By Zakaria Baaziz

Rabat - Thirty kilometers (about nineteen miles) to the south-east of Chefchaouen, not far from the coastal town of Ouedlaou, in the Talassemtane National Reserve, stand the enchanting waterfalls of Akchour. The setting is like a graceful, divine painting, enthralling tourists, hikers and adventurers from all over the world, particularly in the summer time.

Etymologically speaking, Akchour is a Berber word that means “part, part of” or “somewhere," according to some autochthonous people, the name was inspired by the remoteness of the site.

In order to reach the falls, you must drive about five miles on a bumpy and poorly paved road that ends at a parking lot. From this point, you must walk through the dense jungle for about one hour to reach the first cascade, the small one. To reach the larger and more famous cascade requires two exhausting hours of walking along dangerous trails glutted with dusty slopes and numerous rocky, watery and even woody impediments.

All along the way, cluttered tents are set up on both sides of the path, where free drinking water is served, along with some premium juices and food. The cool, shady landscape at the waterfall is breathtaking, with water dropping from over five hundred feet high, a magic fusion of blue and green, peagons filling the air. Everyone is thrilled by the glamorous uniqueness of the place.

Unfortunately, you must then spend another two hours walking back to the parking lot under the same difficult conditions, but all of your aches and pains fade away when you recall the wonder of the experience, the majesty of the spot and its one-of-a-kind ambience.

Edited by Esther Bedik

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Taroudant - The city of Fez, one of the oldest imperial cities in the Kingdom of Morocco, is quite famous among travelers and tourists as one of the best destinations in the world.

However, the medieval city of Fez, with its quaint and picturesque narrow streets in the maze-like medina, fabulous food scene, and several historic monuments that stretch back hundreds of years, is home to many tourist attractions you might not know about.

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Founded by Idris I in 789, the city of Fez was the capital of Morocco until 1912. Now, the spiritual city with its modern extension is Morocco’s second largest city. But the old medina remains the vibrant heart of the city, which has several tourist attractions, highlighting Fez’s rich history and culture that has made the city one of the world’s must-see destinations.

Here are facts you probably didn’t know about Fez, Morocco.

Fez Medina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Fez is among the 10 Moroccan cities recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1981, the city of Fez remains a cultural and spiritual locus, with many amazing tourist sites that not only please the eyes, but also teach the secrets of well-preserved ancient architecture and labor skills that date back to the medieval times.

Fez Medina, a car-free city

Built in the 9th century, the Fez medina is a labyrinth of about 10,000 alleys that are too narrow for cars, with small artisanal shops selling all kinds of hand-made products: everything from clothes and jewelry to furniture and food.

The medina is a completely car-free urban zone, and the only means of transporting goods inside the medina are mules or small chariots. Nowadays, you may occasionally see a motorbike or bike zooming through a crowd of people in the narrow streets.

Fez Medina, home to one of the oldest water clocks in the world

Water clocks are the oldest form of time keeping in the world. Fez is home to one of these old devices well preserved in Dar al-Magana, meaning "clock-house". Built by the “muwaqqit” (time keeper) Abou al-Hassan Ibn Ali Ahmed Tlemsani, the clock was finished on May 6, 1357, and kept inside Dar al-Magana, a house built by the Marinid Sultan Abu Inan Faris.

Fez Medina, Chouara Tannery is believed to be the oldest leather tannery in the world

The medina in Fez is home to many leather tanneries producing the best quality of leather, which is more durable and less susceptible to decomposition. Although the largest and most famous tannery is in Bab Ghissa, Chouara Tannery is said to be the oldest leather tannery in the world. The complete process of preparing leather is done manually in small ditches by skilled workers. The produced leather is traditionally sold in the Leather Souq, and in souks all over the kingdom.

[caption id="attachment_159622" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Photo credit: Jack Stanovsek[/caption]

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Fez Medina, the only place where Fez hats used to be made

The red top hat that Moroccans wear, particularly in ceremonies and special events, is named the “Fez,” just like the city. Historically, the fez hats were exclusively hand made in the city of Fez by talented craftsmen, locally known as “Trabshi.” The hats have become a symbol of the kingdom, representing official dress. Now they are produced in many places, including Turkey and France, but the best quality hats are still those coming from Fez.

