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13 Recommended Tours To Take in Marrakech

Travel Expert

While exploring a city on your own comes with its own thrills and unforgettable moments, sometimes it helps to take a tour to fully immerse yourself in the culture. Marrakech is one of those cities where it’s easy to get lost and hard to break in, so here’s a curated list of some of the most unique tours of the metropolis.

Winding markets, lush gardens, endless desert and epic palaces make up just a few of the incredible sights and sounds of Marrakech . To fully explore this wondrous city, it can be useful to have a guide to lead the way. This hand-selected list of Marrakech tours highlights what’s best about this city. So, hop on that camel, wind through the Medina and soar over the desert as we take you on a wild ride through this majestic North African city.

Hot air balloon tour

Natural Feature

Probably the best way to see the entire city of Marrakech in one fell swoop is via hot air balloon (especially since you need a special permit just to fly a drone). On this magical five-hour tour through the sky, visitors will be regaled with vistas of local villages, sprouting palm groves and, of course, the hustle and bustle of Marrakech itself. Afterwards, you’ll be treated to tea and bread at a local Berber home to cap off the experience. The tour isn’t cheap (around €950 (£800) for two), but it’s worth it.

Marrakech tagine cookery class with a local

Restaurant, Moroccan

If you’re looking for all the ways to cook with a tagine , this is the class for you. For the price of a moderately expensive meal, you’ll start off with a one-of-a-kind tour of the markets gathering ingredients, you’ll get a deep understanding of culture and history through the world of spices, and then you’ll prepare your meal and indulge in Moroccan dishes like harira , pastilla, and a special Moroccan soup.

A Taste of Marrakech: Inside the Medina

Restaurant, Cafe, Moroccan

This is the Marrakech food tour to end all food tours. Wandering through the souks , a guide will take through the winding alleyways to taste and sample everything from dried fruits and olives to nuts, pastries and spices. Touring at night, you’ll experience Marrakech at its finest when all the local merchants who escape the sun during the day peddle their wares in the most flamboyant fashion. Finish off the tour with a decadent dinner in the middle of a World Heritage-listed square.

Medina, palaces and tombs

Navigating Marrakech on your own can often be a confusing and frustrating experience. But on this relatively inexpensive tour, you’ll get a hands-on guide to wind your way through the labyrinthine alleys leading to the grand palaces, tombs and markets of Marrakech. The tour includes tickets to the Bahia Palace and the Maison de la Photographie.

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Half-day desert quad and dromedary tour

The desert is vast, and there’s no way to see it all, but one incredible (and cheap) tour will give you a taste you’ll never forget. Over the course of four hours, you’ll race through the desert on adrenaline-inducing quad bikes, visit a Berber village and ride a camel to visualise life in the dry expanse. You’ll get a relaxing tea break between activities, but be aware that kids under 16 aren’t permitted.

Sunset camel ride in the Marrakech Palmeraie

Natural Feature, Art Gallery

The desert sunset is one of the most exquisite sights in all of Morocco. And what better way to experience it than on a camel ride through palm trees? This two-hour tour takes you to a local Berber home for tea and a chat about their lives and then ends with a camel ride to watch the sunset over the desert horizon. It’s around €50 (£42) for the tour, but can you really put a price tag on watching daylight turn to dusk in the Saharan desert ?

Magic 3-hour private night-time tour

Architectural Landmark

A Marrakech afternoon is tantamount to walking around inside a sauna. Temperatures consistently reach into the high 30s and low 40s Celsius (95-105F), and many businesses close shop because of the oppressive heat. That’s why a night tour is the perfect way to experience the city. Watch as the city comes alive as soon as the sun sets while you tour the Medina, the mosques, and sample local sweets and snacks along the way. The tour ends with rooftop drinks as you watch the chaos of the open markets below.

Horse-drawn carriage gardens and city walls tour

During this tour, the carriage will pick you up from your hotel at 10am. First, you’ll visit the Menara Gardens , created in the 12th century during the Almohad Dynasty, with majestic views over the Atlas Mountains and over 30,000 olive trees. You will also the Agdal Gardens, a 400-hectare (1000-acre) blissful grove, while riding across the famous city walls from the 12th century.

Guided half-day cycling tour

Hiking Trail

Try this three-hour cycling tour in Marrakech for a new way of exploring the Red City. The guide will meet you at your hotel, where you’ll begin cycling towards the King’s Palace, the Medina and Jemaa el-Fna. At Jemaa el-Fna , you will have a break of around one hour where you can enjoy a freshly pressed glass of orange juice while watching people walk by. Your tour guide will also show you around the square, and tell you about Moroccan remedies and spices. Finally, you will head back and discover other Marrakech attractions such as the popular Koutoubia Mosque.

Marrakech city tour: Private half-day guided tour

Explore the Red City with the comfort of a driver and an experienced tour guide who will take you through Marrakech’s most popular attractions. The tour starts at your hotel, where you will be picked up, and the first stop will be the astonishing Majorelle Gardens , one of the most Instagrammable spots in the city. Next, enter the historic Royal Kasbah to see the Saadian Tombs, then discover the royal architecture at Bahia Palace. After that, it’s time to head out on foot to explore the magical Medina of Marrakech and its souks, where you can buy some unique souvenirs to take back with you. Finally, finish the tour outside of the city at the Palmeraie, a palm grove oasis that is another photo opportunity spot.

Jewish heritage and Moorish splendour tour

Through this special tour, you will discover the important heritage of the Jewish community in the city of Marrakech. You will walk through the small alleyways of the 16th-century Jewish quarter, the Mellah , which has great historical importance in Marrakech, as it is there that the Moroccan Jewish community practiced trades and crafts. Next, your guide will take you to the Lazama Synagogue, the main synagogue in the Mellah, and also the most picturesque with its blue and white colours. After the synagogue, you will visit Bahia Palace, a Moorish-style royal palace from the 19th century.

Shopping in the hidden stalls of the Medina

Art Gallery

Shopping in the Medina can be quite the overwhelming experience, which is why shopping with a local guide who knows their way into the most precious hidden spots will make the experience 10 times better. You will be picked up at your hotel, and taken into the Medina by your guide, who will make an itinerary according to what you desire to purchase. Some of the most common objects people ask for are Moroccan rugs , argan oil, spices, lamps, camel leather objects and much more. During this four-hour shopping tour, you will learn a few Moroccan words so you can bargain like a pro and take home the most unique items.

Marrakech to the Atlas Mountains tour

This half-day tour starts with your driver picking you up from your hotel, and driving you towards the High Atlas Mountains where your guide will tell you about the famous landscapes and villages surrounding you. As you approach the mountains, you will enter the lush Ourika Valley, driving past the mud villages and palm trees. After another hour’s drive, you will finally reach a town near the falls, where you can have a walk or grab a glass of mint tea by the riverside; this is also a stop where you can take some impressive photographs. Then, you hop back on the vehicle and visit an argan oil cooperative, where you will watch Berber women extracting the oil using traditional methods.

Yasmine Guermoudi contributed additional reporting to this article.

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Marrakech Tours & Vacations

From storyteller-filled main squares and famous mosques, to frenetic bazaars and beyond: this is Marrakech in all its glory

Marrakech is a must on any Morocco itinerary, promising a window into the everyday life of locals — a place full of activity and colour. On our tours to and from Marrakech, you'll see that it's more than just a market town (although you have to visit Djemaa el-Fna). This charming city is bursting with spectacular sights and scintillating smells, and while it might be overwhelming at first, you'll soon find it extraordinary. 

Tours to Marrakech

While you might never want to leave Marrakech, the fun continues on your Morrocan journey with a trek into the mountains and meeting the local Berber families. Sleep in a traditional gite in Armoud or under the stars on a desert camp in the Sahara and soak up the laidback style of seaside Essaouira. Our tours from Marrakech will leave you wanting more.

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Tours from Marrakech

After exploring the High Atlas Mountains, Ait Benhaddou, and the shores of Essaouira, as well as journeying down from Casablanca through the blue city of Chefchaouen and the ancient medina of Fes, your next adventure is Marrakech: the perfect final spot. 

Marrakech tour reviews

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The 5 Best Marrakech Desert Tours – [2024 Reviews]

Have you ever wanted to explore the Sahara Desert or ride a dromedary (camel) across sand dunes? Marrakech, Morocco is a great base from which to enjoy a spectacular desert tour.

Not only can you enjoy the tranquil wilderness of the desert, but you can visit a fabulous UNESCO World Heritage Site and the snow-capped High Atlas Mountains.

In my opinion, the 5 Marrakech desert tours reviewed below are the best you will find. Also see our Marrakech Travel Guide .

If you go on the right desert tour from Marrakech, you can enjoy the warm hospitality of the Berber nomads, sleep in a tent out in the desert, and explore fascinating cultural sites that have attracted the attention of high-profile photographers and movie companies from all over the world.

Best Marrakech Desert Tours

Quick answer: the 5 best-rated marrakech desert tours.

• Shared 3-Day Sahara Desert Tour From Marrakech To Merzouga
• Marrakech: 3-Day Desert Adventure
• 2-Day Desert Safari To Zagora From Marrakech
• Marrakech: 2-Day Zagora Sahara Desert Tour
• Marrakech: Half-Day Desert Quad & Dromedary Tour

Marrakech Desert Tours Reviews

#1. shared 3-day sahara desert tour from marrakech to merzouga.

• Departure Point : Pick up from your hotel in Marrakech
• Departure Time: 7:30 AM
• Duration : 3 days
• Includes : Expert guide, air-conditioned minibus, 1-night hotel stay in Tinghir, 2 “camel” rides, 1-night camping in the desert, visits to Ksar Ait Ben Haddou, Quzazate, the Todgna Gorges, the Rissani date market, and the sand dunes of Erg Chebbi

You even get to ride a “camel” across the sand. Most of your transport during this tour will be in a minibus that takes a maximum of 17 passengers, which ensures you’ll be a member of a tight-knit group of intrepid explorers by the end of your 3-day adventure.

