{"id":10566,"date":"2015-07-18T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2015-07-17T23:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/flashpack.preview.uk.com\/2015\/07\/18\/why-we-love-morocco\/"},"modified":"2024-02-19T14:05:42","modified_gmt":"2024-02-19T14:05:42","slug":"love-morocco","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/us\/solo\/travel\/love-morocco\/","title":{"rendered":"Why we love Morocco"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Morocco is a land of mind melding magic. A beautiful, creative, concoction of fluorescent colours, eclectic sounds and sublime smells. Our brains are hurting just thinking about the innumerable things we adore about the place. But we\u2019re going to take a stab at putting into words the main reasons for our unbridled love for Morocco. So here goes\u2026<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>1. Get lost in a maze of markets<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-130397 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/jamaa-el-fna-itinerary-900x.webp\" alt=\"market square\" width=\"900\" height=\"506\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/jamaa-el-fna-itinerary-900x.webp 900w, https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/jamaa-el-fna-itinerary-900x-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/jamaa-el-fna-itinerary-900x-768x432.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/jamaa-el-fna-itinerary-900x-500x281.webp 500w, https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/jamaa-el-fna-itinerary-900x-810x456.webp 810w, https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/jamaa-el-fna-itinerary-900x-312x174.webp 312w, https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/jamaa-el-fna-itinerary-900x-568x320.webp 568w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Most counties in the world are moving toward building ever more cold, characterless shopping centres. With uniformly rowed store fronts and obsessively cleaned seating areas. Morocco refuses to bow to these new norms, and as Flashpackers, we love it for not doing so. Morocco has souks.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><strong>Read more: <a href=\"\/adventure-trips\/magical-morocco\/\">Morocco group adventure for 30 &amp; 40 somethings<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Beautifully intact open air markets that are hundreds of years old, yet functioning just as they would have done centuries ago. Stalls are scattered along hundreds of winding sections, offering everything you can imagine. We especially love the homewares. Meticulously crafted wooden furniture and gorgeous lanterns that are a kaleidoscope of colours. A true feast for the eyes, and surprisingly light on the wallet (if you haggle hard enough).<\/p>\n<p><strong>2.\u00a0Marvel at magnificent, monstrous mountains<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-130395 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/ItineraryTemplate-atlas-900x.webp\" alt=\"mountains\" width=\"900\" height=\"506\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/ItineraryTemplate-atlas-900x.webp 900w, https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/ItineraryTemplate-atlas-900x-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/ItineraryTemplate-atlas-900x-768x432.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/ItineraryTemplate-atlas-900x-500x281.webp 500w, https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/ItineraryTemplate-atlas-900x-810x456.webp 810w, https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/ItineraryTemplate-atlas-900x-312x174.webp 312w, https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/ItineraryTemplate-atlas-900x-568x320.webp 568w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>From markets, now to mountains. Morocco has some seriously striking scenery and it\u2019s mountainous areas are a perfect example of this. Most impressive are the Atlas Mountains though.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><strong>Read more:\u00a0<a href=\"\/insights\/2017\/11\/01\/life-altering-benefits-hiking-abroad\/\">Three life-altering benefits of adventure hiking<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Seeing them up close is an unforgettable experience. But, here\u2019s a Flash Pack insider tip, you can go one better and actually stay in a wooden lodge overlooking the mountains. The morning views will leave you dumbfounded.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a03.\u00a0Camel ride on the unspoilt sheet of the Sahara<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-130393\" src=\"https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Morocco_Sahara_camel_ride4-900x.webp\" alt=\"A man leading three camels across the Sahara Desert\" width=\"900\" height=\"579\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Morocco_Sahara_camel_ride4-900x.webp 900w, https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Morocco_Sahara_camel_ride4-900x-300x193.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Morocco_Sahara_camel_ride4-900x-768x494.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Morocco_Sahara_camel_ride4-900x-750x484.webp 750w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Riding a camel across the magnificent, deep orange sand of the Sahara desert really is as marvellous as it sounds. And then there are the mesmerizing, surreal, sand dunes.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><strong>Read more: <a href=\"\/insights\/2017\/10\/23\/single-alone-perfect-travel-buddy\/\">Being single makes you a brilliant traveller<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Their stunningly sharp edges look like they\u2019ve been sliced by an oversized knife. One of the real highlights of being in the Sahara though, can only be experienced when night falls. You can then lie under the stars, marvelling at the beauty of the universe, in a way that would be impossible to in any city.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a04.\u00a0Lose yourself in the wonder of waterfalls<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-130399 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/akchour-waterfall-2.1.webp\" alt=\"akchour waterfall\" width=\"860\" height=\"690\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/akchour-waterfall-2.1.webp 860w, https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/akchour-waterfall-2.1-300x241.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/akchour-waterfall-2.1-768x616.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 860px) 100vw, 860px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Flashpackers like to mix things up. And Morocco really lets us do that by letting us go from the dry, dreamy Sahara to a world of wondrous waterfalls. And all within the same weekend, if you can handle it!