Eid Al Adha Morocco

EID Al Adha - Muslim holidays

Eid Al Adha is one of the biggest holidays in the Muslim world and if you are planning your trip to Morocco during its time you should note that some places might be closed due to the holidays.

It is special time and every Moroccan family tries to be together and celebrate this holiday together. You see few days before the holidays buses loaded with people heading from all the cities down South to be with their parents and other relatives to celebrate this day of sacrifice.

Eid Al Adha is when each family is to sacrifice sheep. It is to honor the willingness of the prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his first born son to God as his submission to him. God has intervened and provide Ibrahim with lamb to sacrifice instead.
The holiday last about four days when on the first day all man from the village go to pray to nearby mosque and after their return they kill the sheep and women then prepare the meat. It is holiday where friends and families visit each other and eat lots and lots of meat.

Majority of souks and markets will be closed during this time (at least one day) and if you planning to use local transportation plan ahead as few days before the holidays buses and trains are fully packed.

This year the holidays are on the 15th and 16th of October. When planning your Morocco tour have these days in mind.

www.your-morocco-tour.com

Morocco Holiday in Summer

"Where you going for vacation this summer"?
"Morocco"
"Are you crazy, Morocco, in the summer? You will bake!"


Yes, Morocco is hot during the month of July and August, but there are many beautiful places that are cool and just perfect for summer vacation.

One of the places are the Atlas Mountains. There are several place in the Atlas Mountains where you can stay:

1) Imlil
Imlil is probably the most popular as it is located at the foothills of the second highest mountain of Africa Toubkal. The temperatures can be even 20 C less there then in Marrakech, yet it is located little over 1 hour drive from the red city capital.
In Imlil you can do plenty of trekking even to the Toukal Mountain if you feel up to it (please note that minimum of 2 days is required) or just relax at your lodge.

2) Bougoumez Valley:
This valley is located on the way to Fes in the Middle Atlas Mountains. It is called the happy valley and it is bit of hidden treasure of Morocco, not yet crowed with tourists. There are many beautiful treks and plenty of local cooperative.

3) Essaouira
This town is well known to many travelers heading to Morocco. City influence by the Portuguese architecture offers very relax feel. There is beach where you can even ride camels. Essaouira is known as windy city so if you like windsurfing, kite surfing it is great place for you.

4) Atlantic Coast
There are plenty of beautiful cities on the Atlantic coast bellow Agadir. There are very calm offering amazing tranquility and some wonderful natural sights such as the white beaches, steep cliffs of mountain arches.

5) Mediterranean Coast
The Mediterranean sea on the Moroccan side is so much more prettier and greener then in Spain. The water is calm and ideal for swimming. There are plenty of small towns around where one can discover the typical old medinas.

Agafay - Marrakech Desert

Agafay sometimes also called Marrakech desert is located less then one hour drive from Marrakech and is great option to experience desert like scenery if you have limited time and can not make it all the way to  Sahara of Morocco on desert tour.

The rocky desert, drawn by the wadis offers an unexpected and splendid views. An undulating mineral universe that gets disturbed only by passing of a few flocks of sheep. 

You can visit the region on a day trip from Marrakech perhaps enjoy camel or even horse ride. Or maybe you prefer motor sports? There is possibility of quad biking in the region as well. 

Then enjoy delicious lunch and perhaps have some moment of meditation amidst the desert landscape facing the Atlas Mountains. 

If you are looking for adventure on your Morocco tour then stay overnight in the bivouc tent for amazing moments to experience at least once a lifetime.

Morocco's Riad Accommodation

When you travel to Morocco for holidays you should always consider staying in the Riads. They offer authentic and unique stay. Hotels are located anywhere around the world, but riads you can find only in Morocco.

