Morocco is a country of dazzling diversity, from its ancient cities and craggy mountain ranges to rolling deserts and deserted beaches.
One day you could be scaling Toubkal, North Africa’s highest peak, the next you could be meeting designers in Marrakesh, riding the Atlantic rollers in Essaouira, strolling through the twisting blue alleyways of Chefchaouen, or savoring street food in the medieval medina of Fez. There’s certainly no shortage of things to do – here are some of the best.
Lose yourself in the medinas of Marrakesh, Fez, and Chefchaouen
The fabled Red City of Marrakesh is a sensory overload of sights, sounds, and smells. Its ancient medina is a maze of narrow streets with the Djemaa El Fna – arguably Africa’s most famous square – at its heart, and its nightly circus of storytellers, snake charmers, and musicians.
In Fez, Morocco’s oldest imperial city, time appears to have stopped. Dating back to the 8th century, Fez El Bali – the world’s largest living medieval medina – is a jumble of souqs, workshops, and mosques, with a tangle of more than 9,000 narrow alleyways to explore.
Tucked into the green folds of the Rif Mountains, charming Chefchaouen is famed for its blue-hued medina. Soak up its relaxed pace of life exploring its cobbled streets and sipping a mint tea in an open square, then hike the trails of Talassemtane National Park with its luminous waterfalls and forests of fir trees.
Planning tip: The best time to explore Morocco’s medinas is spring and autumn. Summers are hot – temperatures can reach over 40°C (104°F) in July and August – and winters can be cold.
Take a foodie tour of Fez medina
Moroccan cuisine is a genuine melting pot – alongside Amazigh (Berber) influences, Arabs, Moors, Ottoman Turks, and French all left their culinary mark. One of the best ways to discover it is on a street-food tour with Plan-it Morocco, where fearless foodies can sample snail soup or boiled sheep’s head, or more tempting sweet treats, such as chebakia (deep-fried dough coated in sesame seeds) and wild honey.
Head to the Clock Kitchen at the legendary Café Clock to learn how to rustle up three traditional dishes after souq shopping for super-fresh ingredients. Or get busy at The Ruined Garden where you’ll bake five kinds of…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Stories – Lonely Planet…