Ait Benhaddou: Kasbahs in Ait Benhaddou, picture by Donar Reiskoffer- also called "Aït Benhaddou"

One of the most beautiful villages in the whole Morocco. It's located under the Atlas Mountains and presents itself into the world with the old Blue medina, commemorating the oldest history of this place. The village has two parts, a 'fortified city', or ksar, along the former caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakesh is located on one bank of the river. Most of the town's inhabitants, however, now live in a more modern village at the other side of the river.

Aït Benhaddou is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987 and several films have been shot there, including Gladiator by Ridley Scott or Lawrence of Arabia.

Morocco - Marrakesh Place Djeema el-Fna squareKingdom of Morocco, often referred as The Western Kingdom, is a shining star of Northern Africa. In the recent years it has become one of the favourite destinations for tourists and independent travellers from all over the world.

Morocco is an Arabic country, rich with traditional culture, colourful history and wide nature. Beatiful ancient cities like Ait Benhaddou, Essaouira, Marrakesh, Meknes or Fez shimmer with magical oriental atmosphere. Yet, Morocco is one of the most advanced African countries with solid infrastructure and open-minded people. Casablanca stands for one of the most progressive African cities.

Diverse geography of Morocco offers wild natural riches for all eager travellers. You can go to Sahara, the world's largest desert. You can visit kasbahs, unique kind of medinas. Or you can travel to beautiful desert oases, surf in the Atlantic Ocean, climb the Atlas Mountains or Rif Mountains. Morocco also serves as the ideal African starting point for the traveller.

- also known as "Jma-l-Fna"

Morocco - Marrakesh - Place Djeema el Fna: The best known square in MoroccoDjemaa el Fna is one of the most famous squares and market places in Morocco. It's located in Marrakesh's medina (old city). Everyday it's crowded with tourists and locals trying to make money from tourists. There are lots of orange juice stalls, youths with chained Barbary apes, water sellers in colourful costumes with traditional leather water-bags and brass cups, and snake charmers who will pose for photographs for tourists.

Djemaa el Fna square is especially wonderful in the night when all the lights shine and the square is full of rumbling. There are dancers, magicians and dozens of crowded food-stalls. All along the Djemaa el Fna square there are restaurants and also many hotels.

Morocco - Marrakesh: Morocco - the city of Marrakesh, the mosque.Known as the "Red City" Marrakesh is the capital of the south. The atmosphere is distinctly more African than that of the other Imperial cities, Fez, Rabat and Meknes. The setting of the city is stunning with ochre stucco buildings surrounded by the snow-peaked Atlas mountains. If you have the time, Marrakesh is definitely worth a stay of several days.

The Jma-l-Fna (Djeema el-Fna) is an unbelievable experience. It is a market scene straight out of the movies with snake charmers, musicians, dancing bears, acrobats and storytellers. Around the square there are numbered stalls that sell very cheap freshly-squeezed orange juice in the morning and afternoon. At night there are tables set up that you can eat at for a very reasonable price. Other sights include the impressive Koutoubia minaret and the Ben Youssef Medersa and the Saadian Dynasty tombs, the ruined 16th-century El Badi Palace the Dar Si Said Museum.

Adjacent to Jma-l-Fna square, is the Le Souk, or the famous market with winding streets that offers an amazing collection of traditional handicrafts, leather crafted goods, carpets, clothes, spices, marinated olives and many other items native to the city. To roam in these streets is to discover what makes Marrakesh special. In contrast to the Medina (the old town) in Fez, which seems to be connected seemlessly to the past, Le Souk in Marrakesh transitions to the modernity, while still remaining true to its rich tradition and history. Do not hesitate to haggle with the merchants here, as it is more or less expected.