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Your adventure into the Marrakech desert begins with an early morning pick-up from Marrakech and a drive up into the High Atlas Mountains. After negotiating the Tizi N’tichka Pass, you’ll soon come to the unique fortified village of Ksar Ait Ben Haddou.

I could spend days exploring the earthen clay, cubic houses of Ksar Ait Ben Haddou. The ancient settlement contains a half-dozen large kasbahs, which are fortress-like homes that once belonged to merchants made wealthy by trade across the Sahara Desert.

Walking through the streets is like being inside a Bible story—you can imagine Joseph stepping out from one of the ornately carved gateways wearing his coat of many colors.

Because this village is so beautiful and historical, UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site. You might also recognize it from the many movies filmed here, such as Jesus of Nazareth , The Last Temptation of Christ , and One Night with the King .

From Ksar Ait Ben Haddou, your minibus will transport you to Quzazate, where you can admire the tall towers and high walls of the Kasbah of Taourirt, a fortified mansion larger than most castles.

After lunch, you’ll continue through the Valley of the Roses to Tinghir, where you will be offered a tasty dinner in your hotel before retiring for the night.

Your eventful second day begins with a drive to view some awe-inspiring geological features. The Todgna Gorges is a series of river canyons with steep limestone cliffs to each side (like a miniature Grand Canyon) with the canyon walls occasionally rising as high as 1,300 feet.

In the afternoon, you’ll visit one of the famous date markets of the Sahara Desert in Rissani. This was once the starting (or ending, depending on your viewpoint) point for caravans to cross the Sahara to Timbuctoo.

As the day draws to a close, you’re going to enjoy the highlight of your tour. Your minibus will transport you to the edge of the Erg Chebbi sand dunes.

There, you’ll climb on a “camel” for an amazing ride through the shifting sands as the sun sets on the western horizon.

That night, you will sleep in a tent at a desert campsite. The local nomad hosts will feed you a delicious dinner and entertain you with traditional Berber music accompanied by drums.

Your final day begins with a camel ride from the campsite to the main road, where your minibus awaits. Enjoy a leisurely drive back to Marrakech, stopping in Quarzazte around lunchtime, and navigating the High Atlas Mountains in time to get you back to your hotel around 7 pm.

All in all, this is a fantastic opportunity to see the real Morocco. This is one of the best Marrakech tours you can take. It’s my favorite Marrakech desert excursion, and I believe that the best Morocco Sahara Desert tours are from Marrakech.

Tour Information & Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience, #2. marrakech: 3-day desert adventure.

• Includes : Visits to Quarzazate & Ksar Ait Ben Haddou, 2 “camel” rides across the shifting sand dunes of Erg Chebbi, dinner & breakfast, 1 night in a hotel, and 1 night at a desert campsite

Did you ever wonder what life might have really been like back then? What did those cube-shaped, mud-brick houses look like? How did those people live?

There are many Sahara Desert tours from Marrakech, but this one stands out from the crowd. It’s an opportunity to explore traditional desert villages and examine the realities of a nomadic lifestyle.

Day one begins with a 7:30 am hotel pick-up and a drive through the scenic roads of the High Atlas Mountains to the amazing fortified village of Ksar Ait Ben Haddou.

This ancient village of baked-clay houses is a UNESCO World Heritage Site because it is such a unique and historically important settlement.

I hope you’re taking a good-quality camera because Ksar Ait Ben Haddou is a renowned location for fashion-model shoots and often makes an appearance in high-end glossy magazines.

You’ll most certainly want good pictures of your friends and you posing in front of the impressive kasbahs and well-preserved medieval streets.

If you’re a Game of Thrones fan, you might even recognize some of the buildings from scenes set in Yunkai during Season 3!

In the afternoon, you will stop near the Atlas Film Studios for a photo opportunity. You may not have heard of the studio, but it is one of the world’s largest, and many top Hollywood epics have been filmed on its various outdoor sets. See if you recognize anything!

Next, you’ll head into the city center of Quarzazate. There you’ll have a fabulous view of the Kasbah of Taourirt, which looms over the surrounding buildings. It is a photogenic structure, with tall orange towers and threatening crenellations.

After you’ve had a chance to explore Quarzazate, your minibus with transport you to Boumaie du Dades. There you’ll be shown to your hotel, where you can freshen up and eat dinner before retiring for the night.

Day two commences with a leisurely sight-seeing tour of the Dades Valley and Todra Gorges. Once you arrive at Merzouga, you will be introduced to a “camel”.

Let’s hope you get on well because you’re going to be riding your dromedary friend across the Dunes of Erg Chebbi. The shifting, wind-blown sand dunes of Erg Chebbi can rise as high as 500 feet above the base level of the desert, and riding through the dunes will create memories you’ll cherish for a lifetime.

After your “camel” ride, you’ll be taken to a Berber desert campsite. Sleeping in a tent in the desert will be another memorable experience. If you wish, you can rise before dawn to watch the sunrise over the sand dunes.

The morning brings a second camel ride, from the campsite to where your minibus is parked. From there, you’ll enjoy a slow and scenic drive back to Marrakech, with plenty of stops and photo opportunities.

This will culminate in your crossing of the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi N’tichka Pass. Back in Marrakech, you’ll be dropped off safe and sound at your hotel.

#3. 2-Day Desert Safari To Zagora From Marrakech

• Departure Point : Hotel pick up in Marrakech
• Departure Time : 7:00 AM
• Duration : 2 days
• Includes : Air-conditioned minibus, Visits to Quarzazate, Agdez, the Draa Valley, & Ksar Ait Ben Haddou, 2 “camel” rides, dinner & breakfast, and 1 night at a desert campsite

Make sure you bring along a good quality camera because you’ll take photographs over these two action-packed days that will amaze your Instagram followers as they follow your progress from Marrakech to the Sahara Desert.

Your first day begins with an early morning minibus pick-up from your hotel. The minibus holds a maximum of 17 passengers, so you’re guaranteed to be part of an intimate group.

It’s an excellent opportunity to make new friends. You’ll then leave Marrakech behind to set out on your desert adventure. Your interesting and scenic route will take you across the High Atlas Mountains.

Once you’ve reached Quarzazate, there will be a break in the journey so you may peruse the shops in this Berber city and maybe try one of the local restaurants.

Quarzazate is known locally as the Door to the Desert because the whole area south of the city is the Sahara Desert.

Leaving Quarzazate behind, you’ll continue to the oasis town of Agdez, which was once a crucial stopping point for trade caravans crossing the Sahara enroot to Marrakech.

Agdez is situated on the riverbank of the Draa River, the longest river in Morocco.

Your journey will take you across the Draa Valley, where you can admire and photograph the many castle-like homes (kasbahs) and ancient walled villages (ksars) that line the old trade route. Reaching the end of the Draa Valley, you’ll arrive at Zagora.

Zagora is where you’ll experience your first unforgettable “camel” ride as you are taken into the desert as part of a caravan to spend 1 hour exploring the scenic dunes. During your camel ride, you’ll see the sunset over the sands in a blaze of color.

After you bid goodbye to your dromedary, you’ll rejoin the minibus and be driven to a campsite in the Sahara Desert.

There you can enjoy a tasty dinner under the stars while listening to the live entertainment from the tam tam drums played by your nomadic Berber hosts.

Ending a perfect day, you’ll spend the night in a private tent, listening to the tranquil sounds of the desert. But don’t worry if you’re caught short or feel dusty after that camel ride. Toilets and showers are available at the campsite.

If you want, your hosts will wake you before dawn so that you may begin your second day gazing at the eastern horizon as the sun makes its appearance at the dawn of a new day.

Breakfast will be provided, after which you’ll climb onto a camel to ride from your campsite to the main road.

If you’re anything like me, the next attraction you visit will be the true highlight of the tour. Back in the minibus, you’ll drive to the famous fortified village of Ait Ben Haddou.

This well-preserved historical site is justifiably listed as a key UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The earthen clay structures and imposing kasbahs should prove familiar. For years, this collection of unique and fascinating buildings has appeared in major Hollywood epics, like Time Bandits , The Jewel of the Nile , Kingdom of Heaven , and Son of God .

You will have the opportunity to explore the ksar and its many kasbahs at your leisure. It’s a great place to take memorable photographs and meet local people demonstrating their traditional crafts, like weaving on a handloom.

As the day ends, you’ll be transported back to Marrakech along scenic mountain routes to conclude your Marrakech desert trip. The minibus should return you to your hotel for around 6 PM. And I’m 100% that you’ll be pleased you chose this 3-day adventure as your Morocco desert tour from Marrakech.

#4. Marrakech: 2-Day Zagora Sahara Desert Tour

• Departure Point : Marrakech
• Includes : Visit to Ksar Ait Ben Haddou fortified village, visit to the Draa Valley, night in a tent at a desert campsite, 2 camel rides, road trip through the High Atlas Mountains, dinner and breakfast

On the first day, your drive south will take you past the city of Quarzazate, known locally as the Gateway to the Desert because the Sahara Desert spreads out across the land to its immediate south. Soon after this, you’ll stop at the Ksar Ait Ben Haddou.

You’ll probably immediately recognize the Ksar Ait Ben Haddou. Not only is it a renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site, but the ancient village of earthen clay, fortified houses is also frequently used as the setting for major Hollywood movies and TV shows. If you’re a Game of Thrones fan or you’ve watched Gladiator , The Mummy , or Prince of Persia , then you’ve seen the streets of Ait Ben Haddou.

The half-dozen traditional kasbahs inside the village are especially well preserved. I hope you’ve got a good camera because the ancient architecture around Ait Ben Haddou is stunning. It’s worth taking this tour to see that one city alone.

The second stop of the day is the Draa Valley, where you’ll see a stretch of the longest river in Morocco and have the opportunity to admire its many picturesque and historic fortified villages (ksars) and fortress-like merchant houses (kasbahs).

