When the oppressive heat of summer subsides a little and the temperatures become milder, travellers have the opportunity to discover completely new facets of the country. The La Mamounia, Marrakech's iconic hotel, has compiled five very special places and activities for travellers to enjoy away from the summer.

watch shooting stars

The softly glowing tail of a shooting star is most clearly visible against a background that is as dark as possible. The less light surrounding the observer, the more brilliant the spectacle becomes. The night sky over a lonely desert is therefore the perfect stage for a shooting star. Which is why a visit to Morocco in autumn is particularly worthwhile: every year in October and the first week of November, the Orionids, one of the five most active meteor streams, are visible worldwide. During this time, the Earth passes through the orbit of Halley's Comet. The Orionids reach their peak in the night from October 20 to 21. Then the fragments burn up in the atmosphere and can be seen on Earth as shooting stars.

Bathing in a hot spring

Outside Guelmim, a provincial capital in the south of Morocco, are the hot springs of Fask. Far away from any tourist crowds, visitors can relax here in about 42 degree hot water under the desert sky. Unlike many other hot springs, the water only exudes a light sulphurous scent. The idyllically located spring is still hardly developed for tourism, which is why bathers mostly enjoy absolute tranquility here. During the cooler temperatures of autumn and winter, bathing in the hot water is much more pleasant than in the sweltering heat of the Moroccan summer.

Taste sweet dates

Dates are an integral part of Moroccan cuisine. One of the cultivation areas is the magnificent oasis group Tafilalet. Here are about 800,000 date palms, which can reach a height of up to 30 meters. Harvest time of the caramel-brown fruit is in October. In the same month, the date festival traditionally takes place in the desert city of Erfoud in eastern Morocco. However, due to decreasing rainfall and falling water tables in recent years, the harvest has often been poor and the date festival has had to be cancelled. Nevertheless, it is worthwhile to buy the freshly harvested sweet fruits in October on one of the numerous markets throughout the country.

Discover nature

Vast dune seas, picturesque mountains, deep canyons and paradisiacal gardens: Morocco's landscape is multifaceted, but in the heat of summer, long hikes and even a long walk can quickly become an endurance test. In the milder but still warm temperatures of autumn and winter, the unique beauty of Moroccan nature is particularly pleasant to discover. For example, in the fairytale garden Jardin Majorelle, which fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent gave its present form. The garden of the palace hotel La Mamounia is also a place of tranquility in the midst of the bustling medina of Marrakech, which invites you to stroll under orange and olive trees.

Enjoy the beauty of the almond blossom

Rugged rock and delicate flowers can be admired in the small town of Tafraoute in the Anti-Atlas Mountains. The town lies in the middle of a monumental mountain landscape of granite rocks. But the rugged landscape is home not only to date palms and olive groves, but above all to almond trees, which in February envelop the area in a shower of white and pink blossoms. The pretty splendour exudes a soft, sweet fragrance and contrasts with its short-lived beauty the enduring splendour of the granite formations. Tafraoute is also well worth a visit, as it is the starting point for many hikes into the surrounding countryside.

Picture credits: Unsplash, Pixabay, La Mamounia