From April 13-20, 2013, Fez, Morocco, will host the Fez Sufi Festival, which celebrates the heritage of Sufism in the city and all of Morocco.

What is Sufism?

Sufism is a form of Islamic spirituality. It is sometimes referred to as Islamic mysticism. Adherents belong to different “orders” and are led by Sufi masters. Believers feel they are practicing the true and pure form of Islam as was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. There are three guiding principles that Sufi’s follow: tolerance, peace and pacifism.

Morocco has long been home to Sufism and many leading scholars and Sufi masters have studied and trained in the country. Some of the most well-known Sufis include Rumi, al-Ghazali and Bawa Muhaiyaddeen.

The 7th Annual Fez Festival of Sufi Culture

The theme of this year’s event is spiritual nourishment and a variety of events will take place over the week-long festival. Music is a major component of Sufi worship and there are concerts scheduled each day. Attendees will also find a series of panels and discussion on topics such as: Sufism and philosophical thought, Sufism and poetry, art and spirituality, and spiritual enterprise.

Each day of the program also has a specific theme; they are noted below.

Monday April 15: Lissan-Edine Ibn al-Khatib. Al-Khatib was a 14th-century artist, intellectual and politician. He spent most of his life as a vizier to Muhammad V and some of his poems decorate the walls of Alhambra in Granada. He was put to death for heresy and his body was buried at Bab Mahruq, one of the gates of Fez.

Tuesday April 16: Sufism and artistic creation. The Moroccan order Samaa de la Tariqa Charqawiyya performs a concert on Tuesday along with discussions focusing on art and spirituality.

Wednesday April 17: Sufism and contemporary culture. Sufism and literature is one of the conversations held on Wednesday, along with a performance by Samaa de la Tariqa Rifaia, a Sufi order from Palestine.

Thursday April 18: Sufism and society. Round-table discussions on Thursday cover such topics as Sufism and social thought as well as spiritual enterprise.

Friday April 19: Zakia Zouanat. Zouanat was a Moroccan doctor and researcher at the Institute of African Studies at Mohammed V University. She worked extensively on the heritage of Sufis in Morocco and its influence around the world. Ms. Zouanat passed away in 2012. Events on this day include a discussion on Morocco’s spiritual heritage and the spiritual heritage of Fez.

Additional Activities

If you are in Fez and are interested in uncovering more of its Sufi roots, consider visiting these historical sites.

Zawiya of Sidi Ahmed al-Tijani – This is an 18th-century mosque and tomb of an important Moroccan Sufi sheikh.

Zawiya of Moulay Idriss – Moulay Idriss was the founder of Fez, and this shrine dating from the 9th century, is a place of pilgrimage for many. The shrine is also a mosque and there are m’zara (niches) at two exterior positions allowing visitors to pay their respect without entering the mosque itself. It’s worth noting that at both of these sites, only Muslims are permitted to enter.

Many of the events and activities are free or low cost and offer an interesting and unique experience to any traveler visiting Morocco during this time. You can find a complete listing of events, locations, and more by visiting the website for the festival.

Written by Amanda Mouttaki.

Photo by and.e.

The Fez Sufi Festival: April 13-20, 2013 is a post from Journey Beyond Travel, offering custom Morocco tours.

Does your ideal vacation prioritize art galleries and architecture over adventure? Would you rather sip cocktails than scale sand dunes? Does your travel itinerary look better with art deco-style buildings, museums and discos? Then Morocco is calling you.

Casablanca

Travelers have long ignored Casablanca in favor of more exotic locales, but what the city lacks in Islamic monuments and labyrinthine souks, it makes up for in its dizzying nightlife, a burgeoning art scene and a hodgepodge of architectural styles. Casablanca’s inhabitants, known as Casablancais, are known for being more Western in their attitudes. You can find men and women together in restaurants and bars dressed up in the latest global trends.

In the 1930s, art deco style was all the rage in Paris and New York, famously represented by the Paris Métro and New York’s Chrysler Building. The style caught on in Casablanca, and you can see some of the many art deco buildings in the Place Mohammed V and Place 16 Novembre. Galleries abound, featuring both Moroccan and international artists, including Le Studio des Arts Vivants, Galerie Atelier 21 and Loft Gallery, along with Amber Gallery, located in the high-end suburb of Mohammedia. The non-profit group Casamémoire runs a variety of projects including an exhibition space housed in an abandoned slaughterhouse on the edge of town.