Next, you’ll reach Zagora and swap your motor vehicle seat for a “camel’s” back for a 1-hour “camel” ride into the sunset. After your leisurely “camel-riding” experience, you’ll be served a delicious dinner at the campsite.

Finally, you’ll be shown to your tent so that you can sleep under the stars in the desert.

Very early the next day, you’ll be transported to Zagora to enjoy a traditional Berber breakfast. As the new day dawns, you’ll greet the rising sun from the back of a “camel” as you ride through the dunes.

Following this, you will be transported back to Marrakech, taking a scenic route through the High Atlas Mountains, where you can admire the snow-capped peaks and beautiful waterfalls.

#5. Marrakech: Half-Day Desert Quad & Dromedary Tour

• Departure Point: Pick-up from your accommodation in Marrakech
• Departure Time : 9:30 AM, 3:00 PM
• Duration : 4 hours
• Includes : 1-hour dromedary ride, visit a Berber village, tea, 2-hour quad ride, all the necessary safety equipment for your “camel” and quad rides

After you’ve been picked up from your hotel, you’ll be driven out of the city into an alien landscape. Despite the Atlas Mountains in the background, you won’t believe this tranquil and arid terrain is so close to the hustle and bustle of the city.

There you’ll be introduced to your “friendly” dromedary. Don’t worry, your experienced guides won’t let it carry you away. And to protect you and your clothes, and help you look the part, you’ll be equipped with traditional nomadic clothes, so you look like a local.

During your leisurely dromedary ride, admire the beautiful arid scenery—the snow-capped mountains under a cerulean sky, undulating dunes, and the majestic palm trees.

Upon arrival in a desert village, you’ll experience the hospitality of the Berber people. Quench your thirst with a traditional tea break and take a good look around the authentic desert settlement.

Here’s your chance to ask all the questions you ever wanted to ask of a desert dweller.

After shedding your nomadic clothing, you’ll be provided with gloves and a helmet and introduced to a more modern “camel”—a quad bike.

Enjoy the adrenaline rush as you race past the palms and enjoy the bumpy terrain of the desert outside Marrakech.

After you’re back in your hotel room, recalling your adventures that day, you’ll be pleased you chose this tour as one of your Marrakech excursions.

Marrakech Travel Guide

Airports & entry, planning tips, restaurants & eating out, nightlife & entertainment, getting around, accommodations, attractions.

Marrakech has long been a key destination for European royalty, celebrities, and the filthy rich. Now, this outstanding imperial city has come within the reach of more humble travelers who don’t want to spend $1,000 per night on a hotel room.

If you want to experience the exotic culture and wild landscape of Africa but with the luxury of modern amenities, Marrakech is an ideal city for your vacation.

Here you can haggle with a Berber stall keeper over the price of a hand-woven rug, ride a camel into the Sahara Desert, take a tour into the snow-capped Atlas Mountains, and walk through the courtyards of a palace built for a Grand Vizier, his 4 wives, and 24 concubines.

But before you book your holiday, it’s a good idea to fully research where you’re going to stay, how you’re going to get around, local restaurants, and attractions. That’s the best way to ensure you get the most out of your visit, and I wrote this guide to will help you on your way.

Every year, tourists flock to Marrakech, arriving by airplane, train, or bus. Most international visitors opt to fly. If you are based in Casablanca during your vacation, you should note that flying from Casablanca to Marrakech is over 10 times more expensive than a train or bus journey. Inside Morocco, trains and buses are incredibly cheap.

Marrakech Menara International Airport (RAK) is a clean, modern airport that welcomes over 4 million passengers every year. If you’re traveling from the US, you’ll change planes in Casablanca, but there are direct flights from Paris and London.

The flight from Casablanca to Marrakech takes around 50 minutes. RAK is super convenient for tourists because it’s only 2 miles (a 15-minute taxi ride) from Marrakech city center. But if you’re staying in the Old Town, you will have a considerably longer journey.

Inside the 3 air-conditioned terminals at RAK you’ll see the usual facilities you’d expect to find in any modern international airport, including ATMs, a bureau de change, duty-free shops, retail stores, and food outlets. There’s free Wi-Fi for your convenience.

If you’re religious, you’ll be pleased to hear there’s a prayer room where Muslims can retreat to perform their 5 daily prayers. For passengers with mobility problems, loaner wheelchairs are available. An airport clinic provides basic medical aid.

Getting from the airport to the city center is simple. The two recommended methods are by the hotel shuttle bus and taxis.

The shuttle bus runs every 20 to 30 minutes and stops at most of the major hotels in Marrakech. It is super cheap. Taxis take between 15 and 30 minutes to get to the city center, depending upon traffic conditions.

Avoid the taxis that hover immediately outside the terminal doors. It is better to cross the carpark to where more taxis wait. Apparently, the taxis in the prime location are affiliated with local organized crime!

Agree the price of your fare with the taxi driver before jumping inside if you want to avoid being scammed.

It is not recommended that you drive into the city center yourself. However, if you want, you can hire cars at the airport. Several car hire companies operate desks at the airport, including Hertz and Avis.

The train station is even more convenient for the city center. It’s within walking distance. Like the airport, it’s a modern building with exceptional facilities.

There you’ll find a range of stores and food outlets, including a KFC and an Ibis Hotel adjacent to the station.

In the near future, the railway will become an increasingly attractive option for visitors to Marrakech. The new 200-mph high-speed rail Tangiers-Casablanca link is to be extended to reach Marrakech.

However, for now, the train journey from Casablanca to Marrakech takes between 2½ and 3 hours, and there are 8 services every day.

If you prefer, 3 national bus companies run regular air-conditioned bus services from Casablanca to Marrakech: SATAS, CTM, and Supratours.

The road journey takes around 3¾ hours. These services terminate at the long-distance bus station, which is a 20-minute walk from the city center.

When you arrive in Marrakech, you most certainly aren’t in Kansas anymore. Here are 5 tips to help you enjoy your time in Morocco.

Tip #1: Choose the time you visit carefully

Because of the year-round sunshine and low rainfall, any time of year is a great time to visit Marrakech. However, there are probably specific things you want to see and do, which may be better at certain times of the year.

Winter is when the Atlas Mountains are covered in snow, which makes for great photo opportunities. The weather is also especially cool for Africa, making it a great time to visit if you’re not keen on the heat.

In spring, the melting snow results in amazing waterfalls at the base of the Atlas Mountains and beautiful flower displays in the many parks and gardens around the city.

Summer sees the major local festivals. However, the temperature grows hot, the streets get crowded, and there are a lot of unpleasant smells associated with heat and many people crammed into a small area.

Tip #2: Don’t underestimate how much time you’ll need to see everything in Marrakech

Perhaps you only want to ride a camel through the desert or visit the famous Atlas Mountains, but there’s lots to do and see around Marrakech.

Do your research before you go and don’t miss out on the many interesting and unique attractions. Check the section on Attractions below.

Tip #3: Book Marrakech tours in advance

Marrakech is visited by more and more tourists every year, and the number will increase as the new high-speed train service is opened.

It’s a great idea to avoid possible disappointment by booking tours in advance before you get there. That way you won’t miss out on your once-in-a-lifetime to ride a camel across the Sahara Desert.

Also, reputable tour companies offer free cancellation if you change your mind a reasonable time before the tour begins, so you won’t lose your money if you decide not to go. Check the cancellation policy with the tour operator when you book.

Tip #4: Be very cautious about hygiene

Do not drink tap water. I cannot emphasize this enough. I recommend you use bottled water to brush your teeth. Never take ice in your drinks.

Use antibacterial hand wipes or gel after handling money, handling goods in the souks, or when you are eating out. Be especially discerning about street food.

Watch for the stalls local people frequent because they are likely the safest. Peel fruit before eating it. Washing the fruit’s skin won’t always work because the water might not be clean.

Tip #5: Cover up, especially ladies

Lots of the tourist brochures show men and women lazing around swimming pools in skimpy swimwear. While that may be appropriate within the walls of your raid or hotel, it most certainly will not be accepted out on the streets.

Morocco is an Islamic nation. Yes, it’s a liberal Muslim country, but they still have stricter ideas about exposed flesh than you’re probably accustomed to. If you’re a lady and you step out of your hotel wearing a low-cut T-shirt and very short shorts, you will probably get some dirty looks.

While in Marrakech, you must sample some of the local food. Given its location on the edge of the desert and its key role in the ancient trade routes through this exotic region, you’ll find many unique and interesting dishes on the menu.

However, do note there are three kinds of eating outlet to try the local cuisine: your own hotel, the glamorous restaurants that offer a culinary experience, and the street stalls for the crazy, adventurous tourist. Both options have much to offer.

If you’re staying in a riad, there is a good chance there is a restaurant inside the same building. These small and intimate restaurants are often high quality and inexpensive.

Even if you’re in a budget hotel, you will find the attached restaurant a safe and reliable option. And if you’re lucky enough to be lording it in one of Marrakech’s grand 5-star hotels, you’ll have a French chef and the finest cooks you can find in Morocco…for a price.

In a city frequented by millionaires, celebrities, and royalty, it’s no surprise to find that there are many gourmet restaurants. If you are not frightened by a high tab, Pepe Nero can be found near Jemaa el-Fnaa Square.

For top prices, you will receive high-quality food, both European and Moroccan. But I prefer Le Fondouk near the Marrakech Museum. This atmospheric restaurant is found in the heart of the souks. You can dine on the rooftop terrace and enjoy great views across the Medina or stay out of the sun and eat indoors.

I’m going to suggest you try street food while visiting Marrakech, but please be cautious. Remember again that you’re not in Kansas and heed the warnings given in “tips” above. You’ll find some of the most authentic Moroccan food served in street stalls. However, avoid those only frequented by large crowds of tourists and head for those where you see locals eat.

Wherever you eat, there are various local dishes you should try. Perhaps the most internationally well-known is couscous.

You’ll find this semolina dish served with meat stews and vegetables garnished with a raisin preserve. A popular snack from the street stalls is b’stilla, which is a pie baked with thin layers of pastry and traditionally stuffed with almonds, eggs, and pigeon.

