Morocco

Ruben Chorlton-Owen, 24, from North Wales, visited the popular destination with his partner, Amber. He admitted he wishes he knew what it was really like before visiting the hotspot

Holidays are meant to be one of life’s greatest pleasures, but sometimes the reality can be vastly different from expectations, with certain mishaps leaving travellers utterly floored. Ruben Chorlton-Owen, 24, recently jetted off to a sought-after travel destination hoping to bask in the sunshine and escape the daily grind.

Unfortunately, things didn’t pan out quite as smoothly as he’d anticipated, with several surprises along the way, and one particular episode left him genuinely shocked. Despite the country’s growing reputation as a trending holiday hotspot, he insists there are important warnings potential visitors should heed before booking their trip, describing the travel advice as absolutely essential.

Ruben, hailing from North Wales, recently recounted his experiences in detail. He’s far from the first traveller whose holiday has taken an unexpected turn either.

He explained: “I paid £170 each for a sunrise hot air balloon ride while in Morocco, and there’s one thing they don’t really tell you beforehand. The flight itself was smooth and the views were incredible, but the landing was something else entirely.

“The basket slammed into the ground three times before tipping over. A woman next to me hit her head, my partner did too, and I hurt my back slightly, although thankfully we were all ok.

“Afterwards, I found out that this type of hard landing can sometimes be considered ‘normal’, depending on wind conditions, but that’s not something clearly spelled out to tourists before they go up. In the air, it feels calm and controlled, so the impact comes as a real shock.”

However, this wasn’t the sole disappointment during his trip, as he revealed he encountered several other “issues” whilst there. The travel enthusiast warns that visitors really need to exercise caution when travelling to the destination.

“Seemingly friendly people approach tourists offering to ‘guide’ them near the markets ‘souk’ before demanding a lot of money,” he explained. “I fell for this myself.

“[There were] suggestions to use illegal taxi apps involving drivers who are not licensed nor vetted, and strict Moroccan currency rules which mean you can’t get dirhams in the UK before you travel, and to exchange back you must keep bank receipts etc. A lot have been caught out on this.”

For those unfamiliar with the country, Morocco is an incredibly popular African holiday destination. It attracted more than 17.4 million international tourists in 2024 alone, according to reports.

The North African nation is renowned for its easy accessibility from Europe, rich culture, varied landscapes and budget-friendly, genuine experiences. Popular destinations include locations such as Marrakech and Chefchaouen.

This may explain why Ruben was eager to visit. He travelled with his partner, Amber, earlier this month, and it was actually her suggestion to go.

Their expectations of the trip were vastly different. Nevertheless, he maintained they had an enjoyable time, though he believes travellers need to remain vigilant when visiting.

When questioned about why he chose Morocco, Ruben revealed: “It was my partner’s idea, but something I’ve always wanted to do on my bucket list too. A lot of people do it (the balloon ride) unless they’re afraid of heights.

“I wouldn’t say Morocco itself is a holiday from hell, but there are a few things people should be cautious about. It’s quite up and coming, and I think more people are starting to go there.

“Morocco is somewhere I would go back to. It’s not that Morocco is necessarily a bad place. We stayed at a hotel near the beach and all the staff were really friendly, really helpful and couldn’t do enough.

“People just need to stay safe on holiday. There are a few things you should be cautious about.”

Regarding the balloon rides, however, it’s reported they frequently involve bumpy landings. Hard landings (referred to as a “British landing” or a controlled drag) are considered normal and commonplace for hot air balloons in Morocco, particularly when wind speeds are elevated or when touching down on uneven, desert terrain.

Although they are often characterised as “crash” or bumpy landings, they can be fairly routine. It’s regarded as a safe and anticipated procedure to bring the balloon to a halt.

Ensure our latest headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as your Preferred Source in your Google search settings.

Morocco sentenced 18 Senegalese football fans last Thursday following disturbances at the Africa Cup of Nations final.

Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has followed his country’s football association in denouncing Morocco’s jailing of 18 Senegalese fans following January’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final in Rabat.

The Teranga Lions supporters were arrested during the final in the Moroccan capital, which was controversially suspended as the Senegal players left the pitch in protest against the late award of a penalty to the host nation.

Fans, in response, attempted to enter the field of play during the match on January 19, leading to the arrest of 18 people who were later charged with hooliganism and violence against security officials.

