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Morocco · April 22, 2024

The 7 Best Day Trips From Marrakech

Are you looking for the best day trips from Marrakech? Well this guide has every single day trip that you can do from Marrakech that is actually worth the effort!

The city of Marrakech is already a wonderful destination on its own but it’s also close to other incredible destinations in Morocco. You can visit the impressive waterfalls of Ouzoud or maybe you prefer spending the day exploring the old city of Aït-Ben Haddou in the Atlas Mountains.

It would be a shame of you would only explore the most famous city in Morocco cause this country has so much more to offer. If you’re looking for a more adventurous trip you should take a look at my 10 day road trip itinerary in Morocco ! But these day trips from Marrakech all make for a spectacular addition to an already incredible itinerary.

These day trips can vary from places a little over 1 hour of driving to those that stretch to over 3 hours away. Nevertheless, all of them are completely worth the time and effort!

The 7 Best Day Trips From Marrakech You Shouldn’t Miss

A lot of these day trips from Marrakech can be done with the help of a guided tour so if I was able to find a good and reliable one for you it will be included in this article as well.

If you prefer exploring at your own pace I highly recommend you to get a rental car at the Menara International Airport in Marrakech . I highly recommend booking your rental car online and not in person on arrival. This way you’ll avoid higher prices (unless your haggling skills are really, really good!) and you won’t get stuck with a low quality car.

With sites like SunnyCars you’ll be able to compare different companies and prices next to each other. Plus in case of any issue with the rental company or the car, they take as much responsibility as the actual rental company and they only work with the most reliable car rentals in the world.

They are an all-in car rental service without any hidden costs or unpleasant surprises!

Really everything you need is included in their all-inclusive car rental formula. Unlimited mileage and a fair fuel arrangement? Check. Third-party insurance of at least €7.5 million, damage insurance and theft insurance? Also included. They even cover the costs of towing if the rental car breaks down. In case of damage or theft, you pay the own risk on the spot, which they refund when you return home. This also includes damage to glass, tires, the floor or roof of the car!

With SunnyCars you can already rent a high quality car for as little as €32 per day for 1 week in April!

1. Ouzoud Waterfalls

🚗 Driving time from Marrakech – 2,5 hours

If you’re looking for a more lush scenery then a day trip to the Ouzoud waterfalls is the perfect idea!

This impressive waterfall is located in the Middle Atlas Mountains and is one of the most popular day tours from Marrakech. And with good reason!

The Ouzoud falls have a 110 meter drop across several tiers and consist of multiple layers. You can park your car at one of the assigned parking lot at the top of the waterfalls. When we arrived a local actually guided us to his parking lot behind his restaurant which was fine for us.

You can then proceed to walk around the entire waterfall and also hike down to the bottom . Make sure to bring your bathing suit cause you can actually go swimming in the cool river down below. If swimming is not your thing you can also opt to go for a boat ride!

🎒 Optional guided tour – Ouzoud waterfalls day trip and optional boat ride

2. Aït-Ben Haddou & Ouarzazate – My favorite day trip from Marrakech

🚗 Driving time from Marrakech – 3,5 hours

One of the most beautiful day trips from Marrakech is the twin destination of Aït-Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate. These historical sites are located within the Atlas Mountains and have formed the backdrop for some of the most famous tv-shows and movies.

You can spot them in Game of Thrones, Gladiator and The Mummy!

Aït-Ben Haddou is a fortified village from the 11th century and out of the two of them this one is probably the most recognizable. One of the best things to do is simply wander around its red colored streets and take in the views from the top. Make sure to sit down for some Moroccan tea at the local teahouse which offers a panoramic view over the city!

Another must see on your day trip is the Tifoultoute Kasbah , where you’ll feel like you’ve taken a step back in time.

And to top it all off make sure to visit the Fint Oasis . This small village is a real palm tree lined oasis in the middle of the desert and where it looks like time stood still.

