Morocco - Lonely Planetmedia.lonelyplanet.com/shop/pdfs/africa-13-morocco-preview.pdf ·...
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Why Go? For many travellers Morocco might be just a short hop by budget airline, or by ferry from Spain, but culturally it’s a much further distance to travel. On arrival, the regular cer- tainties of Europe are swept away by the full technicolour arrival of Africa and Islam. It’s a complete sensory overload. Tangier – that faded libertine on the coast – has tradition- ally been a first port of call, but the winds quickly blow you along the coast to cosmopolitan, movie-star-famous Casa- blanca and the whitewashed fishing-port gem Essaouira. Inland the great imperial cities of Marrakesh and Fez at- tract visitors in droves; the winding streets of their ancient medinas hold enough surprises to fill a dozen repeat trips. If you really want to escape from everything, Morocco still has a couple of trump cards. The High Atlas Mountains seem custom-made for hiking, with endless trails between Berber villages, and North Africa’s highest peak to conquer. Morocco can feel like another world, but you don’t need a magic carpet to get there. Best Places to Eat ¨ Le Salama (p129) ¨ Outdoor Fish Grill Stands (p117) ¨ Ty Potes (p111) ¨ Café Clock (p123) ¨ Rick’s Café (p115) Best Places to Stay ¨ Dar Finn (p121) ¨ Le Pietri Urban Hotel (p111) ¨ Dar el Janoub (p135) ¨ Dar Baraka (p109) ¨ La Tangerina (p107) When to Go Mid-Mar–May Morocco is at its best in spring, when the country is lush and green. Sep–Nov Autumn is also good, when the heat of summer has eased. Nov–Jul In winter, head for the south – but be prepared for bitterly cold nights. F D N O S A J J M A M J Marrakesh °C/°F Temp 0/32 10/50 20/68 30/86 40/104 0 2/50 4/100 6/150 Rainfall inches/mm 8/200 Tangier ....................... 106 Chefchaouen ............. 108 Rabat .......................... 110 Casablanca ................. 114 Essaouira .................... 115 Agadir ......................... 117 Laâyoune ................... 120 Fez............................... 121 Meknès .......................124 Marrakesh .................. 127 High Atlas Mountains . 132 Drâa Valley ..................133 Merzouga & the Dunes ...................134 Morocco %212 / POP 33.3 MILLION ©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd
Transcript of Morocco - Lonely Planetmedia.lonelyplanet.com/shop/pdfs/africa-13-morocco-preview.pdf ·...
Why Go?For many travellers Morocco might be just a short hop by budget airline, or by ferry from Spain, but culturally it’s a much further distance to travel. On arrival, the regular cer-tainties of Europe are swept away by the full technicolour arrival of Africa and Islam. It’s a complete sensory overload.
Tangier – that faded libertine on the coast – has tradition-ally been a first port of call, but the winds quickly blow you along the coast to cosmopolitan, movie-star-famous Casa-blanca and the whitewashed fishing-port gem Essaouira. Inland the great imperial cities of Marrakesh and Fez at-tract visitors in droves; the winding streets of their ancient medinas hold enough surprises to fill a dozen repeat trips.
If you really want to escape from everything, Morocco still has a couple of trump cards. The High Atlas Mountains seem custom-made for hiking, with endless trails between Berber villages, and North Africa’s highest peak to conquer.
Morocco can feel like another world, but you don’t need a magic carpet to get there.
Best Places to Eat¨¨ Le Salama (p129)
¨¨ Outdoor Fish Grill Stands (p117)
¨¨ Ty Potes (p111)
¨¨ Café Clock (p123)
¨¨ Rick’s Café (p115)
Best Places to Stay¨¨ Dar Finn (p121)
¨¨ Le Pietri Urban Hotel (p111)
¨¨ Dar el Janoub (p135)
¨¨ Dar Baraka (p109)
¨¨ La Tangerina (p107)
When to Go
Mid-Mar–May Morocco is at its best in spring, when the country is lush and green.
Sep–Nov Autumn is also good, when the heat of summer has eased.
Nov–Jul In winter, head for the south – but be prepared for bitterly cold nights.
F DNOSAJJMAMJ
Marrakesh°C/°F Temp
0/32
10/50
20/68
30/86
40/104
0
2/50
4/100
6/150
Rainfall inches/mm 8/200
Tangier ....................... 106Chefchaouen ............. 108Rabat ..........................110Casablanca ................. 114Essaouira .................... 115Agadir ......................... 117Laâyoune ................... 120Fez ............................... 121Meknès .......................124Marrakesh ..................127High Atlas Mountains . 132Drâa Valley ..................133Merzouga & the Dunes ...................134
Morocco%212 / POP 33.3 MILLION
©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd
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O C E A N
A T L A N T I C
Tan Tan
TanTan
Laâyoune
Smara
Plage
Bou Craa
Tarfaya
Bir Moghrein
NouâdhibouGueguarat
Dakhla
(Spain)Canary Islands
Tropic of Cancer
E R TD E S
SAH
T E R N
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M A U R I T A N I A
To CádizTo Málaga
S E AA T L A N T I C
O C E A N
M E D I T E R R A N E A N
Nador
(Spain)Melilla
Gibraltar (UK)
Ceuta (Spain)
Ketama
El-Jebha
Oued Laou
Tangier
Asilah
LaracheTetouan
Chefchaouen
Ouezzane
Algeciras
Kenitra
Al-Hoceima
Taourirt
Guercif
Taza
Sefrou
Moulay Idriss
Sidi Kacem
Azrou Ifrane
Meknès
SaléRABAT
Khouribga
Settat
Casablanca
VolubilisRomanRuins SI NTN A
RMOFI
U
AT SL ADI EDLM
Enlargement
Fez
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60 mi100 km
1 Dive into the clamour and endless spectacle of Morocco’s most dynamic city, Marrakesh (p127).
2 Lose yourself in the exotic charms of a medieval city replete with sights, sounds and smells in Fez (p121).
3 Laze by the sea in Morocco’s coolest and most evocative resort at Essaouira (p115).
Morocco Highlights
