- +212 698 193 183
- info@specialmorocco.com
A place to connect with the past, the ruins of Lixus tell the story of Morocco’s rulers in ancient times. First settled by the Phoenicians around 7 BC, the Carthaginians then took control of the area, before the Romans came, saw and conquered. Nearby Larache has also been the subject of changing ownership, with Amazigh, Arabs and Spanish controlling the area at various times. These different civilisations have all left their mark, resulting in an intriguing mix of influences for you to see; the Moorish old town is complemented by Andalusian style in the newer parts of Larache. It’s a place with a laidback attitude that is already a favourite with Moroccan tourists. A magical bay, classic medina and wonderful climate will ensure that you’ll love it too.
The nearest beach to Lixus is at Larache. It’s a small but enjoyable one, with white sands and warm seas, plus a pleasant relaxed atmosphere. It’s a great place for swimming, and though the waves can get quite powerful at times the beach is generally under the watchful eye of lifeguards.
A few miles to the north you’ll find the beach at the Loukos Estuary, which is also highly recommended. It has the same white sands and balmy seas as Larache’s main beach, but there is a lot more room to spread out, meaning that there’s plenty of space for everyone even in high.
Larache, the closest inhabited town to Lixus, has a distinct split parentage that is evident in its buildings, its language and its food and drink.
With African roots overlaid with Spanish culture, the food and drink of Larache is a unique mix of the two. It’s a place where you’re just as likely to see paella on the menu as you are a tagine, and the Mediterranean staples of pizza and pasta are easily found.
The best place to eat out is in the centre of town, around the plaza and the streets that radiate off it. Here sandwich bars, coffee shops, cafés and restaurants will all serve you a range of good food and drink – you’ll find yourself spoilt for choice.
Anyone looking to play golf on their visit to Lixus should head to Port Lixus Golf Club. Bordered by the Atlantic coast, this golf course was designed by Enrique Saenger and opened in 2010. It is notable for the four huge lakes at its centre – they act both as a constant water hazard and a gorgeous backdrop as you make your way around the course. The fairways are lined with shady trees and at most points of the course you’ll have a view out over the ocean. Port Lixus Golf Club has a five star hotel at the heart of the complex, meaning you can go from your room to first tee in a matter of minutes.
Bordered by the Atlantic ocean, with six miles of white beach, a forest and natural lakes, Port Lixus is a resort that offers a very special setting.
Port Lixus Golf Club
Designer: Enrique Saenger (2010)
Holes: 18
Par: 72 (6,885m)
· Clubhouse with restaurant and bar
· Locker room and spa
· Buggy, trolley and club hire
· Driving range, putting green and chipping area
Getting There: In Larache 50km south of Tangier
WOW FACTOR: Four huge lakes doubling as an ever present water hazard as well as a spectacular backdrop to any shot.
The area around Lixus and Larache could have been designed with motorbiking in mind. It’s a mountainous region with an ever-changing landscape. The roads that criss-cross the region weave back and forth, giving riders corner after corner to enjoy. The scenery is spectacular, especially at higher altitudes; the coast road is also a special ride and has the added bonus that when you’ve finished your ride you can end the day relaxing on the beach, enjoying the cooling breeze blowing in from the ocean. Whether you’re hiring a bike for the day or riding for longer, Lixus and Larache are ideal places to start your two wheeled trek.
While Lixus may have had an illustrious past, with Phoenicians, Carthaginians and Romans all having walked its streets, no-one lives there any more.
Nearby Larache is alive and well however, full of people who enjoy the town’s coastal location and their proud heritage.
Like many port towns along the Moroccan coast, Larache has changed hands many times over the years. The Banu Arous tribe are thought to have founded the town, and since then it has been held by the Portuguese, the Arabs, the Spanish, and African-Muslims. Each race has left their mark, and the people of today are a happy mix of European and Muslim influences.
The ancient Roman city of Lixus was once situated right next to the sea, but the intervening years have changed the topography of the area and now the waves roll in to Larache, the fortified town that has grown up close to the Roman remains. Its exposed beach break results in reasonably consistent surf, and like many other Moroccan surf resorts, it’s available almost all the year round. Groundswells and windswells are equally likely in this north Moroccan town, and the best time to hit the waves is when the wind comes in from the east and the peaks reach their highest.
stars :
Hotel Lixus Beach Resort is a resort in Larache that features a tennis court and fitness center. Among the various facilities are a terrace, a shared lounge, as well as a bar. The in-house restaurant serves international cuisine.
The units in the resort are fitted with a flat-screen TV. Free WiFi is accessible to all guests, while selected rooms also boast a balcony. The rooms at Hotel Lixus Beach Resort feature air conditioning and a desk.
A buffet breakfast is available daily at the property.
The accommodations offers an outdoor pool. You can play table tennis at this resort.
When guests need guidance on where to visit, the reception will be happy to provide advice.
The nearest airport is Tangier Ibn Battouta Airport, 36 mi from the resort.
Location : Google Map
RIAD DES OISEAUX is located in El Aouamra and offers a restaurant, a shared lounge and a terrace. This self-catered bed and breakfast features a private pool, a garden and free private parking.
This bed and breakfast with pool views has a bathroom with a bath and a hairdryer. Providing a balcony with lake views, this bed and breakfast also has a satellite flat-screen TV, a kitchen and a bathroom with a shower and bathrobes.
Guests at the bed and breakfast can enjoy a continental breakfast.
Both a bicycle rental service and a car rental service are available at RIAD DES OISEAUX, while cycling and fishing can be enjoyed nearby.
Location : Google Map
stars :
The bed and breakfast offers a terrace.
Situated in Larache, Sultana larache offers accommodation with free Wi-Fi.
The nearest airport is Tangier Ibn Battouta Airport, 76 km from the property.
Location : Google Map
info@specialmorocco.com
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.