🎒 Optional guided tour – Aït-Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate day trip from Marrakech

💡 TIP – I would totally understand if all of these activities are a little bit too much to do in one single day, especially considering the total amount of driving that you’ll be doing. I don’t expect everyone to be as bonkers as I am! The area around Ouarzazate is home to some of the most incredible stays in Morocco and I’ve listed my top choices for you below!

Kasbah Titrit & Spa – This stunning kasbah is located only 5km from Aït-Ben Haddou and offers some of the most scenic views in the Atlas Mountains!

L’oasis Du Bonheur – I actually stayed at this place during our road trip through Morocco and while it isn’t the most luxurious it does come with stunning views!

3. Agafay Desert

🚗 Driving time from Marrakech – 45 minutes

One of the best and closest day tours from Marrakech is a trip to the beautiful Agafay desert.

Agafay is surrounded by an arid, yet majestic rocky landscape that resembles a moon crater and is located only an hour away from Marrakech. The Agafay Desert is best described as a landscape of many contrasts .

Besides going for a quad or camel ride the desert of Agafay is especially known as one of the best places to go glamping near Marrakech . Over the past years tons of luxury desert camps have popped up and they will guarantee a unique and magical experience in the Moroccan desert.

Glamping in the Agafay desert is especially interesting for those who don’t wish to do the more than 6 hour drive to the well known Sahara desert. It’s the ideal solution for those who wish to stay a little closer to Marrakech.

Some of the most luxurious camp sites in the Agafay desert are:

Agafay Luxury camp
Canyon Lodge Désert Agafay
Terre Des Etoiles

🎒Optional guided tour – Atlas mountains and Agafay desert day trip

4. Essaouira

🚗 Driving time from Marrakech to Essaouira – 2.5 hours

The seaside town of Essaouira is located alongside the Atlantic coast and makes for one of the most interesting day trips from Marrakech.

Just like Aït-Ben Haddou the harbor town of Essaouira was used as a filming location in Game of Thrones. The city has a more bohemian vibe and walk walking through the streets and alongside the harbor you’ll come across one scenic spots after the other.

The vibe here is completely different from the crowded city of Marrakech and I think it’s always fun to see the different aspects of a country.

Typical for Essaouira are its blue fishing boats and the giant city walls that are still lined with canons.

Wander through the streets and sit down at one of the many local restaurants to enjoy some fresh seafood before returning to the hustle and bustle of Marrakech.

🎒 Optional guided tour – From Marrakech full day Essaouira tour

5. Imouzzer

🚗 Driving time from Marrakech – 3 hours

The falls of Imouzzer are a true hidden gem in Morocco and can be best seen in action from February to August . It’s one of North Africa’s most stories waterfalls but you do need to be in a bit of luck to actually see them. These days they are only intermittently running depending on rainfall.

The walk down to the waterfall is 4km and you really don’t need a guide to do so. So make to say no to all of the locals offering their “official” guide services.

Below the waterfall you’ll find a beautiful blue plunge pool but I don’t recommend you to go swimming here.

While visiting Imouzzer, be sure to continue on a little to Paradise Valley , a photogenic area boasting natural rock pools fed by more small cascades.

6. Casablanca

🚗 Driving time from Marrakech – 2.5 hours

The city of Casablanca is the perfect day trip from Marrakech if you want to soak up some true Moroccan culture. The city on its own isn’t all that special. In all honestly I found it to be a little disappointing.

But the main reason for visiting isn’t to stroll around the busy big city streets. It’s to visit the Hassan II Mosque , the second largest mosque in the entire world.

It was built in 1993 but what it lacks in history it sure makes up for in design and grandness. Its minaret is over 200m high and the prayer hall alone is more than 200 hectares.

You can visit the Hassan II Mosque in the morning but be aware that this is a place of worship and meditation so several rules apply. You need to wear clothes that cover your shoulders, torso and that come below the knee. You’ll need to remove your shoes before entering but you can grab a bag at the entrance to bring them with you. Within the mosque you need to remain silent and drinking and smoking is prohibited.