Riads are old homes located in the medina, the old part of the city. They have been rebuilt so each room has its ensuite bathroom facilities but they still have the design of an old houses. There is generally central courtyard and the rooms are built around it. The windows face the courtyard not the street. They are heaven of peace, tranquility opposite to the noise of the streets in the old city.
Riads have also beautiful terraces on top with great views of the medina where one can relax of tiring day full of sightseeing or shopping. Many riads also are able to serve meals atop the terraces.

There are wide range of riads available from extreme luxury to basic riads minded the budget travelers. Some of the riads are small enough that can be rented for families traveling with children. It is great option as having your home away from home.

Remember that riads are located in the old part of the cities and cars can not enter the old medina. Therefore taxi will drop you off at the nearest gate (Bab) from where you need to walk to your riad. If you have luggage you can ask the trolley man at the gate to take your luggage and also show you way as the maze of the street in the old town can be quite confusing at first. The easiest way is to get your riad to arrange airport pick up so you don't have difficulties finding your oasis of heaven in the crowded and busy street of the medinas.

Here are few pictures from riad:

Please feel free to share your own pictures of the riads and let us know if you have some favorite one that you would recommend to travelers planning vacation in Morocco

Erg Chegaga sand dunes sahara Morocco

I have secret love for the stunning sand dunes of Erg Chegaga. Every time I feel stressed out or just ran out by life I tell my husband "Lets go to Chegaga"

It is our secret spot to recharge our batteries and get the inner peace and calmness back into our lives.

Erg Chegaga sand dunes are located about 60km off road from M'hamid. One needs 4x4 WD to visit them or camels that take about 4 days to reach the peak of the Saharan sand dunes. Possibly, because the sand dunes are not so easily accessible there are very few tourists that travel to this area.

Opposite to Erg Chebbi sand dunes located by Merzouga that spread over very little area, Erg Chegaga sand dunes are over 40km spam range. It is wonderful area to camel trek for day or even several days to slip back into the nature, peacefulness and learn the important things in life.
You get far away from people, high rising buildings and mobiles or computers and merge yourself into complete wilderness of the desert.

If you are need of vacation or just like to experience desert adventure tour, contact us for details on desert tour to Erg Chegaga

www.your-morocco-tour.com

Oasis of Morocco

Morocco is welcoming and scenic destination.  There are many reasons why it's becoming the top destination these days.  Some of the reasons are short distance from Europe, different culture, rich heritage, great weather and stunning, varied scenery's.

Morocco is tweeted by many river oasis that offer such unique contrast to the arid regions and barren mountains surrounding these oasis. There are very important to local people living in the areas. There are important source of vegetables and fruits.

Some of the oasis that you might encounter on your way to the desert tour of Morocco

Ziz Valley 

This valley starts from Erfoud and stretches towards Errachida. It offers some stunning views and you can see it when you are traveling from Fes to Merzouga (Erg Chebbi). It is full of date palm trees and Erfoud even hosts yearly date palm tree festival.









Draa Valley

This valley you can see on your way from Agdz to Zagora and all the way to M'hamid. However, the most splendid views are just before Zagora. The valley is absolute stunning and it is the longest river valley in Morocco dotted by many small Berber and even Nomad villages that decided to settle. It is known in Morocco that people from this valley are the friendliest and honest people. It is also worthwhile if you are in this area to take one of the off roads into the valley to see the small planted fields of vegetables. Also anyone in Morocco will tell you that the sweetest and highest quality of dates come from Draa Valley.

From Dades Valley To Todra Gorge
Travelers heading to Merzouga on their desert tour visit on their way the Dades and Todra Gorge that are so worth the stop. However, if you have enough time and have 4x4 WD that you should take the off road (piste) between the two gorges. It offers some unique and hidden treasures that you are unable to see from the pave road. The scenery changes but after you set from Dades Gorge you pass along this gorgeous river oasis.



Dades Valley 

This picture is from Boumalne Dades where you can see the Dades Valley that will take you all the way to the Dades Gorge. 

Is Morocco Safe To Travel To

Is Morocco Safe To Travel To