Morocco, Sport & Activities Morocco’s varied landscapes, which range from a 3500-km (2170-mile) coastline to the forests, rivers and mountains of the Middle and High Atlas and the Sahara Desert, offer a wide choice of sports and leisure activities.
Golf There are approximately 30 golf courses in the country, including several new ones. Golf is very popular in Morocco, partly because King Hassan II was an internationally ranked practitioner of the game. Rabat Royal Dar es Salaam Golf Club, which has three courses and annually hosts the internationally renowned Hassan II Trophy. Agadir the Agadir Royal Golf Club is a par 36. Dunes Golf Club has three 9-hole par 36 courses Golf du Soleil, which is a 27-hole par 72. Marrakech Royal Golf Club is an 18-hole par 72 course. The Palmeraie Golf Club, a setting with views of the Atlas mountains Amelkis Golf Club. Other 18-hole courses. Casablanca Mohammedia Royal Golf Club. Tangier Tangier Royal Golf.
Hiking and trekking With its four distinct mountain ranges - the Rif, the Middle Atlas, the High Atlas and the Anti-Atlas - Morocco offers outstanding opportunities for hiking and trekking. Various trekking tours can be organised through the Moroccan National Tourist Office One of the most popular treks in the High Atlas is the ascent of Jebel Toubkal (4167m/6668ft), North Africa’s highest peak. The best time for trekking is from April to October. The canyons and gorges are best tackled from June to October
Watersports Sandy beaches offer safe swimming, although the Atlantic can be cold even in summer. Mohammedia, Agadir, El Jadida, Oualidia, Safi and Essaouira are all good bathing resorts. The Mediterranean coast in the north, opposite Spain, is being developed, and resorts such as Cabonegro offer superb swimming and diving. Other dive sites can be found at Agadir and Essaouira. The rivers in the High and Middle Atlas ranges, particularly the Oum-er-Rbia, offer whitewater rafting throughout the year. Fishing permits are necessary for trout streams, lakes and pike lakes. Several ports are equipped for deep-sea fishing..
Skiing This is possible for several months each year. Ifrane in the Middle Atlas and Oukaïden in the High Atlas (70km/44 miles from Marrakech) offer skiing facilities. Other ski resorts include Mischliffen in the Middle Atlas. Mount Tidiquin in the Ketama district and Djebel Bou Volane in the Middle Atlas are popular areas for expedition-type skiing and walking trips.
Riding There are horse riding clubs in all major towns, notably Agadir, Casablanca, Fès, Marrakech and Rabat. Several clubs organise pony treks in the Middle Atlas. The combination of travelling by mule and skiing (known as mule-skiing) is characteristic to the High Atlas and can be carried out from February to April. Camel riding is also available, both in the Atlas mountains and around the Sahara Desert area in the southwest.
Other Also available throughout Morocco are 4-wheel-drives, incorporating visits to natural and cultural sights such as the 300m (984-ft) deep Gorge of Todra, the massive sand dunes of Merzouga and the Berber region of Ouarzazate. The famous Paris-Dakar motor rally passes through Morocco every year.
