For those in a rush, here is the cheat sheet.

• Continent: Africa.

• The Neighbors: Bounded by the Atlantic Ocean (West), Mediterranean Sea (North), Algeria (East), and Mauritania (South).

• Distance to Europe: Only 14 km (9 miles) across the Strait of Gibraltar.

• Capital City: Rabat (Note: It is not Marrakech or Casablanca!).

• Time Zone: GMT+1 (Same as London in Summer).

• Flight Time: ~3.5 hours from London; ~7 hours from New York.

Morocco is not just one big desert. It is a land of extreme contrasts. To understand where to go, you need to understand the four distinct geographic zones.

1. The North & The Mediterranean (The Blue Zone)

The northern tip of Morocco feels distinctly Mediterranean. The hills are lush and green, and the architecture features red-tiled roofs and whitewashed walls, similar to Southern Spain.

• Key Destination: Chefchaouen. Nestled in the Rif Mountains, this is the famous "Blue Pearl."

• Read More: Chefchaouen Guide: 24 Hours in the Blue Pearl

2. The Interior Plains (The Red Zone)

Move south, and the earth turns to ochre and clay. This is the beating heart of Imperial Morocco.

• Key Destination: Marrakech. The "Red City" is defined by its pink pisé (rammed earth) walls that glow at sunset.

• Read More: The Insider’s Guide to Marrakech

3. The Atlas Mountains (The White Zone)

Running like a spine down the center of the country are the Atlas Mountains. In winter, these peaks are covered in deep snow. Yes, you can ski in Africa.

• Key Destination: Toubkal National Park or Imlil.

• Read More: Marrakech in Winter: What to Pack

4. The Desert (The Gold Zone)

South of the mountains, the world turns to stone and sand. This is the pre-Sahara.

• Key Destination: Merzouga (Sand Dunes) or Agafay (Stone Desert).

• Read More: Agafay Desert: Is it Worth the Hype?

Because Morocco is so far north, it is surprisingly accessible for Western travelers.

From the USA & Canada:

• Direct Flights: Royal Air Maroc flies direct from New York (JFK), Washington (IAD), and Montreal (YUL) to Casablanca (CMN).

• Flight Time: Approx 7 hours.

• Strategy: Fly into Casablanca, take the high-speed train (Al Boraq) to Tangier, or a 45-minute connecting flight to Marrakech.

From the UK & Europe:

• Direct Flights: EasyJet, Ryanair, and BA fly direct to Marrakech (RAK), Agadir, and Fes from almost every major European capital.

• Flight Time: London to Marrakech is just 3.5 hours.

• Strategy: For a long weekend, fly directly into Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK).

✈️ Check Flight Prices: [Skyscanner or WayAway]

At Red City Craft, we believe you can tell where a product comes from just by looking at its material. The geography dictates the art.

• The Coastal Clay: The pottery from Safi and Fes is famous for its intricate glazed finish, inspired by the blues of the Mediterranean and Atlantic.

  • Bring it Home: Shop Hand-Painted Ceramic Sinks

• The Desert Earth: The leather tanneries of Marrakech use age-old techniques to treat skins, resulting in the warm, earthy tones of our poufs.

  • Bring it Home: Shop Leather Poufs & Ottomans

Now that you know where Morocco is, the only question left is: When are you going? Whether you want to ski, surf, hike, or shop, it is all within a 3-hour drive of each other.

• Ready to plan? Start with our Marrakech City Guide.

• Ready to shop? Visit the Red City Craft Store to see the treasures of the Kingdom.