Treasure Hunting for All Things Moroccan

Once you disembark the Royal Air Maroc plane and touch Moroccan tarmac, the journey begins. Organizing an itinerary that encompasses an array of cultural exposure activities can be a challenge. But it doesn't have to be if you are armed with reliable information.

Morocco is home to numerous talented singers and artists. Many include pop or electronic vibes to their work. Others stick with more acoustic sounds. If you are searching for some Moroccan pop music, try listening to Douzi, Manal, Hatim Amour, Badr Soultan, Aminux, Dounia Batma, Oum or Ahmed Chawki. Check out ch3bi music, music specifically found in Morocco, if you want a unique taste of Moroccan culture. Some well known singers include Abdellah Daoudi and Zina Daoudia.

To celebrate ch3bi music, Gnaoua, a music festival, is celebrated every year in Essaouira. Check out this link for more information. https://www.festicket.com/festivals/gnaoua-festival/2018/

In the summer, Rabat also hosts Mawazine. This music festival is a week long event with artists from across the globe. Past singers have included P Square, Bruno Mars, Louis Fonsi and Oum. Check out this link for more information. http://www.festivalmawazine.ma/en/accueil/

Yes, goats in trees are a thing. Goats are used in Essaouira and Agadir to retrieve the argan fruit from the argan tree. The tree can only be found in Essaouira and Agadir- no other location in the world can support this sapling. The goats climb to dizzying heights to munch on the fruit which has an extremely hard outer shell. Once they have finished chewing, they spit out the seeds. These seeds are then pressed and oil is extracted. The oil can be used in cosmetic products including shampoo and lotions. However, in Morocco the oil is used to make amlo. Amlo is a mix of ground almonds, honey and argan oil. It is often eaten with bread or fried dough and has a walnuty/hazelnuty taste.

With spindly legs and rolling tongues camels don't seem like the graceful type. I can assure you they are. As they gently lower their bodies onto the scorching sand, they gracefully tuck their limbs under themselves. If only I had been as dignified getting on and off the dromedary I chose to ride into the Sahara.

There are multiple locations to start your camel trek. Some are more breathtaking than others but you are guaranteed to get some good Instagram or Facebook photos from all. Ranked from highest to lowest, these locations will exceed your expectations.

1. Merzouga. This small town is in southeastern Morocco. Close to the Algerian border, it has spectacular backdrops of the sun soaked Sahara.

2. Ourzazate. Known in the movie industry, this city has been the filming place for many movies including Gladiator and Game of Thrones. Camel treks from Ourzazate will take you into the Sahara and bring you to a desert oasis.

3. Marrakesh. A city known by all. You can take a camel trek outside of the city but you will not have the beauty of the Sahara surrounding you.