And for something light, a traditional soup called harira is popular with the locals, especially during Ramadan. It is made from chickpeas, lentils, and tomatoes, with added noodles. It is served in small bowls or cups on the streets.

If you’re feeling especially adventurous and crazy, snail soup is considered a delicacy in Marrakech and is sold around Jemaa el-Fnaa Square.

The locals believe it has restorative and digestive benefits. The distinctive brown snails are served still in the shell and immersed in a flavorsome broth.

Personally, I’d avoid this particular local favorite because snails are difficult to clean and prepare for food use.

For those who, like me, have a sweet tooth, try chebakia. This is a popular sesame cookie, fried and served coated with honey.

And you can wash that down with freshly squeezed orange juice. Orange trees grow everywhere around Marrakech, and they’re the most delicious and juicy oranges you’ve ever tasted.

While it is not only possible but easy to purchase alcohol in Marrakech, please do remember that Morocco is an Islamic nation.

That means that drinking alcohol is a discreet business done in relatively private locations, like inside your hotel room and in certain licensed bars and clubs.

You should never take alcohol out onto the streets. Not only would it be dangerous for you, but it would be deeply disrespectful to the local people.

Also, you will find that alcohol is unexpectedly expensive wherever it’s served. And where it is served, the waiting staff will probably request you sit in an area well away from the windows.

They are not being rude to you; they are concerned about offending passersby.

Having said that, you will find that Marrakech does have a good selection of venues for nighttime entertainment, such as casinos, nightclubs, and cocktail bars.

An area of the city renowned for its lively nightlife is Hivernage. There you will find the Royal Theatre, which stages concerts in an amphitheater.

For a truly Moroccan experience, consider visiting Le Comtoir Darna restaurant. There you can watch live belly dancing, fire-eaters, and other extraordinary acts while you enjoy traditional Moroccan or European food.

If you want something European in flavor, check out the Oh La La Show at the Lotus Club, where there are live dancers and a lineup of club DJs.

Like Le Comtoir Darna, this venue is really a restaurant but with a live show added in. The food offered not only includes Moroccan and European, but they also boast Japanese food on the menu!

But if you want to live the high life, you could head over to the famous La Mamounia Hotel near Jemaa El-Fnaa Square where you will find the sophisticated Le Bar Churchill.

Of course, you probably won’t get in without a lounge suit or cocktail dress. It is strictly smart dress only, and they do turn away would-be customers who arrive wearing sneakers and T-shirts.

At least you don’t need to be a guest at the hotel since it’s pricy for a room.

Inside the bar, you’ll love the ambient jazz music and theme, black velvet chairs, and padded leather walls. However, note that the bar is only open Wednesday through Saturday.

If you’re based in the Medina (the Old City), this isn’t a big problem because you can easily walk to many of the most popular attractions.

However, there will be times you want to go somewhere outside the immediate area, or when you’re in a hurry. The easiest thing then is to hail a taxi. There are 3 kinds of taxi in Marrakech: caleche, grand taxis, and petit taxis.

In Marrakech, a caleche is not a lady’s perfume from Hermes. It is a horse-drawn vehicle and one of the best ways to enjoy the sights around the city. If you hail one, note that there are set prices for popular tourist loops, but you will have to negotiate the price for other locations. Set a price before climbing into the cab to avoid being scammed.

Grand taxis are large old Mercedes cars capable of carrying up to 6 passengers. These keep to specific routes and charge a fixed fare.

They congregate at taxi ranks outside the main Post Office in the New Town, Jemaa el-Fnaa Square, and the Central Bus Station.

Petit taxis are smaller, of course, and charge higher rates. You’ll see them all over the city, they are most often beige, and you can flag them down.

But they’ll go anywhere you want…for a price. Make sure you agree the cost of your fare before climbing in.

The local buses are cheap, and there are lots, but they get crowded. If you climb aboard, you pay the bus driver directly.

The N o 1 service links the Medina to the New Town, N o 8 goes to the train station, and N o 11 and N o 19 will transport you to the airport. The Central Bus Station is situated on the northwestern side of the Medina.

A particularly great way to get around Marrakech is by bicycle. These are easy to hire, and you can cycle through parts of the Medina that are blocked to road vehicles.

Because of its many world-famous attractions, Marrakech has a long history of tourism. Today, you will find more than 400 hotels in the city. These may be divided into three kinds: the opulent, the standard, and the traditional.

If you have money to spend and want to stay in the same hotel as Mick Jagger, Prince Charles, and Winston Churchill, you could spend a few nights in La Mamounia Hotel, a 5-star hotel in the heart of the old city.

This luxury hotel and casino was used as a setting for the movie Sex & The City 2 . Looking around the establishment, it’s easy to understand how it became so popular.

The interior feels more like a palace than a hotel. There is a selection of other eminent hotels in the same area where you can brush shoulders with celebrities, royalty, and millionaires.

However, if you’re on a tighter budget, there are many standard tourist hotels, with the usual facilities you’d expect to find in any other major city.

For example, you could stay in the Amani Hotel for less than $50 per night. From your room balcony, you could admire the snow-capped (in winter) Atlas Mountains. Your room would have an attached bathroom, satellite TV, air conditioning, Wi-Fi, minibar, and tea & coffee facilities.

But my personal favorite is the traditional accommodation—a riad in the Medina (the Old City). In Morocco, a riad is a large traditional home built around a central courtyard.

Many of these old courtyard houses have been converted into hotels, like large B&Bs offering between 7 and 15 rooms. But because they were originally local people’s homes, when you stay in a riad, you are steeped in the local culture and traditions of Marrakech.

The courtyards often feature a fountain or pool and may have a restaurant. A few riads boast rooftop terraces where you can admire a view across the city while drinking mint tea.

Riads vary in price from the more luxurious neighboring the key tourist attractions to more basic hostels on the edge of the city. One I think is truly beautiful and rich in culture is Riad Kaiss in the old town.

This tiny riad only offers 8 rooms, but each is an art masterpiece. Inside the carefully restored old house, you can see colorful Islamic tile decorations and abstract carvings on the antique fire surrounds and columns. Riad Kaiss is one of those within walking distance of the main museums and monuments in the heart of Marrakech.

Before they visit Marrakech, many assume it is a desert city because of its strong associations with the Sahara Desert and the Berber people. Indeed, Marrakech is a great doorway into the Sahara for those who wish to take a camel ride into the desert.

Actually, Marrakech enjoys a semi-arid climate because of its position just to the north of the Atlas Mountains. This means Marrakech experiences a whole 11” of rain each year, a Biblical flood compared to other cities in the region. Quarzazate only sees 4½” of rain annually and Zagora a minuscule 2½”. Those two cities have hot desert climates.

The average daily temperature in Marrakech ranges from 54 0 F in January up to 83 0 F in July. The sunniest month is July, with an average of 10¾ hours, and the most rain falls during November when the average rainfall is 1½”.

Despite the midsummer heat, many tourists choose to visit Marrakech in summer. This is in part due to the popular festivals held during this time, like the Marrakech Popular Arts Festival held every July.

However, if you’re anything like me, the heat and crowds of the summer will distract you from fully appreciating the beauty of this incredible city. Plus, the city stink hits its peak in July.

If you come during winter, the climate is like spring in many parts of the world. This is also when the Atlas Mountains look their best, capped with snow like a scene from a picture postcard. In fact, if you’re lucky, you can even go skiing in Marrakech in midwinter.

There’s so much to do and see in Marrakech that I can’t possibly list all the attractions here. Instead, I’ll mention a few of the highlights to give you a taste of the city.

The main attractions can be divided into cultural attractions, sites of outstanding natural beauty, and major cultural events.

Because Marrakech has served as the capital city of Morocco for much of its long and rich history, there are many interesting buildings to see and visit.

You’ll find palaces, fortresses, and fascinating museums. For me, the most impressive structure of them all is the city wall that gives Marrakech its popular nickname—the red city.

I feel humbled by the orange-red walls that stand 19 feet high and stretch for 12 miles around the city. They were built in the 12 th century.

At that time, the largest empire in the world was China. I’ve visited the walls around Xi’an, the ancient capital of China, which were built around the same time. Although Xi’an’s walls are higher, they only stretch for 8¾ miles, which means that Marrakech’s walls in some way surpassed those of the greatest superpower of their time.

When visiting the walls, head for one of the 19 gateways. In my opinion, they are the most interesting part of the structure.

I’d recommend Bab Agnaou gate as it is arguably the most beautiful. Near the palace of its day, it served as the royal entrance to the city.

The horseshoe arch is decorated with alternating sections of stone and brick, and framing the gate are three panels with beautiful inscriptions taken from the Qur’an.

Because each successive ruler has left their own mark upon the city over the passage of centuries, there are 3 palaces and many mansions dotted around the Medina.

You can’t actually enter the current Royal Palace, though you can skulk around the front door and admire the outer wall. But you can visit the much more impressive El Bahia Palace.

The Bahia Palace is an elaborate and extensive complex of buildings set in 2 acres of formal gardens. Built to house the Grand Vizier of Marrakech, his 4 wives, 24 concubines, and all their many kids, this isn’t your average-sized family home.

If you’ve seen photographs of a beautiful courtyard in Marrakech with ornate arches and colorful tile decor, it was probably inside El Bahia. The palace was designed to be the greatest of its age, encapsulating all the best elements of Moroccan and Islamic architecture.

At the heart of the Medina (the Old City) you can find Jemaa el-Fnaa Square. If you want to see the kind of traditional street entertainment you’ve seen in films set in North Africa, like snake-charming and jugglers, then this is where you need to be.

It’s also a great place to find stalls selling the street food mentioned above and freshly squeezed orange juice. The square comes alive every evening. Note that if you pause to take photographs of entertainers in the square then you will be expected to contribute money to their pot.

One of the most interesting cultural experiences you can have in Marrakech is a visit to one of the souks. These colorful markets, with tiny and varied stalls in a maze of alleyways, are the main shopping attraction in the city.