Prison sentences were handed out last Thursday to them, ranging from three months to one year, along with fines of up to 5,000 dirhams ($545).

“It seems this matter goes beyond the realm of sport and that is regrettable,” Sonko told the Senegalese parliament on Tuesday.

“For two countries that call each other friends, like Morocco and Senegal, things should not have gone this far.”

The 18 fans have denied any wrongdoing but have not appealed the sentence. Senegal, however, will seek a royal pardon from Morocco’s King Mohammed VI.

“If they do not, we have agreements that bind us and allow us to request that the supporters serve their sentences in their own country,” Sonko added.

The Senegal Football Association had immediately spoken out at the time of the sentences, describing them as “incomprehensibly harsh”.

“Clashes occur in numerous stadiums around the world, including every weekend in Morocco, without resulting in such sanctions,” Bacary Cisse, the president of the FSF’s communications committee, said.

“The treatment of these supporters therefore appears disproportionate.”

Defence lawyer for the 18, Patrick Kabou, had said on February 6 that they were still “waiting to learn the charges”.

He added that some had chosen to go on hunger strike against their detention and treatment.

In response to the sentencing, Kabou echoed the “incomprehensible” sentiment, saying his clients were “victims”.

Senegal were the eventual winners of the final after the match resumed following the players’ protest, securing a 1-0 win in extra time.

I swapped grey British skies for 23°C sunshine in a beautiful city this February

February in Britain typically brings relentless grey skies, persistent rain and blustery conditions whilst we eagerly await the arrival of spring. The dreary weather and bitter temperatures can make winter seem interminable. Yet just three hours away, I discovered myself soaking up 23°C sunshine in a destination many describe as “paradise.”

Determined to unwind beside a pool, I traded my heavy winter coat for summer dresses and sunglasses during my visit to Marrakech, Morocco. With quieter tourist numbers, exciting excursions, affordable accommodation and flights available from just £23.99 in March through Easyjet, here’s why you ought to consider a trip yourself.

Why it’s called paradise

When journeying to Morocco, fellow travellers may advise “you must stay in a riad” rather than a hotel to experience authentic Moroccan hospitality. The term riad means “garden” or “paradise” in Arabic.

“Moroccan riads were meant to represent the Muslim vision of paradise,” reported Moroccan Zest. “They were built and decorated by the best craftsmen from all over the Mediterranean area and enriched by Andalusian art to become the Moorish-style palaces we know today.”

My family and I ultimately chose a five-star establishment called El Olivar Palace in Marrakech, which featured private sections functioning as miniature riads, and it truly was paradise. The architecture was utterly stunning, whilst the entire hotel grounds radiated luxury and tranquillity.

This hotel provided an all-inclusive package featuring unlimited buffet dining with breakfast, lunch, dinner, and pudding. Despite being situated in a Muslim nation, the establishment continued to serve alcoholic beverages in the restaurant and at the outdoor bar.

The hotel boasts three swimming pools: two outdoor and one indoor, all surrounded by comfortable sun loungers. In the evenings, entertainment takes place in their indoor lounge, though throughout this quieter season it tends to be more peaceful, with reduced visitor numbers.

Moroccan tradition places great importance on warmth and hospitality. The hotel team were outstanding, incredibly friendly, and helpful. For most of our stay, we hardly needed to do anything as the staff attended to our every need as though we were VIPs.

Not only was our accommodation remarkable, but Morocco itself feels like an exotic haven wherever you venture. Despite the bustling streets of Marrakech, the city brimmed with vibrant culture and stunning views.

My preferred element was strolling past orange and olive trees, when suddenly you’d spot a lorry with a flock of goats or a donkey transporting merchandise. There were countless horses, cats, monkeys and snake charmers simply present in the town centre whilst motorbikes and scooters whizzed through the crowds.

When the sun starts to descend and the golden hour arrives, the country truly shines at its finest. The sky becomes the most magnificent sight to behold as its blue and orange shades blend together.

As the cotton-candy-like Atlas Mountains become increasingly visible, the large, luminous moon begins to appear. Once darkness falls, the sheer number of stars in Marrakech’s sky instils a tranquil serenity unmatched by any other location.

Morocco is also known as Al-Maghrib, translating to ‘the place in the West’. “In its simplest definition, the Arabic word maghrib means sunset,” as per The National News – an apt descriptor for this nation indeed.

