A Different Side of Morocco

There is a stretch of Morocco that feels like a more unexpected Mediterranean - familiar enough to feel effortless, but different enough to keep surprising you.

Darren recently returned and came away particularly taken with the country's northern coast. From east to west, three very different worlds unfold, all surprisingly close to one another: Tamuda Bay on the Mediterranean, Tangier, where the Med meets the Atlantic, and the Atlantic coast around Larache.

Tamuda Bay delivers the pleasures of the Med without the same sense of crowds - polished resorts, beautiful beaches, and a coastline that still feels pleasingly undiscovered. Here, wellness gets a distinctly Moroccan rethink. One remarkable spa goes well beyond the traditional treatment menu, offering full physical assessments, body scans, movement testing, and personalized recommendations around nutrition, exercise and injury prevention. It is an experience worth the trip alone.

Then comes Tangier - Arabic at its core, with Spanish and French influences woven throughout. Its medina rewards lingering…tiny cafés, unexpected corners, and, according to Darren, the best cup of coffee he had in Morocco.

Further west, the Atlantic coast feels like the Greek Isles or Comporta - effortlessly chic beaches, sweeping coastal views, understated villas and beautiful places to stay, all with a distinctly Moroccan sensibility. Add acres of olive groves, local makers, and the option to stay within a Moroccan village with your own private chef, and the experience becomes both deeply local and indulgent.

That is what makes the northern coast so compelling: you get the sun, sea, and beach life, but with far more texture - history, culture, and eccentricity.

For travelers who feel like they have done the obvious, Morocco’s coast is the detour.