Because I’ve always wanted to…

Hi everyone,

I hope that 2023 is going well for you so far and that travel to warmer climes is on your mind as we slog our way through these chilly months of the year.  Here at laterallife we have sent so many people to Morocco since travel opened up again in late 2021.  Considering it’s only 3 or so hours to fly there from London you get culture-shock a-plenty for your money.  If you have just a few days head for Marrakech or the High Atlas Mountains less than an hour away.  Add a few more days and you can head to the coast and the “windy city” of Essaouira, or the “oyster capital” of Oualidia further down the coast.  If you can, fit in a night at a desert camp for some stargazing.  Make it a week or more and you can see the ancient city of Fes which has the largest medieval medina in the world, still motor vehicle free.  Drive from there to Chefchaouen, a highly photogenic blue-hued village, stopping en route to see Roman ruins and the home of Moroccan wine in Meknes and Volubilis.  If you have a little more time, go all the way to the iconic city of Tangier which looks out across the Strait of Gibraltar to Spain.  Below you will see some of the highlights of a trip to Morocco whether it be a romantic long weekend, half term holiday or a fortnight exploring the country.  Click here to see a family half term holiday and a much longer exploration.  Enjoy!

With our best wishes,
The Lateral Team

Marrakech is the most iconic of Moroccan cities. Most famous for its lively medina, there’s also masses of history and culture to explore such as the Koutoubia Minaret, the Saadian Tombs and the El Badi and El Bahia

Palaces. The Majorelle Gardens, created by Yves Saint Laurent, are another highlight along with the YSL museum next door dedicated to his life and art. Stay just outside the medina at beautiful Villa des Orangers, or at Les Deux Tours, a sanctuary deep in the Palmeraie just 15 minutes’ drive outside the city.

Essaouira: Heure Bleue Palais, Les Jardins de Villa Maroc

The laid-back fishing village of Essaouira is a fast drive down to the Atlantic coast some 2.5hrs from Marrakech. It’s known for art and music as well as fishing with many local and foreign artists settling here to relax in the vibe which attracted the likes of Cat Stevens and Jimmy Hendrix in the 1960s. From here you can get an adrenaline fix by learning how to surf on one of the beaches, or by going quad biking nearby. Stay at the luxurious Heure Bleue Palais right in the heart of old Essaouira, or in an ecodome at the charming Les Jardins de Villa Maroc just outside.

High Atlas Mountains: Kasbah Bab Ourika

The High Atlas Mountains make a spectacular backdrop to the city of Marrakech. Kasbah Bab Ourika is reached via an intriguing 45 minute drive through the Ourika Valley. Turning up a mud road where you’ll see every day Moroccan life in the local villages you’ll find Kasbah Bab Ourika perched high on a hilltop in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains. Walking around the Kasbah’s lush gardens you can enjoy 360 degree panoramic views over the peaks and down to the valleys below. Take a camel ride through the local villages, or hike up to see some impressive waterfalls.

Chefchaouen: La Petite Chefchaouen

Chefchaouen is surely the prettiest town in Morocco. Ranged over a hillside of a valley in the mighty Rif mountains in northern Morocco, this blue-washed village retains an unspoiled authenticity. It feels a world away from the frenzy and buzz of Marrakech or Fez. In Chefchaouen’s old medina you’ll find an engaging mix of both Andalucian and Moroccan influence, the perfect place to relax, explore and take some memorable photos. Stay at La Petite Chefchaouen

Oualidia: La Sultana Oualidia

The coastal town of Oualidia is known as Morocco’s oyster capital and offers a very different kind of Moroccan seaside experience. It’s bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on one side and a saltwater lagoon on the other. King Mohammed V built his summer palace here back in the 1940s and declared this to be Morocco’s first royal beach. Expect to see pink flamingos flying in flocks overhead and oyster farms producing the shellfish for which it is famous. The only place to stay is the superb La Sultana Oualidia where you can enjoy the freshest oysters along with lots of other delicious straight-from-the-sea produce all washed down with a glass of chilled Moroccan gris wine.

Fez: Riad Fes/Dar Roumana

Fez (or Fés) is Morocco’s cultural capital, thoroughly authentic and vibrant with history. The ancient and sprawling medina is a magical, medieval city with some 9000 narrow streets and alleys. Unlike the Marrakech medina, it’s motor vehicle free and you’ll see plenty of mules and donkeys carrying goods around in their panniers. Stay at Riad Fes or Dar Roumana.

Agafay Desert: Inara Camp

How about spending the night eating around a campfire, taking a camel ride and stargazing into the night? Morocco has a few camps such as Inara Camp where you can do just that.

Tangier: Riad La Tangerina

Tangier has been a gateway to Europe from Africa for centuries and this has given it a unique blend of those two cultures and influences. The city has long had a somewhat seedy allure, attracting artists, musicians and even spies into its atmospheric alleyways, but right now it’s buzzing in a way it hasn’t done for decades. Enjoy the spectacular sea vistas over to the Spanish coast from beautiful Riad La Tangerina at the top of the old medina.

Up Periscope: Alphonse Island Resort, Seychelles

Alphonse Atoll, located in the outer islands of the Seychelles, is a place where natural wonders abound – white sand beaches, azure ocean and swaying palms. Its remoteness offers that special kind of solitude which lets you forget all about the outside world. Here you can stay at Alphonse Island Resort in a luxurious, newly renovated villa with direct beach access and a private plunge pool, or in one of the fabulous beach bungalows shown below. Spend your time there diving, snorkelling or fishing, or just relax to your heart’s content.