While nightclubs and lounges such as Arts Club Lounge, Le Carré and L’Empire are perennially popular for dancing and people watching, Casablanca also stands out for its private beach clubs, such as Tahiti Beach and Atlantic Beach.

Rabat

As the capital city, Rabat is home to government officials, foreign diplomats and university students, which give the city’s orderly and tree-lined streets a staunchly conservative feel. Gone are Casablanca’s traffic jams or Fez´s people jams. Instead, Rabat boasts a state-of-the-art tram system and an overall relaxed vibe.

Galerie CMOOA is an obvious stop for art lovers, as are Le Cube and the Espace Expressions CDG. The Fondation ONA oversees the Villa d’Art, a complex dedicated to contemporary art. It is composed of several buildings that each focus on a particular artistic discipline, such as sculpture, theatre and painting.

Rabat also has two botanical gardens: the Jardins d’Essais, located in the middle of the city and a welcome respite to the summer’s heat (currently under renovation), and the stunning Jardins exotiques de Bouknade, about 12 km outside of the city.

Marrakesh

Marrakesh can easily claim the title of Morocco’s most cosmopolitan city. Movie stars routinely pop up into the city’s numerous luxury hotels, including the Four Seasons, W, La Mamounia and the Riad El Fenn, owned by the wife of Richard Branson. Fans of the Sex and the City franchise can stay at the Taj Palace Marrakesh, featured in SATC 2.

The city’s nightlife can give most Western cities a run for its money (with prices to match). Asian-inspired Bo-zin is popular right now, but rooftop bars like Skybab at the Bab Hotel and SkyLounge at the Delano Hotel, offer stunning views of the city and the nearby Atlas Mountains. You can end your night at Pachá Marrakech or you can party all day at Nikki Beach.

Along with beautiful people, Marrakesh is also full of beautiful art. Matisse Gallery is widely regarded as the city’s most established gallery, but those interested in local artists should check out La Galerie Bleu and Galerie 127.

Written by Silvia McCallister-Castillo.

Photo by oeilevenement.

Related Tours with Journey Beyond Travel

Imperial Cities Tour – Hit the highlights in Morocco’s greatest cities.

Morocco Travel for the Cosmopolitan Visitor is a post from Journey Beyond Travel, offering custom Morocco tours.

With its lively markets and landscapes straight out of motion pictures, Morocco is a magical place in children’s eyes. The compact size of the country and friendly people make traveling with kids enjoyable and rewarding. Though children might tire of typical adult pursuits in Morocco—watching Mom and Dad haggle over carpet prices can’t be too exciting—the fascinating sights and sounds of everyday life makes wanderings both educational and entertaining. Like other countries in the region, Morocco is a very child-friendly culture, and you will likely find hotel and restaurant staff doting on yours.

Consider limiting the scope of travel to one region of the country to avoid long car trips; those endless landscapes that look romantic to adults could seem just, well, endless, to kids in the back seat. The bustle of imperial cities like Marrakech and Fez is anything but boring, and all children will likely find the dunes and camels of the Sahara fascinating. And the easy lifestyle of beach towns on the Atlantic helps families combine downtime in the sun with exposure to a new culture. Destinations particularly popular with families are Essaouira, Agadir, Marrakech and the stretches of the Great Oasis Valleys or High Atlas Mountains that let kids run around in the great outdoors. Older children and teenagers can participate in easy treks and even camping under the stars in the desert.

Some riads seem tailor-made for romantic honeymooners, but plenty are perfect locations for families traveling together. The contained nature of these hotels makes it easy to get separate, but close, rooms, and perks like courtyard pools and family-style dining give riad stays the relaxing, safe feel of staying with a welcoming family.

Moroccan food, with its stew-like tagines, is likely appealing to most children. Before your departure, try out a few recipes or visit a Moroccan restaurant so kids can get familiar with the new types of food. Explain what you might see in a market and point out that, just like in stores in your hometown, they shouldn’t touch merchandise. To get teenagers excited for the trip, consider screening some of the many Hollywood movies filmed in Morocco, such as Lawrence of Arabia.

Though Morocco is relatively safe, its climate and crowded cities can pose some health risks for kids. With very small children, consider child leashes or other safety precautions when navigating busy streets. Remember—these dizzying labyrinths can be disorienting to adults as well! Keep an eagle eye on older children, as the temptation to do a little independent exploring down mysterious corridors might be irresistible.

