Morocco

For a country that almost touches Spain, Morocco feels remarkably foreign. If you’re looking to experience a truly different culture without having to travel too far – Morocco is the place to go. I spent a week in this beautiful country trekking over the Atlas Mountains and there is very little I can compare it to. Its been almost five years and I still remember every detail of the stunning vistas, baking heat, vibrant villages… and uncomfortable toilet arrangements (the less said about that the better!). If you plan to go on a similar kind of adventure, make sure you’re well prepared – it certainly isn’t for the faint hearted. Aside from your basic walking gear, make sure you bring a hydration pack (you can find these easily online) so you can keep sipping water throughout the day (it was 35 degrees in the shade when I was there) and I’d recommend hiring both a guide for the mountains and a mule to help carry some of your supplies. This also provides you with insurance against injuries – the last thing you want is to be stuck in the Atlas with a sprained ankle.

If that (quite understandably) doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, or if you’re simply pushed for time but want to experience this country all the same; I have to recommend Marrakesh. I started my trip from here and it is utterly chaotic – but loads of fun. Whether you’re walking the souks and haggling with vendors, or sitting with a glass of mint tea on one of the rooftop cafes; you’ll never be short of excitement.

Fair warning though; Morocco does come with a set of issues its crucial to be aware of. Firstly: in Morocco homosexuality is a crime – and its one that is taken seriously. On one occasion in the souks when my friend mentioned to me, without thinking, that another (male) friend of ours had a new boyfriend, we were grabbed by a very large police officer with a very large gun who had thought we were talking about ourselves. We were very nearly arrested. Additionally, I would advise against any woman travelling Morocco solo as it quite simply isn’t safe. On my girlfriend’s last visit to Morocco with her dad someone attempted to buy her on three separate occasions. None of this is to say that you shouldn’t visit this exciting country – but it is absolutely something worth bearing in mind.

Now that that’s out of the way… Go! Have fun! Enjoy the cats. That might sound odd, but honestly, there are cats everywhere. Its adorable (just don’t touch them!).