This is where you have the opportunity to haggle with a Berber tradesman to buy a “flying carpet” for the lowest price. You’ll find the souks north of Jemaa el-Fnaa Square.

Outside the city, there are several nearby sites of outstanding natural beauty. The most obvious is the Atlas Mountains since they loom over the city.

Daytrips into the foothills are very popular, and the Ouzoud waterfalls are especially beautiful. A little further off, you can visit the most famous desert in the world. If you ever dreamed of riding a camel across the sand dunes, this is your opportunity.

Every July sees the Marrakech Popular Arts Festival, Marrakech Folklore Festival, and Fantasia Horse-Stunt Event.

These combined events are composed of many separate performances spread throughout the city but focused on Jemaa el-Fnaa Square, the ruined Badi Palace, and the area outside the city walls near Bab Jdid Gate.

Folk singers, dancers, fire-swallowers, and snake charmers perform traditional routines within the walls of the Badi Palace, while horse riders in traditional clothes gallop around in front of the city walls, showing off their equestrian skills.

And for something you’ll probably never see in the 50 States of the Union, sometime around the end of August every year the local Berber people hold the Imilchil Marriage Feast.

This is a huge event where up to 30,000 mountain dwellers gather for a 3-day festival around the tomb of the Oldman in Imilchil, a village in the Atlas Mountains.

During the festival, young women dress up in traditional clothes and silver jewelry then dance to attract a fiancé. Traditionally, unmarried people form engagements at the festival which are then followed up in their home villages by discussions between the families and arrangements for a later wedding.

The festival is a grand celebration of Berber culture, music, dance, and love.

Professionalism

We chose the Shared 3-Day Sahara Desert Tour From Marrakech To Merzouga as our Editor's Choice for Best Marrakech Desert Tour.

Robert Baker

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• PRIVATE MOROCCO DESERT TOURS
• SHARED DESERT TOURS
• PRIVATE MARRAKECH DAY TRIPS
• SHARED MARRAKECH DAY TRIPS
• ATLAS MOUNTAINS TREKKING
• MOUNT TOUBKAL TREKKING

Private 3 Days Desert Tour from Marrakech to Merzouga

3-Day Desert Tour from Marrakech to Merzouga Overview:

Embark on an exclusive 3 days tour from Marrakech to Merzouga, where you’ll explore iconic Moroccan landmarks and the serene Sahara Desert. This journey starts in the bustling streets of Marrakech, leading you through the majestic Atlas Mountains to the UNESCO-listed Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou, the lush Dades Valley, and the tranquil Tinghir Oasis. Experience the thrill of a sunset camel ride across the Erg Chebbi dunes and spend a magical night under the stars at a traditional Bedouin camp. Led by expert guides, this Marrakech to Merzouga tour promises a blend of adventure, culture, and unforgettable memories, ideal for couples, families, or small groups.

Private Marrakech to Merzouga 3 Day tour Highlights:

• Traverse the majestic High Atlas Mountains and Tizi N'tichka pass.
• Discover the historic Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou and the Berber village life.
• Stroll along the Todra oasis and explore the towering Todgha gorges.
• Experience a memorable camel ride amidst the Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset.
• Spend the night under the starlit sky in a Merzouga Sahara desert camp.

Itinerary of 3 Days from Marrakech to Merzouga Tour:

Day 1 : marrakech → atlas mountains → kasbah ait ben haddou → dades valley ( 6 hours drive ).

Start your “3-Day Desert Tour from Marrakech to Merzouga” with a convenient pickup from your hotel at 08:00 AM, embarking on an exciting drive through the bustling city of Marrakech to the majestic High Atlas Mountains. This 6-hour journey takes you over the famous Tizi n’Tichka pass, where picturesque Berber villages and stunning mountain landscapes await, offering perfect opportunities for breathtaking photos.

A key highlight of your first day is a visit to Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site celebrated for its beautiful traditional Moroccan architecture and its role as a backdrop in many well-known films. Wander through its historic alleys and immerse yourself in the rich culture and history of this iconic location.

Next, the tour proceeds to the tranquil Skoura Oasis to explore Kasbah Amridil, renowned for its exquisite Moroccan architecture. Enjoy the peaceful palm groves of Skoura, which provide a serene backdrop that deepens your connection to the local culture. Continue to Kalaa Megouna, famous for its rosewater distillation, offering unique insights into the traditional practices of the region.

Your day concludes in the dramatic Dades Valley, known for its breathtaking rock formations and historic fortresses. Spend the night in a traditional riad or guesthouse, where you can experience the renowned hospitality that Moroccan culture is known for. This first day combines scenic beauty, cultural immersion, and historical exploration to set the stage for an unforgettable adventure in the Sahara.

Accommodation Details: Hotel Panorama Hotel Babylon

Day 2 : Boumalne Dades → Tinghir → Merzouga → Sahara Desert ( 4 Hours Drive )

On the second day of your Marrakech to Merzouga tour, prepare for an exhilarating 4-hour drive that delves deeper into the mystique of the Sahara Desert. Departing from Dades Valley, the journey continues to the lush Tinghir Oasis, where you’ll take a guided stroll and explore the majestic Todra Gorges, renowned for their towering cliffs and spectacular natural beauty.

Next, the tour heads to Rissani, a town celebrated for its vibrant palm dates market and rich historical significance. Here, you’ll visit the sacred Mausoleum of Moulay Ali Cherif, the founder of the Alaouite dynasty, offering a profound insight into the spiritual and historical roots of Morocco.

The day culminates in Merzouga, a charming desert town that acts as the gateway to the breathtaking Erg Chebbi dunes. Here, you’ll experience the highlight of the Sahara Desert—a sunset camel trek across the shifting sands. This quintessential Saharan activity leads to your desert camp where an evening under the stars awaits. Enjoy a traditional Moroccan dinner accompanied by local music around a campfire, making this not just a tour, but a deep dive into the heart of Moroccan culture and adventure.

Accommodation Details: Comfortable camp Luxury camp

Day 3 : Merzouga → Draa Valley→ Ouarzazate → Marrakech ( 9 Hours Drive )

Begin your final day with an optional sunrise climb on the Erg Chebbi dunes, a peaceful moment to savor the desert’s beauty. Following breakfast at the camp, embark on the 9-hour return journey to Marrakech. This drive offers ample time to reflect on the stunning vistas and rich experiences you’ve enjoyed.

As you travel, you’ll pass through the diverse landscapes of the Draa Valley’s lush palm groves and the rugged terrain of the Anti-Atlas Mountains. A noteworthy stop in Ouarzazate allows you to explore the Atlas Film Studios, one of the world’s largest movie studios, renowned for its key role in international filmmaking and its unique integration with the local environment.

The drive back is more than just a journey; it’s an opportunity to continue exploring Morocco’s cultural and natural heritage, ensuring that every moment of your tour enriches your understanding of this vibrant country. As you near Marrakech, you’ll carry a collection of vivid memories, a testament to the varied landscapes and cultural encounters of your Marrakech to Merzouga tour.

3 days desert tour from Marrakech to Merzouga Price:

What's included in your marrakech to merzouga tour:.

• Transportation in a modern, air-conditioned 4x4 or van, with an English-speaking driver/guide.
• Pick-up service from your hotel or Riad in Marrakech.
• First night accommodation at Auberge Panorama or Hotel Babylon, in a private room with air-conditioning, including dinner and breakfast.
• Sunset and sunrise camel rides in the stunning Erg Chebbi.
• An overnight stay at a private tent in a Sahara desert camp in Erg Chebbi, inclusive of dinner and breakfast.
• Drop-off service at your Marrakech hotel or the nearest accessible location if your Riad is not reachable by car.

Not included:

• Entrance fees, if applicable.
• Fees for local guides, if used.
• Lunches during the tour.

Marrakech to Merzouga 3 Days Tour Map

Know Before You Go

• The cost of the tour is dependent on the size of your group.
• We offer the flexibility to extend this tour to a 4-day tour from Marrakech to Merzouga , should you prefer.
• Please note that the driving times mentioned exclude stops for sightseeing, photo opportunities, or meals.
• Be prepared for a lengthy drive on Day 3 as we journey back from Merzouga to Marrakech.
• Our 4x4 vehicles comfortably accommodate up to four adults. For groups of five or more, a van will be provided.
• We recommend starting your desert adventure between 07:30 and 08:00 AM on the first day.
• Sandboards are readily available for you to use at your leisure
• Solo travelers are welcome to join our Group 3 days Marrakech to Merzouga tour .

Frequently Asked Questions

How far is merzouga from marrakech for desert tours.

Travelers planning a desert tour often ask, ‘How far is Merzouga from Marrakech?’ The journey covers 560 kilometers (348 miles). This scenic trip is typically divided into two days with a delightful stopover in Dades Valley, allowing you to soak in the serene beauty. The return trip includes a full day’s drive back to Marrakech, ensuring you experience the diverse Moroccan landscape.

What is the Duration of the Camel Trek from Merzouga to Erg Chebbi Desert Camp?

The length of the camel ride from Merzouga to the Erg Chebbi desert camp typically varies depending on the season and the timings of sunrise and sunset, which are influenced by daylight saving time changes. On average, the journey to the camp for the sunset ride takes about an hour, and similarly, the return ride during sunrise the following day also lasts approximately an hour. This schedule allows for the most scenic experience of the desert’s natural beauty at these tranquil times of the day.

What Kind of Vehicle is Utilized for the private Marrakech to Merzouga 3-Day Tour?

In the Marrakech to Merzouga 3-Day tour, the type of vehicle employed is tailored to the size of the group for optimal comfort and convenience. For smaller groups, comprising up to four individuals, we provide modern, air-conditioned Toyota Land Cruisers. These vehicles are known for their reliability and comfort, ensuring a pleasant journey. For larger groups, we recommend spacious 7 or 16-seater vans. These vans offer ample legroom and sufficient space for luggage, making them ideal for bigger parties. It’s important to note that the entire route from Marrakech to Merzouga is paved, ensuring a smooth and comfortable drive throughout your adventure.