As kids are more susceptible to illness, make sure to check with a pediatrician about the necessity of hepatitis and malaria vaccines for the region of your travel. Remember that children tend to be affected more quickly by intense sun and very high or low temperatures. Take regular breaks to remind everyone to reapply sunscreen, consider wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses for daytime jaunts and make sure to always have potable water in tow. Lastly, remember that kids, despite their obvious energy, will tire quickly. Schedule low-key indoor time, especially during hot parts of the day, to avoid a kiddie meltdown in the middle of a marketplace. With the right amount of rest, kids will be able to appreciate the magic of a colorful, friendly culture different from their own.

Written by Brinda Gupta.

Photo by Rui Ornelas.

Related Tours with Journey Beyond Travel

Morocco Eco Tour in Sahara Desert – A journey into the lesser-visited regions of Morocco’s Sahara Desert.
Eclectic Morocco – A 10-day cultural adventure that hits the highlights of the country including the Sahara Desert.

How to Travel with Kids in Morocco is a post from Journey Beyond Travel, offering custom Morocco tours.

Mount Zalagh looms high over Fez, looking down on the crowded city and its narrow, winding alleys. A world away from the hustle and bustle of one of the most densely populated areas in Morocco, Mount Zalagh, covered with olive groves and scented by wild lavender, offers a view of the entire city and the surrounding landscapes—the Sebou Valley, Rif Mountains and Sais Plain. In the winter, expect snow, but in the summer, the elevation provides the ideal temperature for an escape from the heat and the perfect spot for a picnic. Despite its proximity to the city, it is never crowded, much to the delight of mountain bikers and hikers alike.

Reaching Zalagh’s summit is easy enough for even inexperienced hikers and takes no more than an hour or two, even at a leisurely pace. To reach the mountain, take a grand taxi (taxi kabir in Arabic) from the Bab Guissa, a 12th-century city gate located in the north of the medina. You can usually count on finding a taxi queue in front of the Sofitel Palais Jamaï nearby. Ask the driver to take you to the base of the Mount Zalagh or, in Arabic, Jbel Zalagh (JE-bal ZA-lagh), along Ouezzane Road, which is to the left after leaving the Palais Jamaï and leads to the southern base of the mountain. You reach a small pine forest, from which you can find the trailhead. As always when taking a grand taxi, agree on a price beforehand. The trip should normally cost no more than 7 or 8 Dh, so make sure to bargain.

The mountain’s climate and elevation coupled with rocky soil is best suited to traditional crops like almonds, figs and olives and for pasturing goats and sheep. The area around Mount Zalagh boasts many large modern farms together with smaller family farms that produce some of the world’s best olive oil.

Once you’ve reached the top, if you’re ready for more hiking, you can follow a trail for about an hour that eventually leads to a plateau high above the Sais Plain. The plain surrounds Fez and is one of the most fertile areas in Morocco. Here, French colonialists invested a great deal of money and equipment to properly irrigate the plain and make it suitable for the cultivation of grapes. Although viticulture is not exactly huge business in Muslim Morocco, the area still boasts Morocco’s best wines, and also supplies the country with grains and fruits. From this vantage point, you can look out over the entire plain, the city of Fez and the Atlas Mountain chain, whose peaks are often covered in snow.

Recently, there have been rumors of new development on Mount Zalagh swirling around Fez. This brings mixed reactions, since easier access to the mountain means more day-trippers. Either way, it’s sure to remain a respite from the city’s busy rhythm.

Written by Silvia McCallister-Castillo.

Photo by blueSkySunHigh.

Mount Zalagh in Morocco: Tranquility among the Olive Groves is a post from Journey Beyond Travel, offering custom Morocco tours.

Vegetarians visiting Morocco can look forward to flavorful dishes that delight the taste buds. Although each region is known for its unique flavors, meals throughout the country commonly feature spices such as cumin, cinnamon, saffron and paprika. Morocco imports very little food, so its Mediterranean spread of fruits and vegetables tends to be locally grown and fresh.

Maintaining a vegetarian diet at breakfast requires little effort. A typical breakfast at a Moroccan riad or hostel consists of pita bread, a spread such as jam or honey, and fresh fruit. Some restaurants also offer French pastries, omelets and Moroccan pancakes.