Other places of interest in Casablanca are the Muhammad V Square, the Casablanca cathedral and the Arab League Park.

For lunch either go to Le Cabestan or Le Gatsby.

7. Dades Gorges – The most adventurous day trip from Marrakech

🚗 Driving time from Marrakech – 5 hours

If you’re an adventurous type then a visit to the Dades Gorges should be at the top of your list! The gorge was carved out by the passage of the Dades River and is navigable via a road known locally as the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs .

Those that drive its hairpin bends can expect to discover breathtaking rock formations in colors that range from tan and beige to gold, rust red, and dusky mauve.

The historic villages of the Berbers overlook the gorge and while some of them are still inhabited by the locals they also created some beautiful boutique hotels especially for tourists.

The most popular way to experience the Dadès Gorge is to drive along the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs. It’s not for the faint of heart but it will guarantee you to see some of the most amazing viewpoints in the entire area!

Grab lunch at restaurant Timzzillite from where you can enjoy a panoramic view over this twisty road.

Due to the fact that the Dades Gorges is a bit of a drive from Marrakech it’s not a bad idea to also spend a night in this area. That way you also get the chance to explore one of the many hiking trails that will lead you through the valley.

Some of the best places to stay in the Dades Valley are:

Hotel Riad Bahammou
Hotel Babylon Dades

As you can see there are a lot of amazing day trips from Marrakech that can spice up your itinerary! If you have any questions feel free to ask them below in the comment section!

Charlotte Lint is the founder, main photographer and writer of Charlies Wanderings . She has traveled all over the world and is based in Belgium where she also owns her very own dental practice. She is an expert on writing insightful hiking guides and creating unique and efficient travel itineraries . Every month she helps over 134.000 people discover the most beautiful places in the world through her detailed travel guides.

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11 Top-Rated Day Trips from Marrakesh

Written by Jess Lee Updated May 13, 2023 We may earn a commission from affiliate links ( )

As well as being Morocco's most popular tourist destination, full of the color and chaos of the souks, yet home to sophisticated accommodation and dining, Marrakesh is also one of the best places to visit and use as a base to experience plenty more of what the country has to offer.

The city lies on the edge of the arid plains, with the rural vistas and mighty mountains of the Atlas region just on its doorstep, but still near enough to the Atlantic coast, so there are plenty of things to do and tourist attractions within day-trip reach.

Marrakesh offers bundles of great excursions for when the crush of the medina starts to wear you down.

Start planning your adventures with our list of the best day trips from Marrakesh.

1. Have a Taste of the High Atlas in the Ourika Valley

2. enjoy a seaside break in essaouira, 3. experience desert life in agafay, 4. road trip the tizi-n-tichka pass to ait ben heddou, 5. explore the scenery of toubkal national park, 6. see the ouzoud waterfall, 7. drive to the dadès gorge, 8. ski at oukaimeden, 9. tour casablanca's hassan ii mosque, 10. explore the ahansal and ait bougomez valleys, 11. ramble around the fortress of el-jadida, map of day trips from marrakesh.

About 77 kilometers from Marrakesh, the mountain valley villages of the Ourika Valley are one of the most popular things to do outside the city.

The little villages and towns, surrounded by lush orchards and fields, are a welcome escape from the city heat and provide a quick snapshot of typical Moroccan rural life.

If you plan a trip for Monday, don't miss the weekly market held in the village of Tnine which is full of the bustle and color of local life.

At the end of the road, you reach the pretty village of Setti Fatma with its cascades (the Ourika Valley's most famous tourist attraction) up on the hill above town. The hike up to the cascades is the main activity here for day trippers.

Read More: Things to Do in the High Atlas Region

A lovely seaside side trip from Marrakesh's labyrinthine medina, Essaouira, 184 kilometers away, has much more than fresh sea breezes to offer.

Snug on the seafront, the medina area is the major point of interest for visitors, with its well-preserved fortified walls and ramparts that date from the 18th century.

