Best Fishing Holidays in Morocco

Are you fond of fishing? If yes then I am sure you won't have had an experience of fishing in the waters of morocco. It has two oceans; 2000 miles of Atlantic coastline and 300 miles of Mediterranean coastline. There are so many rivers flowing in Morocco, snow caped mountains are almost 13.700 feet high it is a very interesting place and a very attractive place to visit when the rivers flow down the slope of those high mountains. This is what Moroccan fishing has to offer you. So if you are a fishing enthusiast then Morocco is your next destination. The desserts of Morocco are also magnificently spotted by wadis (valleys) and oases. So this is what you will get for your fishing passion.

The conditions for fishing in both fresh and salt water are perfect. The landscapes are perfect scene fro a nature loving person. The weather of the country is very suitable for everyone. The broad coasts and the countryside will guarantee the most memorable fishing experience. Morocco is certainly one of the best fishing points in the whole world.

There are a lot of inland lakes and rivers. If you like deep sea fishing you can head towards the ocean. If you are an inland fishing lover then the place that will be best for you is Middle Atlas, as it has numerous lakes and rivers. The most caught fish is trout in the inlands.

Here are some of the best spots for fishing:

-Azrou (near the Aghmas lakes)
-Khenifra on the Oum er Rbia River
-Ifrane and its wonderful National Park
-Ouirgane on the Nfis River
-Bin el Ouidane, near Beni Mellal

All these are the favorite fishing spots for trout. But don't worry all the Morocco is full of various species of fish. You will find roach, pike, barbels, black bass, carp perch, and eels in almost every lake of Morocco. In the areas of deep mountain lakes black bass, barbell, perch and trout are fished.

If you are ocean fishing lover then there are a lot of opportunities to do so. You will find many types of fish species especially along the Atlantic coast of Morocco. If you arrange a boat trip then you can even go for deep sea fishing. You can arrange a boat trip from Casablanca and from Sakhla in the Sahara. So if you plan for a morocco vacation just for fishing it will not be a waste.

The Best Sightseeing in Morocco

Morocco is best visited by deciding if you are more interested in visiting the cities to learn about the country's vast history, or to visit more off-the-beaten locales, such as the High Atlas Mountains, Asilah, and perhaps Essaouira. For those who want a little of both, an eclectic mix can be devised if you plan your trip carefully. Visiting ancient sites and the friendly Berbers of Morocco is only a little bit of research away.

On the Atlantic Coast: Our first stop for best places to sightsee in Morocco is in the Atlantic Coast region. The Atlantic Coast is made up of many popular cities including Casablanca, Rabat, Asilah, and Tangier. The Atlantic Coast has been an important aspect of Morocco's economy due to the trade routes, fishing exports, along with textile and industrial goods (such as phosphate), which is exported out of the country.

Between Rabat and Asilah, Moulay Bousselham is a great stopover on your way north or south; the beach is worth at least one day. The Blue Lagoon, a top site for bird watchers to see the numerous species in Morocco, is well known for having species that cannot be found anywhere else. The national park is actually accessible by boat and is made up of a total of 7300 hectares. Each year waterfowl, wildfowl, waders, and flamingos visit the little island park. The lagoon is 50cm to 4 meters deep depending on where you are. Much of the water that fills the lagoon is sea water, while part of it comes from the Oued Dredr. December through January (and even into February) is the best time to visit the national park for bird watching.

In the laid-back beach town of Asilah, with all its Spanish influence, you'll find a Kasbah with art gallery right on the edge of the water, kilometers of sandy beach, and a hidden spot called Paradise Beach. This place is best visited in the off-beach season and photos at sundown are the stuff of dreams.

The Mediterranean Coast:

The Mediterranean Coast encompasses everything north of the Rif Mountains. The Rif Mountains are not as high in altitude for hiking as the High Atlas Mountains in lower Morocco, but they do provide quite a bit of leisurely walkabouts for visitors. The Rif Mountains are also home to Chefchaouen, the city of blue that was once a Jewish settlement.

Grottes de Hercules:

Beyond Tangier's shady border crossing off the ferry are some spectacular beaches that are absolutely overflowing in the months of July and August. Outside the city, two worthwhile sightseeing venues are the Grottes de Hercules (a cave of mythical value) and Cap Spartel (where the Mediterranean and Atlantic Ocean meet) are the best places to visit at Morocco's northernmost point.