Lunch is traditionally the biggest meal of the day (except during Ramadan), typically taking place from noon to 3:00 p.m. or so, followed by a nap. Many restaurants start this mid-day meal by serving a salad, which includes an array of vegetables such as tomatoes, onions, green peppers, beets, garlic and eggplant, as well as spices and herbs. You can look forward to Moroccan flatbread as part of the first course, too.

The main course of this large meal follows, featuring traditional fare such as tagine or couscous. Tagine is a rich stew that Moroccans slow-cook in an earthen pot. Numerous varieties of tagine exist, but simply put, this stew typically consists of meats, veggies and sauce. The tagine’s seasonal veggies and spices make this hearty dish satisfyingly flavorful and filling without any meat. Many also associate Morocco with its couscous, which Moroccans traditionally prepare by steaming it above a pot of boiling vegetables. When served, restaurants tend to heap the steamed vegetables and seasoned meat atop the couscous. However, like tagine, this dish offers enough flavor and substance to satisfy without the meat.

Since traditional dishes like tagine and couscous typically come with meat, be prepared to not only order these meals without meat, but to also explain that you do not eat anything made with meat. Vegetarianism is not common in Morocco, so this extra clarification can help you avoid unexpectedly meat-based sauces and broths. Although many travelers find Arabic challenging, French is also widely spoken throughout the country and you may be able to master a simple explanation in French with the help of a phrasebook.

During Ramadan and other special occasions, harira becomes an especially popular meal. This hearty soup has a tomato base and is thick with lentils, chickpeas and herbs. When ordering, be sure you are aware of what you are getting—while harira is easy to find without meat, some restaurants serve beef or lamb variations.

Street food and restaurant appetizers also offer an array of meatless delights. Think olives and hummus, dried fruits, roasted nuts and b’sarra (white bean soup with olive oil and garlic).

Morocco offers plenty of fulfilling options for vegetarian travelers. As with any destination, the key is to expend a little bit of extra effort to ensure you know what you are ordering. Similarly, carrying a phrasebook can help you interpret descriptions provided on menus and communicate what you do—and do not—want with your meals.

Written by Shelley A. Gable, instructional designer and freelance writer.

Photo by jazzijava.

Morocco for Vegetarians is a post from Journey Beyond Travel, offering custom Morocco tours.

Morocco’s souks are filled with colorful treasures, among them, a wide variety of pottery. Vases and pots, decorated with colorful etchings, sit for sale alongside tagines, the conical-shaped cooking pots typical of Moroccan cuisine. Three cities—Fez, Meknes and, especially, Safi, are the main pottery centers of the country, producing about 80 percent of Morocco’s pottery. In these cities, sun-baked clay twirls on wheels, forming into practical and attractive shapes. Designs etched into the wet clay set as the pottery dries in the sun. Artisans fire pieces in kilns and decorate them with colorful glazes, making them water-resistant.

Most Moroccan pottery design is heavily influenced by Islamic or Berber art. Intricate geometric and arabesque patterns tend to cover the entire surface of pieces, completely transforming the humble clay building materials. Groups of artisans carry on centuries-old traditions in their designs, passed on through families. Many pieces of pottery from Fez are various shades of blue, due to the use of cobalt oxide in glazes. Pottery from Safi is known for its metal inlays and is often made of red clay and glazed in green, turquoise and black. Potters throughout the country tend to use multicolor designs, whether Moorish-influenced curlicues or floral motifs.

Pottery finds its way into markets all over the country, but enthusiasts will find extra interest in the town of Safi, considered the capital of Moroccan pottery. The National Ceramic Museum, located in an old Portuguese fort, shows off the typical pottery styles throughout the country, and, from the walls of the fort, you can see the potters’ hill, with artists at work at their kilns. Master potter Moulay Ahmed Serghini also has an atelier in Safi, where visitors, including children, can take ceramics workshops. Serghini’s work, which has been displayed at the British Museum, is also for sale throughout the city.

Like in any other culture, ceramic arts grew out of the practical need for housewares. In addition to their beauty, earthen dinnerware, serving pieces and cookware are useful purchases. Remember, however, that many glazes are safe for decorative purposes but can cause toxicity issues if the pottery is used for cooking—harmful materials like lead and cadmium are very common. Unless buying from a vendor specializing in household wares, buy pottery with an eye for décor, not for use with food. (Vases, of course, can be used functionally in a safe manner.)

