Whether it’s your first trip to Morocco or your 25th time visiting this wonder of a country, we assure you that souks will be something to look back on and, dare we say, go back to.

So, what are souks?

Souks or souqs are basically open-air marketplaces or commercial centers selling all sorts of wares, ingredients, spices, foods, and virtually all kinds of goods.

The rest of the world knows of souks by different names—there’s the bedesten in the Balkans, monti or suq in Malta, and in the English-speaking parts of the world, bazaar.

In Morocco, souks sell everything from spices, meats, dried fruits, leatherwork, pottery, jewelry, Berber carpets, lamps, lanterns, preserves, artworks, woodworks, shisha pipes, balgha or Moroccan slippers, traditional musical instruments, and more. The largest souks in the country are found in the imperial city of Marrakech.

Here are some of the reasons why souks are a must-go for anyone visiting Morocco:

• Souks give you a piece of Moroccan culture
  It’s not an exaggeration to say that a large part of Moroccan culture is embedded and preserved in its souks. Rising out of necessity, souks also allow the Moroccans’ creativity, resourcefulness, warmth, and hospitality to be on full display.
• Souks are affordable
  Ninety-five percent of the wares sold in souks are made and grown locally or, at least, locally sourced which makes them cheap.
• Souks offer you just about everything
  Souks are a necessity in the daily lives of Moroccans, so it’s no surprise that they have everything you need and more. From the spices you need to make that tagine or couscous to the perfect souvenir to bring home, all you need to do is show up your local souk, and voila! instant everything!
• Souks will train your haggling skills
  Ask anyone their first time haggling and an overwhelming number of them will say that nothing really prepares you for all the craziness that comes with shopping in souks. So, if your haggling skills need affirming or you want to train them, souks are the place to go.
• Souks are an experience in and of itself
  As the leading travel agency in Herndon, Virginia, we at Morocco Travel and Tour have seen how souks have remained consistently atop the bucket list of our clients.

We’re honestly not surprised. Imagine being under the warm buzz of the sun, hearing the shouts of stallholders, seeing the stalls of bright colors piled high, and smelling the mix of spices and barbecued meats—it’s no wonder why wading through the crowd at souks is an experience in itself. You can even say it’s the most fun part and makes exploring souks worth it.

Ready for that unique souk experience? See our travel and tour in Virginia packages today!

The authentic Moroccan experience can come in a lot of ways. But there is probably nothing more authentic than touring the four kingdoms of the country—Rabat, Fez, Meknes, and Marrakesh.

As the leading travel agency in Herndon, Virginia for all trips to Morocco, we offer immersive and life-changing tour packages to reflect the colorful energy of the country.

One of our travel and tour in Virginia packages, our Morocco Imperial Cities Tour, is not only meant to let you discover the wonder of these cities but also to offer you a genuine experience like any other in the most convenient way possible.

Here is what you can expect on your trip to Morocco:

1. Rabat

   Rabat is Morocco’s capital as well as the seat of the government and the royal family’s official residence. Here are some sights to explore:

   • A smaller version of the blue city of Chefchaouen inside the Kasbah les Oudaias
   • Mosque el-Atiqa, the oldest mosque in the city
   • Hassan Tower
   • Kasbah of the Oudaias
   • The mausoleum of Mohammed V
2. Fez

   Fez is where many of the country’s intellectuals reside and is the largest car-free urban area in the world. Here are some sights to explore:

   • Tannerie Chouara, the largest tannery in Fez
   • Place des Alaouites, the Royal Palace
   • Fès el-Bali, the medina at Fez
   • The Jewish quarter of Rue des Mérinides
   • Mosaique et Poterie de Fez
3. Meknes

   Meknes is a little gem located in between Rabat and Fez. It was once home to the Moroccan sultanate and is perfect for a more laidback tour. Here are some sights to explore:

   • Place el-Hedim, the city’s main square
   • Agdal Basin, a historic site for the Sultan’s gardens and used as a pleasure lake
   • Bab el-Mansour, the huge gate guarding the city
   • The Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail
4. Marrakech

   Marrakech is a combination of the ancient and the modern—perhaps what best describes Morocco today. Here are some sights to explore:

   • Djemaa el-Fna, the city’s main square and a UNESCO declared ‘Masterpiece of World Heritage’
   • Bahia Palace and its gardens
   • Maison de la Photographie
   • Saadian Tombs
   • Jardin Majorelle

Ready for your trip? Here’s what we can cover at Morocco Travel and Tour:

• Hotel accommodation of your choosing
• Professional, English-speaking drivers
• Deluxe vehicles
• Local guides in each major city and assistance from our local office at Casablanca
• Entrance fees to monuments
• Tips for luggage handling at the airport and hotels only (Other tips such as the ones for guides, drivers, laundry, room service, and phone calls are excluded from this package and will be shouldered by the guest)
• Discounted airfares, available by request