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Asilah is a quiet coastal town just a few miles south of Tangier. With a perfect natural harbour and delightful beaches, great weather and a thriving cultural scene, it’s sometimes surprising that more travellers don’t know about it. For those in the know, this just adds to the charm.
There is history here – the Phoenicians were the original builders back in 1500 B.C., and in the intervening years it has been controlled by Moroccans, Spanish and Portuguese. It has the same Mediterranean feel as many of the towns in this area with whitewashed buildings and meandering streets, while the large ramparts and fortifications are a gift from its Portuguese rulers.
But it’s the cultural offering that has really put Asilah on the map. There are several festivals throughout the year, and at times the whole town can seem like an art gallery with huge murals decorating the medina walls and painters displaying their work in the streets
The main beach at Asilah is a short walk from the town centre. It’s a large expanse of golden sand that curves northwards towards Tangier. It’s very popular with families, especially during the summer months.
A couple of miles south of Asilah is the enticingly named Paradise Beach. It’s a gorgeous spot, accessed along a dirt track so it isn’t as busy as Asilah’s main beach. The bay is sheltered from the wind, there are plenty of cafes and restaurants where you can enjoy freshly caught fish, and if you get bored of the sand and sea there are even caves to explore. This is somewhere not to be missed.
And a couple of miles to the north is Afriqua beach. Despite being easier to access than Paradise Beach, it is still a quiet and secluded location. The facilities here include toilets, a café and private sun loungers, perfect for enjoying the abundant Moroccan sunshine.
The first cultural festivals in Asilah started in the late 1970s, thanks to the efforts of two friends who wanted to bring back the glory to what was then quite a dilapidated town. Over forty years on and Asilah is now a centre for arts and culture in Morocco, with festivals happening throughout the year and arts lovers coming from around the world.
The main event is simply known as the Asilah Festival which lasts for two months of the summer. Artists, musicians and other performers, plus some 200,000 visitors, pour into the town for eight weeks of cultural workshops, demonstrations, exhibitions, concerts and even a three day horse festival. The beautiful Centre de Hasan II Rencontres Internationales, just inside the medina walls, hosts the event, with satellite performances happening around the town.
One of the most striking activities is Wall Painting. Every year the ancient walls of the medina are whitewashed to give artists a blank canvas, which they then cover with the most amazing creations. These murals are then left until the following year when the whole process starts again.
There has been a settlement at Asilah since the Phoenicians arrived in the area over 3,000 years ago and decided the curving bay and layout of the land would make a fine place to build a port. Various civilisations over the years have concurred; the Portuguese occupied the city in the 15th and 16th century and in 1692 the famous Moulay Ismail captured Asilah for the Moroccans, turning it into a base for pirates for over two centuries. It then became part of Spanish Morocco in the first half of the 20th century.
Everywhere you look in Asilah you can see the architectural evidence of the past. The Portuguese fortifications are the best preserved in the kingdom – it’s possible to circle the entire town walking along the walls – and the massive towers still stand strong. There are three gates leading to the old town, and if you look closely you can still see the faded Portuguese royal coat of arms emblazoned above the Bab Al Homor gate at the south of the medina.
Asilah still has a Catholic church – St Bartholomew’s – and it’s one of the few places in Morocco you’ll hear church bells calling people to worship every Sunday. The Grand Mosque is in the medina and is one of the few buildings that existed before the Portuguese arrived.
You’ll also find the beautifully restored Palace of Culture in the medina. Originally built in 1909 by Er-Raissouli, a local ruler, it’s a striking building that overlooks the sea and is open to explore during the Asilah Festival.
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Located in Asilah, Asilah Marina Golf provides accommodations with free WiFi, air conditioning, a restaurant and access to a garden with an outdoor pool. Featuring free private parking, the apartment is in an area where guests can engage in activities such as hiking, fishing and tennis.
The apartment comes with 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, bed linen, towels, a flat-screen TV, a fully equipped kitchen, and a balcony with pool views.
The apartment has a playground. A car rental service is available at Asilah Marina Golf.
Paradise Beach Kaf Lahmam is 2.7 km from the accommodation. The nearest airport is Tangier Ibn Battouta Airport, 41.8 km from Asilah Marina Golf.
