Chefchaouen & Akchour Morocco

Hello everyone ! it's been a while ! Sorry for being MIA but i just came back from my 2016 Summer Road Trip and i have a looot of things to share with you ( yay !! ). But first, i still have some cities to talk to you about..
In this article i will be talking to you about Chefchaouen & Akchour cities. Two BEAUTIFUL places i had the chance to visit earlier this year.
After spending the last two years visiting south Morocco, my husband and i decided that it was time for us to go discover north Morocco's cities, and first on our list was these two.
The road to Chefchaouen or Chaouen was so beautiful that i just couldn't stop taking pictures ! there was green EVERYWHERE ! flowers of all the colors, the view of the impressive Rif Mountains took our breaths away, and of course people were extremely kind, joyfull and generous.

On our way to Chaouen we passed through Ouazan city and some lovely little villages..

Once there, we walked into the one and only : Hôtel Atlas Chaouen. This beautiful Hôtel is a part of the Atlas Hôtels chain, and possesses THE MOST DAZZELING view over the WHOLE city ! 

Situated over the top of the highest mountain that overtop the whole city, Atlas Chaouen got the most pleasing rooms and services you can ask for there.

The view was HEARTH-STOPPING day and night.. 

Quickly after setting up the luggage in our room, we went for a walk to discover this little but wonderful city and as we were starving we of course stopped to eat first in a charming little restaurant at " Sahet OUTTA HEMAM ". Outta Hemam is a vast yard ( and the only one ) at Chaouen where the old Medina and all it's shops are located. 

North Morocco's food of course is as delicious as every other meal from south Morocco we had tasted yet, but for Tajine's, south Morocco hands down wins the challenge ! 

We ordered the famous " PAYSSAR " a dish north Morocco is known for, and it's basically a ground beans and olive oil meal but very delicious tho.

After that we went and roamed Chaouen's beauuutiful Blue streets.. Everything our eyes saw was appealing and charming and you just want to buy everything and take pictures of everything ! That's why this articles includes 63 pictures ^^! 

Night time came and we were still out discovering ( You have to love looong and tiring walkes though ! ), So we went back to Place Outta Hemam and took our dinner with a view.. In the heart of the Old Medina extol this beautiful Kasbah that was built in 1471.

The second day we took a breakfast with a view too, and took the road to visit Ain Rass El Ma and then go to Akchour..
Rass El Ma is a water source located 3km away from Chaouen, it is a touristic site also where you can buy some souvenirs, eat Tajines and do some hiking too.

After this quick visit to Rass El Ma we took the road again to finally go see Akchour.. The road was not that easy especially if two cars were coming in the opposit directions but we mannaged it to happily discover the most stunning views ever !

Akchour is a Natural Valley situated in the high Rif Mountains and which possesses 3 famous Waterfalls. To access to these waterfalls you have to hike through the mountains for almost 2 hours and a half. The hike was exciting and once there, the view was just ASTONISHING and MAGNIFICENT !

Once up there and with almost 3 hours of walk we of course were hungry, so it's a good thing that up there were some quickely established mini restaurants where you can have the most delicious Tajines you can find around there !

These Rif Mountains witnessed some of the most memorable Moroccan historical battles, by the 15th century, many Spanish Moors were exiled from Spain and most of them settled in Western Rif, bringing their culture, Andalusian Music, and even establishing the city of Ashawen or Chefchaouen ( Accawen meaning "Horns" in Berber ). Since then, the Rif has suffered numerous battles between Berber kingdoms, Spain and Portugal.

The Spanish-Moroccan conflicts continued in the 20th century, under the leadership of Abd El Krim Al Khattabi, the Berber leader who proclaimed the Republic of the Rif in 1921. The Riffian Berbers won several victories over the Spanish in the Rif War of the 1920s before being eventually defeated. The region was returned to Morocco in April 1956, a month after the katter gained it's independence.

Chefchaouen/Chaouen is located 332km away from Casablanca and 114km away from Tangier.
Rass El Ma Source is only 3km away from Chaouen.
Akchour is 30km away from Chaouen, 116km away from Tangier and  359km away from Casablanca.

xo, Moroccan Traveler