Outdoors in Morocco

Morocco is doing a lot to keep up with the increasing interest in activity and sporting holidays. In addition to its magnificent trekking opportunities, the country also offers impressive golf and tennis facilities, a couple of ski resorts (plus some adventurous off-piste skiing) and excellent fishing. The national sporting obsession, however, is football; enthusiasts can join in any number of beach kick-about games or watch local league and cup matches.

Trekking
Trekking is one of the best things Morocco has to offer. Morocco boasts one of the most rewarding mountain ranges in the world – and one of the least spoilt. A number of long-distance Atlas routes can be followed. One can even do a “Grand Traverse” of the full range. However most people limit themselves to shorter treks round the Djebel Toubkal area.

Soccer
Soccer is important in Morocco and the country is a growing force. The national side has made the World Cup on four different occasions and was among the African nations bidding to host the tournament in 2010. Moroccan teams have also been extremely successful in African club competitions. This is quite impressive when you consider that most Moroccan football players develop their skills in unstructured kick-arounds on the beach, street or patches of wasteland.

Skiing
Morocco doesn’t immediately spring to mind as a skiing destination, but the High Atlas Mountains are reliably snow-covered from late January to early April. The Middle Atlas also occasionally has sufficient snow for the sport.

Riding
Horse riding and camel rides are very popular in Morocco. There are many hotels that offer guided treks through the Atlas Mountains. You should bring your own helmet though.

Fishing
The country features an immense stretch of Atlantic and a small stretch of Mediterranean coastline, with great opportunities to arrange boat trips almost anywhere. Inland, the Middle Atlas shelters beautiful lakes and rivers, many of them well stocked with trout.

Water sports and swimming
Morocco offers excellent water sports such as sailing, yachting, windsurfing, surfing, swimming, White Water River rafting, kayaking and diving.

Golf
Golf is probably the most important sport in Morocco. The country has an international-level course at Rabat and many other 18-hole golf courses.