Fez Medina, home to the oldest degree-granting university in the world

[caption id="attachment_129536" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Photo credit: Morocco World News[/caption]

Al Karaouin University in Fez dates back to the 9th century, built by Fatima Al Fihri, a pious woman from a wealthy family who left their original city Al Kairouan (in modern-day Tunisia) and settled in Fez. Founded in 859, the historic university of Fez is actually recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest degree-granting university in the world. Moreover, UNESCO considers Al Karaouin to have been a university since its founding.

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Fez Medina where every neighborhood has a mosque

Like in all the villages, towns and cities in Morocco, “Fez has more than 400 mosques,” according to Abdesalam Gharmini, a regional delegate of the Ministry of Habous and Islamic Affairs, adding that more than half of these mosques exist in the Fez medina.

Every neighborhood has its own mosque, and they are easily seen from the terrace of the Hotel Les Merinides.

Fez Medina, home to Maimonides House

The Maimonides house is in Derb Margana, on the right-hand side as you walk off the Tala'a Kebira. Moshe ben Maimon, a great Jewish teacher, physician, and philosopher, lived in the house in the 12th century. He taught and treated people in Fez, and later moved to Egypt, where he died and was buried.

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Rabat - Following his Marrakech trip to celebrate Portugal’s Euro 2016 qualification, Ronaldo is discovering the Moroccan traditions with his Moroccan friend, World Kickboxing champion Badr Hari.

Ronaldo arrived in Marrakech late Thursday night in a private jet from Porto, in order to celebrate his national team’s qualification for Euro 2016 with a 1-0 win over Denmark.

Moroccan kick-boxer invited Ronaldo to a traditional Moroccan dinner on Friday night. Hari posted a picture on social media along with Ronaldo and a few friends, while wearing the small red cap known as the Moroccan Tarboosh.

Last night dinner Moroccan style. ???????????????????????? @Cristiano #BadrHari #CR7 #Ronaldo #Morocco pic.twitter.com/UH70dGaHOV

— Badr Hari (@badr84hari) October 10, 2015

On Friday afternoon, Hari posted another picture on his Facebook page alongside Ronaldo, where they appear having a good time in swimming pool in Marrakech.

Earlier on Thursday night, Ronaldo allegedly went out to Marrakech’s best night club, Theatro. He appeared in a video footage with Badr Hari, enjoying the atmosphere at the club.

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Portugal qualified for Euro 2016 with a 1-0 win over Denmark last Thursday.  It’s been more than 11 years since Ronaldo starred for a Portugal side that was hosting the European Championships in 2004. They were beaten by Greece in that final.

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Rabat - After Cristiano Ronaldo’s epic trip to Marrakech, FC Barcelona’s star Neymar Junior is due to arrive in the Red City in the upcoming weeks, over an invitation by Moroccan international Hachim Mastour.

Multiple media reports in Spain said Neymar will probably spend the Christmas holiday in Marrakech with his Moroccan friend, Hachim Mastour.

The 17-year-old Mastour, who moved to Spain from Italy after he signed a two-year loan with the Andalusian side of Malaga last August, is a close friend of Neymar. The two met at a Red Bull event a few months ago.

Morocco’s daily Le360 website reported that Neymar and other international celebrities will be encouraged to visit Marrakech, after the city has come under the worldwide spotlight following Ronaldo’s epic trip over the past weekend.

Ronaldo arrived Thursday night to Marrakech to celebrate Portugal’s qualification to Euro 2016, accompanied by super heavyweight Moroccan kickboxer, Badr Hari.

The third richest athlete in the world had so much fun in Marrakech that he took to his Facebook page and wrote for the very first time a post in Arabic, which reads: “I’m having good time with friends in Morocco.”

The Portuguese legend flew back to Madrid from Marrakech on Sunday night. He posted a picture of himself standing near his private jet in Marrakech and wrote in the caption: ‘’Back home. Thanks Morocco. See you soon family. ‘’

[caption id="attachment_170214" align="alignnone" width="700"] He posted a picture of himself standing near his private jet in Marrakech and wrote in the caption: ‘’Back home. Thanks Morocco. See you soon family. ‘’[/caption]

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Taroudant - Northern City of Chefchaouen Featured Among Telegraph's ranking of the World's Best City Skylines

Chefchaouen, locally known as Chaouen, is a beautiful blue painted city nestled in the Moroccan Rif range to the east of Tangier.