Location : Google Map
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RIAD OASIS D’ASILAH features a restaurant, seasonal outdoor swimming pool, a shared lounge and garden in Asilah. Featuring family rooms, this property also provides guests with a terrace. The property has a 24-hour front desk, airport transportation, room service and free WiFi.
The guesthouse provides certain rooms that include a patio and pool view, and each room has a private bathroom and a closet. At RIAD OASIS D’ASILAH all rooms are equipped with bed linen and towels.
The accommodation offers a gluten-free or vegan breakfast.
Guests at RIAD OASIS D’ASILAH will be able to enjoy activities in and around Asilah, like hiking and fishing.
Plage de Asilah is a 15-minute walk from the guesthouse. The nearest airport is Tangier Ibn Battouta Airport, 41.8 km from RIAD OASIS D’ASILAH.
Location : Google Map
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This property is a 6-minute walk from the beach. Located in Asilah, Flat Asilah Marina Golf offers an outdoor pool and a restaurant.
Accommodations will provide you with two connected rooms, a TV, air conditioning and a terrace. There is a kitchen with an oven and a refrigerator. Featuring a bath, the private bathroom also come with a bidet.
At Flat Asilah Marina Golf you will find a tennis court and a fitness center. Activities in the surrounding area include golfing, cycling and fishing. The property offers free parking.
Tangier Ibn Battouta Airport is located 21 mi away.
Location : Google Map
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Located in Asilah, near Plage de Asilah, Dar Khadija features free WiFi, and guests can enjoy barbecue facilities and a terrace.
Each unit comes with a fully equipped kitchen with a fridge, a seating area with a sofa, a flat-screen TV, a washing machine, and a private bathroom with bidet and a hairdryer. An oven and toaster are also provided, as well as a kettle and a coffee machine.
The apartment offers a children’s playground.
If you would like to discover the area, fishing is possible in the surroundings and Dar Khadija can arrange a car rental service.
The nearest airport is Tangier Ibn Battouta, 41 km from the accommodation, and the property offers a paid airport shuttle service.
Location : Google Map
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07 rue Tarablous, QI 80000
AGADIR, MOROCCO
Morocco is one of those types of destinations that can be visited year-round. You have to understand the geography of the country in order to choose the best time to visit Morocco. Taking into account that you have vast desert regions, probably those should not be visited during the peak summer months such as July and August.
Also, knowing that Morocco has most part of its territory with mountains above 10.000 feet and up to 14.000, you will surely encounter snow in highlands above 4200 feet. So, expect snow during the months of November until February. Overall we can say that Morocco is amazing and can be visited from January until December, but the ultimate best times to visit Morocco are during April, May, September, October, and November.
Tourists have been visiting Morocco for years and Moroccans have well-earned reputation for warmth and kindness toward visitors. Moroccan cities are generally very safe, especially in area where tourists frequent. Morocco is very well secured, Police in every location, there is so many checking points, this is what makes Morocco safe and 100% secured to make sure everybody are safe and comfortable in Morocco. Morocco generally has a very low crime rate. Travelers will be safe in Morocco if they take sensible precautions that would apply to any tourist destination around the world.
Travel insurance should be obtained before leaving your country of origin. It is not compulsory to purchase it. Local hospitals have limited diagnostic capability. Private clinics can be expensive, evacuation can cost a lot, luggage can disappear, so insurance is a good idea.
You can relax and wear whatever is familiar, comfortable, and best suited for you during your holidays. Morocco is very tolerant and welcoming to visitors, and you’re not expected to act or look like a Moroccan. Longer shorts and shirts are fine for men. Concerning women, it’s a good idea to bring a scarf to cover bare shoulders and arms in rural areas.
It’s not easy to get Moroccan Dirham outside the country as it is a closed currency. Those who succeeded have paid heavy commissions for banks.
There are ATMs everywhere in the country, exchange points, banks, and many businesses/shops/restaurants nowadays accept cards mostly with a 5% transaction fee. The best place to exchange money with high rate is the touristic areas.
The Moroccan Dirham (MAD) is the currency of Morocco. Made up of 100 centimes per unit, the currency is issued by the Bank Al-Maghrib (Morocco’s central bank). Historically, the Moroccan Dirham originates from the Byzantine Empire’s Drachm, and was used in Arabia and the Levant in pre-Islamic times. The name “Dirham” stems from the Roman word “denarius” .
