Morocco Holidays

Nestle into North Africa

Morocco’s a bit of Europe and Africa in one. The huge, golden stretch of sand in Agadir wouldn’t look out of place on a beach holiday to Spain, even if it feels like a million miles away. But that’s mixed in with the bustling souks – the Arabian version of markets – and palaces of Marrakech, or the fish markets in the chilled-out village of Taghazout. Plus, the whole place gets the thumbs up from anyone looking to add a new backdrop to their Instagram feed, with its Saharan dunes, snow-capped mountains and ancient Moroccan cities ready to pop in every pic.

The Red City

You can get a big dose of culture with a city break to Marrakech, AKA The Red City. It’s one of the most popular destinations in Morocco. The open-air Jemaa el-Fna square puts on a good show and is filled with entertainers, henna tattooists and musicians. Explore the souks that spread across the city centre in a seemingly never-ending maze – but don’t be put off at attempting your best haggle with the stall owners. Marrakech also offers an easy way to leave the city buzz behind by daytripping to the Atlas Mountains. It’s less than an hour’s drive to the Ourika Valley for hiking, waterfalls and burnt-orange Berber villages.

Supersized sands

When it comes to beach holidays to Morocco, Agadir is the spot to head to. Think surfing, diving and jet-skiing, on top of your usual dose of sun and sandy beaches. It’s not totally modern, so you can still get a dose of African culture and Moroccan cuisine – there are local must-haves, like a hilltop kasbah and souks, too. If you want a holiday that’s all this but on a slightly more laidback scale, head to Taghazout. This fishing village is expected to grow into quite the Moroccan hotspot, so catch a flight here before the word gets out.