Here’s my 72-hour itinerary

Like any holiday, venturing into a new country, it’s best to divide your time between adventurous pursuits, delving into the history and culture, and a day of relaxation. We spent five days in Marrakech, but this itinerary could easily be condensed into 72 hours.

For the first day, or rather the sunniest day of your trip, I’d suggest embarking on the desert excursion. We arranged this through Get Your Guide and paid a mere £15 for four activities spanning the entire day.

This included a visit to an Argan Oil Women’s Cooperative, where we savoured tea and bread with a variety of scrumptious dips (do try the peanut butter, it’s life-changing), followed by a tour and informative talk on the benefits of argan oil.

Next, you’ll embark on a camel ride; this was an utterly surreal and exhilarating experience, akin to riding a towering horse that moves like a seesaw. I’d recommend investing in a headscarf, as the sand can infiltrate your system.

Following that, you’ll team up for an exhilarating quad biking adventure, which proved an absolute thrill and a brilliant opportunity to bond with fellow travellers. Afterwards, you’ll tuck into a sumptuous three-course feast showcasing authentic Moroccan dishes.

To cap off the evening, you’ll witness a captivating, mesmerising fire performance that I promise will stay with you forever. For day two, I’d suggest taking things at a gentler pace. You ought to experience a hammam, an age-old, customary steam bath centred on purification and renewal.

This might sound extraordinary, but you’re instructed to undress entirely and provided with merely a modest cloth to preserve your modesty and a plush bathrobe that remains so toasty it feels freshly tumble-dried each time you slip it on. You’ll subsequently be bathed and thoroughly exfoliated before unwinding in the steam chamber.

Afterwards, you’ll be served tea and treated to a massage. I emerged from this experience feeling utterly refreshed, spotless and at peace.

Most residents indulge in this ritual weekly, and I completely understand why it’s become such a cherished custom. Next, make your way to Henna cafe for a stunning temporary hand design (resist anyone approaching you on the street offering it; visit a legitimate establishment to ensure you receive organic, genuine henna).

Finally, on your closing day, embark on a city tour and discover the captivating history of Marrakech. My personal highlight was the Bahia Palace.

Afterwards, wander through the souks, but stay alert to avoid being overcharged; negotiate firmly if you’re tempted to purchase anything! I spent £20 on a small kitchen bowl, and I’m still annoyed with myself for not insisting on a better price.

Three words: Morocco is paradise

I’ve never felt so calm and revitalised before, and I came back to a somewhat dreary UK looking radiant and recharged. February proved the ideal time to visit as there weren’t excessive numbers of tourists and the climate was favourable.

There were spells of rain as anticipated, but it felt crisp and pleasant after landing on a warm, sunny day. According to BBC News, this week the city is experiencing temperatures of 26°C, and it’s expected to climb higher as days progress.

I’d suggest packing a jacket, as evenings can turn cool, but I predominantly enjoyed wearing modest dresses and sandals.

Reflecting on our trip, my cousin Keisha remarked, “It was paradise, everything about it felt perfect, even the rain. Being there felt surreal and beautiful. Definitely worth another visit in the future.”

DAKAR, Senegal — Being gay in Morocco is illegal and punishable by up to three years in prison. But it was the violence from her family that forced Farah, a 21-year-old gay woman, to flee the country.

After a long journey to the United States and a third-country deportation by the Trump administration, however, Farah said she is now back in Morocco and in hiding.

“It is hard to live and work with the fear of being tracked once again by my family,” she told the Associated Press, in rare testimony from a person deported via a third country despite having protection orders from a U.S. immigration judge. “But there is nothing I can do. I have to work.”

She asked to be identified only by her first name for fear of persecution. The AP saw her protection order and lawyers verified parts of her account.

Farah said that before she fled, she was beaten by her family and the family of her partner when they found out about their relationship. She was kicked out of the family home and fled with her partner to another city. She said her family found her and tried to kill her.

Through a friend, she and her partner heard about the opportunity to get visas for Brazil and fly there with the aim of reaching the United States, where they had friends. From Brazil, she trekked through six countries for weeks to reach the U.S. border, where they asked for asylum.

“You get put in situations that are truly horrible,” she recalled. “When we arrived [at the U.S. border], it felt like it was worth the trouble and that we got to our goal.”