The Imperial Cities and High Atlas:

The Imperial Cities of Morocco are those that once held (and still hold) royal valor. These cities were once the seats of kings and dynasties which once ruled over the Kingdom. Those cities are Rabat, Meknes, Fez, and Marrakesh. Fez and Marrakesh are most arguably the best Imperial Cities to visit if you have to manage your time in Morocco. In Fez, be sure to take a tour of the medina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is made up of over 9,000 alleys, streets, and dead-ends. The city is quite safe for even solo travelers; although some shady characters can come about at night. It is best to be back to your hotel or riad (converted guesthouse) before too late, usually around 8 to 10 P.M.

Marrakesh, the Red City, is Morocco's hottest (temperature and places to visit) and most crowded venues in the entire country. Its worth two days and one or two nights, at most. Most tourists flock here on budget flights to Morocco from Europe to spend the weekend. The lively Djem Al Fna (the main square) comes to life with fortune tellers, acrobats, food stalls, and other vendors from dusk until dawn 360 days per year. Cafes align the square and several restaurants serve good food for cheap.

Outside of Marrakesh is one of Morocco's most alluring spots, the High Atlas Mountains. Visiting the Berber villages that align the lush valleys makes you feel as far away as Tibet. The Ourika Valley is probably the most famous, although trekkers going up to the top of Mount Toubkal usually start in Imlil and farther along in Armed. Several companies run treks up Toubkal, so it is best to find a Morocco tour operator who has experience and is willing to offer you several options to see the most hidden parts of the High Atlas.

Jbel (Mount) Toubkal is the highest mountain peak in Morocco. The summit is at 4167-meters (over 13,000 feet) high. Each year thousands of tourists come to Marrakech to go on the two to ten day High Atlas Trek in order to reach the summit of Toubkal. Most have to acclimate to the high altitude by spending the night in the Neltner Basecamp before they are able to trek all the way to the summit.

Essaouira, which is not an Imperial City, is an artist's haven for music, perfect light, and photo opportunities. It is also a great place for water-sport enthusiasts who want to windsurf or kitesurf during this small city's most windy months. Essaouira, North Africa's wind capital, brings in all types of tourists who want to truly lay back, enjoy the sunshine, and experience a wonderful medina full of souks (areas of merchandise) selling anything from leather products, to argan oil, to the country's prized (and somewhat protected) thuya wood products.

Tourism In Moroco

Morocco is one of the most developed and politically stable countries found in North Africa. The country has created a room for tourism to thrive though maintaining her culture, history and coastal regions. Tourism is the second largest foreign earner after the Phosphate industry. Recent years have seen the total number of revenue collected from the tourism sector rise to over US $ 55 billion annually. The country has adapted another strategy name Vision 2010 that aims to have targeted over 10 million visitors by the end of 2010.

Morocco receives very high number of tourists due to its location and attractive packages. It has relatively low price tickets for many of its tourism locations. Visitors can enjoy the beaches and cruise ship journeys in the ports of Casablanca and Tangier. The country has another added advantage. It's very close to Europe and receives many tourists from there. Also her proximity to Spain makes her tap a high number of visitors who love cruising and are welcomed for several days trip to the region.

Morocco has also fully developed her air travel industry. This has seen it welcome guests from neighboring countries like Algeria. This has encouraged movement between the two countries resulting to high end numbers of tourists. The rail and road transport has been linked to major cities, tourist destination sites, ports and the international airports. The devaluation of the country's currency 'Dirham' has made the country an inexpensive place to travel. There are various tourist attraction sites such as the Mediterranean cities of Tangier and Casablanca.

Morocco, The New Holiday Destination - An Introduction For the First Time Visitor

For many people Morocco conjures up a picture of deserts, raids, haggling in the markets and perhaps the odd camel or two! But there are many facets to this increasingly popular destination making it a wonderful place to visit or take a holiday.

Last year alone Morocco attracted 7.5 million tourists- well on the way to achieving its target of 10 million by the year 2010. But why are millions visiting a country and willing to holiday in a country situated on the northern tip of Africa rather than the established European holiday destinations such as France or Spain?

Well, for many Europeans, Morocco is the nearest exotic African destination- taking only two and half hours to fly from London and an hour from Madrid. Once de rigueur destination for those on the hippy trail, Morocco has become a place for the traveller and holidaymaker who demand something more than the average from their hard earned vacation.

