Morocco, a North African country bordering the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea, is distinguished by its Berber, Arabian and European cultural influences. Marrakesh’s medina, a mazelike medieval quarter, offers entertainment in its Djemaa el-Fna square and souks (marketplaces) selling ceramics, jewelry and metal lanterns. The capital Rabat’s Kasbah of the Udayas is a 12th-century royal fort overlooking the water.
Casablanca is home to Hassan II Mosque, an Islamic landmark with a 210m minaret, and the city of Fes is notable for its medina, Fes el Bali. Elsewhere in Morocco, historic sites include earthen-walled Aït Benhaddou (a fortified trading post) and the Roman site Volubilis, which has ruins of a basilica and triumphal arch. Visitors can take camel rides across the Saharan dunes of Erg Chebbi and Erg Chigaga, or go hiking and skiing in the central Atlas Mountains. Beach destinations include the resorts of Essaouira, a windsurfer favorite, and Agadir, known for its crescent-shaped bay.