Small Boutique hotels in MOROCCO

Situated in the north-western corner of Africa, separated from Spain only by the Strait of Gibraltar, conquered by the Arabs, colonised by Europe, with an indigenous Berber population... Morocco is a melting pot of influences with a feel at times of travelling through history.

The northern town of Tangier epitomises Morocco's cultural crossovers due to its standing as a port of call for traders to and from the Mediterranean. South-west of here is Fez, the former capital of Morocco. Walking through its medieval medina is like stepping back in time: its winding streets are so narrow that donkeys are the usual form of transport.

The coastal towns of Rabat, Casablanca and El Jadida immediately have a more European feel. The first is the elegant administrative capital; the second, the sprawling centre of commerce; the third, the port town to Marrakech whose fortified Portuguese city is now a World Heritage Site. Essaouira still further down the coast is quiet and picturesque with some beautiful boutique hotels.

Marrakech has come to represent Morocco's beating heart: the souks and squares of its medina encapsulating sights, sounds and smells. Further south, the astonishing landscapes of the Atlas Mountains and the Sahara demand to be explored.