Walking along the walls is a wonderful way to soak up the seaside vistas and Essaouira's fishing harbor, full of colorful, bobbing boats.

Inside the ramparts, the old town is a meandering squiggle of narrow streets that are made to get lost in. Here, you'll find the Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdullah Museum, with a well-curated ethnological collection of costumes, textiles, photography, and musical instruments in a restored riad (traditional Moroccan mansion house).

There are plenty of guided trips and group tours offered to Essaouira by Marrakesh tour companies. The Essaouira Day Trip from Marrakesh offers round-trip transportation, a one-hour tour of Essaouira's medina, and plenty of free time to explore by yourself making this a good option for independently minded day-trippers.

If you don't have time to make the long trip out east to the Sahara dunes of Erg Chebbi or Erg Chigaga, the Agafay Desert, 35 kilometers southwest from the city, offers a taste of desert life.

Most people head here for an overnight trip for a peaceful time-out from city life and to experience the star-studded night skies at one of the luxury lodges and camps here. If you're short on time, though, a day trip is also possible.

This arid, stone-pitted hill country, backgrounded by the peaks of the High Atlas, is a barren moonscape where 4WD-tours, camel treks, quad biking, and mountain biking are the main activities.

Rimmed by majestic mountain scenery, the road between Marrakesh and Ouarzazate traverses the Tizi-n-Tichka Pass, about 120 kilometers from Marrakesh, and is one of Morocco's greatest road trips .

For many travelers, this is the doorway to further adventures in the High Atlas and the Sahara to the east, but for those only with time for a day trip from Marrakesh, you can experience a couple of the region's important historic attractions, as well as some superb mountain panoramas on a day out on this route.

Telouet, with its Glaoui era kasbah, is a good stop-off along the way, while the majestic rammed-earth ksar (fortified village) of Ait Ben Haddou (175 kilometers southeast from Marrakesh) makes for a dramatic place to aim for before turning around and driving back towards the city.

Simply driving this road is a great way to take in the changing scenery of the orchards and farms of the lowlands up to the heights of the Atlas Mountains.

Mountain scenery surrounding Imlil village

Central Morocco is home to North Africa's highest mountain. Jebel Toubkal towers 4,167 meters above the landscape and lies at the center of Toubkal National Park, one of the country's most popular trekking destinations, about 70 kilometers from Marrakesh.

If you're just here for a day trip, there won't be time to bag the summit for yourself (the ascent is a two-day climb best tackled in summer and early autumn) or to set out on the famous Toubkal Circuit trek, which takes seven to 10 days, but the landscape is a fascinating place to spend a day out from Marrakesh.

The village of Imlil is Toubkal National Park's main base, and if you only have time for a taster of the rural vistas, there's a great return hike from Imlil along local dirt tracks to Aroumd village, which offers up incredible mountain vistas and only takes an afternoon.

Another easy walk (along roads rather than walking trails) is the final section of the Toubkal Circuit multi-day trek, to the village of Ait Souka.

The Atlas Mountains & Three Valleys Private Day Trip takes a scenic drive into the valleys of Toubkal National Park, with stops for a camel ride and a visit to an Argan oil cooperative.

The tour also includes a walk, mule ride, or drive to Ait Souka to soak up the scenery along the way; a visit to a traditional Berber house in the village, with a tagine lunch; and a drive to the scenic village of Moulay Brahim. A guide is included, as is all transport, including pickup and drop off from your Marrakesh hotel.

Hugely popular with both local Marrakshis and foreign visitors wishing to take a break from the city heat, this series of cascades lies about 150 kilometers north of Marrakesh within the Oued el-Abid Canyon.

The water here plummets over three terraces, dropping a total of 110 meters to the bottom of the canyon. There are numerous viewing platforms where you can take in the thundering water on the way down to the canyon's base, and along the footpath, there is a good chance you'll see Barbary apes.

The best months to come are between March and June, when the winter melt produces the most water.

