Travel FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014 29

Meknes Erg Chebbi is one of the four Imperial of and its name and The Erg Chebbi dunes are located in the Sahara Desert. The awe-inspiring fame are closely linked to that of Sultan Moulay Ismail. The sultan turned dunes are as high as 150 meters tall, and one certainly feels small in their Meknes into an impressive in Spanish-Moorish style, surrounded by high shadows. Erg Chebbi special feature is its beautiful unique orange colored walls with great gates. While Meknes is an imperial city with a lot of historical sand. Excursions to the dunes normally start from the village of Merzouga monuments and natural sites it is also the nearest city to the Roman ruins of which is located on the edge of the erg. Camel trekking is the most popular . option although it isn’t the most comfortable way of traveling.

Volubilis Fes In antiquity, Volubilis was an important Roman town situated near the Fes-Al-Bali, the larger of the two of Fes, is a nearly intact medi- westernmost border of Roman conquests in present day Morocco. It was eval city. With a population of about 150,000 inhabitants, it is the largest car- the administrative center of the province Mauretania Tingitana. The fertile free urban area in the world by population. Transport of goods is provided lands of the province produced many commodities such as grain and olive by donkeys, carriages, and motorbikes. The entire is surrounded by oil, which were exported to Rome, contributing to the province’s wealth and high walls with a number of historic city gates. Several shops and restaurants prosperity. The Romans evacuated most of Morocco at the end of the 3rd have a rooftop terrace which is a great way to escape the bustling streets. century AD but people continued to live in Volubilis for many centuries. The views are particularly spectacular during sunset and after dark.

Chefchaouen Ait Benhaddou Chefchaouen (or Chaouen) is a gorgeous mountain city in northeast- Ait Benhaddou is one of Ouarzazate’s fortified cities along the former ern Morocco. The picturesque medina, set against the dramatic backdrop caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakech. Inside the high mud walls of the Rif Mountains, is filled with white-washed homes with distinctive, are 6 kasbahs and a small number of homes. Most of the town’s inhabitants powder-blue accents. It is a popular shopping destination offering many now live in a more modern village at the other side of the river although a native handicrafts that are not available elsewhere in Morocco, such as wool few families still live within the city walls. Ait Benhaddou has appeared in garments and woven blankets. The goat cheese native to the area is also several movies, including Lawrence of Arabia and Gladiator. popular with tourists. The region around Chefchaouen is one of the main producers of cannabis in Morocco. Hashish is subsequently sold all over town, but is mostly the domain of native Chaouenis. Djemaa el Fna Djemaa el Fna is the highlight of any visit to Marrakech and one of the top tourist attractions in Morocco. By day this square at the heart of the medina Todra Gorge is largely filled with snake charmers and people with monkeys, as well as Todra Gorge is situated on the remote east side of the High Atlas Moun- some of the more common stalls. As the day progresses the entertainments tains. Both the Todra and neighboring Dades Rivers have carved out cliff- on offer change: the snake charmers depart, and in the afternoon and eve- sided canyons through the mountains. The final 600 meters of the Todra ning the square becomes more crowded, with story-tellers, magicians, and Gorge are the most spectacular as the canyon narrows to a flat stony track as peddlers of traditional medicines. As dark descends Djemaa El-Fna fills with little as 10 meters (33 ft) wide in places with sheer and smooth rock walls up dozens of food-stalls, and the crowds are at their height. to 160 meters (525 ft) high on each side. —www.touropia.com Essaouira Essaouira is a relaxed fishing port, protected by a natural bay. It was formerly known, by the 16th century Portuguese as Mogador. The present city of Essaouira was only built during the 18th century to increase trade exchanges with the European powers. Nowadays, Essaouira is renowned for its kite-surfing and windsurfing, with the powerful trade wind blowing almost constantly onto the protected bay. Parasols tend to be used on the beach as a protection against the wind and the blowing sand. The medina of Essaouira is home to many small arts and crafts businesses, notably cabinet making and wood-carving. Draa Valley Located south of the High Atlas mountains, the stunning Draa Valley, lined with old Kasbahs, Berber villages and palm groves, spreads from Ouarzazate in the west to Zagora in the east. A drive through the valley is undoubtedly one of the most scenic journeys in Morocco. The Draa Valley is intersected by the Draa River which starts in the High Atlas and ends in the , though in reality the river normally dries out before reaching the ocean.