Marrakech Travelers Recommend

The Sahara Desert looms large in the imagination of the traveler in Morocco. And anyone who's been to see this natural wonder will tell you that it's an absolute must for any visitor to Marrakech. Here are some option for what to do and how to visit.

Camel Rides

One of the best (and most traditional) ways to experience the Moroccan desert is by camel. A camel ride through the palm groves of Marrakech and into the desert can take as little as a few hours, and often includes a stop at a local Berber home for mint tea and a snack.

Hot-Air Balloon Rides

Gazing down at the desert and foothills of the Atlas Mountains from a hot air balloon gives you an idea of the size and scope of the vast Sahara Desert. This bucket list–worthy experience is a great way to kick off a day in Marrakech or further exploration of the desert.

Buggy and Quad Bike Tours

For a desert-style adrenaline rush, opt for a tour of the desert and palm groves by buggy or desert quad bike. These small-group tours by all-terrain vehicle allow you to safely take in the stark landscapes of Morocco in as little as half a day.

Desert Camping

Experiencing the Moroccan desert beneath the stars is a completely different experience than by day. Those who have a night to spare will be rewarded with a camping trip into the desert, which often includes a camel trek from M’hamid into the Merzouga dunes of the Zagora Desert to a Bedouin desert camp, a sunset over the dunes, and a traditional Moroccan dinner under the stars to the tune of local folk music.

Multi-Day Tours

The beauty and diversity of the Moroccan desert warrants more than just one day of exploration. On a multi-day trip, you might explore the UNESCO-listed kasbah of Ait Benhaddou or the cinematic city of Ouarzazate, stop at Atlas Studios (one of the largest movie studios in Africa), camel trek across the Erg Chebbi dunes, or take in the scenic beauty of the Dades and Todra gorges.

While the sights, sounds, and history of Marrakech are intoxicating, the wide open skies, graceful palm groves, and authentic Berber villages of the countryside make for a welcome escape best experienced the traditional way: by camel! Here’s what you need to know.

Highlights

• Trade the chaos of the medina for a relaxed exploration of the rural Moroccan countryside.

• Learn how to mount and ride a camel, while wearing the traditional protective scarf of Morocco’s desert dwellers.

• Enjoy a sunset ride through a scenic palm grove.

• Sip a warm glass of mint tea at the home of a local Berber family.

Combo Tours

A quintessential Marrakech experience, a sunset camel ride can be combined with other activities to make the most of your time in Morocco. Afterward, take an adrenaline-fueled quad bike tour of the deserts outside the city, or begin your day with a stroll through the serene Majorelle Garden before heading to the Palmeraie for your camel ride. 

Three days in Marrakech gives you time to explore the history, culture, and culinary landscape of the medina, take in the desert scenery on the outskirts of town, and head further afield to the Atlas Mountains or the Moroccan coast. Here’s what you need to know to plan your ultimate 36 hours in Marrakech.

Day 1: Essential Marrakech

The sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of Marrakech’s maze-like medina are intoxicating, and you can easily spend a full day exploring the heart of the city. It’s easy to get lost, so consider starting with a half- or full-day tour to get your bearings. Do some shopping for spices and handcrafted artisan items in the colorful souqs, take in the intricate tile work and carvings of the Ben Youssef Madrasa, walk the grounds of Bahia Palace, and spend time soaking up the circus-like atmosphere of always busy Djemaa el Fna square. If your feet get tired, climb aboard a hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus for self-paced tour around town. In the evening, book a table at a Marrakech dinner show to learn more about the folkloric traditions of Morocco while feasting on local specialties.

Day 2: Food, Shopping, Adventure

Now that you have a feel for the city, spend today diving deeper into its facets that interest you. Shop for local ingredients in a hands-on cooking class in the medina, learn the art of throwing pottery or leather working from a local artisan, go on a shopping spree with your own private guide in the labyrinthine souqs, or enjoy outdoor adventure with a quad biking tour or camel ride through the desert palm groves just outside the city. Once the sun goes down, head into the medina for a street food tour led by a local foodie. Sample some of the city’s best bites from hard-to-find spots. Try dishes such as tagine and couscous, or take your tastebuds on a culinary adventure with unfamiliar meats and other delicacies.