The Ouzoud Falls Day Trip is a good choice if you want to experience these famous cascades without staying overnight. A local, expert guide shows you all the best viewing points on a one-hour walk to the bottom. Free time is provided for those who want to hike farther, or head into the water on a boat. Transport is included, with pickup and drop-off from Marrakesh hotels.

Highly dramatic and stunningly beautiful, the deep, verdant valleys sandwiched between the rust-colored walls of the Dadès Gorge are prime walking territory, with excellent day hiking available, as well as longer overnight treks between the Dadès Gorge and Todra Gorge.

About 309 kilometers from Marrakesh, the valley here is home to pretty villages and fertile fruit orchards, as well as weird and wacky rock formations hewn into their shape by a millennia of wind action.

The mighty mud-brick-walled Kasbah of Ait Youl, built by the Glaoui dynasty, with a lofty position overlooking the mountains, is only a few kilometers into the gorge area and is definitely worth a stop before you venture farther into the gorge for more sightseeing.

The fantastic, and mildly terrifying, twisty-turny switchback road you have to traverse to enter the valley is one of the highlights of a visit here.

For Moroccan ski fans, Oukaimeden is the main winter haunt. This is the country's prime ski resort, set within stunning alpine scenery about 78 kilometers south of Marrakesh.

The ski season lasts from around December to February, but even when it's not snowing, a road trip here is worthwhile.

The route to Oukaimeden takes you past hills scythed into a tumble of terraced fields and snoozy villages hugged by the foothills as you traverse up into the barren, rippling mountains.

Oukaimeden's accommodation scene is pretty bleak and overpriced, which makes it even more worthwhile to treat a skiing (or in summer, sightseeing-trip here) as a day trip from Marrakesh.

One of the finest modern mosques in the world sits in Morocco's business capital of Casablanca , about 242 kilometers from Marrakesh on the Atlantic coast.

The Hassan II Mosque was designed by French architect Michel Pinseau and constructed between 1986 and 1993, costing approximately 583 million Euro.

The mosque is a startling blend of traditional Arab-Andalusian and contemporary styles, with lavish detailing in zellige (Moroccan mosaic) tilework, tadelakt plastering, and carving. Its minaret soars above the complex, and at 210 meters high is the tallest minaret in the world , while the mosque building itself is the third largest in the world.

Entry to non-Muslims is by guided tours, which take place four times daily between Monday and Thursday and three times per day on Fridays and Saturdays.

Address: Aisi Mohammed ben Abdullah Boulevard, Casablanca

About 160 kilometers from Marrakesh, the Ahansal and Ait Bougomez Valleys of the High Atlas are often combined together as a day trip for visitors who want to experience some of Morocco's most iconic High Atlas mudbrick village vistas, snug between terraced hillside fields.

A typical itinerary to this area would combine visits to the petroglyphs of the Tizi n'Tirghist Pass and a visit to the Cathedrale des Rochers near the Tamga Nature Reserve, as well as plenty of stops along the way to appreciate the tiny villages tumbling down hillslopes.

If you come on Sunday, don't miss the chaotic and colorful weekly market at Tabant.

A trip to this old Portuguese trading post, about 200 kilometers northwest from Marrakesh, is a great way to escape the mayhem of the city for a day.

It's a sleepy and rather laid-back place, with a maze-like medina of narrow alleyways inside the preserved ramparts and bastions of the 16th-century seafront fortress built by the Portuguese.

Don't miss walking along the ramparts overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and then getting lost in the squiggle of lanes below.

Inside the fortress area is a Portuguese-built cistern that gained international fame when it was used as a location in the 1954 movie Othello.

When history hounds have had their fill of the old town, El-Jadida also offers some decent beaches . In particular, Haouzia Beach, just to the northeast, is a great place for a picnic and swim.

