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Sports and Activities
Golf: Morocco is a golfing paradise. Few
other countries can match the wonderful weather,
fastidiously manicured greens and range of courses to choose
from. Marrakech alone has three superb golf courses. Even
better is the fact that green fees are about £20 and caddies
can be hired from as little as £5. Our top tip is to stay in
the South Medina and then you can be on the Royal Golf
Course in as little as 10 minutes drive yet still be staying
in the hub of things. The new opening for late 2008 is the
Mogador Golf course in Essaouira.
Horse-riding: There are several well-kept
riding schools around Marrakech and Essaouira. Most are
happy to accommodate either a one-off lesson or a day trip
on horseback into the mountains or desert.
Windsurfing: Essaouira is the surf capital
of northern Africa and thanks to the prevailing Atlantic
winds it is a year-round destination. For the best surf head
just south of Essaouira to Sidi Kaouki or go 25 kms north to
Moulay. Check out Ocean Vagabond on Essaouira's beach for
more details, courses and equipment rental.
Kite surfing: The consistent wind and large
open beaches make Essaouira a great place to Kiteboard and
there are good schools along the beach. Call Fleewinter's
resident kitesurfer bore for up-to-the minute advice on the
best timing.
Cookery: Marrakech offers one of the best
cookery schools available at La Maison Arabe. Here you learn
the skills involved in producing the finest Moroccan cuisine
including tagines. Other courses can be arranged in the
medina or even in your riad
Skiing: In winter, those in the know head
to Oukaïmeden, just 75 kms from Marrakech where there are
over 20kms of pistes for all abilities. Snow and weather
conditions are generally best in January and February.
Quad Biking: This is a great way to get
around once the road runs out. The favourite places are
along the dunes in Essaouira and in the Sahara Desert
around Merzouga.
Camel Trekking: Whilst you will be offered
plenty of opportunities to hop on a camel around Marrakech,
our advice is to save this for the Desert (need to book in
advance) or Essaouira where you can trek for miles along the
beaches.
Cycling: Cycling is probably the most
popular mode of transport in Morocco and no reason why
visitors can't have a go. There is good mountain biking in
the coastal area south of Essaouira. The more adventurous
might like to read a recent client's account where he and
his friends took their bikes and did a grand tour of the
area around Marrakech and even into the atlas Mountains.
Must sees in Marrakech
- Eat in the make-shift open air restaurants of the
Place Jemaa el-Fna at night
- Wander the many souks where you can watch craftsmen
at work and bargain for souvenirs
- Visit the colourful Majorelle gardens
- Eat breakfast at one of the cafés overlooking the
Place Jemaa el-Fna and watch the square come to life
- Relax in a hammam (Moroccan steam bath with
traditional scrub)
- Admire the beauty of the Koutoubia Mosque tower (only
Muslims are allowed inside)
- Visit the Saadian tombs to see some of the finest
Islamic architecture in Morocco
- Marvel at the intricacy of the stucco work and
zellij tilework of the Palais Bahia
- See the storks nesting on top of the Palais el Bahia
Must sees in Essaouira
- Watch the fisherman return to harbour with their
catch and then choose your own fish for dinner
- Get lost in the labyrinth of narrow streets within
the medina walls
- Discover the many and varied souks and bargain for
your purchases
- Gallop along the beach on horseback - or ride a
camel at a more leisurely pace
- Ride the Atlantic waves - either by windsurf or
surfboard or fly a kite on the vast crescent sands of
Essaouira's beach
- Eat dinner at the Villa Maroc (even if you're not
staying there)
- Eat lunch in one of the cafés near the harbour
- Watch the craftsmen carve the local Thuja wood and
buy something as a souvenir
- Look out for gulls, rare falcons and migratory birds
on the Îles Purpuraires
- Walk around the ramparts just before sunset
- Go for a quad bike tour in the sand dunes
- Visit an argan oil co-operative
Must sees in Fes
- Take a walk around the city following one of the set
trails
- Go and see The Chouara Tannery - the largest of the
four traditional tanneries still open in the Medina
- Indulge yourself in one of the famous traditional
hammams and be pampered by their wonderful masseurs
- Watch the craftsmen working in open workshops
- Visit the oldest universities in the world (unlike
mosques there are open for tourists)
- Visit one of the two thermal springs near Fes (
Moulay Yaacoub 20km from Fes; Sidi Harazem, located 12
km from Fes
- Organise a trip to the Middle Atlas with a pit-stop
in one of the mountain resort
- Visit Volubilis, which is the site of the largest
and best preserved Roman ruin in Morocco. Once home to
up to 20,000 people, historians estimate it was
originally settled by Carthaginian traders in 300 BC
- About 70km south of Fez is the small Berber town of
Azrou. This peaceful town makes a great day trip from
Fes. There is a lively market on Tuesdays
Must sees in Agadir
- Enjoy the time on the beach
- Visit the fish market
- See the new medina of Agadir designed by Italian
architect Coco Polozii
- Discover ruins of old Kasbah – located on the hill
overlooking the bay and city of Agadir
- Visit Vallee des Oiseaux and a small zoo with birds
& some exotic animals
- Shop at Marche Municipal
- Enjoy a day trip to the Souss-Massa river national
park 40km south from Agadir, the perfect place for bird
watching
Must sees in Taroudant
- Visit the local market which takes place on
Thursdays and Sundays where Berbers from the nearest
villages come to sell their crafts and food
- Shop at Arabic souk (Arab Artisanal) and Berber souk
(Marche Berbere)
- Visit local tanneries
- Visit Kasbah situated at the edge of the medina
which is a home to a lovely garden
- Enjoy a day trekking to the nearest oasis and
kasbahs like Freija & Tiut
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