24 jaw-dropping photos of Morocco

Morocco, the North African country that lies directly across the Strait of Gibraltar from Spain, is home to both a rich and cultured history and land. In terms of natural beauty, Morocco’s got it all: the country includes everything from ocean views, mountain ranges and vast deserts. So until you can get there, scrolling through these stunning photos will allow you to take a mini-break through your computer screen.

Besides seeing the term used in cheesy love quotes, when’s the last time you saw the galaxy? If you were in the Sahara Desert, your answer would probably be a lot different from where you are now. This incredible photo shows a clear view of the Milky Way galaxy from the Sahara Desert.

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The Koutoubia Mosque is the largest mosque in Marrakech. The sacred building has many of the common characteristics of famed Islamic architecture, from its curved windows, ceramic strip and decorative arches. This low angle view captures the mosque in a beautiful golden glow.

The souks (the name for Arab markets) of the medina, the oldest area in Marrakech, are sure to put your local farmer’s market to shame. Souks are located throughout a maze of small, winding alleyways and sell everything from food to leather to spices to even souvenirs. And if you’re good at haggling, this is the place to do it.

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And speaking of spices…check out these beautiful, mouth-watering (or possibly eye-watering?) mounds. The spices of Morocco are one of the country’s most widely known and coveted treasures, dating all the way back to the ancient days of the spice trade. Just a few of the spices native to the region are cinnamon, cardamom, curry, ginger, turmeric and more.

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Ever wish you could travel back in time? If you ever get the chance to visit the fortified village of Aït Benhaddou, it will feel like you have. The village’s buildings date back to the 17th century and are all prime examples of traditional Moroccan earthen clay architecture (beautiful, but dangerous when wet!). In fact, it was the brutal rains that forced the majority of people to move out of this formerly majestic village – only five families remain living there to this day. While Aït Benhaddou isn’t a full-on ghost town yet, it’s pretty close.

See that little black dot in the right-hand corner of the photo? No, that’s not an ant – that’s a person! The perspective shows just how grandiose the main entrance to the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca really is. It’s no wonder that this mosque is the largest functioning mosque in Africa and the seventh-largest in the entire world.

Remember the incredible ocean-desert-mountain combo we were raving about earlier? Well, here are the Atlas Mountains in all of their glory. This mountain range is home to many remote villages where, until a decade ago, running water and electricity were nearly unheard of. But many inhabitants feel that the natural beauty and fresh air of the mountain villages make living there worthwhile.

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Perhaps one of the most ‘Instagrammable’ places in Morocco, the city of Chefchauoen located in the Rif mountains is almost completely blue. While the reason behind the blueness is still a mystery (although there have been many speculations), there’s no denying the (blue) beauty emanating from the city.

This stunning sunset photograph shoes the Hassan II Mosque from a different angle, highlighting its enormity and the fact that it has the tallest minaret in the world. The sunset, the water and the coastline all make for a postcard-worthy pic.