Morocco never ceases to amaze. Despite having lived here for five years and
I've found a lot of new places through my extensive exploration; some of these places I find
accidentally going off the usual route.
In my insider's guide to the country's ten secret locations, you will discover some of Morocco hidden gems.
locations. While some locations are not secret, tourists are less familiar with them. Or they
would never even think about going. Some of the locations on the list are places I haven't yet visited.
But I want to go as soon as possible!
Top 10 Hidden Gems to Visit in Morocco
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| Top 10 Hidden Gems to Visit in #Morocco |
1. Bousselham Lagoon in Moulay
The Kénitra Province's Moulay Bousselham is a small town well-known for its lagoon and the
Merja Zerga is a wetland area. The resort is popular almost entirely with Moroccans.
And the birdwatching community. The wetland is home to over 100 bird species, like the
flamingos, grey herons, storks, black-winged stilts, African marsh owls, marbled teals,
Red-knobbed coots, etc. If you want a birdwatching tour, ask around in the port. You can
Read more about my visit to Moulay Bousselham in the post Chasing Flamingos in
Oh, and Moulay Bousselham is a tasty seafood lunch stop if you drive from Tangier to
Marrakech. Don’t eat at the restaurants; go directly to the local fish market. You can
choose your fish that will be grilled and served in the market’s grill spot.
2. Sidi M’Barek waterfalls
What a place! While in Essaouira, I often wondered what to see around, not driving too.
far. I was so delighted to discover this stunning place, the lush waterfalls of Sidi M'Barek.
and the marabout (home of a saint). The waterfalls are about 15 minutes south of
Essaouira, on the road leading to Sidi Kouki. You will see small signs indicating that you
are there, but make sure you ask locals as the walking path to the waterfalls is not
marked. The walk to the waterfalls takes around 30 minutes. It’s a perfect spot for lunch.
or barbecue. What I love about this place is also the giant dunes that remind me of the
Sahara Desert. Even better, down the dunes, you will find the waterfalls and more down
the ocean!
3. Lalla Takerkoust
Marrakech is surrounded by many beautiful spots to visit on a one-day trip. Lalla
Takerkoust is one of my favorites when I want to escape from the heat in Marrakech and
Enjoy refreshing nature. Situated around 40 km from Marrakech, Lalla Takerkoust is
famous because of its beautiful human-made lake built in 1929 to provide electricity to
Marrakech and its surroundings. The lake is fresh heaven after hot days in Marrakech.
There are few beaches for swimming, restaurants, and hotels. You can enjoy aquatic
sports: jet ski, boats, etc.
4. Bhalil cave dwellings
I heard about the village of Bhalil a long time ago. However, until now I never had an
opportunity to visit this village. Located 30 km from Fez, close to Sefrou town, the
The community of Bhalil is famous for its unique cave dwellings. People still inhabit some of
them. Bhalil also attracts attention because of its colorful houses and streets.
There are not many inhabited cave dwellings left. Because of modernization, locals are
slowly moving from the cave-houses to the modern part of the town. Some of the cave
Houses are open to tourists. You only need to catch a local (unofficial) guide, and he will
Show the inside of the cave houses. Read an article about my visit to Bhalil cave houses.
5. Plage De Mares dar in Jebha
Beach De Maresdar is a real secret. Located in El Jebha, in the northern part of
Morocco, halfway between Tetouan and Al Hoceima, this place is almost unknown to
tourists and even locals. Carved into the rock, the Plage De Mares reminds more of a
beach in Indonesia or Thailand. This place is more secluded and unique because the
The beach can only be reached by a small boat from the town.
6. Moulay Idriss
Moulay Idriss is a town in northern Morocco. You probably would have known Moulay Idriss if
You visited the nearby archaeological site Volubilis. The holiest city of Morocco till 2005,
didn’t allow non-Muslims to stay overnight in the town. The town is situated on a hill and
surrounded by lush green hillsides.
I’ve been to Moulay Idriss a few times and always felt the unique magic of the town.
Especially on more cloudy days, when the city is partly hidden in white clouds. Also,
Moulay Idriss is all about donkeys. They are used to transport everything from people to
vegetables, furniture, etc.
7. Iminifri natural bridge
We discovered the Iminifri natural bridge while driving to another secret place from this list.
Bin el Ouidane Lake. The bridge is located about 70 km from the famous Ouzoud.
waterfalls. The Iminifri natural bridge is a stone structure created by the water that flows.
underneath, creating all forms to a height of over 20 meters. It’s not a popular tourist
attraction, surrounded by a few local restaurants where we had a fantastic rabbit tagine.
The hike from the natural bridge is short and not complicated. Make sure you come in.
comfortable shoes. A few locals show us the way through the natural bridge. While
walking through, pay attention to one of the stone formations that reminds you of the
shape of Africa. It’s hard to see the similarity, but locals will help you out.
8. Tinmel Mosque
The Tinmel mosque (built in 1156) is one of the two mosques in Morocco open to non-
Muslims. About 100 km from Marrakech, Tinmel Mosque is a hidden gem and not very
well-known.
It no longer functions as a mosque, and visitors can freely come to the mosque at any
time. You will often find there an English-speaking guide. Don’t hesitate to hire him for a
short history walk (even if you know the history, take the tour to support the locals). If you
Want a unique day tour? Read the story about my visit to the Berber home. The day trip
included a visit to the Tinmel mosque.
9. Skoura oasis
On the way to the Sahara Desert of Merzouga, travelers or tours often stop overnight.
either in Tinghir or Ait Ben Haddou. However, there is another place to spend a night or
even a few days in the Skoura oasis. Located 40 km from Ouarzazate, Skoura is worth
attention for the about 50 km² palm grove labyrinth with palms, olive, almond trees, and
cute local villages. There are a few hotels to stay in; some of them are a real oasis to relax in.
after a long drive. You can also arrange a tour of the oasis and local villages. I love Skoura.
oasis because it’s still undiscovered for mass tourists and the Go Local experience makes
it unique.
Don’t forget to visit the Kasbah Amridil of the 17th century. You will recognize the kasbah.
Amridil is from the picture on the banknotes of 50 Dirhams. It’s also where the
famous movies "Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves" & “Lawrence of Arabia” were filmed.
10. Bin el Ouidane Lake
Bin el Ouidane Lake is located about a 1-hour drive from the Ouzoud waterfalls in Azilal.
Province. The dam of Bin el Ouidane was built in the mid-20th century with a height of
1,330 meters and a length of 85 meters. Bin el Ouidane dam and its surroundings are a
refuge for those looking for calm and quietness. What to do in Bin el Ouidane Lake? Rent
a local boat, enjoy the beautiful views, swim, sunbathe, and eat. There are some hotels too.
rent around the lake or, like me, find an apartment with a lake view.