An Adventurer's Guide to Northern Morocco

1. Visit the largest Mosque in Morocco, The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca.

2. Stroll through Jardin Majorelle, a 2.5 acre botanical garden near the Medina in Marrakech that inspired Yves Saint Laurent for over three decades. Head over to the Yves Saint Laurent Museum afterward to witness some of YSL's best known designs.

3. Check out Bahia Palace - make sure you dress modestly

4. Marrakech Medina - As you stroll in its traditional quarters, you’ll find bazaars, traditional souks, museums, Riads, and café terraces

5. Visit my favorite part of Morocco - Essaouira. Located on the North coast near the beach, roughly 2.5 hour drive from Marrakech. It tends to be windier, and less chaotic than Marrakech. It's great for hiking, ATVs on the beach, organic wine vineyards, horseback riding, and watersports on the bay. Visit the local vendors in souk in this serene seaside village and pick up some traditional wooden goods carved out of Thuya!

6. Medina of Rabat - Being the beating heart of Morocco's capital, the old medina will shower you with its charm. Embedded in the hustle and bustle of a modern city, its cultural aspect emerges from its narrow streets, fortified walls, Kasbah and souks

7. Take a hot air balloon over Marrakech or the Atlas Mountains

8. Hike through the Atlas Mountains

9. Sandboard or ride a camel through one of the deserts

10. The closest desert to Marrakech is the Agafay Desert. The rocky desert is perfect for a camel ride at sunset. You can also grab dinner here after and experience real desert culture at a tented luxury retreat.

11. Take a tagine cooking class! Taught by local expert chefs, you'll turn into a certified Moroccan cook, and will be able to impress those back at home with an authentic Moroccan meal.

1. El Fenn - trendy place for dinner or a drink, owned by Richard Branson's daughter

2. La Maison Arabe Marrakech - a beautiful hotel that is also a renowned cooking school!

3. La Mamounia - another gorgeous hotel with tons of restaurants on the property

4. La Pause - a great place for dinner in the Agafay Desert. Can spend the night in a rustic tent

5. Al Fassia - run entirely by women since it opened in 1987. For nearly as long, the restaurant has been hailed as the place to eat in the city

6. Dar Moha - Housed in a traditional riad-style building, Dar Moha sits beside the palace Dar el Bacha, once the home of the pasha of Marrakech

7. L’Mida - High on a rooftop beneath wicker lanterns and striped Mediterranean-style umbrellas, diners feast on creative plates such as Berber gnocchi with beurre noisette, beetroot and orange blossom salad, or vegan couscous

8. La Famille - a tranquil vegetarian place that even non-vegetarians will love