They arrived in early 2025. But instead of finding the freedom she envisioned, Farah said she was detained for almost a year, first in Arizona, then in Louisiana.

“It was very cold,” she said of detention. “And we only had very thin blankets.” Medical care was inadequate, she said.

She was denied asylum, but in August she received a protection order from a U.S. immigration judge, who ruled she cannot be deported to Morocco because that would endanger her life. Her partner, denied asylum and a protection order, was deported.

Farah said she was three days from a hearing on her release when she was handcuffed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and put on a plane to an African country she had never visited, and one where homosexuality is illegal: Cameroon. She was put in a detention facility.

“They asked me if I wanted to stay in Cameroon, and I told them that I can’t stay in Cameroon and risk my life in a place where I would still be endangered,” she said. She was flown to Morocco.

Most deportees had protection orders

She is one of dozens of people confirmed to be deported from the U.S. by the Trump administration to third countries despite being granted legal protection by U.S. immigration judges. The actual number is unknown.

The administration has used third-country deportations to pressure migrants who are in the U.S. illegally to leave on their own, saying they could end up “in any number of third countries.”

The detention facility in Cameroon’s capital of Yaounde, where Farah was held, currently has 15 deportees from various African countries who arrived on two flights, and none is Cameroonian, according to lawyer Joseph Awah Fru, who represents them.

Eight of the deportees on the first flight in January, including Farah, had received a judge’s protection orders, said Alma David, an immigration lawyer with the U.S.-based Novo Legal Group who has helped deportees and verified Farah’s case. The AP spoke to a woman from Ghana and a woman from Congo, who both said they had protection orders, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation.

Another flight Monday brought eight more people. Three freelance journalists reporting on the deportations to Cameroon for the AP were briefly detained there.

Deporting people to a third country where they could be sent home was effectively a legal “loophole,” said David.

“By deporting them to Cameroon, and giving them no opportunity to contest being sent to a country whose government hoped to quietly send them back to the very countries where they face grave danger, the U.S. not only violated their due process rights but our own immigration laws, our obligations under international treaties and even DHS’ own procedures,” David said.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security earlier confirmed there were deportations to Cameroon in January.

“We are applying the law as written. If a judge finds an illegal alien has no right to be in this country, we are going to remove them. Period,” it said, and asserted that the third-country agreements “ensure due process under the U.S. Constitution.”

Asked about the deportations to Cameroon, the U.S. State Department on Friday told the AP it had “no comment on the details of our diplomatic communications with other governments.” It did not reply to further questions.

Cameroon’s Foreign Ministry didn’t respond to a request for comment.

‘Impossible choices’

Farah was one of two women from the first group of deportees to return to Morocco.

“They were given two impossible choices,” David said, asserting that claiming asylum was not clearly presented as one of them. “This was before the lawyer had access to them.”

She said International Organization for Migration staff in the facility did not give them any indication that there was a viable option other than going back to their home countries.

Fru said he has not been granted access to the deportees. He said the assistant to the country director for the IOM, a U.N.-affiliated organization, told him he must apply to speak to them. Fru plans to do that Monday.

The IOM told the AP it was “aware of the removal of migrants from the United States of America to some African countries” and added that it “works with people facing difficult decisions about whether to return to their country of origin.” It said its role is providing accurate information about options and ensuring that “anyone who chooses to return does so voluntarily.”

The IOM said the facility in Yaounde was managed by the authorities in Cameroon. It did not respond to further questions.

African nations are paid millions

Cameroon is one of at least seven African nations to receive deported third-country nationals in a deal with the U.S. Others include South Sudan, Rwanda, Uganda, Eswatini, Ghana and Equatorial Guinea.

Some have received millions of dollars in return, according to documents released by the State Department. Details of other agreements, including the one with Cameroon, have not been released.

The Trump administration has spent at least $40 million to deport about 300 migrants to countries other than their own, according to a report released last week by the Democratic staff of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

According to internal administration documents reviewed by the AP, 47 third-country agreements are in various stages of negotiation.

In Morocco, Farah said, it was hard to hear U.S. officials refer to people like her as a threat.

“The USA is built on immigration and by immigrant labor, so we’re clearly not all threats,” she said. “What was done to me was unfair. A normal deportation would have been fair, but to go through so much and lose so much, only to be deported in such a way, is cruel.”

Pronczuk writes for the Associated Press.