Day 3: Day Trips

Today is your chance to get out and explore Morocco. Many visitors choose a day trip into the Atlas mountains for a chance to see the region’s Berber villages, waterfalls, and valleys. Alternately, head through the mountains and into the desert to visit the town of Ouarzazate, the kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), and the dunes of the Sahara Desert. Another day trip option takes travelers to the seaside community of Essaouira, known for its fortified medina, scenic port, and favorable windsurfing conditions. Most day trips won’t get you back to Marrakech until fairly late, so plan to end your trip with a relaxing dinner at your hotel or riad (traditional Moroccan home).

With 48 hours to spend in Marrakech, you have time to wander the old medina, see the city’s star attractions, and get out into the desert for a taste of adventure without straying too far from the city. See below for tips on how to make the most of your two days in Marrakech.

Day 1: City and Souks

Morning: Get your bearings in the maze-like streets of Marrakech on a guided tour. Whether on foot or from an air-conditioned vehicle, see city highlights, including the Bahia Palace, Jardin Majorelle, Saadian Tombs, city wall, Koutoubia Mosque, and circus-like Djemaa el Fna square. If you prefer a self-guided tour, take a hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus.

Afternoon: After lunch, head to the medina to shop the city’s colorful souks. The tightly packed maze includes vendors selling leatherwork, ceramics, jewelry, woven rugs, spices, and lamps. Get lost on your own, or take a private shopping tour with a guide to glean tips on how to haggle.

Night: Treat your taste buds to the flavors of Morocco on a street food tour. Eat where locals eat at hard-to-find stalls deep within the medina. Learn about traditional dishes and how they’re prepared while sampling tagine, unfamiliar meats, Moroccan breads, couscous, and sfenj, a traditional donut.

Day 2: Outdoor Adventure

Morning: Regroup with a day of fresh air. Wake before the sun for an early morning hot air balloon flight above the Moroccan desert. Gaze down on the city and foothills of the Atlas Mountains. Most balloon rides include a traditional Berber breakfast of corn bread, olives, fresh fruit, and mint tea.

Afternoon: Soak up the Moroccan countryside on a guided quad bike excursion through the deserts just outside the city. Ride past Berber villages and through palm groves on an all-terrain vehicle, and stop at a Berber home for mint tea and a snack.

Night: End your day of outdoor adventure with a sunset camel ride through a palm grove. Hear stories illustrating the important relationship between camels and the Moroccan people as you learn to ride a camel while donning a scarf worn by Morocco’s desert dwellers.

The bustling souks (marketplaces), serene riads (traditional houses), and intricate architecture make Marrakech a favorite destination in Morocco. While you could easily spend days wandering the labyrinthine medina, it’s possible to experience Marrakech in a single day. Here’s how to make the most of your limited time.

Morning: Marrakech City Highlights

Navigating the busy streets and back alleys of Marrakech can be a daunting task, especially for first-time visitors. Get your bearings by joining a morning walking tour. With the help of a local guide, see key landmarks such as Djemaa El Fna, Koutoubia Mosque, Ben Youssef Madrasa, Saadian Tombs, and the opulent Bahia Palace without getting lost. To explore on your own, take a hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus, with two routes through the city to help you see the sights at your own pace.

Afternoon: Medina Shopping

You don’t have to be a shopaholic to feel the urge for retail therapy in Marrakech. The souks or bazaars of the old medina teem with shops selling handcrafted items—everything from leather goods and handmade jewelry to ceramics and glass lanterns. Learn how to navigate the maze of shops while getting the best deals on a shopping tour with your own private guide. You’ll walk away with tips on how to haggle and what to look for when shopping for carpets, spices, and crafts.