One of its many appealing factors is that it boasts thousands of miles of beautiful coastline and beaches on two sea fronts, the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. This, along with all year round sun (temperatures can reach up to 17 degrees centigrade in January and February) make it a perfect destination for sun seeker and those seeking a relaxing break.

The Moroccan government is taking tourism very seriously and has poured billions into infrastructure such as airports, shipping ports and highways. With a relaxed and moderate approach it has set up a number of designated tourist zones whereby the facilities are equal and in many cases better than some similar resorts found in other countries.

This, along with a population that is both friendly and eager to make progress, makes visiting Morocco that much more pleasurable than is sometimes the case in countries where locals are jaded and tourist weary.

Geographically, Morocco, for the first time visitor is surprisingly full of contrasts. While the south, dominated by the Atlas Mountains, confirms the general image of dry and desert landscapes, the north of Morocco is green and lush with parts of the Mediterranean coastline almost resembling parts of the UK - but with the added attraction of blue skies and warm temperatures all year round! And this is why North Morocco can provide a great initial introduction to this beautiful country and its culture for the first time visitor.

Because of its proximity to Europe, (the smallest distance between Morocco's coastline and Spain's is less than ten miles) and the influences that has resulted, this area with cosmopolitan Tangiers and the northern capital of Tetouan all relatively close, is a heady mix of the exotic and the familiar. These factors alone will almost certainly whet the appetite for future and perhaps more adventurous exploring of this wonderfully varied country!

Morocco - Tourism the Top Priority?

The Moroccan tourism industry could soon benefit from a greater range of major attractions as the influx of large number of visitors has necessitated the need for infrastructure improvements, leisure facilities and recreational outlets. The government efforts to make the country's economy less dependent on the agricultural sector are paying dividends. Authorities in Morocco are keen to diversify and generate economic growth in a more long-term sustainable manner by boosting the tourism trade and aiming to boost annual visitor numbers to ten million by 2010.

Research by the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) found that the number of holidaymakers in the country rose by 14 per cent last year. The North African country attracted 7.4 million foreign arrivals in 2007. Morocco is proving to be highly popular with European tourists as nearly three million hailed from France; 1.6 million visitors came from Spain and 419,000 British tourists last year. The tourism industry is now an important source of the growth of country's economy, and it has generated almost a tenth of its gross domestic product last year. The holiday industry generated income of £3.8 billion in 2007 which is 12 per cent more than during the previous year.

Morocco is considered as a good-value holiday destination. The "fabulous" weather, beautiful scenery, beaches and a relaxed pace of life has helped to make Morocco a hotspot for foreign leisure travelers and overseas property buyers. Furthermore, the statistics suggest that there is growing potential in the country's buy-to-let market, as increase in the number of foreign arrivals means that demand for holiday accommodation has gone up.

The main reason for the growing popularity of Morocco among holidaymakers and second home buyers is it is easily accessible with budget airlines while low living costs and ample areas of historical interest makes it an attractive proposition. The price of entering a holiday attraction in Morocco is 3 times lesser than that in Spain. Food and drink in Morocco costs lesser than that in European countries. Figures showed that on average, a pint of beer can be purchased for just 51p and in Spain it would cost £1.56 while a three-course meal is priced at just over £10 and in Spain it is £17.50.

A Travel Beyond Journey in Chefchaouen Morocco

Chefchaouen Morocco is located in the center of the Rif Mountains. The name of this city refers to the mountain top shape of the two mountains just above it which looks like horns of a goat. Literally, the word "Chef Chaouen" means "look at the horns." The appearance of the place in Chefchaouen is quite very simple. Walls and houses are painted with white while their doors are painted with striking blue colors. When in the skyline of Chefchaouen, you will find yourself between the two mountains. One of the freshest water sources can be found at the end of the valley just between the two mountains.

Chefchaouen Morocco is also a popular destination for shopping. Many native handicrafts can be found here that are not available anywhere in Morocco such as woven blankets and wool. Also an added food attraction to the tourists is their goat cheese. Other goods that are carefully handcrafted by the natives of Chefchaouen are shoes and things made of leather, furniture made of cedar wood, pottery, dyes, and henna. Eating in this town is not a problem as there are many restaurants and cafes available almost anywhere. Try out the Tagines which is one of the best dishes you will ever had in Morocco. Other restaurants that you could try are Restaurant Assada and La Lampe Magique. Early dinner is around seven in the evening and reservations are not quite applicable so better get there early before the resto gets flooded with a lot of tourists.