Coming up the footpath from Imlil, Hussein and I step aside to let a laden mule go past and I look back. On the wooded lower slopes of the valley are clusters of tall houses, some plumed with wood smoke. There appears to be a lot of building work going on, some of it to repair the damage caused by the 2023 earthquake. The sound of a concrete mixer comes cutting through the cool mountain air mixed with birdsong and human voices. Turning back to face south, I can see the Atlas mountains, austere and aloof, a few snow patches on the upper slopes. That’s where we are going, to the top of Toubkal at 4,167 metres, the highest peak in North Africa.

Hussein has been a guide in this beautiful Moroccan valley all his adult life. “Most people here work in tourism now,” he says, waving a greeting to a muleteer who is passing us. The man is clutching the tail of his animal to steady himself up the steep track. “Twenty years ago everyone grew walnuts and subsistence food,” Hussein says. “Now we’ve still got walnuts, but we’ve also planted apple trees as a cash crop. It leaves time for the tourist work.”

Kazakhstan and Kosovo have also pledged to participate, while Egypt and Jordan will provide training for police officers.

Indonesia, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Kosovo and Albania have pledged to send troops to Gaza, the commander of a newly created International Stabilization Force (ISF) has said during a meeting of United States President Donald Trump’s so-called Board of Peace.

US Army General Jasper Jeffers, who has been appointed as the head of a future Gaza stabilisation force by Trump’s board, said on Thursday that the Indonesian contingent to the mission has “accepted the position of deputy commander”.

“With these first steps, we will help bring the security that Gaza needs,” Jeffers said during a meeting of the board in Washington, DC.

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, who was among several world leaders participating in the meeting, said his country would contribute up to 8,000 personnel to the planned force “to make this peace work” in the war-torn Palestinian territory, where Israel’s genocide has killed at least 72,000 people.

Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said his country will also send an unspecified number of troops, including medical units, to Gaza, while Morocco’s Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita said that his country is ready to deploy police officers to Gaza.

Albania, whose prime minister recently made a two-day official visit to Israel, has also said it will contribute troops, while neighbouring countries Egypt and Jordan have said they will participate by training police officers.

Indonesia, which was one of the first countries to commit to sending troops, has sought to reassure potential critics that its participation is intended to ensure international law is upheld in Gaza, amid Israel’s genocidal onslaught.

‘Indonesian troops will not be involved in combat operations’

Indonesia’s foreign minister met with both United Nations chief Antonio Guterres and Palestinian ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour in New York on Wednesday, in advance of President Subianto’s participation in the Board of Peace meeting.

“Indonesia’s mandate [on troop deployment] is humanitarian in nature with a focus on protecting civilians, humanitarian and health assistance, reconstruction as well as training and strengthening the capacity of the Palestinian Police,” Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a recent statement, according to the Jakarta Post newspaper.

“Indonesian troops will not be involved in combat operations or any action leading to direct confrontation with any armed group,” the ministry said, responding to questions raised over its future role in Gaza by Amnesty International.

The head of Amnesty International Indonesia, Usman Hamid, has voiced concerns that Indonesia risked violating international law through its participation in the Board of Peace and the planned stabilisation force for Gaza.

Hamid warned that Indonesia’s deployment of troops to Gaza “means putting Indonesia at risk of participating in a mechanism that will strengthen violations of International Humanitarian Law”.

“The Peace Council does not include members from the most disadvantaged Palestinians, but instead includes members from Israel, which has for nearly eight decades carried out an illegal occupation and apartheid against the Palestinian people, even committing genocide in Gaza,” Hamid wrote last week in an open letter to the speaker of the People’s Representative Council of the Republic of Indonesia.

Palestinians have also voiced concerns that Trump’s Board of Peace will only further entrench Israel’s illegal occupation of the Gaza Strip, as Israeli forces continue to carve out more “buffer zones” and restrict the entry of food and other aid, months into a so-called “ceasefire” with Hamas, during which almost 600 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks.

The Gaza stabilisation force differs from other peacekeeping forces deployed by multilateral organisations such as the UN or the African Union.

In neighbouring Lebanon, more than 10,000 peacekeepers from 47 countries continue to participate in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which was created in 1978.

Indonesia, along with Italy, is one of the largest contributors of troops to UNIFIL, which has repeatedly come under fire from Israeli forces, despite a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.