Morocco

A certain mystique surrounds North Africa, stirring the senses and filling your mind with souks, silks and spices. Backed by the seemingly endless sands of the Sahara Desert, Morocco and Tunisia are countries of true diversity, with bustling Medinas and golden sand beaches that sit alongside ancient walled cities and ruins - a destination just waiting to be discovered.
PLACES TO VISIT
For a truly Moroccan experience, make sure you visit Djemma el Fna. This huge square in the old town of Marrakech is where locals meet and sell their wares. Once dusk falls this exotic square bursts into life with snake charmers, acrobats, dancers, musicians and fortunetellers looking to entertain and entice you. If sun, surf and sand are more your thing, Morocco has the best beaches in North Africa. Head to Essaouria to experience a traditional Moroccan resort and some of the best waves around and if you have a chance try a desert safari, it will be the experience of a lifetime.
ENTERTAINMENT
Agadir has two beachfront bars that are well worth checking out: the Corniche Restaurant Bar and Jour et Nuit, while in quieter Ouarzazate the main evening event is the nightly Fantasia horseback show.
HISTORY & CULTURE
As a main gateway between the African and European continents, Morocco has been invaded many times throughout the centuries, from the Phoenicians and Romans to relatively recent incursions by the Arabs and Europeans. Moroccan independence from Spain and France came in 1956, when Sultan Mohammed V changed his title to that of king. Remnants of this colonial past remain in the cuisine, architecture and language, creating a cosmopolitan mix of styles pleasing to the eye.
WALKS & SCENERY
The High Atlas Mountains, particularly the Imlil and El Kelaa des M'Gouna regions, are the place to go for more experienced hikers and climbers. For more leisurely walking, Parc Menara and the Majorelle Gardens are well worth a visit in Marrakech. From the beach at Agadir you can walk to the Souss Estuary - a fabulous place to spot birds such as the flamingo or Barbary partridge. At 2100m above sea level Tizi N'Test Pass is the point where numerous valleys of the Marrakech side of the high Atlas Tip over into the Saharan side of the Atlas Mountains and is an occasionally hair-raising trail, but it rewards with simply stunning views.
FOOD & DRINK
North African food is tasty and exotic, but beware it can be quite spicy. The national dish of both Morocco and Tunisia is cous-cous. Each cook prepares it in a slightly different way, so it is unlikely to taste the same in two different restaurants. On its own it is pretty bland, but as a complement to spicy lamb, chicken or fish and vegetables it is delicious. Seafood is another speciality, with lobster, squid, oysters, shrimps and prawns all gracing the menus of resort restaurants.