The blue city ranks 13th out of 26, ahead of globally famous cities such as New York, Paris and Shanghai.

Among city’s strengths, The Telegraph referred to the historical importance of the blue city with its old city mosque that “dates from the 15th century and is architecturally unusual due to its octagonal minaret.”

With skyscrapers of the Australian capital, Sydney came on the top of the ranking. Edinburgh is found at the third position, followed by Kuala Lumpur, capital of Malaysia.

Last year, Chefchaouen ranked 9th on Buzzfeed’s list of Most Beautiful Travel Destinations, making it the only city from North Africa and the Arab world on the list.

With its never-ending charm, the city is not only a beautiful destination for tourists but also a preferred location for the glamorous world of fashion. In August, Jacob Cohën, Italy’s world-renowned fashion brand, chose the city as background for its Fall-Winter 2015-2016 Collection.

With its Arabic, Berber, Jewish and Moorish heritage, Chefchaouen reflects the ethnic diversity and cultural richness of the kingdom.

Moulay Ali Ben Moussa Ben Rachid El Alami built the beautiful city in 1471 as a small fortress to protect Northern Morocco from Portuguese invaders.

Chefchaouen is home to the famous waterfall of Akchour, which is considered by tourists as a little paradise on earth. Located in the valley of Talembote, the waterfall is a pristine natural beauty, attracting more and more tourists since the opening of the natural park of Talassemtane.

[caption id="attachment_152400" align="aligncenter" width="730"] The city of Chefchaouen, photo by Jack Stana/MWN[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_147786" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] The city of Chefchaouen, photo by Jack Stana/MWN[/caption]

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Casablanca - Young Moroccan man takes to the streets of Casablanca with a special hidden talent that unexpectedly scared some and made others laugh.

The Moroccan performer dressed in Jellaba underwent a rigorous makeup transformation to age his face and appear like an elder calmly walking the streets of the city.

Passersby near him were pranked when he suddenly burst into dance moves straight from a Michael Jackson routine to the surprise, screams, and laughter of the many adults and children at the city’s park.

The last thing locals in Casablanca were expecting that evening was to come across a typical-looking Moroccan “grandpa” who could pop and move to the beats of a trained dancer.

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Rabat - Following in the footsteps of many public figures and prominent sportsmen, former British footballer Gary Lineker recently chose Marrakech, the Moroccan red city, to spend some time off with his family.

On Tuesday October 13, in the company of his two elder sons, the footballer posted several snaps of his stay in Morocco for his Instagram followers, including one enjoying a sports session along with George, his eldest son.

The 54-year-old sportsman and winner of the Golden Boot during the World Cup of 1986 also shared a snap of himself enjoying a toast while watching a glorious Moroccan sunset.

Lineker also added captions to his posts, joking about his trip that his greatest time is spent with his sons -- as long as he pays the charges of the trip.

Lineker has played with several international football clubs, including Leicester City, FC Barcelona, Everton, and Tottenham Hotspur.

After the epic trip of Real Madrid giant Ronaldo to Marrakech, many international footballers have become curious and wish to discover the glamourous beauty of the red city.

Brazilian and FC Barcelona superstar Neymar is expected to pay a visit to Marrakech in the near future having received an invitation by Moroccan international football star Hachim Mastour.

The goalposts are numerous and tall in Marrakech. A photo posted by Gary Lineker (@garylineker) on Oct 14, 2015 at 10:00am PDT

 

Morrocan sunset beers with the boys @georgelineker @harry_lineker

 

A photo posted by Gary Lineker (@garylineker) on Oct 13, 2015 at 9:58am PDT

 

Having a gym sesh in Marrakesh with @georgelineker

 

A photo posted by Gary Lineker (@garylineker) on Oct 12, 2015 at 3:26am PDT

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Rabat - The Royal Mansour in Marrakech was named best hotel in Africa at the ceremony awards “Prix Villégiature 2015” held on Monday, October 19, in Paris.

The jury of the “Prix Villégiature 2015” was composed of 22 journalists and correspondents covering the five continents.

[caption id="attachment_170802" align="alignnone" width="300"] Riad Two Bedrooms Suite[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_170803" align="alignnone" width="300"] The Royal Mansour Patio[/caption]

The election of the hotels was conducted through secret ballot in the famous Hilton Paris Hotel Opera.

