Morocco Leisure and Sport

In Morocco, the four mountain ranges including the ATLAS chain and the RIF mountain range, provide an excellent opportunity for those who enjoy trekking, hiking and climbing. All of them are accessible to people in good physical condition. Perhaps the most popular is Le Deren, in the High Atlas. Certain peaks of the High Atlas remain snow-capped throughout the year.

Of all the mountain sports practiced in Morocco, trekking (on foot or by ski) is one of the best ways to appreciate this vast and little-visited area. The mountains are beautiful and wild, yet they are well organised for hikers with qualified guides, a good network of refuges for night stopovers, hire of pack mules and cross country bikes

A list of refuges can be obtained from:
The Moroccan National Tourist Office or The Club Alpin Français, BP.
Royal Moroccan Ski & Mountaineering Federation,   Parc de la Lique, Arabe, BP 15899, Casablanca

In Morocco, those who love to surf can endlessly indulge their pleasure. They can be carried along by the Atlantic waves or the trade winds, slide on the snowy slopes of the Atlas mountains or the dunes of the south.

Royal Moroccan Surfing Federation in Casablanca

Every kind of water sport is catered for on the Atlantic and Mediterranean coast - Most the hotels on the coastline offer a wide range of water sports: surfing, windsurfing, sailing & yachting, canoeing, rowing, waterskiing, scuba diving and deep sea fishing.

Royal Moroccan Sailboat Federation in Rabat
Royal Moroccan Yacht Club in Rabat
Royal Moroccan Water Skiing and Jetski Federation in Casablanca

Morocco is an ideal country for horse lovers. The main riding centres can be found in Rabat, Casablanca, Agadir, Meknes, Fez, Oujda, Ouirgane and Tangier.

Golf was first introduced into Morocco at the beginning of the century - even before football - and has since become a national passion In Morocco. Major competitions attract golfers from all over the world, the most famous being the annual Hassan II Trophy is played at Royal Golf club, Dar Es-Salam at Rabat.

Golf enthusiasts can enjoy excellent courses in Tangier, Cabo Negro, Fez, Meknes, Ben Slimane, Mohammedia, Casablanca, El Jadida, Marrakesh, Ouarzazate, Agadir, and Rabat.

In Morocco, tennis is played on clay courts. Challenging and exciting play can be found at all major resorts where tennis is a very popular sport.

There are many opportunities for fishing in the quiet waters of the rivers and lakes throughout the country and well as deep sea fishing.

Trout can be fished in the wadis and more challenging in the gorges. Pike, black bass, perch, roach, carp, eels and barbels are plentiful in the lakes (the season generally being from May - June according to species).

Bonitos, sea perch, mullet, chad and sea bream are abundant in the Oceans. Several ports are equipped for deep sea fishing, for example Sakhla in the Sahara and Mohammedia near Casablanca, where you can go out and fish for tuna, swordfish, marlin, grouper and barracudas.

Moroccan National Fisheries Office in Casablanca

There are several aeroclubs in Morocco where you can indulge in Aviation, parachuting, ULM, gliding, deltaplane, parachute gliding and hot air ballooning.

Royal Moroccan Federation for Light Aviation & Aerial Sports in Rabat

Morocco plays host to some of the greatest international competitions; including the Paris-Dakar and Atlas Rallies. There are thousands of kilometres of tracks giving enthusiasts a wide selection of challenges. You can choose from tiny "quad" to the heavy long chassis four wheel drive, with or without driver. Contact a travel agent or a car hire company.

"The Friendship Raid" is open to motor bikes and found wheel drives, running from Tangier to Rabat and crossing the Atlas Mountains and the Sahara. It is not against the clock and it is an ideal opportunity to meet and get to know other like-minded people.

For more information contact: A.O.I. 67 rue Nationale, 60800, Crépy en Volois, France