Do Merzouga Desert Camps Offer Private Bathrooms?

In the Merzouga desert camps, the availability of private bathrooms depends on the type of accommodation you choose. If you opt for an upgrade to the luxury camp, you’ll have the convenience of a private bathroom inside your tent. This offers an added level of comfort and privacy. However, for the standard camping option, bathrooms are shared and are located outside your tent. This setup ensures that all guests have access to necessary facilities while experiencing the authentic desert camping atmosphere.

Is it Possible to Forego the Camel Ride to the Erg Chebbi Desert Camp?

Yes, you have the option to skip the traditional camel ride to the Erg Chebbi desert camp. Instead, you can opt for a more modern and comfortable journey in a 4×4 vehicle. This alternative is available for an additional fee of 30 Euros for the round-trip transfer. However, if you choose to upgrade to the luxury desert camp, this 4×4 return transfer is included at no extra cost, providing a seamless and convenient experience without the additional expense.

Is Quad Bike Rental Available in Merzouga?

Absolutely, you have the opportunity to rent quad bikes in Merzouga for an adventurous exploration of the Erg Chebbi dunes. There are numerous providers offering high-quality quad bikes and dune buggies, perfect for an exhilarating ride across the desert landscape. Your guide can assist you in arranging this experience. Payment for the quad bike rental is made directly to the supplier in Merzouga. Typically, the cost is around 50 Euros per quad bike per hour, providing an exciting way to experience the beauty of the dunes.

Availability of Electrical Outlets in the Comfortable Merzouga Camp

In the comfortable Merzouga Sahara desert camp, guests will find electrical outlets available for their use. These outlets are conveniently located in the public areas, including the restaurants and the camp’s courtyard. This allows for charging electronic devices and using small electrical appliances. However, it’s important to note that the camp operates on electric generators, which are typically turned off around midnight. Therefore, it’s advisable to plan your charging needs accordingly to ensure your devices are powered up before the generators are turned down for the night.

Electricity Outlet Availability in Merzouga Luxury Camp?

Yes, in the Merzouga luxury camp, guests have access to electric outlets both in the restaurant area and inside their tents. This ensures convenience for charging electronic devices or using small electrical appliances during your stay. It’s important to be aware that the camp relies on electric generators for power, which are typically turned off around midnight. Therefore, it’s advisable to plan your electricity usage accordingly, ensuring all necessary devices are charged before the generators are switched off for the night.

Does the Merzouga Luxury Desert Camp Offer Air Conditioning?

Yes, our luxury camp in Merzouga is equipped with air-conditioned tents, ensuring your comfort throughout the year. During the winter months, the tents are heated for a cozy environment, while in the summer, they are cooled to provide a refreshing retreat from the heat. This added luxury of climate-controlled tents is available for an additional fee of 20 Euros per person, enhancing your desert experience with the utmost comfort.

Is Camel Riding Comfortable?

Camel riding might initially appear to be uncomfortable, but it’s often a matter of getting used to the experience. With a bit of practice and acclimatization, many find that they can ride camels quite comfortably. The key is to relax and adapt to the camel’s unique gait, which can be an enjoyable part of the adventure once you get the hang of it.

What Should You Wear for a Camel Ride in Merzouga?

For a camel ride in Merzouga, it’s advisable to wear full and loose-fitting clothing, which is particularly important in the hot desert climate. If you opt for shorts, ensure they are long enough to provide adequate coverage. To enhance your comfort and protect yourself from the sun, remember to bring a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Additionally, comfortable shoes are essential for the ride. These clothing choices and accessories will help make your camel ride experience more enjoyable and safe from the desert elements.

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Morocco Desert Tour From Casablanca Via Chefchaouen & Fes

Marrakech To Fes Desert Tour

This well-organized, spectacular 3-day journey from Marrakesh to Merzouga was unforgettable! Lahcen was wonderful as our guide for myself and my two children, ages 17 and 21. He was incredibly informative and professional, making the entire trip enjoyable. Although there’s quite a bit of driving required to see everything in such a short timeframe, it was absolutely worth it. We felt safe throughout, thanks to Lahcen’s skilled driving. The dunes and camel riding were the standout highlights of our trip. We can’t wait to return and explore more of Morocco—hopefully soon!

What a fantastic way to explore a vast area of Morocco with a private driver/guide. Hassan, our guide, was outstanding. He spoke quite good English and was very accommodating to our eclectic requests. “Can we stop and go in that marketplace? Of course!” “Can we visit that nomad family on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere? Of course!” The journey through the Atlas Mountains was both stunning and fascinating, offering views of Berber villages and ancient Kasbahs. A major highlight was the camel ride (around an hour with stops) to our Tent Camp in the desert. At night, the stars were incredible to behold while lying on a dune. Our tent was quite comfortable, complete with an in-tent shower and toilet. The food was tasty as well. The only drawback was that the tent became very warm at night, lacking any airflow or fan. In hindsight, we regret not upgrading to the luxury air-conditioned tent, which would have made our stay even more comfortable. There were many beautiful stops throughout the trip. The drive back on the last day was long (9 hours), but overall, I highly recommend this experience.

Natalie Brooks

We opted for a private tour for our group of 4, and we had a great time. The long hours in the car were made much more comfortable by having the minivan exclusively for us. Our driver, Abdel, was not only cautious on the road but also exceptionally kind to us (thank you, Adbel!). The tour itself was quite enjoyable, with the desert arrival being a highlight. The camp accommodation was also excellent. Despite a misunderstanding, Marrakech Desert Trips handled it remarkably well. Their assistance is top-notch, so you can trust them without any concerns.

Oliver Reed

We had an incredible three-day adventure exploring the southeastern region of Morocco. This tour goes beyond just the Sahara and the desert camp – we encountered numerous breathtaking places and experiences that will leave lasting memories. Choosing a favorite among them is impossible. Our skilled driver and guide, Hassan, remained composed, friendly, and helpful throughout. He not only ensured our safety while taking us to these impressive locations but also generously shared insights and patiently answered our questions. We highly recommend this tour (we opted for a private one) and Hassan as a driver and guide without any hesitation. In short, it was a flawless experience – we only wish we could’ve extended our stay at the desert camp in the erg-chebbi dunes for another day and night.

Chloe Sullivan

The experience was truly incredible. We made several stops at various places during the journey – villages, gorges, oases – and spent the night in a lovely auberge. Everything was flawless.

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Morocco Desert Tours

Embark on an unforgettable adventure in Morocco's Sahara Desert with our small group Morocco desert tours. Our aim is to offer you an authentic experience of this unique region, with stunning landscapes and rich culture, without the typical tourist traps or shopping stops. Our tours are carefully curated to ensure you have the most memorable and stress-free journey.

Traveling can be challenging, particularly when visiting a new country with a different culture and language. Therefore, we strive to provide you with peace of mind during our Morocco Desert tours, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the experience without any worries or stress. You can count on us to take care of all the logistics, so you can sit back, relax and enjoy the journey.

Our Morocco Desert tours offer something for everyone, whether you want to explore the bustling streets of Marrakech, hike in the Atlas Mountains or go camel trekking in the Sahara. We cater to all interests, preferences and budget levels to ensure you have an enjoyable experience. With our professional and reliable services, you can trust us to create a stress-free and unforgettable journey through the beauty and culture of this fascinating country.

In summary, our small group Morocco Desert tours are the perfect choice for those seeking to explore Morocco with peace of mind. We take care of all the details to ensure you have an authentic, enjoyable and unforgettable experience. So, join us today and let us take you on a journey through the heart of Morocco's Sahara Desert.

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Embark on an unforgettable journey deep into the heart of the Moroccan Sahara with our Merzouga Desert Adventure from Errachidia. This desert Tour offers a captivating blend of cultural discovery, desert exploration, and enchanting experiences.

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Discover southern Morocco and the Sahara Desert on our 5-day authentic tour. Traverse the High Atlas Mountains and uncover hidden oases, valleys, and kasbahs.

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Connect with travel companions, explore top attractions, and possibly get emotional when parting ways.

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3 Day Desert tour from Marrakech to Fes

Embark on a memorable 3-day Morocco desert tour from Marrakech to Fez, ride camels across the dunes, and sleep under the stars in traditional Berber tents.

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Desert Buggy Ride

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Cooking Class

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Testimonials

10/10 - could not have asked for a better experience.

We customized a private 10 Morocco Trip from Casablanca to Marrakech for myself and my wife. We booked our whole trip through Authentic Sahara Tours. Owner, Lahcen, was extremely responsive and honest in answering all of our questions prior to the trip as well as being flexible with our preferences. We had to reschedule the trip twice due to COVID restrictions and we received our deposit back instantly when weren't able to travel.

Highly recommend this tour! It makes you fall in love with Marokko!

I absolutely LOVED the tour with our guide Mohamed! He was so kind and pure hearted. He really tried to give us the best impressions of Marokko. He put a lot of effort in showing us the best places and telling us more about the regions. Mohamed really was a best friend to us! Also he is a very safe driver and has good taste in music ;), The tour is breathtaking. After those days you will know so much more about Marokko!

Our Trip with Authentic Sahara Tours (AST)

We highly recommend this particular tour with AST (Authentic Sahara Tours) if you want a have a profound experience of Moroccan nature, culture, and history. Driving from Fez to Marrakesh is especially rewarding because you get a true sense of the enormity and beauty of this geographically diverse and culturally rich country. We worked with AST to expand its traditional 3-day Sahara trip so we could include additional stops as we were driven from Fez to Marrakesh through the mountains.

Excellent company, staff and tour.

We had 3-day tour from Fes to Marrakesh with one night in desert and it was an extraordinary experience. Firstly, the agency and Lahcen were perfect from organizational and communication points of view, providing all the info we needed very quickly and accurately. They are 100% trustful. Secondly, all the staff were very friendly and we felt extremely comfortable with all of them. Mohamed (Muha), or guide and driver took us everywhere, provided a lot of useful info and made all our trip very nice and memorable.