Besides Royal Mansour, four hotels in Kenya and Mauritius competed for the grand prize of the best hotel in Africa.

Opened in 2008, the Royal Mansour has no rooms. However, guests have their own individual three story riad mixing traditional Moroccan beauty with all Western luxuries.

According to the British celebrity news website Instyle, the Royal Mansour is “the only hotel in Africa to have a Michelin star, where you can spend the evening dining in either of the incredible French chef Yannick Alleno's restaurants.”

The same source added that the Royal Mansour is the favorite hotel for famous former English footballer David Beckham.

With this prize awarded to Royal Mansour, Marrakech, one of the top tourist destinations in the world, is for the third consecutive year home of the best hotel in Africa.

Selman Hotel and Palais Namaskar Hotel were named in 2013 and 2014 respectively best hotels in Africa.

[caption id="attachment_170804" align="alignnone" width="300"] a covered outdoor swimming pool[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_170811" align="alignnone" width="300"] The Royal Mansour Spa[/caption]

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Rabat - Morocco could host the wedding of Lady Gaga and the 34-year-old actor Taylor Kinney who has fallen in love with the North African country when he shot his movie Rock the Kasbah there.

Chicago Fire actor Taylor, who got engaged to the Poker Face singer in February, said he fell in love with Morocco while filming Rock the Kasbah, and would like to get married there.

Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, Taylor Kinney said with a smile: "Morocco would be great! I told her I don't mind doing the little white chapel thing. She wants what she wants. I want to make sure that it's right what she wants."

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="634"] Chicago Fire actor Taylor wants to Marry Lady Gaga in Morocco[/caption]

Meanwhile, the couple are struggling to find time to plan their nuptials due to their conflicting work schedules.

"Were going to take our time and do it right," Taylor concluded.

Kinney, popped the question earlier this year on Valentine's Day and couldn't resist playing a prank on the Applause hitmaker, who was overcome with emotion even with the fake jewelry.

'I said, "Yes!" right away and then he pulled out the heart-shaped diamond. First it was candy. I was happy with the candy,' Lady Gaga said in a previous statement.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="634"] The Born This Way singer's engagement ring - which was designed by jeweler to the stars Lorraine Schwartz - features a diamond studded setting and band with a message created in the precious stones .[/caption]

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By Yasyn Mouhir

Marrakech - French auction house Artcurial will auction the Islamic art collection of Pierre Bergé and Yves Saint Laurent on October 31 in the salons of the Palace Es Saadi in Marrakech. The "A Moroccan Passion" sale will be held to aid the Jardin Majorelle Foundation.

Pierre Bergé said in the preface of the sale catalogue, "As soon as we arrived in Morocco, both Yves Saint Laurent and I were fascinated by Islamic art and so decided to collect it".

"The Jardin Majorelle Foundation, which I chair, will be selling all these carefully chosen pieces. The proceeds from this sale will enable us to continue improving the garden and to welcome, in the best possible fashion, the numerous visitors, which last year amounted to almost 800,000," he said.

According to a statement by Artcurial, the collection will feature almost 180 pieces of Moroccan art, including weapons, embroidery, cloth, ceramics, jewelry, carpets, and architectural components. The items were on exhibit in the Jardin Majorelle Museum before its focus turned exclusively to Berber art after its 2011 renovation.

The sale will also include all the furniture of Bill Willis, star architect of the Marrakesh jet set More than 50 pieces furniture and paintings from Pierre Bergé and Yves Saint Laurent ‘spersonal collection will be added the lot of 180 from the museum.

The Artcurial sale in Morocco will take place at the same time as an exhibition of works from the African Spirit collection, which will be auctioned on November 9 in Paris.

The collection reflects the personal taste of Pierre Bergé and Yves Saint Laurent for Islamic art and Oriental civilization. Across all departments, the chosen pieces have been carefully selected and, with the estimated value of pieces ranging from 300 to 30,000 euros, should appeal to a variety of collectors.

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Rabat - Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has arrived in Agadir on Saturday, on his second visit to Morocco this October, after his epic vacation in Marrakech earlier this month.

On October 11, Ronaldo promised Moroccans in a post on Instagram, as he was leaving Marrakech that he would come back to see them again. The Portuguese star proved he is a man of his word, as he kept the promise and came back to Morocco.

