Morocco is situated in North Africa, on the Atlantic Ocean and extending into the Mediterranean Sea. With a diverse landscape and rich culture, it is the perfect country to explore on foot. Morocco treks are becoming increasingly popular, and people are beginning to see the value in discovering its beauty on Morocco hiking holidays.

Known for its wildlife biodiversity, you can enjoy spotting over 450 species of bird whilst on a Moroccan hiking holiday. You can explore Mediterranean and coniferous forests, Montane grasslands and shrublands, and the stretching desert of the Northern Sahara on your Morocco trek.

You can venture into the exciting cities too, mingling with the locals and engaging in age-old traditions. The capital city, Rabat, is buzzing with energy, and the largest city, Casablanca, is known worldwide for its rich culture. On a Moroccan hiking holiday, stopping off in the cities to spend some time getting to know the culture will add great depth to your holiday.

Moroccan Art

Morocco is known for its dynamic art, and taking the time to have a look at it will be well worth your while on a Morocco hiking holiday. You can spend hours in museums gazing at the spectacular historical artwork, or admire the local artwork in galleries and souks (local markets). Or simply wander the streets and take in the brightly coloured creations of the locals, from carpets to clothing and calligraphy.

If you time your Morocco trek holiday well, you can combine it with the annual Marrakech international art festival. You can spend your mornings exploring the beautiful terrain, and go into Marrakech to enjoy this celebration of international culture.

Moroccan Cultural Etiquette

It might be worthwhile to learn a bit about the cultural etiquette of the society you are visiting, so that you are welcomed and respected by the friendly Moroccan community when on your Morocco trek. When not exploring the wilderness, spend an afternoon shopping at one of the many souks across the country. You can haggle with the locals and try and find a bargain, or simply enjoy the busy atmosphere of the market.

The communities are very friendly and welcoming, and you may well start to make friends with the locals while on your Morocco hiking holiday. It’s important to remember to observe the local cultural etiquette so as not to offend your new found friends. Taking pictures while sightseeing that include the local people is fine, but you need to get their permission first. People in rural communities in particular may find it offensive to be included in a photo without being asked first, even if it was the scenery you were trying to capture.

If you’re lucky, during the course of your Moroccan hiking holiday you will be invited for dinner at the house of a local. There are certain customs it would be worthwhile remembering in a situation like this. For a start, Moroccans generally remove their shoes when indoors, so observe the behaviour of your host and follow suit.

Another important custom to observe is to bring a gift. If you’re visiting a city-dweller, common gifts are pastries or sugar, but if you’re visiting someone who lives in the countryside, in particular poorer communities, bringing a live chicken will be greatly appreciated. A dinner invitation is a great opportunity to experience the local food, and a traditional home-cooked meal would be most welcome at the end of a day outdoors on a Morocco trek.

Tony Maniscalco is the Sales and Marketing for Ramblers Countrywide Holidays. Ramblers Worldwide have been operating since 1946 and now offer over 250 holidays in more than 70 different countries.  They are dedicated to providing the very finest Morocco treks at the best value prices.

On a Morocco hiking holiday you’ll be surprised to see so few people in the Atlas region. This is because this trekking hotspot is still relatively unknown, with few tour operators offering excursions to this enigmatic area. However, the Atlas still attracts its fair share of visitors, not all of which are trekkers. Bird watchers flock to this region hoping to catch a rare glimpse of incredible birds of prey such as the Barbary falcon, Bonelli’s eagle and bearded vulture whilst the rare Moussier’s Redstart is their jackpot find.    

Other leisure pursuits such as horse-riding and mountain-biking are also popular in this area and easy to organise. However it is trekking that is the main pull to this region attracting thousands of visitors a year, many of whom come to climb Jebel Toubkal, the highest peak in North Africa.

On your Morocco hiking holiday you may wish to visit the Ourika Valley, a lush green valley which contains seven separate waterfalls, all of which offer scenic views of the Jebel Toubkal peak.

Another highlight of this region and definitely worth exploring on a Morocco trek is the shanty town of Tnine-de-l’Ourika. This Berber township comes to life every Monday with its souk, where inhabitants of neighbouring villages come to sell their wares and share the local gossip. The area becomes a hub of activity during this time with donkey-drawn carts and pedlars shouting their wares. 

On your Morocco trek one thing that you can’t fail to notice is the friendliness of the Berber people. Their knowledge of the Atlas Mountains is second to none and it is quite common to be invited to share sugary mint tea with a Berber family. Berber villages are known for their dominant Kasbahs of which the best are located in the town of Ourzazate. In fact Richard Branson was so enamoured with the traditional Berber Kashbahs of the region that he brought one for his mother. The result is Kashbah Tamadot, a 24 bedroomed property set in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains. The property even has its own spa and hamman which are perfect for relaxing in after your Moroccan hiking holiday.

Richard Branson isn’t the only celebrity to fall in love with the Atlas region; Jimi Hendrix discovered the Atlas Mountains during the halcyon days of the 1960s and christened the region Paradise. The name has stuck and on your Morocco hiking holiday you will journey through the famous Paradise Valley, which contains limestone gorges, palm trees, bubbling ravines and tree-clad hills. During the 1960s it was common for the hippies to sleep out here on the river banks during the warmer winter months. Although you will discover on your Moroccan hiking holiday that the banks are a lot more peaceful nowadays, it is still possible to spend a day here visiting the limestone caves, swimming in the natural pools and relaxing on the sun heated rocks. This area of Paradise is the perfect place in which to end your Morocco trek.

Tony Maniscalco is the Sales and Marketing for Ramblers Countrywide Holidays. Ramblers Worldwide have been operating since 1946 and now offer over 250 holidays in more than 70 different countries.  They are dedicated to providing the very finest Moroccan hiking holidays at the best value prices.