Home » Travel Guides » Morocco » 25 Best Things to Do in Marrakesh (Morocco)

25 Best Things to Do in Marrakesh (Morocco)

Against the snow-capped High Atlas Mountains, Marrakesh is a timeless city of red sandstone.

Storytellers still regale the public on the Jemaa el-Fnaa square and an army of vendors sell their wares on haphazard interweaving alleys, packed tight to keep the sun at bay.

Marrakesh went through two periods as an imperial capital, under the Almoravids and Almohads in Medieval times, and the Saadian Dynasty in the 16th century.

These spells left the city with masterpieces of Hispano-Moorish art, like the 12th-century Koutoubia Mosque, and the ruined palace and mausoleum of Sultan Ahmad al-Mansur (1549-1603). Marrakesh has caught the imagination of many Europeans, not least the long-term resident Yves Saint-Laurent (1936-2008), whose epoch-defining designs have found a stage at a new museum in his honour.

Marrakesh’s walled old town is an indecipherable labyrinth of alleys converging in the west on the Jemaa el-Fnaa square under the emblematic 12th-century minaret of the Koutoubia Mosque.

You’ll learn time and again that outward appearances can be deceiving in the Medina, and this goes for the plain-looking external walls of riads (courtyard mansions), giving no indication of the splendour of the mosaics and stuccowork within.

Naturally a riad would be the best accommodation in Marrakesh, and you can see inside more than a few that have been restored and turned into museums.

If there’s one way to enter the Medina it’s got to be the Bab Agnaou gate, the historic entrance to the kasbah greeting you with bands of interlacing carved sandstone radiating from its horseshoe arch.

2. The Souks of Marrakesh

A fact you may hear about Marrakesh is that it’s a city of 40,000 craftsmen.

On the close, intersecting alleys pulling off the immense Jemaa el-Fnaa you can see what all these artisans get up to.

Effervescent, picturesque and hectic, the souks are as much an experience as a shopping opportunity, and are broken down by speciality.

There’s a Souk Smata for babouche slippers, a Souk Seffarine for brassware, a Souk Haddadine for blacksmithing, Souk Chouari for carved cedar and the famed Souk Cherratin, selling all manner of leather goods, from purses to belts.

Souk Sebbaghine, the dyers’ souk, is a photographer’s dream with its strands of wool in bright colours drying overhead.

You will be expected to haggle, but through this act it’s worth bearing in mind that all traders want to make a sale.

Recommended tour : Marrakech: 3-Hour Colorful Souks Tour

3. Koutoubia Mosque

The 77-metre minaret of the city’s largest mosque has towered above the west side of the Medina for more than 800 years.

When the French drew up the Ville Nouvelle, this Medieval tower was still the guiding landmark, and is visible for almost 30 kilometres.

Completed in the reign of Almohad Caliph Yaqub al-Mansur, the minaret came before, and inspired, Seville’s famous Giralda and the Hassan Tower in Rabat, also Almohad creations.

Instead of steps, the minaret has a ramp inside, so that the muezzin could ride up to give the call to prayer.

This also means that the orientation of the interlaced window arches is slightly different on each facade.

Access is prohibited to non-Muslims, but you can get a good look from the esplanade by the Jemaa el-Fnaa.

To the right of this you’ll see the ruins of an earlier Almohad mosque, raised in the 12th century but abandoned because its mihrab (shrine) wasn’t oriented towards Mecca.

4. Jardin Majorelle

Yves Saint-Laurent and his label’s co-founder Pierre Bergé bought up and restored this transformative garden and its Cubist villa in the 1980s.

It was all the work of Jacques Majorelle (1886-1962), son of the fabled Art Nouveau furniture designer Louis Majorelle.

Jacques spent more than forty years perfecting this 2.5-hectare space, and you can wander among the bamboo, outlandish tall cactuses and bright bougainvillea.

Fronted by a square fountain in the same shade of cobalt blue, Majorelle’s villa and studio holds a museum for Islamic art, presenting Saint-Laurent’s personal collection of North African textiles, ceramics and jewellery, along with a collection of Majorelle’s paintings.

Suggested tour : Majorelle Garden and Palmeraie Camel Ride Tour

5. Bahia Palace

Up there with the masterworks of Moroccan architecture, Bahia Palace reached its current scale and opulence under the grand vizier Ba Ahmed (d.

1900). The intensely decorated palace, on eight hectares in the south-east of the Median, was begun in the 1860s and then extended by the famously portly Ba Ahmed, whose additions included a gigantic harem on a courtyard around a central basin.

The complex abounds with painted cedar and beech ceilings, gleaming white marble, multicoloured zellige, elaborate latticework, stained glass and gardens laden with jasmine, hibiscus, citrus trees and banana trees.

The grand vizier had no fewer than four wives and 24 concubines, which explains the magnitude of this space.

Ba Ahmed’s wives each had an apartment identical in size, denoting their equal status, and around the palace you’ll step through the school/mosque for his many sons and daughters and the hall where he conducted business.

King Mohammed VI occasionally stays at Bahia Palace, in personal quarters not open to the public.

Included in : Marrakech: Private Half-Day Walking Tour

6. Ben Youssef Madrasa

Until it closed in 1960, Marrakesh laid claim to one of the largest madrasas in North Africa, accommodating more than 800 students.

This was completed during the reign of Sultan Abdallah al-Ghalib (1517-1574) on the site of an earlier Marinid-dynasty madrasa from the middle of the 14th century.

The complex opened as a historical site in 1982 and is designed around a magnificent interior courtyard, decorated to provoke a feeling of astonishment through its brilliant zellige mosaics, feather-light stuccowork, finely carved cedar and bands of Arabic calligraphy around a rectangular reflection pool.

At the far end from the entrance is the mihrab couched in yet more vibrant tilework.

This richness continues in the latticework and moulded stucco niches of the secondary courtyards, while the student’s cells are purposely unadorned.

7. Jemaa el-Fnaa

Marrakesh’s fevered marketplace was born as a space for military parades and executions in front of the palace that preceded the Koutoubia Mosque.

Jemaa el-Fnaa is a frenzy all day and into the night.

In the afternoon there will be snake charmers, Barbary monkeys, orange juice stalls and water sellers.

Later these withdraw to be replaced by a mass of dancing youths dressed as women (who wouldn’t be permitted to dance), magicians, fire breathers, acrobats and storytellers, all soundtracked by bands of gnaoua musicians in blue robes.

At night there are myriad food stalls at Jemaa el-Fnaa for tagines, couscous, sizzling meat skewers and spiced soups with lentils and chickpeas.

Suggested tour : Marrakech: Medina by Night Tour

8. Saadian Tombs

Members of the powerful Saadian Dynasty, whose rule coincided with Marrakesh’s apogee in the late-16th century, were laid to rest in this sumptuous walled mausoleum complex on the south side of the Kasbah Mosque.

The tombs date from the time of Ahmad al-Mansur (1549-1603) and were lost for hundreds of years behind their indomitable walls until an aerial survey in the 1910s.

Some 66 people are entombed in these three rooms, including al-Mansur, his son and grandson in the showpiece Hall of the Twelve Columns.

The tombs here are fashioned from Carrara marble, ensconced in kaleidoscopic zellige mosaics on the floor and lower walls, all under an astoundingly intricate dome of carved cedar.

9. Maison de la Photographie

Opened in 2009 in an old merchants’ inn at the heart of the Medina, this museum has a collection of more than 10,000 historic photographs, from 1870 to 1950. You’ll witness seldom seen images of Moroccan landscapes, the ancient city of Volubilis, palaces, kasbahs and candid images of Berber culture.

There are pictures captured by some of the earliest photographers to arrive in Morocco, including the Scotsman George Washington Wilson (1823-1893), and many more anonymous travellers visiting the country on their grand tours.

There are new exhibitions every few months on themes relating to specific locations, photography styles and aspects of life in the country.

After perusing the exhibition you can head up to the terrace for a pot of mint tea and a privileged view of the Medina and the mountains.

10. El Badi Palace

This ruined palace inhabited by storks and stray cats, also constructed Sultan Ahmad al-Mansur, was started immediately after his victory in the Battle of the Three Kings (1578) using funds raised by a ransom paid by the Portuguese.

Decades later, El Badi Palace, thought to have had 300 lavishly decorated rooms, was plundered by the Alaouite Sultan Ismail Ibn Sharif (1645-1727) for material for his palaces at the new capital Meknes.

The vestiges left behind are substantial, with spellbinding views from the crenellated walls and a mysterious network of subterranean passageways to explore.

Something not to be missed at the back of the courtyard is the Koutoubia minbar (pulpit), hewn from cedar in the 12th century, with fabulous marquetry and calligraphy in gold and silver by Medieval Cordoban artisans.

Recommended tour : Marrakech Historical Tour

11. Yves Saint Laurent Museum

This purpose-built museum for Marrakesh’s famed former resident opened on his namesake street in October 2017. The building, designed by Studio KO, looks at once traditional and modern, evoking Art Deco in its curving forms and dressed in bricks that were fired in Morocco and arranged in an interlacing pattern.

On a minimal backdrop, the permanent exhibition is rooted in Marrakesh, and features many of Yves Saint Laurent’s most iconic creations, like the Mondrian dress, the pea coat, “Le Smoking” and the safari jacket.

The 50-piece display is rotated every few months and organised along themes that guided the designer’s work: Art, Gardens, Morocco, Africa, Black, Imaginary Voyages, Masculine-Feminine.

Complementing this work are sketches, runway footage, photographs, audio accounts and music for an insight into the designer’s creative process and influences.

12. Menara Gardens

Some way out of Marrakesh towards the airport is a set of botanical gardens first planted around 1130 by the ruler of the Almohad Caliphate, Abd al-Mu’min.

The name Menara comes from the pavilion building, with horseshoe arches, a balustraded terrace and pyramidal roof, impressive before the snow-capped High Atlas Mountains.