CR7 arrived in Agadir late Saturday night, after his team’s 3-1 win over Celta Vigo. He joined his Moroccan friend, kickboxing champion Badr Hari who is still in Agadir, after having participated with Ronaldinho, Roberto Carlos and Louis Saha, in a football match honoring Moroccan player Musfapha Hadji.

Multiple media reports said Ronaldo went out with Morocco’s Golden Boy to one of Agadir’s best night clubs on Saturday night. The two are said to have explored the beauty of the coastal city this Sunday, aboard a yacht.

Badr Hari posted a picture of him with CR7 this Sunday in Agadir with the caption: " Having a great day with my bro Cristiano".

Having a great day with my bro @cristiano ???? ??? ???? ?? ????? ???????? #Agadir #CR7 #BadrHari pic.twitter.com/cv8YlndzUF

— Badr Hari (@badr84hari) October 25, 2015

The owners of the restaurant that hosted the two stars posted a message on their Facebook page thanking Ronaldo and Hari for choosing their restaurant.

Earlier this month, the third richest athlete in the world spent a good time in Marrakech where he visited Badr Hari. He wrote his first post ever in Arabic to thank Morocco. Ronaldo appeared  smiling in every picture and video from his Moroccan getaway.

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Rabat - Morocco’s Atlas Kasbah Ecolodge in Agadir has won the award for “Best Hotel for Local Sourcing” at the World Responsible Tourism Awards 2015 in London.

The Atlas Kasbah Ecolodge received the gold medal as the top hotel in the world for local sourcing at the Word Travel Market, the most prominent event for the travel industry in the world, which took place in the UK’s capital city, November 2-5, according to a report by Responsible Travel website.

The category for “Best Hotel for Local Sourcing” is awarded in the hospitality industry to a hotel accommodation that excels in “sourcing their goods and services locally”.

“From the décor to the desk-staff, the cleaning products to the cook, this category is for accommodations that draw inspiration, expertise and supplies from the local area, infusing everything they do with the uniqueness and authenticity of the destination,” the same source noted.

Agadir’s Atlas Kasbah Ecolodge is the number one hotel in the world that sources its full operation from its local region providing their guests with an unforgettable experience native to Morocco’s historically rich Agadir.

The gold medal winner, Atlas Kasbah, is a protected UNESCO World Heritage location in the High Atlas Mountains of Agadir, due to its emblematic “Argan tree” from which the prestigious and uniquely Moroccan argan oil is extracted.

This Moroccan eco Kasbah was built in 2009 in the Argan Biosphere Reserve by husband and wife Hassan and Helene Aboutayeb, as a form of tribute to their Berber heritage and to support sustainability development.

Its infrastructure maintains the look of an ancient Berber fortress, built to Kasbah’s historical specifications and traditional architecture. It consists of 11 hand-crafted bedrooms and is decorated in its entirety to reflect the traditions of the Berber people.

The ecolodge’s staff is 100 percent locally sourced and guests can enjoy the many products handcrafted by Berber women who work at the Kasbah, as well as exquisite Moroccan cuisine made from scratch with local foods.

The World Travel Market noted that “81 percent of the Atlas Kasbah’s revenues are spent within a 50-kilometer radius around the hotel”, making it a great source of income for the region.

In a statement, the Regional Council of Tourism in Agadir Souss Massa (CRT) welcomed this distinction and stressed that "this year, in addition to coastal and local products, Agadir will be responsible to pull up the tourism industry."

The Atlas Kasbah Ecolodge was previously granted the international Green Key Ecolabel from King Mohammed VI Foundation for the Environment. It was also recognized one of six projects in the world by the International Network of Responsible Tourism in 2011 and awarded the ALM Ecology Trophy, according to the hotel’s official website.

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By Cindy Basha

Rabat - Morocco's Minister of Communications, Mustapha Khalfi, announced in Laâyoune the launching of a new platform to celebrate and share the Hassani culture. 

According to Khalfi, the goal of this project is to recognize the importance of the Sahraouie Hassani in Morocco's cultural and historical identity, as well as share it with the rest of the world. At the celebration, the government announced it will be spending over MAD 77 billion on this endeavor.

One of the pillars of this project is a website on the history and culture of the Sahara, www.sahara.gov.ma This site will be published in English, Arabic, Russian, Spanish, French and Mandarin. The Ministry of Communications will work with translators to ensure that all content is accurately and coherently translated into foreign languages.