After a few meals in Morocco, you will likely encounter the tagine, a Berber dish named for the conical pot used to cook it. A tagine’s cover keeps condensation within the dish and is later removed, with the base used for serving. Tagines, or tajines, are usually slow-simmering stews with meats, vegetables and sauces. As with other cookware, avoid cooking meals in any tagines with glazed interiors. Even unglazed tagines can contain lead, so if you really want to master home cooking with these pieces, buy from a housewares company instead of at a market; if a gorgeous one at a market catches your eye, use it as a beautiful tabletop piece.

Written by Brinda Gupta.

Photo by clee130.

How to Appreciate the Pottery of Morocco is a post from Journey Beyond Travel, offering custom Morocco tours.

The rolling sand dunes of the vast Sahara Desert attract a range of travelers, from those seeking the serene experience of camping between the protective dunes to visitors who prefer a short, scenic afternoon jaunt. If you’re planning to visit the desert in mid-March, you may be in for an additional treat: the International Nomad Festival.

Taking place March 15-17 this year, the annual festival brings together arts, entertainment, education and a bit of sport to create a robust cultural event. The event offers multiple stages, featuring several local and international musicians. This year, international performances come from Romania, Norway, France, Niger and Algeria. Other performing artists also get opportunities to take the stage—watch for poetry readings, storytellers and dramatic performances. Handicraft exhibitions round out the art scene, providing festival goers an outlet to admire and purchase handmade goods such as baskets, pottery, paintings and other crafts.

Those drawn to educational experiences can attend roundtable discussions, workshops and lectures on regionally relevant topics such as cultural heritage, environmental protection, health and the economy.

Each year, the event highlights a theme. This year, the festival centers on the theme of water conservation, an especially relevant topic for nomads and other desert communities. To help commemorate the theme, The International Foundation for Water plans to introduce WaterPODs—a pilot project in which solar stills are used to purify water, increasing the supply of drinkable water to a community. Other presentations at the festival address water-themed topics including managing water in the oasis, water economics and the relationship between water and nomads.

Those interested in cheering on nomads in competition can look forward to nomadic hockey and camel races.

Most of the festival attractions are at two sites: in the village of M’hamid El Ghizlane and at a nomadic camp in the desert. The festival site is approximately 500 kilometers southeast of Marrakesh, offering a scenic adventure for visitors traveling from the imperial city. Some of the highlights along the way include the High Atlas Mountains, Tizi-n-Tichka pass, the Todra Gorge, the UNESCO world heritage site of Ait Ben Haddou and several Berber communities.

The nomads attending the festival tend to wear traditional dress and are eager to discuss their heritage with curious visitors. While interacting with a nomadic community is not a common experience for most tourists, the International Nomad Festival offers a unique opportunity to get a glimpse into their culture and lifestyle.

Written by Shelley A. Gable, instructional designer and freelance writer.

Photo by Joao Maximo.

International Nomad Festival in M’hamid El Ghizlane is a post from Journey Beyond Travel, offering custom Morocco tours.

Whenever a family member returns to Morocco from abroad, it’s a good bet that half of their luggage is made up of gifts. While Moroccans have access to almost all of the same conveniences as those in the United States, Canada or Europe, the quality is often inferior. Moroccans are well known for their hospitality and generosity and would never act rude or upset if they were not presented with a gift. However, traveling with small items to be given as gifts can get you out of a sticky situation and show your host(s) a little gratitude for their efforts.

What items can be taken to Morocco?

While some gifts can be picked up in Morocco, there are some items that always go over well and are in “high demand” such as:

• Chocolate
• Perfume/cologne
• Pashminas or other good-quality scarves or wraps
• Chewing gum and candy
• Unique items from your state, especially food items they may not have
• Coloring books and crayons for younger children
• Soccer balls
• DVDs of kids movies

If you’re staying with a family or are invited for dinner in Morocco, it is customary to bring a gift. As mentioned, you will not be treated differently if you don’t, but it is a welcome gesture. If you decide to take items from outside Morocco, make sure that food items do not contain alcohol (as is the case with some chocolates) or gelatin, which is often made with pork.

