Draa Valley, Morocco
Fast Facts
ACTIVITIES
Overland Adventure
Historic Interest
 
Places to Visit
CITIES & CULTURE
ACTIVE ADVENTURE
 
 

Ouaouzagour

 

Photo by Dominique Ganteille, courtesy of A lovely world

The Moroccan oasis known as the Drâa Valley is noted for its splendid kasbahs as well as its lush green floor. Some fifty kasbahs dot the landscape. The Draa River turns the brown desert into a rich palmeraie for 100 kilometers. And while the Drâa Valley is only sparsely populated, it was once an important transit point on the trans-Saharan caravan route as well as an important center for Jewish civilization and Arab learning and religion.
History & Culture
 
A family trip to the Draa Valley is about more than an adventure. It is an opportunity to introduce children to Moroccan dynasties and Berber culture as well as the geography of this southern destination. Learn about the Draa River and find out where it runs dry. Discover the ways of Moroccan Berbers and their place in history. Read about the early history of Morocco and discover the importance of the south.
Maps
 
Online maps are a great travel planning resource and a great way to get the kids involved in a family vacation. Map the imperial cities - Marrakesh, Fez, Meknes and Rabat - as well as Berber villages, desert oasis and mountain ranges. Use online maps to pinpoint your family travel destination and get a lay of the land.
Books
 
Books are a great way to introduce young children to a new adventure and get teens and tweens ready for a family trip. We've compiled a list of books about Morocco and books by Moroccan authors for children of various ages and with varying interests. What better why to begin a journey that a trip through literature?
Music & Sound
 
Moroccan music is a web of rhythm and sound. And it comes in a variety of forms. Arab-Andalusian music, a classical tradition imported from Muslim Spain, combines rhythm, vocals and instrumentals in complicated musical structure called nawbat or harmonic modes. Berber music, played at weddings, festivals and tribal gatherings, are poems and tales told through song. Moroccan popular music is rooted in Arabic style but influenced by African, Western and all forms of Moroccan music.
News
 
Read Moroccan newspapers online and, in addition to brushing up on Moroccan current events, find out what's happening from Casablanca to Tamegroute and discover what Moroccans are reading about.
Kids' Stuff
 
Online resources make learning lots of fun. Learn about Ibn Battuta, an explorer from Tangier, and take a virtual tour with this 14th century traveler. Map the routes followed by Ibn Battuta and Marco Polo and compare the two. View images of daily life and discover the Moroccan culture. Get fun facts about Morocco. Test your knowledge before you depart and again when you return. Print the information you find fascinating and take it with you on your family trip. Explain your findings to your family members and use the things you learn to make your travel journal really cool.
Organizations
 
Associations and non-profit organizations are a valuable resource as well as means to get involved. Find out more about a few of the organizations working to preserve the Amazigh Berber culture as well as those working to conserve Morocco's national treasures.
Recommended Reads for Family Travel to Morocco
Travel Trivia
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