---
type: "Article"
title: "Morocco – colourful, vibrant and astonishingly-beautiful"
description: "Justine Tyerman surprises herself with her daring exploits in Morocco..."
resource: "https://travelmemo.com/morocco/morocco-colourful-vibrant-beautiful-country"
author: "Justine Tyerman"
publisher: "Travelmemo"
photo_count: 13
tags: ["Culture", "Nature", "Morocco"]
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  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/italy"
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  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/switzerland"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/culture"
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  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/culinary-tourism"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/boutique-hotel"
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  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/itinerary"
generated: { by: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/tyermanj", at: 2026-07-04T13:38:37+00:00 }
sources:
  - id: photos
    resource: morocco-colourful-vibrant-beautiful-country.md#photos
    title: "Original photography by Justine Tyerman"
    author: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/tyermanj"
timestamp: 2026-07-04T13:38:37+00:00
---

# Morocco – colourful, vibrant and astonishingly-beautiful

> Morocco is a colourful, vibrant and visually stunning North African destination offering ancient medinas, Saharan desert landscapes, dramatic mountain gorges and rich cultural experiences. The country's welcoming people, world-class riads and kasbahs, and diverse activities make it a rewarding destination for adventurous travellers.

## Destination
Morocco, North Africa, covering Marrakech, Fes, the Merzouga Desert (near the Algerian border), the High Atlas Mountains, Ouarzazate, and Casablanca.

## Getting there
The author flew Emirates Airlines. The tour was organised through The Innovative Travel Company, specialists in group and private Morocco tours.

## When to go
Not specified in the article.

## Why visit
Morocco offers a rare combination of ancient souks, UNESCO World Heritage sites, Saharan desert experiences, dramatic mountain scenery, and outstanding traditional accommodation, all within a country the article describes as safe and extraordinarily welcoming to visitors.

## What to see
- **Djemaa el Fna Square, Marrakech** — Vibrant, crowded square famous for snake charmers, entertainers and a buzzing atmosphere.
- **Todra Gorge, High Atlas Mountains** — A dramatic river-carved canyon 160m deep and as narrow as 10m wide in places.
- **Ait Ben Haddou** — UNESCO World Heritage Site fortress in the foothills of the High Atlas, famous as a film set for Gladiator, Game of Thrones and other productions.
- **Merzouga Desert** — Red sand dunes on the fringe of the Sahara, 55km from the Algerian border, offering sunset views from dune tops.
- **Ancient Medinas of Marrakech and Fes** — Historic walled city centres lined with souks selling shoes, ceramics, fabrics, jewellery and more.
- **Riad Fes** — Relais & Chateaux property in the heart of Fes's medina, a former residence of Fassi nobility.

## What to do
- **Camel trekking in the Merzouga Desert** — Ride camels up red sand ridges to watch the sunset, followed by a campfire dinner with live music from Senegalese and Malian performers.
- **Haggling in the souks** — Browse and bargain for shoes, handbags, fabrics, ceramics, bronze goods and jewellery in the ancient covered markets.
- **Cooking class at La Maison Arabe, Marrakech** — Prestigious school where a traditional dada guides students through dishes such as chicken tagine with preserved lemons, Zalouk and Taktuka salads.
- **Wading in the Todra Gorge river** — Wade knee-deep into the cool, clear river running through the narrow canyon and take in the towering vertical walls.

## Good to know
Accommodation options on organised tours include modern five-star hotels, traditional riads (family homes built around a central courtyard) and kasbahs (fortresses). Hotels mentioned include the Sofitel Marrakech, Kasbah Dar Daif, Xaluca Maadid Hotel, Riad Fes and Gray Boutique Hotel in Casablanca. Local guides accompany travellers throughout Ancient Kingdoms tours.

## Photos

```yaml
photos:
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/An-alleyway-lined-with-souks-in-the-Marrakech-medina.-244.jpg"
    caption: "An alleyway lined with souks in the Marrakech medina"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Our-charming-Moroccan-guide-Nabil-was-highly-experienced-and-accompanied-us-everywhere.-IMG_2860.jpg"
    caption: "Our charming Moroccan guide Nabil was highly experienced and accompanied us everywhere"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/A-souk-selling-colourful-shoes-in-Marrakech.-31.jpg"
    caption: "A souk selling colourful shoes in Marrakech"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/The-famous-brightly-coloured-Moroccan-babouches-or-slippers-in-the-Medina-of-Fes.-Fes-15..jpg"
    caption: "The famous brightly-coloured Moroccan babouches or slippers"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Shiny-black-cobras-in-Marrakech’s-crowded-Djemaa-el-Fna-Square.-Marrakech-1.jpg"
    caption: "Shiny black cobras in Marrakech’s crowded Djemaa el Fna Square"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Marrakech’s-vibrant-Djemaa-el-Fna-Square-is-a-UNESCO-World-Heritage-site.-476.jpg"
    caption: "Marrakech’s vibrant Djemaa el Fna Square"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Justine-right-preparing-to-set-off-across-the-Merzouga-Desert-on-a-camel-trek.-IMG_2359.jpg"
    caption: "Preparing to set off across the Merzouga Desert on a camel trek"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/The-Todra-Gorge-is-a-dramatic-gash-in-the-High-Atlas-Mountains-160m-deep-and-only-10m-wide-in-places-cut-by-millions-of-years-of-river-erosion.IMG_2333.JPGIMG_23161.jpg"
    caption: "The Todra Gorge is a dramatic gash in the High Atlas Mountains"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/The-UNESCO-World-Heritage-site-of-Ait-Ben-Haddou-a-grand-fortress-along-the-former-caravan-route-between-the-Sahara-and-Marrakech.IMG_2069.jpg"
    caption: "The UNESCO World Heritage site of Ait Ben Haddou"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/My-elegant-suite-at-the-luxurious-Riad-Fes-in-the-heart-of-the-oldest-medina-in-Morocco..jpg"
    caption: "My room at Riad Fes Relais & Chateau"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/An-enormous-chandelier-hangs-above-the-central-courtyard-at-the-Riad-Fes-1.jpg"
    caption: "Riad Fes, Relais & Chateaux"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/The-view-of-Fes-from-the-rooftop-bar-at-Riad-Fes.1303riad_fes0395.jpg"
    caption: "The Terasse at Riad Fes"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Dada-Amina-at-La-Maison-Arabe-cooking-school-in-Marrakech.-IMG_1861.jpg"
    caption: "'Dada' Amina at La Maison Arabe cooking school"
```