Waking up in the morning to a snow-covered mountain hike, and being on a horse watching the sun set over the ocean by dusk? Yes please.

These are just two of the million reasons why Morocco should be next on your list.

The spanish-cross-middle-eastern charm of Morocco has been luring more and more tourists in the past few years – with a 21 per cent increase from 2016 to 2017 alone. So we went to see what all the fuss was about. And we weren’t disappointed.

Morocco’s diverse landscape is just begging to be explored, from the Atlas Mountains to the Sahara Desert to the beautiful coastline – there’s something for every traveler.

Picture hiking up a steep sand dune to watch the sunset over the desert, before sprinting back down in child-like delight, trying not to fall.

Or getting lost in a city where everything is blue, a photogenic masterpiece around every corner and laneways upon laneways upon laneways. And thats just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Morocco.

Already want to visit? You’re only human. So when you’re done booking flights, here’s what you shouldn’t miss out on in Morocco.

Chefchaouen

Otherwise known as “The Blue City”, Chefchaouen is a photographers dream, filled with beautiful nooks and crannies, the walls splashed with different shades of blue.

Once you’re done wondering around in awe, there’s a ton of amazing food here as well – in the form of traditional moroccon pastry shops and home-style restaurants that will have you wanting to eat 24/7.

For an amazing view of the city and surrounding mountains, take an easy hike up to the Spanish Mosque – or a harder one through the beautiful rift mountains. In between shopping, obviously.

Tangier

This beachside city is a surprising mix of bustling medinas and raw coastal beauty, with a beautiful stretch of sand for as far as the eye can see.

Head to the paisley-filled Kasbah Museum for some culture then take a guided tour of the medina – it’s easy to get lost.

You can also see Spain from the beach – and ferries depart multiple times a day, taking a little over an hour.

Atlas Mountains

The Atlas Mountains are a beautiful, surprising part of Morocco – filled with spectacular views and tiny mountain towns.

In the winter, snowfall can be heavy – so don’t forget a beanie and gloves like we did (lol).

Take a mountain hiking tour (we chose G Adventures) up the High Atlas Mountains whilst a mule carries your bag and stay in a homestay mountain gîte; with views of Mt Toubkal before a delicious home-cooked tangier or cous cous.

The Sahara Desert

A must (and an obvious choice) in Morocco is riding camels to a desert camp for the night. And although it’s an obvious choice, it’s a worthwhile one at worst, and a life-changing one at best.

Being surrounded by orange Sahara dunes on a camel is not something that can be done just anywhere – just like watching the sunrise and sunset from atop one of the highest peaks.

Nomad Villages

Whilst in the desert, take a four wheel drive tour to explore the nomad villages, where Moroccan Berber nomads live in tents and mud-brick houses with their families.

Often one woman is left at the camp with all the children whilst the adults and the older children herd goats or work for one of the nearby desert hotels. If you’re lucky, you’ll even get to try a traditional moroccan pizza: dough filled with flavoursome tomatoes, onions and spices.

A Tangine Cooking Class

Tangine is one of the main traditional dishes of Morocco, so why not make your own!

Think potatoes, carrots, chicken, tomatoes, olives and preserved lemon – mixed with herbs and spices like cumin, garlic, ginger and turmeric. Mouth watering.

Essaouira

This beachside hippie-town is filled with activities to try, whether it’s winter or summer.

Try quad-biking through the nearby sand dunes where you’ll pass camels, goats and horses, or surfing and swimming in the ocean during the warmer months.

There are a ton of vegan and vegetarian restaurants and the medina is filled with shops and dotted with crepe stands (we recommend mars bar and nutella). In the afternoon, take a horse ride on the beach, or just soak up the sunset at a rooftop bar.

Fès

Fès is a beautiful city, filled with pattern-covered palaces and museums galore. 

The Fès medina is also the world’s largest medieval medina and a UNESCO site – and worth exploring for an hour or two. There’s artisan quarters and carts with Moroccan treats, but head to Fès’ famous leather tannery for a killer view.

Marrakech

Marrakech is unmissable in any trip to Morocco – and you can spend a whole day at least in the bustling city square alone.

Shopping in the souks here is better than anywhere else in Morocco, if only for the glee of bartering, hard.

Aside from the square, visit the Bahia Palace, the Majorelle Garden, the Koutoubia Mosque the Saadian Tombs for a hit of history, beauty and culture.