Regions of Morocco

Morocco is a crossroads unlike any other.

Situated at the north western tip of Africa and bordered by Mauritania and Algeria, this country is two rolled into one. It uniquely separates the exotic mystery of Africa from the warm romance of Europe: it is just 14km from Gibraltar and Spain and is cut off from the rest of the African continent by the Atlas Mountains and Sahara Desert.

Certain parts of Morocco are well known and well traveled, but the country as a whole has so much to offer the savvy visitor. Whether you are searching simply for a traditional rhiad in Marrakech or want to explore the wildlife of the Atlas Mountains, Morocco has it all, and more, largely thanks to its forward thinking leader, His Royal Highness King Mohammed VI, whose ‘Vision 2010’ project aims to increase tourist figures to a sustainable 10 million by the year 2010. The project has resulted in massive investment in infrastructure, transport and touristic facilities, as well as the feted Spain-Morocco underwater tunnel, co-funded by Spain, Morocco and the EU and guaranteed to see visitors to and investment within Morocco rise significantly over the coming years.

As a significant part of King Mohammed’s Vision 2010 plan, Morocco’s northern Mediterranean coastline is now home to a large number of property developments in various stages of completion. Five golf courses are being built in the area and, at only 35 minutes journey time away from the Spanish mainland, investment in the area is massive, with returns guaranteed on properties whose prices are currently still attractively low. This area, which includes towns such as Tetuoan, traditional and sophisticated Tangier and the renowned Mediterrania Saidia development, is set to benefit the most from the Vision 2010 funding on offer, its proximity to the Spanish mainland and budget travel options, as well as its stunning beaches and Mediterranean climate making it an ideal property investment hotspot.

Mediterrania Saidia is the first of the six luxury resorts planned for completion by King Mohammed and will be the only one to be built on the Mediterranean coast. This luxury resort, complete with purpose-built golf course, is anticipated to become the address everyone will want in the Mediterranean region. Located along a 6 km stretch of beautiful coastline, the resort will feature 6 luxury hotels, 3 golf courses, a marina, a medical centre and a huge commercial/shopping centre. In addition, there are also 22 plots of land on which to develop tourist accommodation units and holiday villas, allowing for unique, sustainable investment. Particular attention has been paid to maintain green spaces, one of the government’s highest priorities and the area is surrounded by a natural bird preserve, while access to the main beach is through a eucalyptus forest. The local surroundings are well catered for by a good range of bars, restaurants and shops.

Morocco’s Atlantic coast stretches along the entire western coast of the country and is the place to be if you want to be able to combine the exciting, cultural cities of Marrakech, Casablanca or Fes (arguably Morocco’s most beautiful city, where life is still rooted in medieval times), with a quieter, more beach orientated way of life. Thanks to its plethora of wide expanses of unspoiled pristine coastline, investors and holidaymakers alike are being attracted to this uniquely beautiful area, eager to take advantage of this part of Morocco which is set to receive a massive boost from the Vision 2010 plan thanks to its importance within it.

Five of King Mohammed’s six planned resorts are to be located along the Atlantic coastline and represent distinct opportunities for solid investment as well as being superb value for money for those looking for a property for their own use. The buy to let market in the region is set to boom, not least in Larache, one of Morocco’s most significant harbour towns and home to one of the King’s Big Six, Port Lixus, adjacent to the ruins of the legendary site of the Gardens of the Hesperides. Larache is uniquely Spanish, very relaxed and highly sophisticated, especially popular with emigrated Moroccans who come to enjoy the long, clean beach and well established nightlife. Similar in style to other cities in this part of Morocco, such as Tangier and Tetouan, Larache’s beauty lies in its blue painted doors and whitewashed houses. The area enjoys fantastic transportation links and is well known for its uniquely mixed atmosphere, having retained and incorporated the best of its Spanish and African influences into what is now a rapidly growing tourist economy. Larache and Lixus can be reached by bus or grand taxi only, either from Tangier or from Asilah.

Marrakech is Morocco’s second largest city and the country’s heartbeat, the city of entertainment and the most significant organisational centre in southern Morocco. The Rose City has staked its claim on Moroccan history ever since it was a trading and resting place on the crossroads of ancient caravan routes from Timbuktu. Still painted entirely in salmon pink, in keeping with the red-clay earth below, its refined palaces and stunning old buildings repose quietly alongside the snake charmers and mayhem of the world famous, UNESCO world heritage site of Djemaa el Fna, the world’s most exciting market. Although it lacks the beaches of other popular property hotspots, investors are flocking to this inland attraction, keen to lure some of its 90%-plus hotel occupancy rate into bought-to-let apartments and traditional riads. With the Atlas Mountains just around the corner and a huge choice of budget airline options to get you to and from the city, Marrakech plays host to some of Morocco’s best golf courses and hotels and enhances its investment appeal even more by being thoroughly eco-friendly, with inland hikes and traditional tours offered as par for the course. Fantastic spas and gourmet restaurants add to the appeal, attracting investors and celebrities alike to this most refined of Moroccan destinations.

Azur Plan - Saidia

Saidia in the north east corner of Morocco, is one of the designated areas under the King's Azur Plan to benefit from the projected growth in tourism to reach 10 million by the year 2010. On the Algerian border, this Mediterranean resort is springing up with golf, beaches, theme parks, hotels and restaurants.

Tangiers has always been considered to be one of the most stylish resorts in the Mediterranean region, made famous in the 1950s as a place of relaxed morals which attracted the literati of the time, including Paul Bowles, Cecil Beaton, William Burroughs, Jack Kerouac, Truman Capote, Allen Ginsberg and Tennessee Williams. Nowadays, although the foreign population remains high (mainly French and Spanish), the city’s notorious reputation is firmly behind it although it does remain a shadow of its former self. Relatively difficult to get to, with few package operators offering it as a destination, Tangiers mainly concentrates on promoting itself as a resort for the Spanish and Moroccan tourism trade. Nonetheless, if it is off the beaten track you are looking for, Tangiers is your place, full of bazaars and souks and real café life, complete with copious amounts of sweet mint tea. Full of character and like nowhere else in Morocco, Tangiers is a once in a lifetime experience and a great starting point to explore the rest of Morocco from.