If there are children in the family, gifts for the children, as opposed to for the adults, are always happily accepted. Soccer balls, which can be deflated before flying and pumped up once you’ve arrived, are a welcome gift for any boy. DVDs, dubbed in French if possible, are also a good idea for children. If you are visiting a family as a couple (husband and wife/ boyfriend and girlfriend), it is acceptable to bring perfume and cologne. However, single women visiting a family should not give cologne as a gift. Perfume for your hostess, however, is okay.

What items can be bought in Morocco to gift?

Maybe you didn’t have plans to visit a family before you left your home country but now you’re in Morocco and have been invited to someone’s home for a meal. This scenario happens more often than you may think. If you need to pick up a gift on the go, here are a few ideas:

• Flowers
• Cookies
• Scarves
• Soft drinks
• Gift baskets

What you can find in Morocco will vary a lot on where you are. In a large city, you’ll have no problem finding the items listed but in a more rural area it can be difficult. Cookies are always a welcome gift and often this is what Moroccans give each other when visiting for a meal. While an increasing number of families in Morocco drink soft drinks, they don’t do so frequently. This is a great idea and the children of the family will love you for it! If you go the gift basket route, consider filling it with several small items your hostess would enjoy. Incense, small food/snack items, a new pair of babbouche (Moroccan slippers), a tin of sugar cubes or some tea could all be included.

Having small gifts in the ready is a great way to break the ice and start a new friendship on the right foot. If you’ve forgotten all of these suggestions and find yourself a guest at someone’s home, there’s one key question to ask: What would you like to receive? Moroccans are the same as everyone else and any gesture put forth will be met with thanks.

Written by Amanda Mouttaki.

Photo by Mike Legend.

What to Give as Gifts in Morocco is a post from Journey Beyond Travel, offering custom Morocco tours.

Marrakesh is home to enough attractions and curiosities to keep people occupied for several days, but if you only have 24 hours, here is one way to fill your day:

9:00 a.m.

Start your day with a freshly squeezed glass of orange juice while you watch the city begin its day. You can purchase a large glass for around 3 Dh in the Djemaa al-Fna. Next, get your bearings by sauntering over to the Koutoubia Mosque. This building has the tallest minaret in the city and is one of Marrakesh’s most iconic sites. While non-Muslims are not permitted entry to the mosque, everyone is welcome to roam around the gardens.

10:00 a.m.

Take a spin through the souks in the heart of the medina and start shopping for souvenirs. Shopkeepers traditionally gave a discount to the first customer of the day, although usually it’s worth checking out a few stalls before you buy anything.

While it’s perfectly possible to spend the entire day wandering through the souk, make your way to the richly decorated Ben Youssef Medersa, a Quranic school founded in the 14th century. Next door, you’ll find the Museum of Marrakech, housed in a 19th-century palace. The museum boasts classical Andalusian architecture with intricate carvings and tiles, and fountains and mosaics in the central courtyard.

12:30 p.m.

Time for lunch! You can pop in to a small hole-in-the-wall for brochettes—skewered meats served with warm bread—but if you’re in need of a little break, head up to one of the city´s famed roof terraces for a lunch with a view.

2:30 p.m.

After lunch, head over to the Jardin Marjorelle, one of Marrakesh’s most popular attractions. Originally constructed by a French expat during the colonial era, the cobalt blue villa was bought and painstakingly restored by fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Bergé. You can stroll among the plants, which include many different species of cacti, or you can visit the small Islamic art museum before ordering a mint tea and relaxing in the café.

5:00 p.m.

Now it’s time to relax. Marrakesh is famous for its hammam, or bathhouses. They range from cheap and occasionally dingy places without indoor plumbing that cater to locals to spas fit for Moroccan royalty. You can order various treatments from body scrubs with black Beldi soap to mud masks and massages. If you aren’t comfortable with public nudity, some establishments offer private rooms.

7:00 p.m.

After a thorough scrub down, it’s time for dinner. Budget-minded travelers can head back to the Djemaa el-Fna, where vendors set up rows of stalls that dish out hearty local specialties. Otherwise, dine among cosmopolitan locals in the Ville Nouvelle at Al Fassia, Grand Café de la Poste or, if you fancy a break from Moroccan food, at the ever-popular Italian restaurant Catanzaro.

9:00 p.m.