The government hopes that this portal will encourage people around the world to explore the Sahara and the region’s history. This new portal will include valuable maps of the region and display important anthropological information on the Hassani people.

This website will be complemented by the use of social media and a newsletter campaign to reach a broader audience.

According to the minister’s statement, the site seeks to be a well-rounded source and include other interaction tools, like interviews on the Sahara.

The new project will display other symbols of the importance of the Hassani culture as revealed in Laâyoune. A collection of nineteen books on Saharan and Hassani history was introduced.  To increase readership, these books will be published in several languages: Arabic, French, English and Spanish. They will be distributed to libraries and post-secondary institutions across Morocco.

Other film and entertainment initiatives were announced at this conference as well. A collection of fifteen songs to celebrate the region's identity were recorded that day, with the goal of being played at Morocco’s Film Festival. There was also the announcement of a government-funded documentary film that will be shown at the Dakhla Film Festival.

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New York- It’s a truly unique country filled with culture, ancient cities, stunning coastal areas and remote towns. Morocco is a great choice destination for your winter trip away this year. So why not take a look at our list of things you can do in Morocco in the coming months to help you begin planning your exotic getaway.

Go Surfing

There are plenty of surfing hotspots around the world that attract pros and tourists all looking to ride the waves in these incredibly picturesque settings and Morocco is no different. In the winter months the swells on Atlantic coast are always perfect with both the air and the water temperatures still mild enough to ride. There are a number of great spots to pick from where the surf’s up and where you can hop on to your board and ride all day long.

[caption id="attachment_173663" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Morocco, Camel ride in Erg Chebbi Sahara Desert, Merzouga, by travel photographer Matthew Williams-Ellis[/caption]

Stay overnight in the Sahara desert

To assure yourself of an absolutely incredible memory on your trip, not just as part of your Moroccan adventure, but for a truly once in a lifetime experience you should definitely head out to the magical Sahara Desert. There are many tours of this breath-taking sandscape, some of which allow you to even spend the night in the desert. Follow guides across the sands as you ride a camel to the camping site where you can enjoy a meal and watch the sun set on this beautiful scenic location.

Trek across the Atlas mountains

The Atlas Mountains is a vast mountain range and one that stretches across parts of Algeria, Tunisia and of course Morocco. And from the great Moroccan city of Marrakesh you can head on a special tour and trek across the 3 valleys in the region, namely Ourika Valley, Asni Valley and Oukaimeden Valley. There are secluded mountain range road routes that will take you right through some typical Berber village life and there are even 7 stunning waterfalls to see on your visit.

Visit the Mazagan Casino

If the stunning scenery and historical charm isn’t enough to keep you entertained on a wintery evening in Morocco then you can always unwind at the many great night spots this beautiful city has to offer. At the Mazagan Beach and Gold Resort located on Morocco's Atlantic coast is home to the Mazagan Casino where you can enjoy a great evening’s entertainment. There’s poker, roulette, punto banco and blackjack and more than 400 slot machines for you to play. If it’s your first time in a casino you may want to try getting started with Royal Vegas first so you can at least familiarise yourself with all the game rules before you hit the tables.

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Rabat - The Moroccan National Tourist Office (ONMT) announced a competition to design its new website, TelQuel reported this week. The contest calls for competitors to bring “strategic thinking to design, content writing and translations.”

The goal of a new website will be to “optimize the presence of the Moroccan brand on the web.” The ONMT also wants it to target Moroccans living abroad. In addition to incorporating more languages, the ONMT also plans on launching a new mobile site.

The new website campaign, MuchMorocco, is targeting tourists from the United Kingdom, Ireland, the United States and Canada, according to TravelWeekly. It has been coordinated by a UK-based communications design agency and will include a new site at visitmorocco.com, print and online display advertising, events and social media.

This is the first time the ONMT has employed a British company, rather than relying on translated versions of sites developed in France.

“Our aim with this campaign is to bring the essence of Morocco to holidaymakers,” said Amine Boughaleb, director of the Moroccan National Tourist Office in London, as reported by TravelWeekly.

Earlier this month, Morocco World News reported on tourism in Morocco. In 2014, tourism and travel made up 17.9 percent of Morocco’s GDP with a projected 3.5 increase for 2015.

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Rabat - State-owned channel Russia 24 has aired a special reports, inviting Russian travelers to visit Morocco. 