More on Morocco

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Home » Africa » 17 INCREDIBLE Day Trips & Tours in Marrakech (that are worth the $$)

17 INCREDIBLE Day Trips & Tours in Marrakech (that are worth the $$)

It is easy to see why anyone would want to travel to one of Morocco’s economic centres. The walled medieval city of Marrakech is home to historic palaces and gardens, beautiful mosques and the renowned souks, packed with an array of foods, pottery and brightly colour fabrics.. (and you can read all about top 19 Things to do in Marrakech here if you are not convinced!) AND To help get you started on your Morocco adventure we have selected what we believe are some of the very best day trips from Marrakech and tours in Marrakech to help you get the most from your visit to this colourful city.

The Best Day Trips from Marrakesh and the best tours in Marrakesh

In This Post

1.1 Desert Quad and Camel tour
1.2 Sunset camel ride in the Marrakech Palmeraie
1.3 The Majorelle Gardens
1.4 Off-road bike tour
2.1 The Atlas Mountains and Three Valleys
2.2 Ouzoud Waterfalls
2.3 Hot Air Balloon Ride
2.4 Day trip to Essaouira
2.5 Tour of Ouarzazate and Ait Ben Haddou
2.6 Quad biking excursion in the Desert of Agafay and the lake of Marrakech
2.7 Ourika Valley
2.8 4×4 Berber Trails adventure
2.9 Essaouira surf trip
2.10 Atlas Mountain Ski Pass
3.1 Marrakech to Merzouga 3-Day Desert Safari
3.2 2-Day Desert Safari to Zagora from Marrakech
3.3 Marrakech to Fes: 3-Day Desert Tour

The Best Tours in Marrakesh

Desert quad and camel tour.

Sunset camel ride in the Marrakech Palmeraie

The Majorelle Gardens

Off-road bike tour

The Best Day Trips from Marrakech

The atlas mountains and three valleys.

Atlas Mountains - A Great Day Trip from Marrakesh

Ouzoud Waterfalls

Hot Air Balloon Ride

Day trip to Essaouira

Tour of Ouarzazate and Ait Ben Haddou

Quad biking excursion in the Desert of Agafay and the lake of Marrakech

Ourika Valley

4×4 Berber Trails adventure

Essaouira surf trip

Atlas Mountain Ski Pass

Multi-Day Trips from Marrakesh

Marrakech to merzouga 3-day desert safari.

2-Day Desert Safari to Zagora from Marrakech

Marrakech to Fes: 3-Day Desert Tour

With this guide, we hope you can get the most out of your trip to Marrakech and now that you know some of the top day trips from Marrakesh and the best tours in Marrakech available, all you need to do, is get your bag packed and make sure to leave some room for any brilliant finds from a visit to the souks.

We would love to know which of the activities mentioned in our roundup of trips and tours from Marrakech appeals to you the most and why. Let us know in the comments below – and if you know someone who is heading to Marrakesh, why not share this post with them and get them excited about the best day tours from Marrakesh and fun tours in Marrakesh they could add to their list!

Best Day Trips from Marrakesh Pin Image with text overlay

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Hi There! Thanks for reading my Morocco travel blog packed full of travel tips and in this post the ultimate guide to The Best Day Trips from Marrakech & the Best Tours in Marrakesh (That are Totally worth the $$$) I just wanted to let you know that this travel guide contains affiliate links, which means if you purchase something after clicking a link, I may get a small commission – which is at absolutely no cost to you . If you enjoyed this article and are going to be searching for some of the things I mention anyway, I would love it if you could click through from the links above & thank you in advance! Read my full Disclosure here . And thank you for reading the MakeTimeToSeeTheWorld Travel Blog.

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Valenito Ellis

Our tour was fabulous. Ali was our driver and also one of our tour guides. We had a wonderful time -- Morocco is amazing and we cannot recommend Ali highly...

Take a sensory journey through the vibrant streets of Marrakech , where ancient tradition meets modern appeal. Discover the magic of Morocco's capital with our designed 3 or 4-day Marrakech itineraries, passing through bustling souks, ornate palaces and the timeless Majorelle Garden.

