Chefchaouen
Welcome to Chefchaouen
The insider's travel guide to ChefchaouenIn this city in the Rif Mountains everything is a shade of blue, from the front doors of local homes to the staircases winding through the village.
Wander up and down Chefchaouen’s narrow alleys to explore leather and weaving workshops before visiting the red-walled Kasbah, a 15th-century fortress and dungeon, in Place Outa el Hammam. Once under Spanish occupation, the influence here remains – as does the Spanish Mosque. Just be aware that Chefchaouen’s recent popularity on social media means that tourism has boomed in this small hillside town.
That said, nature awaits at the village’s doorstep, with the 6km Jebel el Kalaa trail starting from the village and further afield the Talassemtane National Park where visitors can hike to Ackour waterfalls – some of the most beautiful in Morocco. Slow travellers could easily spend a few days here and not feel ready to leave.
The Chefchaouen atlas
2 picks Places & Experiences You Won't Find Elsewhere-
Starting from the Ras el Maa waterfalls where you’ll often spot women doing the laundry, follow the path that leads toward the hilltop Spanish Mosque (named so as it was built by the Spanish for the locals) for views of the blue city below. The hike is gentle.
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Two weeks is enough time to explore the four famous imperial cities of Morocco, whilst leaving time to delve into desert areas to get a taste of how the remote Berbers live. Begin your journey in coastal Casablanca and travel to Rabat to see Kasbah of the Udayas, the Berber-era royal fort beside the Atlantic Ocean. Continue on to Chefchaouen, where you will spend a day exploring its blue houses and streets before taking the drive to the Roman ruins of Volubilis and the UNESCO World Heritage site of Meknes. The next city stop is Fes, after which you will pass through Midelt on the way to Merzouga in the Sahara Desert. Having made your way behind the Atlas Mountains, hike in the steep-walled Todra Gorge before visiting Marrakech and the harbour town of Essaouira.
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Hike to the Spanish mosque
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In-depth Morocco
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