<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><em>Read more: <a href=\"\/insights\/2017\/09\/13\/why-spending-time-alone-makes-us-happy\/\">Why spending time alone makes us happy<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>We especially love Ouzid Falls, the second tallest waterfall in Africa. Losing yourself to the soothing sound of the rhythmically flowing water as it brushes against the rocks of the Middle Atlas Mountains is deeply satisfying.<\/p>\n<p><strong>5.\u00a0Uncover the unexplored Essaouira<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-130401\" src=\"https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Essaouira_walking_tour_900x.webp\" alt=\"Essaouira_walking_tour_\" width=\"900\" height=\"506\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Essaouira_walking_tour_900x.webp 900w, https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Essaouira_walking_tour_900x-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Essaouira_walking_tour_900x-768x432.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Essaouira_walking_tour_900x-500x281.webp 500w, https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Essaouira_walking_tour_900x-810x456.webp 810w, https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Essaouira_walking_tour_900x-312x174.webp 312w, https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Essaouira_walking_tour_900x-568x320.webp 568w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>This is a place you don\u2019t hear about in any of the countless travel blogs online, so it\u2019s a real hidden gem. But that\u2019s what makes it all the more wonderful. Essaouira is a truly authentic port town, largely unburdened by modern society. It has a distinct charm which really can\u2019t be experienced anywhere else in Morocco.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><strong>Read more: <a href=\"\/insights\/2017\/04\/03\/my-experiences-of-solo-travel-as-a-man\/\">\u201cHow I learnt to embrace solo travel as a man\u201d<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Seeing the neatly rowed luminous blue wooden boats at the edge of the port is quite the sight. They seem to almost glisten in the heat, and if you\u2019re lucky you can catch some craftsman hand making new ones.<\/p>\n<p><strong>6.\u00a0Embark on an accommodation experience like no other<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-130403\" src=\"https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/2Ciels-Boutique-Hotel_Marrackech_Morocco_1-900x.webp\" alt=\"2Ciels Boutique Hotel_Marrackech_Morocco_1\" width=\"900\" height=\"506\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/2Ciels-Boutique-Hotel_Marrackech_Morocco_1-900x.webp 900w, https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/2Ciels-Boutique-Hotel_Marrackech_Morocco_1-900x-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/2Ciels-Boutique-Hotel_Marrackech_Morocco_1-900x-768x432.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/2Ciels-Boutique-Hotel_Marrackech_Morocco_1-900x-500x281.webp 500w, https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/2Ciels-Boutique-Hotel_Marrackech_Morocco_1-900x-810x456.webp 810w, https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/2Ciels-Boutique-Hotel_Marrackech_Morocco_1-900x-312x174.webp 312w, https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/2Ciels-Boutique-Hotel_Marrackech_Morocco_1-900x-568x320.webp 568w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Leave the idea of stale hotel chains behind. In Morocco you can embark on real, authentic and unforgettable accommodation experiences. Imagine waking up in a gorgeously constructed wooden lodge in the middle of the Atlas Mountains. Or how about emerging from your spacious tent in the middle of the Sahara surrounded by nothing by an endless sea of orange sand, like a true nomad. If you fancy something more concrete but equally exhilarating then we highly recommend Riad Hotels (houses or hotels with a central garden\/courtyard).<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><em>Read more: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/solo\/travel\/solo-travel-guide-japan\/\">Why Japan is a dream destination for solo travellers<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>As you can imagine, Riad hotels provide a uniquely intimate environment. You feel almost part of a micro community. If you want complete privacy though, you can even rent your own Riad house, your own intimate cocoon in the wild world that is Morrocco. Whatever you choose from the above, you can be sure to have a memorable experience, waking up in surroundings no chain hotel in the world could match. That\u2019s what happens when you Flash Pack.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-130413\" src=\"https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/morocco-header-2-900x.webp\" alt=\"small town\" width=\"900\" height=\"560\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/morocco-header-2-900x.webp 900w, https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/morocco-header-2-900x-300x187.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/morocco-header-2-900x-768x478.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/morocco-header-2-900x-748x466.webp 748w, https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/morocco-header-2-900x-532x332.webp 532w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>So why do we love Morocco? Because it has everything a modern Flashpacker could ever need. Sprawling, beautifully buzzing authentic markets, stunning mountain scenery, the unspoilt golden sheet of the Sahara, serene soothing waterfalls, secret port towns. Oh, and accommodation experiences unlike anywhere else on earth.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><a href=\"\/adventure-trips\/\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Come join us!<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Images: Flash Pack, Shutterstock<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Morocco is a land of mind melding magic. A beautiful, creative, concoction of fluorescent colours,&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":130415,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9034,9029],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10566","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-destination-guides","category-travel"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10566","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10566"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10566\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/130415"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10566"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10566"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flashpack.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10566"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}