TREK THE MOUNTAINS OF THE HIGH ATLAS.
For spectacular vistas and fresh air, the High Atlas is a perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of urban Morocco. North Africa’s tallest peak, Djebel Toubkal, rises to nearly 14,000 feet and is only a two-day climb, best done in late summer. Amateur hikers, with guides, follow less strenuous but equally rewarding routes through rural Berber villages and rocky paths. Head to the Ourika Valley for a variety of outdoor adventure —it’s a justifiably popular region to hang glide, ski, or ride mules to hidden waterfalls and tranquil hilltop gardens. The popularity of such outdoor pursuits has really escalated in Morocco in recent years, with world-class operators such as Epic Running offering memorable training camps and excursions.
SUPPORT LOCAL WOMEN BY BUYING DIRECT.
Support female independence with a visit to a fair-trade training center such as the Flying Camel Women’s Workshop in the Khouribga–Oued Zem region. Here you can tour the production workshop, see women learning vital new skills, and contribute to their artisan cooperative by buying handmade gifts from their small boutique.
DRINK IN THE DIVERSITY.
Sit in a café and watch. Make of note of the staggering number of competing modes of transport: trams, taxis, cars (both battered old jalopies and luxury ATVs), bicycles, scooters, buses, donkeys, carriages, trains, even quad bikes. If you are lucky enough to be sipping coffee at dusk in Djemâa el Fna in Marrakesh, witness the hubbub as the square floods with street vendors, fortune-tellers, henna artists, snake charmers, tourists, locals taking an evening stroll, and food sellers fanning their barbecue coals. Listen to the jingle-jangle of the musicians and watch the transvestite dancers as they swirl to the beat. Take the time to negotiate for a fake Rolex from one of the passing hawkers or have your shoes shined as you sit sipping your snail soup.
VISIT THE DYE PITS OF FEZ.
Snatch up a generous sprig of mint and courage and make your way to the centuries-old dye pits of the ancient city of Fez. Amid the stench and color you are able to see hides curing in the sun and marvel at the rainbow of hues occupying the vats beneath the terraced rows. This is the place to find beautiful leather wares, from slippers and belts to poufs.
APPRECIATE KORANIC SCHOLARSHIP IN A HISTORIC MEDERSA.
A quiet spot in front of the central marble ablutions pool is the perfect place to view several masterpieces of Islamic architecture. Look for intricate zellij tile work along arched corridors, ornate wood carvings in domed ceilings, sculpted stone friezes bearing symbolic Arabic calligraphy, and beautifully detailed stained-glass windows in prayer halls and reflection rooms in these culturally rich buildings.
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