For the travelers looking for cheap hotels and budget hotel packages, you can find 200 hotels in Chefchaouen Morocco offering the cheaper to the most extravagant packages. Aside from this, backpackers and trekkers will not get bored for pursuing a trip like this. The are tour and activity packages for every tourist who would like to do trekking, cliff hanging or rock climbing available on each side of Chefchaouen.

Morocco -South Morocco - Why Travel There and What to Do

Most tourists to Morocco will only visit the overcrowded and chaotic major tourist hubs of Marrakech, Fez and Rabat and only a small percentage of them venture beyond the Atlas Mountains to experience rural areas. Traveling south of the Atlas Mountains lets you experience the real, authentic Morocco where life is slower, undisturbed, the air is clean and bright, and the mountain or desert sky is truly unforgettable.

If you travel from Marrakech toward Ouzarzate, Zagora and the sand dunes of Merzouga you will be pleasantly surprised. Crossing the Atlas Mountains from Marrakesh is an enjoyable ride through red-colored rolling mountains rich in iron and dotted with small green trees overlooked by majestic snow-capped peaks. There will be many lookout points where you can stop for pictures taking or shopping for raw mountain crystals from local vendors waiting for interested tourists. You will drive through some Berber villages where you can stop for refreshments and visit an Argan oil cooperative where you will get explanations and free demonstrations on how the famous  Moroccan anti-aging oil is produced from the kernels of the now endangered Argan tree. The rare oil is rich in vitamin E, phenols and unsaturated fatty acids and is used as a base for many cosmetic products including creams and lotions for psoriasis and eczema, as well as for cooking. The products are indeed very effective but pricy since at the cooperative store the prices are fixed and due to the endangered status of the tree, yearly production is limited.

Crossing the passes you will reach Ourzazate, a major hub and neat-looking town, commonly referred to as the Hollywood of Morocco, as it has several film studios where many major motion pictures have been filmed. During daily guided tours at the Atlas Studios (in French with some English explanation by the local guide), you will see and explore the former sets of some of the most famous movies ever filmed like Cleopatra, Alexander,  Kingdom of Heaven and others, and will have the chance to see the recreated city of Jerusalem from a distance.

The most attractive features of this part of Morocco are the exotic looking kasbahs - castle dwellings - and ksours, which are fortified villages made of reddish-brown dried mud and usually surrounded by beautiful palm groves and oases. Some of these now crumbling buildings are in real despair but once they housed large populus, as much as 100 families at any given time. Many of  them are getting empty nowadays since their former occupants are slowly moving into more modern dwellings in surrounding neighborhoods. It is easy to walk through the Ksar Tissargat right on the main road between Quarzazate and Zagora. Some of the fortress-like Kasbahs once owned by powerful local lords, have been converted into guest houses, restaurants or stores. You can visit them inside, usually there will be a freelance guide at the entrances offering explanation for a few euros, prices are always negotiable and you will pay the guide after the tour based on your satisfaction level.

Between Ourzazate and Zagora there are many of these villages and Kasbahs along the road. My recommendation is the neatly reconstructed Kasbah Oulad Othmane, where the owners will be eager to show you around for a small museum entrance fee. This kasbah is still in the ownership of the original Othmane family that is struggling with the upkeep of their magical castle since the mud-brick walls require regular patch-up and practically have to be rebuilt in every 60 years. Of course, there is no government funding to save the country's architectural treasures, so the owners are forced to turn the properties into money-making machines just to save them from turning into ruins. You see neglect everywhere and although most of these kasbahs are less than 150 years old, many have an antique feel to them as a result of their deteriorating state. There is one exception, the kasbah and village of Ait Ben Haddu, located  north of Ourzazate, whose history can be traced back to Medieval times. It is a designated World Heritage Site under the protection of UNESCO. The funds received from the world organization however, not always end up in the right hands and certain parts of this medieval wonder still has some crumbling and neglected walls. Despite its fame, the site surprisingly has very little infrastructure and, to approach the village perched on a hill you have to cross a bridgeless river by foot jumping from stone to stone or sand bag to sand bag.

East of Ourzazate follow the side road of the 1000 Kasbahs toward scenic Dades and Toudra Gorges and the Tinghir palm tree valley overlooked by its own ksour, one of the most beautiful sites in Morocco.

The best time to visit these kasbahs and ksours is during late afternoon when setting sun rays turn the reddish walls into many shades of red, orange and ochre that glow under crispy blue skies.