Marrakesh & the Atlas Mountains

 

Visiting Morocco really is like stepping back in time and is everything you imagine it to be and more. This is a country of great contrasts: it has had many influences, with some of the earliest records from Phoenician times, then coming under the sway of Carthage, the Romans, from the 7th century the Ottomans and finally the French. All have left their own mark, creating a unique country which today, though relatively near, still remains delightfully exotic, mysterious and unspoilt. Morocco possesses a wonderful scenic beauty with an incredibly varied landscape: on the coast we have sweeping beaches with rocky headlands, backed by the eerie emptiness of the desert. Then inland, undulating hills dotted with the occasional shepherd tending their sheep, and clusters of palm trees with the timeless landscapes of barren rocks and dried-up riverbeds creating almost biblical scenes. Mud-brick villages, unchanged for centuries, are strewn across a countryside so different from what we see in Europe. Forming the stunning backdrop, lush green foothills and of course the ever-present Atlas Mountains puncture the sky. It has long captured the imagination of cinematographers, being used to film ‘Gladiator’, ‘Jesus of Nazareth’ and ‘Lawrence of Arabia’.

Morocco’s most vibrant city, full of myths and mystery, ochre-coloured Marrakesh is today an anachronism: one of the most exciting and romantic places you will ever visit, with one foot in the present and one firmly in the past. It was once an oasis on the ancient caravan routes to the south, thus becoming a natural centre of commerce and consequently, during medieval times, Morocco’s capital. Vast wealth poured in from nearby Moorish Spain and skilled artisans built the city you see today. Surrounded by almost intact medieval ramparts, it has some amazing buildings. Dominating the traditional low-rise skyline is the amazing Koutoubia Minoret, over 200 feet high, visible for miles around and a classic example of Moorish architecture. Then there are the Saadian Tombs, the intricately decorated final resting place of the descendants of Mohammed, plus the Royal Palace and a host of other things to experience. The city’s maze of tiny streets is interspaced by tranquil gardens watered for centuries by an ingenious underground water system, still functioning after all these years. At the centre of it all though is the Djemma el Fnaa, a huge square and site of one of the world’s greatest spectacles. Here, especially atmospheric at dusk, street restaurants serve all kinds of delicacies with mouth-watering aromas filling the air, surrounded by what can only be described as a medieval circus. Storytellers recount tales of old, whilst fire-eaters and skilled acrobats entertain the crowds. Scribes write letters, whilst open-air dentists and barbers are busy at work. You can have your shoes cleaned, watch snake charmers and see herbalists dispensing ancient remedies. Permeating the whole scene is the heavy drumbeat of musical troupes playing their instruments, the sights and sounds of which are enchanting. The balmy warmth of the Moroccan evening adds to the atmosphere and all this under an ocean of stars: what a fabulous experience!

Moroccans themselves display legendary hospitality: culturally bound to offer help to visitors, they are extremely friendly, generous and open.

Visiting Morocco really is like stepping back in time and is everything you imagine it to be and more. This is a country of great contrasts: it has had many influences, with some of the earliest records from Phoenician times, then coming under the sway of Carthage, the Romans, from the 7th century the Ottomans and finally the French. All have left their own mark, creating a unique country which today, though relatively near, still remains delightfully exotic, mysterious and unspoilt. Morocco possesses a wonderful scenic beauty with an incredibly varied landscape: on the coast we have sweeping beaches with rocky headlands, backed by the eerie emptiness of the desert. Then inland, undulating hills dotted with the occasional shepherd tending their sheep, and clusters of palm trees with the timeless landscapes of barren rocks and dried-up riverbeds creating almost biblical scenes. Mud-brick villages, unchanged for centuries, are strewn across a countryside so different from what we see in Europe. Forming the stunning backdrop, lush green foothills and of course the ever-present Atlas Mountains puncture the sky. It has long captured the imagination of cinematographers, being used to film ‘Gladiator’, ‘Jesus of Nazareth’ and ‘Lawrence of Arabia’.

Morocco’s most vibrant city, full of myths and mystery, ochre-coloured Marrakesh is today an anachronism: one of the most exciting and romantic places you will ever visit, with one foot in the present and one firmly in the past. It was once an oasis on the ancient caravan routes to the south, thus becoming a natural centre of commerce and consequently, during medieval times, Morocco’s capital. Vast wealth poured in from nearby Moorish Spain and skilled artisans built the city you see today. Surrounded by almost intact medieval ramparts, it has some amazing buildings. Dominating the traditional low-rise skyline is the amazing Koutoubia Minoret, over 200 feet high, visible for miles around and a classic example of Moorish architecture. Then there are the Saadian Tombs, the intricately decorated final resting place of the descendants of Mohammed, plus the Royal Palace and a host of other things to experience. The city’s maze of tiny streets is interspaced by tranquil gardens watered for centuries by an ingenious underground water system, still functioning after all these years. At the centre of it all though is the Djemma el Fnaa, a huge square and site of one of the world’s greatest spectacles. Here, especially atmospheric at dusk, street restaurants serve all kinds of delicacies with mouth-watering aromas filling the air, surrounded by what can only be described as a medieval circus. Storytellers recount tales of old, whilst fire-eaters and skilled acrobats entertain the crowds. Scribes write letters, whilst open-air dentists and barbers are busy at work. You can have your shoes cleaned, watch snake charmers and see herbalists dispensing ancient remedies. Permeating the whole scene is the heavy drumbeat of musical troupes playing their instruments, the sights and sounds of which are enchanting. The balmy warmth of the Moroccan evening adds to the atmosphere and all this under an ocean of stars: what a fabulous experience!

Moroccans themselves display legendary hospitality: culturally bound to offer help to visitors, they are extremely friendly, generous and open.

Supplier info: Riviera Travel

Since their inception 25 years ago, Riviera Travel have endeavoured to exceed the expectations of the discerning traveller, on their fascinating and innovative European and Worldwide escorted tours.

They have passion for quality and looking after all their guests in the most personal manner possible and really ‘go the extra mile'. Over the years they have received many commendations from many household names in the publishing industry. They have recently been voted by the members of one of the country's most respected consumer organisations in their biannual survey of travel companies, as one of the UK's top two Tour Operators and the most outstanding of all in terms of value for money - by some considerable margin.

Riviera Travel offers European and Worldwide Escorted Tours by Eurostar and by Air.

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