Credit cards are widely used in Morocco in hotels, many shops, restaurants, and cafes. Most stores in markets accept credit cards. The most common types of credit cards used in Morocco are Visa, Master Card, and American Express.
Visitors to Morocco must have a passport valid for at least 6 months beyond the scheduled return date to enter Morocco and you can obtain a visa from Morocco Consulate before departure. Also, entry visa is available upon arrival Morocco airports against USD 27 per passport for specific nationalities and need to check before.
Some nationalities don’t need a visa to visit Morocco for the purpose of tourism for up to 3 months such as United States of America, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Denmark, Netherlands, New Zealand, and Switzerland. For more info and details on entry visa to Morocco please check with the Moroccan consulate or embassy at your country
It is always recommended for travelers who wish to have their own supply of cigarettes and alcohol with them in Morocco to purchase them upon arrival.
There are duty free shops in the airports in Casablanca, Marrakech, Agadir, Fez, Tangier and Rabat. Tourists are allowed to purchase up to 3 liters of alcohol and up to 200 cigarettes on arrival.
English and French are studied in school all over Morocco. This is why most Moroccans, who live in the cities, speak or understand at least some English words or phrases, and most of Moroccans are speaking French well. Fewer Moroccans can speak Italian, Spanish, and German; however, professionals in the tourism sector are accustomed to visitors who cannot speak Arabic. They speak enough English and many other languages to fulfill the needs of most travelers. Many travelers enjoy their stay in Morocco without learning a single word of Arabic; however, it is always good to learn a few Arabic words to expressing greetings or thanks. If you are planning to visit some places other than popular tourist destinations, it is advisable to learn some Arabic phrases. Generally, Moroccans are friendly and are happy to help anyone, especially foreigners and tourists, even if there is a language barrier.
Many people in the tourism sector depend on tips, as a major part of their income. Therefore, tipping is considered customary in Morocco. It is a customary attitude for expressing ones satisfaction of good services rendered to him by staff on duty with him. We advise if you are willing to offer it, this would be great and if not, you are not obliged to do it.
– The same as many hotels all around the globe, the check-in time in most hotels in Morocco is around midday, 1 or 2 PM. If you arrive in the hotel late at night or in the early morning, you may have to pay for an extra night to get to your room immediately without having to wait until the normal check-in time.
Accommodations for travellers in Morocco fall across a broad range—everything from world class luxury to simple hostel accommodations are available. The nicest hotels compare well with luxury hotels anywhere, coming from international hotel chains like Movenpick, Hilton, Four Seasons, and Sofitel. A step down from these is a variety of local hotels that ranges from luxurious to simple. Moroccan hotels have their own rating system that loosely classifies them on a 5-star scale; however, this scale is different from international standards used elsewhere.
Moroccans are well known all over the world for their tolerance and hospitality; however, it is always polite to ask permission before taking a photograph of people, especially women, and stores or products. Photography is non-permitted around army bases, airports, dams and bridges. In most places where photography is prohibited there will be signs to notify you.
Non-Muslims are generally welcome to visit and access Hassan 2 mosques in Casablanca except when they are being used for prayer, on Friday and during the five prayers of the day. Tourists are not allowed to enter any other mosque at any time. Only outside visit is possible.
Most of the monuments, historical sites, and museums in Morocco open from 9 AM until 6 PM. During Ramadan, the holy month of the Islamic calendar, be aware that these hours will change significantly.
Most of the shops in Morocco open from around 9 AM and stay open until 10 PM; however, many shops, cafes, and restaurants especially in main cities like Marrakech, Casablanca, Fez, Agadir, and Rabat stay open much later and some facilities and shops are open 24 hours a day in touristic areas. During Ramadan, the holy month of the Islamic calendar, opening hours may change significantly with shops closed during the middle of the day and staying open much later. Medina Souk in Fez closes Friday Morning.
There is a public transit system in Morocco that uses a rail to link the main towns and buses for inner-city trips. Small private and group tours will typically use large vans and sedans. Medium to large motor coaches is used for larger group holidays.