Night: Sunset Camel Ride

Wrap up your day in Marrakech with a quintessential Moroccan experience, a camel ride through a palm grove just outside the city. These experiences typically include a visit with a local Berber family (often over a cup of Moroccan mint tea), followed by a gentle ride through the Palmeraie as you learn the importance of camels to the Moroccan people. Choose an option with round-trip transportation for hassle-free drop-off at your hotel.

From snake charmers and henna-painted fortune tellers in Djemaa El Fna, to traditions of Atlas mountains’ Berber villages, Moroccan culture is vibrant and captivating. Wander through the medina of Marrakech to unveil a cultural melting pot, with souks selling handicrafts and more. Here’s how to experience culture in Marrakech.

• Enjoy a traditional Moroccan mint tea at a rooftop cafe overlooking Djemaa El Fna.

• Take a guided tour of the souks and watch craftsmen weaving carpets, dying cow hides, and making traditional Moroccan handicrafts.

• Enjoy Fantasia, a dazzling spectacle of belly dancing, galloping horse parades, traditional music, and dancing, at a Marrakech restaurant.

• Take a cooking class and learn the secrets of Marrakech’s popular dishes, Moroccan tagine and couscous.

• Admire the views while on a horse-drawn carriage ride through Marrakech.

• Learn about Berber culture with a day trip into the High Atlas Mountains, a visit to a traditional Bedouin camp, or a camel trek through the Sahara desert.

• Treat your senses to a tasting tour of Marrakech’s spice markets and street food stalls, and sample an array of Moroccan foods.

• Relax and unwind with a spa experience at a traditional Moroccan hammam.

No trip to Morocco is complete without experiencing the rituals of the hammam, or Turkish-style steam bath. From a traditional scrubdown to a luxury spa treatment in a five-star resort, here are some options for a relaxing hammam in Marrakech.

What is a Hammam?

At its most basic, a hammam is the Moroccan version of a public bathhouse, where men and women come to socialize and cleanse. The experience varies from place to place, but it generally begins with a sit in a hot steam room to open up the pores, followed by a scrub with a special black soap and an exfoliating glove to remove dead skin, and it finishes with immersion in a cold water bath. Local hammams often have large group steam rooms and pools (with separate facilities for men and women), while luxury spas offer a more intimate experience with a larger range of treatments, including a couples hammam.

Highlights

• Unwind during a traditional Moroccan hammam ritual.

• Choose between an authentic local bathhouse or a luxury spa experience.

• Combine your hammam treatment with a private Moroccan cooking class.

• Book a multi-day well-being retreat that includes a private hammam and guided city tour.

• A typical hammam ritual takes about 30 minutes and is sometimes followed by a massage or additional spa treatment.

With 300 sunny days a year and a lively beachfront promenade, Agadir is Morocco's top destination for sea and sand. Time-pressed travelers to Marrakech can get a taste for this seaside resort on a day trip. Here's what you need to know before you go.

Group Tours

Those with limited time who are traveling on a budget can catch Agadir's highlights on a group tour to the modern seaside city from Marrakech. Group numbers are limited for a more personal, intimate experience, with plenty of time allotted to see both the Atlantic Coast and the old town of the "Miami of Morocco."

Private Tours

Opting for private day trips to Agadir allows for a more flexible itinerary to explore the sites most important to you, such as the port of Agadir, the local fish market, the medina, Agadir Beach, the 16th-century Kasbah Agadir Oufella, or the Mohamed V Mosque. Those who'd prefer to spend some extra time in the city on their own Agadir excursion can go for a private transfer from Marrakech instead.

Things to Know

• Agadir is located 110 miles (177 kilometers) southeast of Marrakech, a journey of about three hours by road.

• Day trips can last upwards of 10 hours due to the driving distances involved.

• Don't forget to bring swimming gear, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat for Agadir's famous warm weather.

• For those based in Agadir, day tours are available to Marrakech, Taroudant, and the Tiout Oasis.

• Most trips include hotel pickup and drop-off, as well as English-speaking guides.