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Since the nineteenth century travellers have been fascinated by Morocco
and this appeal continues to this day. Here we give you an insight into
the charm of this country.
Bordered by Mauritania and Algeria, Morocco is situated on the north-western
tip of Africa. The coastline runs along the Mediterranean, through the
Straits of Gibraltar to the Atlantic and a short 14km stretch separates
Tangiers from Gibraltar and Spain. The country is 447,000 sq km and is
almost the same size as France.
The Atlas Mountains and the Sahara separate Morocco from the rest of
the African continent. In the north, the Mediterranean exudes from the
Straits, with similar vegetation, climate and history. In the south this
similarity to the Mediterranean disappears.
The Atlas Mountains form the backbone of Morocco and are divided into
three differing ranges. The Middle Atlas in the north reaches an altitude
of 3,340m and is an area of endless rolling hills and forests. Trekking
through these mountains, you will find wonderful waterfalls and see Barbary
apes. The High Atlas runs through the centre, reaching a height of 4,167
metres. Here you will find beautiful valleys and mountain passes as well
as the Dades and Todra gorges. The Anti Atlas is the southern range, close
to the Sahara Desert and the area is extremely dry.
The climate of Morocco depends on the area. The northern coast of Morocco
and the interior mountains, the Rif, have a Mediterranean climate. The
desert regions reach extremely high temperatures during the hot summer
months, whereas the mountainous regions have cool summer evenings and
are freezing in the winter.
His Royal Highness King Mohammed VI is determined to put Morocco “on
the map” for tourists. With his ministers and advisors he has developed
the “Vision 2010” project which aims to increase tourism to
10 million by the year 2010.
The Moroccan coastline has some wonderful sandy beaches and at the moment
there are more than 30 very high standard 18-hole golf courses. Through
the Vision 2010 project more new golf resorts are planned, such as the
five star luxury project at Mediterranea Sadia.
Billions of dollars are being spent on improving Morocco’s infrastructure.
Roads, airports, high-speed trains and a new electricity system are all
among the projects being tackled, along with a tunnel to connect Spain
and Morocco. The tunnel is a joint project funded by Morocco, Spain and
EU, located near Gibraltar and due for completion in the year 2010.
Morocco is very popular with the rich and famous attracting people from
all over the world - the Beckhams, Yves Saint Laurent and Richard Branson
to name but a few.
The official language in Morocco is Arabic, but English, Spanish and
French are widely spoken.
Morocco has many interesting cities to explore. Rabat, the capital of
Morocco, is a modern city with wide tree-lined boulevards and a modern
lifestyle. Tangiers is famous for its markets and typical, narrow streets.
Marrakech offers tourists an interesting view of Moroccan culture and
Casablanca is not to be forgotten as the city everyone associates with
the film of the same name.
Travel to Morocco
Travel to Morocco is becoming easier and cheaper and there are several
options to choose from:
Air Travel
Since 1 January 2006, the “Open Skies” agreement has allowed
all airlines into Morocco. Competition between the airlines is fierce
and there are many cheap offers to be had. Flight time from the UK is
around 3 hours.
There are three main international airports in Morocco: Casablanca, Tangier
and Agadir.
Direct flights to Fes, Marrakech and Oujda are available from Paris,
Amsterdam, Berlin and other European cities. Most long distance flights
arrive at Casablanca, a modern airport with plenty of transport options
to get to your destination.
There are also 9 helicopter flights a day from Malaga airport in Spain
to Tangiers airport
Ferry Services
Ferries are plentiful and fast. This is the option to take if you want
your car in Morocco. A fast ferry service operates from Spain and takes
just 35 minutes.
The most popular ferry crossing from Spain to Morocco is from Algeciras
to Tangier. There are plenty of options available. You can choose from
a regular or a high speed ferry, leaving almost every hour, year round.
Another very popular ferry route is from Algeciras to Ceuta (Spanish
Morocco). It is a quieter destination than Tangiers and a gentler introduction
to the hustle and bustle of Morocco. From there it is a short ride to
the town of Tetuoan.
Ferries from Almeria (Spain) and Malaga (Spain) to Melilla go almost
every day and take about 6-9 hours. Ferries are more frequent between
Almeria (Spain) and Nador (Morocco) The trip takes about 6 hours. You
can also get to Tangier (Morocco) from Tarifa (Spain) on a high-speed
ferry.
The History of Morocco
Morocco has more than a million years of history. From the beginning,
Nomads and Berbers lived in North Africa and they were well established
when the Phoenicians made their first incursions in 1200 BC. Their origins
are uncertain but are thought to be Euro-Asiatic.
Rome extended its rule into Morocco as part of the province of Mauritania
after defeating Carthage in 146BC. After this time, Vandals invaded, followed
by the Arabs. What became Morocco in the seventh century was the area
invaded by the Arabs who brought their customs, culture, and Islam to
the country. Most of the Berbers converted to Islam and formed a strong
alliance with the Arabs.
The strategic importance of the country enticed European powers to colonise
the country in the early 20th century. This resulted in France holding
major control and Spain having a few small segments.
In 1953 France’s rule came to end but it left a strong cultural
influence, which can still be seen today. King Mohammed VI is the constitutional
monarch and the country is moving fast towards economic prosperity and
long-term stability.
Medical, Water and Vaccinations
While no vaccination certificate is required for visitors coming from
Europe or America, is a good idea to have Typhoid and Hepatitis A and
make sure that you are up to date with your tetanus and polio vaccines.
An anti-cholera vaccination certificate may be required for visitors
coming from areas where this disease is prevalent. Anti-malaria treatment
is not necessary.
A certain amount of minimal precautions should be taken, particularly
in the south.
Avoid drinking water from rivers and water sellers. Bottled water is in
plentiful supply.
Take precautions against insect bites and sunburn. If necessary, tourist
offices and major hotels can put you in touch with doctors who speak English,
French or other languages.
Information Required When Travelling to Morocco
Visas: EU passport holders do not require visas. Children need their
own passports to enter the country and entry is prohibited to children
who are on their guardians’ passports.
Vaccinations: No vaccinations required for visitors from European countries
or America. Typhoid and Hepatitis A are recommended
Time Zone: Morocco is on GMT time
Electricity: In Morocco the voltage is 220 volts AC (50 cycles) and two
point plugs are used.
Currency The currency is the Dirham divided into 100 centimes
Weights and Measures: The metric system is used
Tel. Dialling Code: 00 +
3rd Phase of CEI 2008 Launch:
Representation of property in this country will be effective from 20 August
2008
Please register your interest here.
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