How to plan a perfect Marrakech itinerary

How many days is good for marrakech, must-see places during your marrakech itinerary, itinerary #1: marrakech, high atlas and the agafay desert, itinerary #2: deserts & marrakech, itinerary #3: marrakech & other imperial cities, when is the best time to visit marrakech, getting to & around marrakech, average cost per day in marrakech, prepare for your marrakech itinerary, travel ideas for morocco, created by local experts.

Moroccan Cities and Ultimate Sahara

From the cities to the desert - follow the footsteps of Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca, discover the blue and whitewashed buildings of Chefchaouen before heading on to Fez and consequently the desert. Stay overnight in a luxurious desert camp before continuing to Marrakech.

Highlights of Morocco

For those short on time, this trip allows you to visit the highlights of Morocco in little over a week: the cultural capital Fez, the beautiful city of Chefchaouen, sleeping in a deluxe tent in the desert, as well as discovering Marrakech - it's time to explore Morocco!

Luxurious Morocco

Highlights include Rabat, Fes, Chefchaouen, and a luxury desert camp in Merzouga. Privately guided activities with expert local guides allow you to truly get to know Moroccan culture and cuisine. Combine it with the best hotels and riads in the cities and you have the perfect trip.

Iconic tour of Moroccan cities and deserts

Morocco is full of wonders and highlights. On this trip, you will experience the real Berber nomadic life in the desert, as well as the cosmopolitan lifestyle many younger Moroccans now enjoy in the cities, from Marrakech to Rabat. Get your dose of culture, history and desert in one trip.

Marrakech, High Atlas and the Agafay desert

Morocco in a nutshell: perfect for foodies, your days in Marrakech are spent tasting different delicacies as well as hands-on during a cooking class at a non-profit. Venture outside the city to explore the desert and stay overnight at a desert camp.

Deserts & Marrakech

From the fascinating city of Marrakech through the valleys and on to the desert - this trip packs a lot of highlights into a very short timeframe. Ideal for those that want to discover Morocco in a few days without spending too much time driving around.

The perfect Marrakech adventure requires thoughtful planning. Start by selecting the sights you want to visit first and that match your interests - be it historical monuments, cultural events or culinary delights.

You'll then want to decide on the ideal length of stay, and choose the accommodation that suits your preferences , whether it's the charm of a traditional riad in the Medina or the comfort of a modern hotel in a new city. Effective transport planning, both in and around Marrakech, is also essential.

Flexibility is key, as Marrakech often surprises with unexpected delights. To simplify your trip, use the help of ours Morocco travel experts . Whether it's historical discoveries, culinary explorations or leisurely strolls through bustling markets, our customisable Morocco itineraries allow you to create a personalised adventure.

Koutoubia Mosque in Marrakech, Morocco © Migel/Shutterstock

For an unforgettable Marrakech experience, it's best to set aside three or four days to delve deeper into the city's captivating tapestry. Over three days, you can explore the bustling Jemaa el Fna Square, stroll through the historic Medina with its bustling souks and marvel at the Koutoubia Mosque.

Extending your stay to four days opens up the possibility of a day trip to the Atlas Mountains or the picturesque Ourika Valley. Take time to explore the lesser-known El Badi Palace, appreciating its historical significance. Experience the city's unique blend of history and modernity, while remembering to relax to immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere.

Get the best experience in Marrakech by choosing the best time to visit Morocco and be sure to read our Morocco travel tips .

Majorelle Garden in Morocco © Sergiy Borakovskyy/Shutterstock

You'll want to consider this must see places when planning your Marrakech itinerary.

Marrakech Medina

Immerse yourself in the heart of the city in the Medina of Marrakech, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Wander through its labyrinthine alleyways, explore the bustling souks and witness the vibrant life of Jemaa el Fna Square.

Jardin Majorelle

Discover tranquillity amidst the busy city at Jardin Majorelle. Designed by French orientalist artist Jacques Majorelle, this botanical garden is a fascinating combination of exotic plants, bright colours and artistic landscapes.