Russia’s report highlighted Morocco’s tourism assets and portrayed the North African kingdom as "a stable and tolerant Muslim country with great tourist attractions."

Urging Russians to visit the country, the report brought under the spotlights Morocco’s main tourism attractions, such as Marrakech, Casablanca and Agadir.

This comes as Russian holidaymakers are searching for new travel destinations which are not banned and sanctions free.

Spain, Italy and Greece have been Russian tourist’ favorite destinations.

However the financial crisis and EU sanctions against Moscow have prompted Russians to travel to cheaper destinations such as Turkey and Egypt.

Meanwhile, Russia suspended flights to Egypt following the Russian plane crash in the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt and in recent days it banned travel to Turkey after the Turkish military shot Russian Su-24 warplane.

Multiple media reports suggested that Morocco, which seeks to attract 800,000 Russian tourists in 2020, could be an ideal alternative summer destination for Russia holidaymakers.

In 2014, 36,000 Russian tourists visited Morocco, a 22 per cent decrease in comparison to the previous year.

This decrease was attributed to Moroccan Ministry of Tourism’s slow promotional advertising in the Russian Federation.

If Russian tour operators and Moroccan travel professionals launch a sustained promotional campaign on the Russian market, Morocco may reach its target before 2020.

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Rabat - Cristiano Ronaldo is due to visit Marrakech this weekend. This comes after rumors that he is in an alleged gay relationship with his Moroccan friend Badr Hari.

Moroccan news website Alyaoum24 reported that Real Madrid superstar has booked in the same resort where he spent an epic weekend in the beginning of October to celebrate Portugal’s Euro 2016 classification.

This comes after multiple media outlets claimed that CR7 has been regularly visiting Morocco in order to receive “curdles” from his Moroccan friend, super heavyweight kickboxer Badr Hari.

Last week, unsubstantiated reports in Spain, France and the UK claimed that Hari may be more than just friends with Ronaldo.

French sports reporter, Daniel Riolo, claimed on French television show ‘Touche pas a mon sport’ that Hari and Ronaldo are something more than just friends and that Ronaldo makes the trip to the other side of the Mediterranean to “receive cuddles” from Badr Hari.

 “What I’m interested in is what players do on the pitch, and whether their side activities might have an impact on that,” he said.

“Take the example of Cristiano Ronaldo - I'm sure flying to Morocco three to four times a week to see a friend and cuddle with him might have an impact on his performances eventually,” he added.

According to Extra Confidencial, Real Madrid is worried about the impact that Ronaldo's continuous trips to Morocco could have on his performance on the pitch.

According to Spanish media, Ronaldo makes the trip to Morocco every afternoon aboard his private jet and return to Madrid later in the evening. A trip between Madrid and Rabat last less 1 hour and 30 minutes.

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Rabat - The daily Telegraph has ranked Morocco among the “history and battlefield tours for 2016.”

The British newspaper ranked Fez, Rabat, Mekns and Marrakech, Morocco’s imperial cities in fourth place after Verdun Centenary, Paris, the Battle of the Somme France.

Among the important historical monuments tourist interested in history can visit in Morocco, the Telegraph guide cites Hassan Tower, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, the Andalucian Garden at Oudaya Kasbah, the Museum of Moroccan Arts and Fez El Bali.
A special focus is placed on Fez, Morocco’s oldest capital and the country’s spiritual capital.

Moroccan imperial cities are followed in the ranking by The Romantic Poets of Italy, the French Resistance in the South with Paddy Ashdown, the Battlefields of KwaZulu-Natal, Cuba, The Mogoul Empire itinerary in China and Mumbai.

With the diversity of its landscape, its rich history, the quality of its sophisticated cuisine, the hospitality of its people, Morocco is becoming one of the main destinations for tourists.

Despite the political upheavals affecting North Africa, Morocco managed to minimize the reverberations of this stability on its tourism sector. In an interview with CNN Arabic last month, Morocco’s tourism Minister, Lahcen Haddad, said that decrease of tourists arrivals to Morocco did not exceed one percent in 2015.

The country’s appeal to tourists has been on the rise, with a number of travel websites ranking it as one of the best destinations for tourists. Last October, British magazine Conference & Incentive Travel” chose Morocco the best destination of the week for British tourists.

