Morocco is a country where much pleasure can be found in the little moments…
In the small experiences those in the know will indulge in when they are not traveling and adventuring.
These are the little pleasures you must actively seek when you are visiting Morocco.
Heavenly Hammams
You will be pampered by the most traditional of rituals – the hammam. For centuries locals headed to their hammam to be washed and massaged. Thankfully nowadays they have luxurious treatments for the most discerning of travelers wishing to rejuvenate after a busy day. The treatment includes a steam room for relaxation, black soap made from local argan nut oil, a clay mask to withdraw impurities, an invigorating scrub to vanquish dry skin, and a Berber massage guaranteed to have you walking out on clouds.
Indulging regularly is recommended. A Hammam is also a fantastic tool to use against jetlag and it is a great idea to have one right after arrival and just before you depart again.
Don’t forget the Rooftops
In the Souks (markets) throughout the country, you will meet locals who for generations have baked bread, made musical instruments, woven beautiful carpets, and sold spices and herbs fresh from the farmers. Sitting with them for a little while and listening to their stories can be an incredibly rewarding travel experience. You will also find the most unexpected items in these souks, from ‘Berber Viagra’ to ‘Berber Lipstick’. As for the latter, we can attest that we tried it while visiting Morocco and it is fantastic!
Instead of returning home right after all our shopping has been done we love to wind our way through the narrow cobblestone alleys, past donkeys and fruit sellers to a hidden rooftop with a birds-eye view over the medina at sunset, with a glass of wine and a fabulous meal.
Cue the ‘Call To Prayer’ from a nearby mosque, the very air will vibrate with that ‘otherness’ we travel for… and your body will melt contentedly into the Moroccan night.
Berber Life in the Mountains
Crumbling mud-brick villages nestled among mountain peaks and green farming terraces filled with herb gardens, trees of apricots, almonds, pomegranate and more… A peaceful hike will take you past shepherds walking their goats to a local Berber village where you can learn the local way of life, relatively untouched for hundreds of years. Learn to cook traditional meals during your visit to Morocco, make the famous mint tea and relish in the opportunity to connect with an age-old people who will offer you everything they have.
We have had some wonderful conversations with Berber guides who went to Western Universities to study but chose to return and live the traditional life. They speak very eloquently and convincingly about the (arranged) love of their parents and how tradition always seems to trump new-fangled ideas in their experience.
Sunset over the Ocean + Those Iconic Blue Boats
When you think of Morocco, immediately the desert comes to the front of your mind. But the seaside towns with their iconic blue boats and fisherman, have a charm of their own. Who doesn’t love camels on the beach? This is also where the very moving Gnaoua music comes from – the music of the slaves from hundreds of years past.
Don’t miss out on the beach when you are visiting Morocco.
The Sahara, Naturally
This one comes as no surprise, but not much in the world can match the feeling of riding a camel through the orange waves of sand to your luxury tent in the middle of the world’s largest dunes – the Sahara Desert. Travelers who have experienced this will never stop talking about it for a reason. The Erg Chebbi dunes of Merzouga are straight from a storybook and you can stick to the traditional camel or try your luck at some sandboarding.
The fossils from the Sahara sold by the Berber’s are beautiful and unique keepsakes of the experience.
There might be better ways of spending an evening but we think a night under a blanket of a thousand stars to the sounds of a crackling fire can’t be beat. Delicious food and the humble Saharan hospitality helps too!
Wait for it… the Wine
For a country that doesn’t drink wine, they do very well to make you think otherwise – the wine is delicious. But of course, vineyards, where camels and donkeys assist in preparing the lands, mean the produce must be good, right?
Do experiment with the local wine. You can thank us later.
We think it is worth visiting Morocco for its little pleasures as much as the famous landmarks.
Images via GregMontani