Top experiences

believe it’s only a three-and-a-half-hour flight from the UK. “Morocco is an exotic long-haul destination with a short-haul flight,” says Farouk Lazhar, Trade Manager for the Moroccan National Tourist Office. “Tour operators and agents can book their customers a range of stays, from hotels and riads to desert camps and retreats, all with a variety of excursion options whether it be for a cultural experience, sports, adventure or wellbeing.” surf’s up: Just a few miles to the south of Agadir, the once sleepy fishing village of Taghazout has become one of the world’s top spots for surfing. It’s home to numerous surf schools, catering for beginners to experts, some also providing hostel accommodation or yoga classes. For bigger budgets there are also beachfront villas and luxury hotels, many built over the last 10 years as the resort has flourished. southern paradise: Between the waters of the Atlantic and the sands of the Sahara, Dakhla is known as the ‘Pearl of Southern Morocco’ for its golden sandy shores and lagoon of crystalline waters. As well as watersports, Dakhla is renowned for its wellbeing and yoga retreats, while just a short hop inland and you can take a 4x4 to discover the White Dune or ride a camel in the Sahara. café culture: Standing at the northern tip of Morocco, Tangier is known as the gateway to Africa. Writers like Paul Bowles, Jack Kerouac and William Burroughs, famed for their part in the Beat generation and counterculture, put Tangier on the map during the sixties and seventies and the city still enjoys a thriving arts scene and café culture. natural oasis: A popular day trip from Marrakech (and the perfect break from the heat and intensity of the city and the desert) the cascading Ouzoud Waterfalls flow pretty much year round. The second largest waterfalls in Africa, there are three sections falling from 110 metres high, which you’ll hear crashing down as you approach through the olive groves. Take your swimsuit for a refreshing dip and soak up the stunning scenery.

The British market is the second largest external market and in 2022 there were 563,829 arrivals from the UK. Marrakech hosted ABTA’s Travel Convention in Marrakech last October and the national team’s unexpected success in the World Cup prompted a rise in interest. Billing itself as the Kingdom of Light, Morocco is gearing up for a rapid revival in 2023.

Tourism officials say research shows the country’s range of attractions particularly appeal to a younger audience seeking the unexpected and something different.

“In 2023, tourists will explore hidden gems in lesser-known cities, with visits to Essaouira, Taghazout, Tangier and Dakhla on the rise. There is also a varied calendar of festivals and sporting events taking place, such as the International Storytelling Festival in Marrakech, the Marathon des Sables across the Moroccan Sahara, and the Gnaoua World Music Festival in Essaouira,” adds Lazhar.

Brian Young, Managing Director EMEA for G Adventures, reports a rise in demand from UK travellers seeking adventures closer to home and says Morocco is definitely high on the list.

“Just a short flight away, travellers can be in a destination that transports them far beyond the familiarity of Europe, with incredible food, scenery, adventure experiences and landscapes,” he adds.

The operator has launched seven new trips to Morocco for 2023, ranging from shorter coastal and desert adventures to longer trips taking in multiple regions.

What’s new?

Flying high: Demonstrating the confidence in the future of Morocco as a tourist destination, easyJet has signed a five-year agreement starting this summer to double its seat capacity to 1.6 million by early 2028. The routes will depart from seven markets including the UK, not only on existing routes to Marrakech, Agadir, Essaouira and Tangier but also to new destinations, such as Rabat, Fez, and Ouarzazate. easyjet.com

Ryanair, Royal Air Maroc, British Airways, TUI Fly and Air Arabia also fly to Morocco from the UK and Ireland, from London, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Dublin to Marrakech, Agadir, Casablanca, Rabat, Tangier and Fes.

Designer luxury: Set to appeal to affluent, party-loving adventurers, the 71-suite Nobu Hotel Marrakech opened in January, bringing the city’s first Nobu restaurant, a rooftop garden with a circular pool deck, cabanas, a restaurant, bar and a 360-degree panoramic terrace that hosts DJ sets and local artists. The hotel also boasts a 2,000 sq m spa, with 14 treatment rooms, a fitness centre and three swimming pools. marrakech.nobuhotels.com

Morocco, tailormade for all levels. abercrombiekent.co.uk

Desert living: Inspired by nomadic Bedouin culture, eco-hospitality group Habitas has created Caravan Agafan, a desert glamping facility 45 minutes from downtown Marrakech.

The site features 20 stylish Moroccan canvas wall tents, a gourmet restaurant, two swimming pools, a horse and camel stable, outdoor cinema, wellness centre, and agora communal gathering spaces. ourhabitas.com horses can help to overcome anxieties, lack of confidence and can help with stress management and emotional control. selman-marrakech.com

Where to book it

G ADVENTURES

Horse power:

New for 2023, the Selman Marrakech, renowned for its stable of Arabian stallions, is offering Equitherapy sessions for guests. A personal development workshop with the

G Adventures’ news 12-day tour, Southern Morocco: The Sahara, The Coast and Marrakech, includes hiking through the Sahara and sleeping in a desert oasis camp; exploring Marrakech and Agadir, before heading to the coast. Priced from £1,359pp, it includes accommodation, most meals, excursions and transfers, but excluding flights. A new Friday-Monday trip to climb Mount Toubkal costs from £399pp. gadventures.com •

A&K has introduced a new five-night Spotlight on Morocco tour, which includes time spent in Marrakech before venturing to some of Morocco’s rural beauty spots including the soaring Atlas Mountains. It also offers a new Expedition Mountaineering in

Tempting tours: