15 Photographs Capture Morocco's Diverse Landscapes from Blue Cities to Sahara Dunes

A photo essay by Smithsonian magazine showcases 15 images of Morocco's scenery, spanning from the blue-washed city of Chefchaouen to the Sahara's golden dunes. The country, visited by nearly 20 million travelers in 2025, features nine UNESCO World Heritage sites including the medieval Medina of Fez. Photographs depict landmarks such as the Mausoleum of Moulay Idriss II in Fez, tree-climbing goats in southwestern Morocco, a shoe shop in Fez's medina, tourists in traditional Berber clothing, a young woman in Asilah, spice shops in Marrakech, the bustling Jemaa el-Fnaa square, the mosque at Moulay Ali Cherif Mausoleum in Rissani, a leather dyeing factory, street cats, a sunrise over sand dunes, a camel in Merzouga, and hot-air balloons near Marrakech. The images were captured by photographers including Midori Chan, Casper Sørensen, Luis Maria Barrio, Apolo Sales, Dan Fenstermacher, Michael Biggs, Vladimir Karamazov, Arthur Beesley, Rajani Ramanathan, Vikas Lonakadi, Tyler Stallings, and Dominic LeRose between 2018 and 2025.