(‘25)
Morocco, which is located in the northwest corner of the African continent, is a short six-hourflight from EWR. As one of the most geographically diverse regions, this country showcases mountains,deserts, beaches, large metropolitan centers, and ancient cities. First and foremost, Morocco is defined byit’s amazing, tasteful cuisine. Traditional mint tea is offered with every meal, and breakfast is typicallykhobz (Moroccan bread), croissants, and a fried egg with olives. Salads, tagine (meat cooked in a specificceramic pot), shish kabob, and pastilla (meat pie topped with cinnamon and sugar) are typical lunchdishes. Baklava, Maamoul (Arabian Date Filled Cookies), and Chebakia (Sesame and Honey Cookies) arecommon desserts. Overall, Morocco has very affordable high-quality and delicious meals, that are sure toplease every traveler or resident alike.The first place I recommend visiting is Chefchaouen’s old town, also known as the blue city.Tourists can explore the blue houses, which are constantly repainted to keep mosquitos away and thehouse cool during the hot summer months. Chefchaouen also has a charming medina (market) withhandcrafted wool clothes and woven blankets that are solely unique to this Moroccan city. Chefchaouenalso has beautiful hiking trails with waterfall views. Overall, Chefchaouen is a pretty great spot to visitbecause it is picturesque and convenient to visit because it’s on the route to other cities.The next city I recommend visiting is Fez which was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1981. This city is home to the oldest degree-granting university in the world which was established in859 AD. The medina is very unique because there are strictly no cars allowed inside. Fez also has theChouara Tanneries in Medina. This location is unique because the leather is tanned by hand using thetraditional method where workers stand in large vats and process the animal skin. Fez is a very interestingdestination which should be visited on your Moroccan vacation.The famous Sahara Desert is the next site I recommend visiting. It’s typical to pass through theunique Cedar Forest on the way to the desert. This forest is home to more than 500 Barbary Macaquemonkeys. The wild monkeys on the side of the road are fairly common, and travelers frequently feedthem. A popular tourist excursion is to go camel riding for around 2 hours at sunset and spend the night ina luxury camp (glamping) with a night show, stargazing, and an overall incredible experience.The last Moroccan city I recommend exploring is Marrakech, commonly known as the city ofluxury. Marrakech’s medina offers several great restaurants, elegant spas, and gorgeous riads (traditionalhouses). The Jardin Majorelle is also worth a visit because it has gorgeous flowers from all over theworld, as well as a blue and yellow villa that was formerly home to French fashion designer Yves SaintLaurent. Marrakech also includes the Jemma El Fna, an open-air square in the heart of the city. With foodstands, entertainers, concerts, and shopping, this is the most popular area in town, especially at night.Overall, I highly recommend visiting Morocco because it is a beautiful country that should be oneveryone’s bucket list. Travelers can dive deep into the culture through eating local foods, shopping atsouks in different towns, and embracing everything Morocco has to offer.