Tips About Travel
Further to the east, perched atop a cliff rising 70 metres above the Mediterranean, Al Hoceima is a town whose existence goes back to the first half of the 9th century. The city was an object of desire for European seafarers, starting with the British who tried to set up a trading post there in 1661, then the French, who wanted to establish a base there in 1666, only to be thwarted by the Spanish, who succeeded in imposing their presence in 1673. In 1926, after suppression of the Rif rebellion, Al Hoceima bay became the scene of concerted tourist development, with numerous hotels and residences being built. Its beaches, coves, deep rocky inlets and promontories constitute one of the most beautiful natural settings on the Mediterranean Coast.
It is said to be the pearl of Eastern Morocco with its fine sandy beach stretching over ten kilometers and its magnificent bay ideally suited to yachting. Historically speaking, the town has an extremely beautiful Kasbah, dating from the 19th century and a fortress built during the reign of Moulay Ismaïl. Saîdia makes an excellent departure point for trips into the mountains of Béni Snassen or to the Zegzel caves.