Morocco in Pictures: 18 Beautiful Places to Photograph
Morocco is an incredibly scenic country – golden beaches line up the coast, the Sahara desert is right at its doorstep, and mountains and imperial cities dot the countryside. Beautiful pictures are everywhere.
Whether you're visiting for the history or the natural beauty, Morocco won't disappoint – mosques, Berber villages, and exquisite traditional tile work are everywhere. An extraordinary mix of cultural influences makes this an extraordinary destination and a must on everybody's travel list.
Take a look at some of the most stunning spots to photograph in Morocco.
1. Marrakech Market
The Fna market in old Medina, Marrakesh is an eclectic mix of street performers, orange juice sellers, Henna tattoo artists, and herbalists who come to sell their wares. As the sun starts to set, the market comes alive, and food stalls take over the square. Capture colorful images as you wander through the market.
2. Dades Valley
The Dades Gorges Valley is millions of years old. Carved by the river Dades, the sandstone and limestone rust-red walls are a stunning sight as the evening light swirls around them. Popular as a hiking and adventure destination, Dades Valley offers plenty to do at any time of the year.
3. Chefchaouen Blue Village
Shades of blue make the small city of Chefchaouen a stunning city even from afar. The photo opportunities are endless.
Thousands of tourists arrive every year to walk the archways and cobblestone streets of the blue city – though the town is also famous for its native wool handicrafts, the local mountainous surroundings, and the local goat cheese. Kef Toghobeit, one of the deepest caves in Africa, is just minutes away.
- Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Morocco
4. Merzouga Desert
The small village of Merzouga sits on the edge of Erg Chebbi, a massive fire-orange sand dune. It's a popular tourist destination for desert camping, camel rides, and bonfires in the deep darkness. During the hottest months of the year, locals visit Merzouga for an unusual natural treatment for rheumatism - burying themselves up to the neck into the steaming hot sands.
5. Casablanca
The Hassan II Mosque is one of the most beautiful buildings in Casablanca and home to the world's second tallest minaret tower at 210 meters. Most of Casablanca's tourism heads to the historic Old Medina, full of beautiful white French colonial buildings, historical city walls, and many Neo-Moorish style structures.
6. Ait Benhaddou
The fortified village of Ait Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was once a caravan route that connected the Sahara with the ancient city of Marrakech. The mud and straw buildings that form the village seem to mix into the rocky red background, where merchant houses, sandy rocky staircases, and narrow pathways add to the magic.
7. Toubkal National Park
The stunning mountain scenery just begs to be photographed. Snowcapped peaks and rugged mountains make for stunning pictures.
Mountain trails crisscross through the park, with pink-colored houses, juniper trees, and arid steppe paving the way. The main attraction here, however, is the snowcapped Jebel Toubkal mountain, the highest summit in North Africa. Hiking trips to the top of the mountain can take as little as three days but are best enjoyed as a week-long trip to truly absorb the beauty of the surroundings.
- Read More: Top-Rated Day Trips from Marrakesh
8. Rabat
Bou Regreg river embankment cuts through the ancient city of Rabat. Born as a full-scale fortress in the year 1146, Rabat still retains its incredible medieval character, obvious in the town's mausoleums and the ruins of Chellah, a fortified necropolis, and garden.
9. Essaouira Citadel
The Essaouira historic fort is particularly stunning at night, with the moon shining over its walls and the port next to it. The old part of town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is surrounded by 18th-century stone walls and is home to many markets and artisan shops.
10. Ouzoud Falls
Morocco's highest waterfalls are stunning in the evening light. The impressive 110-meter-tall falls roar as they plunge down the reddish cliffs. Old small mills line up the top of the falls, while trails take adventurous souls away and deep into the canyons through ancient, treacherous roads.
11. Zagora
The roads that lead to the dusty town of Zagora are just as famous as the ancient desert outpost itself. Once in town, visitors can explore date palm farms, visit a souk (traditional Moroccan market), or spend the night in a traditional Berber tent.
12. Sidi Ifni
Sunset makes the arches at Legzira Beach a deeper shade of beautiful red. Sitting right on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, the town of Sidi Ifni has a colonial feel and a distinctive Spanish feel. The laid-back cafés; the waves perfect for surfing; and the rocky plateau, with its many hiking trails, make this an idyllic destination for bohemians and adventurers alike.
13. Oukaïmeden
Morocco's Atlas mountains are home to excellent skiing options, including the Oukaïmeden ski resort, set at the heart of a sleepy mountain village. In summer, hiking trails surrounded by wildflowers cover the peaks.
14. Caves of Hercules
The Caves of Hercules is a stunning archaeological cave complex with openings over land and over the sea. While the land opening is natural, the sea opening is man-made, more than likely created by the Phoenicians, who were expert seamen and would have used the entrance to disembark from their ships.
15. Lake Ouiouane
Sitting at an altitude of 1,600 meters, Lake Ouiouane is surrounded by forest and often covered in snow in winter. The lake falls within the borders of Ifrane National Park, one of the world's few remaining habitats for the endangered Barbary macaque.
16. Meknes
A 10th-century UNESCO World Heritage Site better known as simply "the Imperial City," Mekness is an exciting mix of old and new cultures. You'll find beautiful mosques here, ancient Roman ruins, and even a royal temple and fortified city walls. But there's also plenty of open spaces and nature around, including the nearby Middle Atlas Mountains.
17. Ouarzazate
A popular holiday destination, Ouarzazate city has been nicknamed "the door of the desert" because of its location next to the Draa Valley and the desert. The area is known for its carpets and for being a favorite filming location – everything from Gladiator to Babel to parts of Game of Thrones has been filmed here.
18. Ounilla Valley
One of Morocco's best-hidden destinations, the Ounilla Valley was once a main trans-Saharan trade route and home to many ksar (fortified villages). Today, most of those earthen clay villages have been reduced to ruins, and you will run into them here and there as you cross through the valley. The ksar of Aït Benhaddou is one of the few ones still inhabited.
