Visit the Atlas Mountains!
The Atlas Mountains are actually a series of mountain ranges which stretch across more than 2,000km of North Africa, through Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. The mountain range acts as a barrier between the mild Mediterranean climate and the harsh Sahara.
The Atlas Mountains are commonly divided into two main sections – the Tell Atlas, which is the southern section and receives enough rain to grow lush forests, and the southern Saharan Atlas.
The mountains have acted as a barrier, protecting the Berber people from outside influences and allowing them to preserve their own languages, culture and traditions, although most have embraced Islam.
Did you know?
The highest point in the Atlas Mountains is Toukbal in southwestern Morocco, which reaches up to 4,165m.
Visit Ouarzazate!
Film buffs and Game of Thrones fans may notice that Ourzazate looks familiar – the town is a popular filming location and has featured in Lawrence of Arabia, The Mummy, Gladiator and Salmon Fishing in the Yemen.
Just to the west of the city is the kasbah town of Aït Benhaddou, which was once on the caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakesh. The town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and well worth a visit for those interested in the history of this region.
And still today, the city is a popular base for excursions out into the Sahara Desert. There are dunes, palm groves, rose gardens oases, valleys and gorges all waiting to be explored!
Did you know?
There are two major movie studios here – Atlas Studios is the world’s largest film studio by acreage, showing just how important this town has become in the film industry!
Visit Djemaa El Fnaa!
Djemaa El Fna is a large market square in Marrakesh’s medina and is one of the best places in the city to soak up the atmosphere and experience the local culture.
The square is home to storytellers, fortune tellers, poets, singers and dancers. Although it’s a huge draw among tourists, it’s also still an important gathering place for locals who come to enjoy the entertainment and culture on offer.
And at night this is a great place to enjoy some traditional Moroccan food, with live entertainment from Berber and Gnawa musicians and dancers.
Did you know?
Djemaa El Fna and its importance as a place for cultural exchange and artistic heritage was the inspiration behind UNESCO’s Proclamation of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity – and it became the first place to gain Masterpiece status.
3 nights' full-board accommodation
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