggars in the streets. While the gap between the rich and poor is arguably becoming smaller, Morocco still has nearly 500,000 beggars that the country is attempting to re-integrate into their familial setting and helping them to find work. The program is also aimed at foiling hired beggars, many of which are children who work in order to earn five to ten dollars per week. Read More on JBT...

In a recent press release from Paris, Morocco has stated that it is helping its sister countries with a new “simplified and low-cost” treatment for malaria for those who suffer from the disease in sub-Saharan African countries. The new treatment, from the pharmaceutical group of Sanofi-Aventis has been dubbed ASAQ and will drastically help countries where malaria kills nearly one million people per year.Read More on JBT...

Morocco’s King Mohammed VI announced Thursday after the birth of his new daughter, named Lala Khadija, that nearly 9,000 prisoners would be released and nearly 25,000 prisoners would have their sentenced reduced to mark the event. The news came from the Ministry of Justice in Morocco and was revealed to the Maghreb Arab Presse (MAP). Even though many humanitarian groups saw the step as necessary due to prison conditions, the King wanted to make a statement by granting the largest royal pardon in North African history.
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With many budget airlines now bringing tens of thousands of tourists to Marrakesh this year, many shop and hotel owners couldn’t be happier. With the increase comes money and work for Moroccan locals. What about the other side of tourism? A city with deep heritage in North Africa takes a deep look at itself and its future.Read More on JBT...

Two Indiana Hoosiers will be traveling to Morocco this April to compete in the Marathon des Sables in the southern region of Morocco in North Africa. The team duo, Tim Fears and Tom Denver, are working towards completing one extreme or ultra marathon on each of the world’s seven continents. Morocco, and therefore Africa, will be the second on their list. Read More on JBT...

In their national broadcast, the BBC Network in the UK has released a report discussing the new role now open to women in Morocco’s Mourchidat program. This program is designed for women to become priests in order to lead women in religious discussions. At this time, 50 women have been called to the pulpit, but more are said to be joining them over the next several months.Read More on JBT...

Morocco is leading the way as an open model for other Arab states to follow. Under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, the country is devoted to a system of democratization, considering the multifarious groups that make up the kingdom, and working towards peace and prosperity for its citizens. Read More on JBT...

Directors from Hollywood and all over the world have always loved shooting films in Morocco. The country has the landscape and geographical variety, safety, and infrastructure needed to meet the needs of filmmakers worlwide. For the last week in Marrakesh, a 16th Century palace has been made to look like the American prison camp in Guantanamo Bay.Read More on JBT...

Once the kingdom of the south of Morocco in its own right, Sijilmassa, known as the “Mesopotamia of Morocco” located near Risssani in the south, is a kingdom of lore in the oral history of the area’s Berber populations. The village was once a major stopping point on the Trans-Saharan trade route and the region even formed its own monetary system. Coins from the area have been located as far as Jordan and other countries in West Africa.Read More on JBT...

An earthquake rooted near Lisbon, Portugal sent tremors through Spain and Morocco on Tuesday, February 13, 2007 at around 10 a.m. GMT. While there haven’t been any reported structural damages or injuries to people, it did leave those who felt it literally shaken up due to the seismic activity of the area that has caused more devastating earthquakes in the past.Read More on JBT...

England and France have their Chunnel, so why shouldn’t Morocco and Spain have their Strunnel (Straight + Tunnel)? In recent news, Morocco’s Minister of Transport and M-6, Mohammed VI, King of Morocco, are pushing for an underwater tunnel under the Mediterranean that will not only bridge the gap between Morocco and Spain; Africa and Europe, but that will boost economies and what many agree is a dream that will soon become a reality.Read More on JBT...

More than twenty-two notable peaks are strung out over the Rif Mountains, Middle Atlas Mountains, and the High Atlas Mountains in Morocco. Mount Toubkal, or Djebel Toubkal (Jebel Toubkal) as it is known, is by far the most talked-about peak. It is both accessible to tourists and is keeping up with the demand in tourists who visit it. The other twenty-one peaks in Morocco do deserve mentioning, especially for those attempting to prod their hiking poles off the beaten path. Read More on JBT...

Morocco is about to become the 100th country to abolish the death penalty. In what both Morocco and Amnesty International hope will be a message to the entire world, not to mention other Arab states, the proceedings are already under way that will officially make Morocco a country free from capital punishment. Many agree that the move will not only bring more media attention to a country whose tourism is growing exponentially, but also cause other countries to look at Morocco with new eyes. Read More on JBT...

Morocco has long been an exotic destination and is always at the top of many travelers’ top ten places to venture. The country is preparing itself to compete with the top holiday locations in the world. The “ten million by 2010” campaign might be realized, as the country saw a 20% rise in tourism alone in 2006. The plan: Turn the High Atlas Mountain range into a vacationer’s paradise.Read More on JBT...