The same month, Condé Nast Traveler chose the North African country among the 20 countries one should visit in their lifetime.

Morocco received 10.3 million tourists in 2014, according to statistics made by available by the Ministry of Tourism.

The tourism sector represent close to 7% of Morocco’s gross domestic product.

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Rabat – Once again a Moroccan beauty queen wins the title of Miss Arab World.

Miss Morocco Nisrine Noubir was crowned Miss Arab World 2016 on Saturday in Sharam Sheikh, in Egypt, in a ceremony held at the Hollywood Theatre.

Twenty-two-year-old Nisrine Noubir was chosen from among 18 contenders aged 18-24 years from 13 countries. Tunisian Yasmine Dakoumi, Miss Arab World 2015 announced the name of the winner, who reacted with great emotion and gratitude as Dakoumi crowned her.

Miss Morocco Nisrine Noubir won the title in front of Miss Syria Nilane Adnan, first runner-up and Miss Lebanon Assil Alahmar, second runner-up.

Miss Arab World is considered the ambassador of elegance and charisma representing the exotic and unique beauty of women in the Arab World.

The new Miss Arab World 2016 expressed her joy and said she was flattered to win and have the opportunity to represent her country.

The jury of the beauty contest was composed of several Arab personalities, including businessmen, singers, actors, beauty and fashion specialists.

Among the select jury were Lebanese actress, Jihan Kamri, Egyptian actress Amira Fathi and Lebanese pop singer Rola Saad.

Miss Arab World 2016 was held as part of the 9th Arab Tourism Festival, which seeks to strengthen ties among the countries of the Arab World.

This is the third consecutive year that the representative of Morocco is crowned as Miss Arab World. Last March Miss Morocco, Houda Majd, won the title of another contest of Miss Arab World, also known as Malihat Al Arab. In 2014, Morocco’s Fatima Azzahrae Jamali was also crowned Miss Arab World.

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New York - Miss Puerto Rico 2015 Destiny Vélez was suspended by the Miss America Organization after she engaged in a controversial rant on Twitter where she lashed out at filmmaker Michael Moore and called all Muslims “terrorists.”

The 20-year-old beauty queen who was eliminated from Miss America 2016, will no longer represent Puerto Rico after she was suspended from her duties.

Puerto Ricans were appalled by her remarks. They created hashtags to address her offenses, such as #nonosrepresentas (you don’t represent us), #bochornoboricua (Puerto Rican hame), and #verguenzaajena (embarrassment).

Vélez demonstrated her anti-Muslim sentiments on Thursday saying that she was “offended” that Moore stood up in support of a group of people whom she considers “terrorists, dangerous to America and good for nothing.”

The now former Miss Puerto Rico did not agree with the liberal activist’s defense of Muslims when he stood outside the Trump Tower in Manhattan holding a sign that read “We Are All Muslim.”

Destiny addressed her series of Islamophobic tweets to Michael Moore’s Twitter account (@MMFlint).

Among the offensive remarks she said about Muslims were: “all they do is build their mosques, feel offended by American values and terrorize innocent Americans and plant gas stations” as well as “kill people and destroy artifacts.”

"If we are all the same then Muslims need to take off their napkins off of their heads cuz I feel offended by it," she said on Thursday referring to Muslim women who wear hijabs.

The Miss Puerto Rico Organization responded to Destiny’s behavior through statement she published on its official Facebook page.

“In regards to Miss Puerto Rico, Destiny Velez's, recent actions and conduct; the Miss Puerto Rico Organization feels that her words do not represent the integrity and esteem of our program, nor that of our board members, our sponsors and partners, or the National Organization,” the statement read.

“Miss Velez's actions were in contradiction to the organization, and therefore as a consequence of her actions, she has been suspended indefinitely. The Miss Puerto Rico Organization will not tolerate any actions or behavior contrary to the Miss Puerto Rico Organization,” the statement continued.

“The Miss Puerto Rico Organization apologizes for the distress that Miss Velez’s actions and conduct may have caused,” it added.

Their twitter account also released a post allegedly sent by Destiny in which she apologized for her behavior.

“I apologize to the people I have offended with my words. I am first and foremost an#UpStander and as such I stand up against bullying,” Velez said according to the organization.

“'The last thing I wanted to do was to bully anyone. Again, I apologize to anyone who felt offended with my words,” her alleged statement continued.

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