That pavilion, dating from the 19th century on an earlier 16th-century foundation, sits on a giant reservoir that was constructed to irrigate the orchards and olive around it.

As was the case almost 900 years ago the gardens are a respite from the heat of the day.

13. Cyber Park

The name of this park to the west of the Medina gives little indication of its great age.

With a clear view of the Atlas Mountains the garden was laid out by Prince Moulay Abdeslam, son of Sultan Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah, at the end of the 18th century.

The space became public in the early 20th century, and lost its landscaping until a rehabilitation project by the Foundation Mohammed VI for the Protection of the Environment in the early 2000s.

The Cyber Park pairs a historic arsat (orchard) garden, planted with citrus trees, lucerne and olive trees, with a modern park laid out with spacious lawns, water features and walkways.

The name comes from a cyber cafe and telecom museum that opened in 2005 but also the free Wi-Fi available at the park.

14. Tiskiwin Museum

This museum was founded by the Dutch anthropologist Bert Flint as a place to show off his extensive assemblage of Amazigh artefacts.

Such is the importance of the collection that the museum has now become part of Marrakesh’s Cadi Ayyad University.

The permanent exhibition is conceived as a trip into Berber Sahara on the old caravan routes between Marrakesh and Timbuktu.

On your journey you’ll become acquainted with Berber festivities, commerce and domestic life.

In this fine riad you’ll see carvings in stone and wood, furniture, baskets, fabrics, djellabas (robes), jewelry, cooking implements and more, all matched with well-researched descriptions.

In Marrakesh’s Jewish quarter you’ll notice that the city’s already narrow streets constrict even more, and that the buildings are a little taller.

This is because until the arrival of the French Protectorate in 1912 Jews were unable to live outside this dense quarter, and so had to make the most of what little space there was.

The quarter grew up in the middle of the 16th century during the Saadian dynasty, on the plot where the Sultan’s stables used to be.

At its height it was a hectic neighbourhood of jewellers, sugar traders, tailors and bankers.

The Mellah has been restored a little in the reign of Mohammed VI, readopting its original Jewish street names.

Marrakesh’s Jewish population has now dwindled to just a few dozen, as you’ll see from the occasional glimpses of Stars of David on the walls.

As well as somewhere to get a handle on the city’s past, the Mellah is a place to shop away from the city’s frenzied main souks.

16. Salat Al Azama Synagogue

This 16th-century synagogue in the Mellah was built on the back of the Expulsion of the Jews from Spain.

Newly revamped with a gallery for women, you’ll find it on a courtyard hidden down a narrow alley, its vivid blue tilework, doors and benches contrasting with the oranges and browns of the city.

The Salat Al Azama Synagogue is one of two active places of worship for Marrakesh’s Jewish community, but for everyone it’s a place to gain a bit more insight about Judaism in the city, through an exhibition of photographs and documents.

The courtyard here once served as a yeshiva (religious school) for 400 students from the region.

17. Miaara Jewish Cemetery

The cemetery in the Mellah, the largest Jewish cemetery in Morocco, gives a clearer picture of just how many people lived in this district after it was first developed in the 16th century.

As with so many places in the Medina, the nondescript entrance belies the beauty and magnitude of what lies behind.

Men will be given a yarmulke to wear as they go in, to be faced by a field of long, whitewashed tombs, most worn down over time but some keeping their triangular outline.

It’s staggering to think that there are three burial layers here.

The Miaara Jewish Cemetery has a special place in Jewish culture, as the burial place of many tzaddikim (Hasidic spiritual leader or guide). An ornate mausoleum, with a carved cedar roof and detailed stucco mouldings, is reserved for the president of the city’s Jewish community.

18. Dar Si Said Museum

The oldest museum in Marrakesh opened in 1932 in the exquisite late-19th-century palace ordered by Si Said ben Moussa, minister of defence to his brother, the grand vizier Ba Ahmed (d. 1900). Go in to luxuriate in the hypnotic zellige tilework, the stained glass and the beautifully fashioned cedar ceilings.

The museum documents the traditional crafts of the region, incorporating Marrakesh, the banks of the Tensift River and the High Atlas and Anti-Atlas ranges.

There’s Berber jewellery, hammered copper, pottery, rugs, ceremonial clothing and weapons, as well as an exhibition of fastidiously embellished doors and window frames from Kasbahs across the south.

19. Boucharouite Museum

On your adventure through the Medina you can step inside this museum in a riad, with a central courtyard and a calm, green terrace above.

The museum shines a light on the Berber Boucharouite rug-making technique, in which strips of colourful rags are woven together, normally by a woman.

As they can be made by a single weaver rather than a workshop, Boucharouite rugs often tell you something personal about their maker.

This goes for the pieces hanging at this museum, and if you’re in luck the museum’s owner will be around to share some of the background on each rug and what they say about Berber culture.

At the end you can take tea on the terrace, high above the clamour of the Medina.

20. Ouzoud Waterfalls Full Day Tour from Marrakesh

Marrakesh’s inland location puts awesome natural wonders within striking distance, and there’s a whole catalogue of once-in-a-lifetime experiences available.

The Ouzoud Falls in the Middle Atlas Mountains are 150 kilometres northeast of the city, and this tour will take you there in the comfort of an air-conditioned minibus, safe in the hands of a local guide.

The drive is memorable, passing through olive groves and little Berber villages perched in the High Atlas.

The falls are breathtaking, where the El Abid River roars down three drops with a total height of 110 metres, into a vast gorge with mossy walls.

You’ll get the chance to swim in the river and take snaps of the curious Barbary macaque monkeys that have made the falls their home.

Recommended tour : Ouzoud Waterfalls Full-Day Trip from Marrakech

21. Marrakesh to Merzouga 3-Day Desert Safari

Marrakesh is as close as many people will ever come to the open Sahara Desert, and it’s thrilling to think that those romantic orange and bronze dunescapes are within reach.

This tour on GetYourGuide.com is a three-day odyssey, crossing the High Atlas Mountains and visiting the spectacular Kasbah of Ouarzazate, a dreamlike city long known as “The door of the desert”. After seeing the high craggy walls of the Todgha Gorges you’ll continue to the Erg Chebbi dunes, which fit everyone’s most romantic notions of the Sahara.

After a camelback ride you’ll pass the night in a Bedouin camp, tucking into a tagine cooked under the stars and being entertained by real nomadic gnaoua musicians.

22. Atlas Mountains Day Trip with Camel Ride

The High Atlas Mountains are tantalising and ever-present on Marrakesh’s southern horizon, and this day trip will take you into the range’s Imlil Valley for sublime mountain panoramas, a camelback ride and a dose of Berber culture.

On the way you’ll stop at a women’s only Argan oil cooperative to buy this coveted cosmetic product at its source.

Later, at the town of Asni, you’ll visit a Berber souk unaffected by tourism, followed by little hamlets, waterfalls and a stop at the steep fertile terraces of Tamatert, growing vegetables, corn and barley since time immemorial.

Heading back towards Marrakesh there will be a stop at the Moulay Brahim Gorges for a camelback ride in epic scenery.

Book online : Atlas Mountains Day Trip with Camel Ride

23. Museum of Marrakesh

Despite the name, the Museum of Marrakesh is concerned less with the history of the city and more with the architecture and decor of its admittedly beautiful building.

Next to the Ben Youssef Madrasa, this is a palace built at the end of the 19th century for Mahdi Menhbi, the defence minister under Sultan Moulay Abdelaziz (1878-1943). The palace lost its sheen during a period of neglect, until it was restored and turned into a museum in the 1990s.

The best bit is the unusually large patio, taking up more than 700 square metres, and dominated by a spectacular multi-tiered chandelier.

On the ground floor are small displays of hammered copper objects, Berber jewellery, weapons and clothing, while upstairs you can take a close look at the dainty Moorish decor and fine cedar furniture.

24. Le Jardin Secret

Worthwhile as a momentary escape, Le Jardin Secret is a hushed palace and garden complex right in the Medina.

The fanciful story goes that this was initially a pair of Saadian Dynasty riads in the 17th century, reconstructed by the ambitious 19th-century kaid (commander) al-Hajj Abd-Allah U-Bihi during the reign of Sultan Mohammed IV.

He later met with a sticky end when his tea was poisoned.

From the 1930s onwards the palaces became dilapidated and opened in 2016 after an eight-year restoration.

There’s an Islamic and an exotic garden to peruse, and the palaces show off modern examples of Moroccan design in their tilework, hand-moulded stucco, carved cedar and tadelakt (waterproof plaster). The newly constructed tower almost matches some of Marrakesh’s minarets for height, looking down on the Medina and out to the mountains.

25. Oasiria

After braving the medina with children or teenagers you may be ready for some time out.

Attached to a resort, Oasiria is a water park with eight pools and 17 different slides, all in ten hectares of gardens.

Grown-ups can take it easy in this oasis-like environment of lush lawns, palms and ancient olive trees.

But there’s lots of fun to be had at the wave pool, lazy river and a choice of heated pools.

For the tiniest there’s a space to splash around in knee-high water, and a sprawling playscape with low slides.

Bigger kids can contend with rides with names like Rio Loco, Kamikaze and Cobra, and there’s a new climbing wall for a change of pace.

25 Best Things to Do in Marrakesh (Morocco):

• The Souks of Marrakesh
• Koutoubia Mosque
• Jardin Majorelle
• Bahia Palace
• Ben Youssef Madrasa
• Jemaa el-Fnaa
• Saadian Tombs
• Maison de la Photographie
• El Badi Palace
• Yves Saint Laurent Museum
• Menara Gardens
• Tiskiwin Museum
• Salat Al Azama Synagogue
• Miaara Jewish Cemetery
• Dar Si Said Museum
• Boucharouite Museum
• Ouzoud Waterfalls Full Day Tour from Marrakesh
• Marrakesh to Merzouga 3-Day Desert Safari
• Atlas Mountains Day Trip with Camel Ride
• Museum of Marrakesh
• Le Jardin Secret

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