• Asilah: This quaint fishing village exudes a Mediterranean-style charm, true to its relatively recent Spanish history, which is amplified by the throngs of Spanish visitors and expats who fill the village during the summer months. Asilah's prestigious International Cultural Festival is worth timing your itinerary around, and it has assisted in the general beautification and restoration of the 15th-century medina.
  • Ifrane: A French-built mountain resort, Ifrane is a village like no other in Morocco. Thanks to its Swiss chalet-like architecture, neatly trimmed lawns and gardens, tree-lined lake, and clean, crisp mountain air, a stop in Ifrane is almost like leaving the country. The village is also home to a royal palace and a U.S.-curriculum university. It's a welcome retreat from Fes and Meknes during the hot summer months and enjoys erratic snowfalls during the winter.
  • Imlil: The most popular trail head from which to trek Jebel Toubkal, the village of Imlil is witnessing a bit of a boom at the moment, thanks largely to the increasing number of visitors from Marrakech, less than a 2-hour drive away. Sitting in the Aït Mizane valley and 1,740m (5,708 ft.) high, Imlil is a very pleasant place to while away a couple of days. The silence is deafening, the nights are filled with endless stars, and there's a small but quality choice of accommodations.
  • Chefchaouen: The Rif mountains' most traveler-friendly village is also one of the country's most picturesque, sitting snugly between the twin peaks from which it takes its name. Chefchaouen's small medina was once off-limits to all Westerners, but nowadays it's a decidedly more welcoming place, with plenty of accommodations and restaurants to suit all budgets and a square where breakfast, lunch, and dinner can blend into a daylong affair.
  • Amezrou: This small village -- across the Oued Dra from its big sister Zagora -- meanders through a lush palmeraie and is one of the most authentic desert settlements of the scenic Dra Valley. Although often used only as an overnight stop on the way to/from the Erg Chigaga desert dunes, Amezrou offers the traveler multiple attractions and quality accommodations, and is worth an extended stay if you have the time.
  • Oukaïmeden: Morocco's only ski resort is also a beautiful trekking base during the warmer months. At the end of a steep, winding road, Oukaïmeden is little more than a smattering of Swiss-like holiday homes and a few hotels, although this may change in the near future with a proposed Dubai-financed property development.
  • Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.