Morocco, a North African country, is home to the toughest footrace on earth, the Marathon des Sables! The adventure race features one of the world’s most inhospitable climates, the Sahara desert. For a dose of culture and shopping, Marrakesh’s medina, a maze-like medieval quarter, offers entertainment in its Djemaa el-Fna square and souks selling ceramics, jewellery and metal lanterns.