In an international campaign with the slogan “Let’s Plant for the Planet,” Morocco will take part in a worldwide mission to plant over one billion new trees around the world. Morocco’s count: 27 million saplings. Read More on JBT...

No terrorist attacks have occurred in Morocco since the bombing of a restaurant in Casablanca in May of 2003. The incident sparked the government to increase their police and military force, and to keep a close eye on fundamental religious groups in the country. Now, the Moroccan government has stepped into the heart of Morocco’s religious centers – their mosques.Read More on JBT...

Sadly, a man in Morocco found that his eleven year old son had killed himself after mimicking the death of Saddam Hussein, which he most likely heard about or saw via media sources online.Read More on JBT...

Students in collaboration in Washington D.C. and Morocco have come together to discuss women’s rights in Muslim countries. Their focus: Morocco. The new, often viewed as hip, King of Morocco Mohammed VI has been pushing reforms through parliament that give women many more rights under traditional Islamic Law. Read More on JBT...

Morocco, which borders Spain at several different points, is seeing an increase in the amount of West Africans who are using their borders in an attempt to flee to Europe. Most enter Morocco without visas and attempt to find work in order to save enough money to finance their way to Europe, which they see as their land of salvation.Read More on JBT...

Imagine running a marathon or semi-marathon in one of the world’s most exotic and picturesque locations. Now, imagine palm trees swaying amongst a backdrop of snow-covered mountains. Sound appealing? It is! And, that’s why thousands of worldwide athletes venture to Marrakesh each year to take part in the Marrakesh International Marathon. Read More on JBT...

In a national competition focused on developing a small business-marketing plan that could be viable in Morocco, students in Bellevue University have beaten top-ranking schools from California to Massachusetts. And, their grand prize you might ask?Read More on JBT...

With Hollywood media seemingly influencing every part of the world, Morocco is gaining a solid reputation for excellence in plastic surgery. Because of its low prices, doctors who have most often studied in Europe, and its neighboring location to Europe, Morocco is literally booming with new busts.Read More on JBT...

Although it may not be well known to many living in the North African nation, Amnesty International keeps a close eye on the events of the Kingdom of Morocco. With its main branch office in Rabat, the Moroccan Justice Ministry is working with the nonprofit organization to train penitentiary workers and staff about human rights. Read More on JBT...

In an attempt to raise money for the Banjul Hospital in Gambia, drivers, teams, and even couples from around the world are taking part in the Plymouth-to-Banjul Challenge. The cars, or any form of transport with wheels, must cost the team members less than US $500. While the race is important, it is not the heart of the matter. In fact, some racers started the trek before the official start date. The teams will begin in Plymouth, England, venture through Europe and drive through Morocco, the Western Sahara, Mauritania, Senegal, and finally into Gambia. Read More on JBT...

Moroccan Tourism Minister Adil Douiri predicted in a press conference in Agadir that tourism in Morocco is expected to increase 20% as tourists from both Europe and the Americas flock to the Kingdom. The estimated total influx is expected to bring the equivalent of US $6 billion dollars to the country – Morocco’s main source of foreign investment.Read More on JBT...

This winter if you are thinking about an exotic location to go surfing, but simply cannot afford Bali, Australia, Hawaii, or the coasts off South America, Morocco might be exactly what the surf doctor ordered. Along Morocco’s thousands of kilometers of coastline, you will be sure to find a spot, whether you’re a novice or on par with Kelly Slater. Read More on JBT...

In recent years, Morocco has become a hot spot in the international film world. The most recent films Babel, The Nativity Story, and Home of the Brave are just some of the latest movies shot in Morocco. Not to mention other blockbusters such as Gladiator, The Mummy, Sahara,The Sheltering Sky, Black Hawk Down, Seven Years in Tibet, Alexander, Lawrence of Arabia, Othello, Cleopatra, The Message, and The Hills Have Eyes II were all filmed in Morocco. Why is it so alluring for filmmakers around the world?Read More on JBT...

A painting completed in 1951 by Winston Churchill has sold today at Sotheby's in London at Auction for an amazing US $1.2 million. The painting, which wasn't actually of Marrakesh, like many news sources and agencies have claimed, is actually titled View of Tenherir, a beautiful area of southern Morocco far removed from the throngs of city life.Read More on JBT...

Jean-Michel Jarre, the world-famous electronic music pioneer, is organizing a concert entitled "Water for Life" in the dunes of Merzouga in the Sahara Desert on Saturday, December 16, 2006.Read More on JBT...

With the solidarity and popularity of the Berber culture within the last decade, a Berber TV channel is Morocco’s next media project.Read More on JBT...