If you’re turning in early, end your day with a horse-drawn carriage (calèche in French) ride around the city. Agree on a price and route beforehand. If your night is nowhere near over, you can start your tour of Marrakesh’s club scene at touristy but atmospheric Le Comptoire or the stylish rooftop SkyLounge. If you’re looking to dance until the wee hours of the night, check out Pachá Marrakech or Theatro.

Written by Silvia McCallister-Castillo.

Photo by marcp_dmoz.

24 Hours in Marrakesh is a post from Journey Beyond Travel, offering custom Morocco tours.

Many visitors to Morocco enter and exit via Spain, perhaps not even aware that travel to some of Morocco’s other neighbors is possible. Though travel to Mauritania and the disputed Moroccan territory Western Sahara takes more planning, and considerable caution, adventurous travelers can add them to a Morocco itinerary. Meanwhile, anyone can easily extend visits to include Spain, Gibraltar or the Canary Islands.

The land border between Morocco and Algeria is closed. The U.S. State Department warns against travel in Algeria due to ongoing violence.

Spain

Only nine miles separate Morocco and Spain, making travel between the countries inexpensive and uncomplicated. Travelers need passports but no special visas to cross either border. Flights from Spain reach several Moroccan cities, including Casablanca, Marrakech and Fez. Many ferries, some with accommodation for cars, cross the Strait of Gibraltar daily between Spain and Morocco. Most visitors travel between Algeciras, Spain, to Tangier (a journey of about two hours), and ferries are also available from Almeria or Malaga in Spain and Melilla and Ceuta on the African continent.

Ceuta is a special case, as it is located on the Moroccan mainland but is a Spanish territory. Border guards check passports at the city’s border with the rest of the mainland. Travelers taking a car from Morocco to Spain or vice versa might find Ceuta the most convenient ferry port.

Canary Islands

These Spanish islands, closer to Morocco than they are to mainland Spain, are known for their beautiful beaches and party atmosphere. Flights from Agadir, Casablanca and Marrakech to the Canaries depart daily, and passport requirements are the same as they are for mainland Spain.

Gibraltar

British territory Gibraltar sits at the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea between Spain and Morocco. With its looming Rock of Gibraltar, network of caves and curious dolphins and Barbara macaques, Gibraltar is a popular and compact spot for unique natural sights and the ease of moving around in an English-speaking culture. Ferries from Tangier travel to Gibraltar twice a week and take about 80 minutes. Traveling over Gibraltar’s borders requires immigration and customs checks. Americans, Canadians and Britons need a passport but not a visa to enter; EU nationals need only their national identity cards.

Western Sahara

CAUTION: Western Sahara is a disputed territory, and travelers risk threats from terrorism, public unrest and landmines. Register your travel plans with your country’s embassy in Morocco before entering.

Morocco controls most of Western Sahara, though an ongoing struggle for independence makes for an unstable environment. A ceasefire has been in place since 1991, however, and neither the United States nor the United Kingdom has travel restrictions in place. Experienced travelers with common sense can cross the border into this territory to explore sparsely-populated stretches of the Sahara. Organized tours may be the safest plan, though touring by private vehicle is allowed in many areas. Please note that many areas, however, require police escort. Politely follow instructions from military personnel.

Americans, Canadians and Europeans may enter Western Sahara with a passport.

Mauritania

CAUTION: Though there are currently no travel restrictions for Western visitors, Mauritania can be an unstable place with a high risk of terrorist activity, civil unrest and landmines. Register with your country’s embassy in Nouakchott upon arrival and do not venture far from populated areas.

Though Mauritania is not for the novice traveler, those willing to take extra safety precautions can experience a vast desert land with ancient cities and warm hospitality. Avoid the country’s borders with Algeria and Mali, instead spending time in cities close to Morocco: Atar, Chinguetti, Nouadhibou and the capital of Nouakchott.

Citizens from North America and Europe need visas to enter Mauritania. Though it may be possible to get a 24-hour visa turnaround in Rabat, to be safe, apply for a visa in your home country a few months in advance The U.S. State Department requires a yellow fever vaccination for visitors.

From Morocco, flights leave Casablanca for Mauritania. Overland, cars can cross the border between Western Sahara and Mauritania, though getting to that point for independent travelers would require negotiation with local guides who understand the frequently changing conditions at the border.

Written by Brinda Gupta.

Photo by Nukamari.

Visiting Morocco’s Neighboring Countries is a post from Journey Beyond Travel, offering custom Morocco tours.