Koutoubia Mosque

Admire the grandeur of the Koutoubia Mosque, an iconic symbol of Marrakech. Admire its intricate architecture and towering minaret, and enjoy the tranquil atmosphere of the surrounding gardens.

Bahia Palace

Experience the opulence of Bahia Palace, a masterpiece of Moroccan architecture and exquisite gardens. Explore its ornate rooms, intricate tile work and serene courtyards.

Atlas Mountains

Escape the city for a day trip to the majestic Atlas Mountains. See breathtaking scenery, visit traditional Berber villages and enjoy the tranquillity of the mountainous terrain.

Agafay Desert

Experience the enchanting desert of Agafay, a stone's throw from Marrakech. Here you can discover the unique beauty of the desert, ride camels and witness mesmerising desert sunsets.

This 5-day trip will give you an insight into Morocco in a nutshell. Days spent in Marrakech will be spent tasting a variety of delicacies, as well as hands-on cooking classes at non-profit organisations. Later, you'll head out of town to explore the desert and stay overnight at a desert camp.

On arrival in Marrakech, you will be warmly welcomed and transferred to your hotel. On the morning of day two , you will enjoy a guided walking tour of the old town, with free time in the afternoon. Immerse yourself in a small group 'Taste of Marrakech' tour, exploring hidden food shops and sampling delicacies in the souk.

On the third day , attend a cooking class where you'll be shown the bold flavours of Morocco. In the afternoon, you will have the opportunity to visit the famous Majorelle Gardens.

On the fourth day , you'll head into the High Atlas Mountains, exploring Berber villages and the picturesque Wirgan Valley before settling into luxury camping in Agafay. Day five will begin with a sunrise camel ride before departing for Marrakech airport. Read more .

BenHaddou, Morocco © Shutterstock

Itinerary overview

Check this 5-day Marrakech itinerary:

Arrival in Marrakech.
Overnight in Marrakech.
Marrakech City Tour.
Taste of Marrakech small group tour.
Marrakech cooking class.
Marrakech sightseeing.
From Marrakech to High Atlas and Agafay.
Camping in Agafay.
From Agafay to Marrakech for departure.

Ready to embark on an adventure? Book your trip now .

Tuareg nomads camel in Sahara desert, Morocco © Shutterstock

From the charming city of Marrakech through the valleys and on into the desert, this delightful trip packs many highlights into a very short time. Ideal for those who want to discover Morocco in a few days without spending too much time travelling.

Upon arrival in Marrakech, you will be warmly welcomed and transferred to your hotel. Day two begins with a walking tour of the charming city, where you will explore its medieval heart, the Jema el Fna Square and the iconic Koutoubia Minaret. Indulge in a small group 'Taste of Marrakech' tour in the afternoon.

On the third day , you'll head into the High Atlas Mountains, travelling through Berber villages and reaching Agafey, where you'll spend a luxurious night in tents. On the fourth day , you'll head into the remote Erg Chigaga desert, trekking on camels and staying overnight.

On the fifth day , return to Marrakech via Taznakht, completing your adventure. Departure on day six from Marrakech or Casablanca will mark the end of your unforgettable Moroccan journey. Read more .

Morocco, Marrakech, Djemaa el Fna market and square, view at dusk from the Cafe de France terrace

Marrakesh, Jemaa el Fna © Shutterstock

Check this 6-day Marrakech itinerary:

From Marrakech to the High Atlas.
Arrival to Agafay.
From Agafay to Erg Chigaga.
Camel trekking in Erg Chigaga.
Camping in Erg Chigaga.
From Erg Chigaga to Marrakech.
Transfer to Marrakech of Casablanca airport and departure.

Feeling curious? Take a step forward and book this trip now .

Taditional moroccan cafe in Marrakesh © Shutterstock

On this in-depth trip , you'll explore Morocco's cities - discover Casablanca , the setting of the classic film, before heading to Morocco's capital. From the bustling streets of Rabat , you'll move on to the blue and white buildings of Chefchaouen before travelling to Fez and from there to Marrakech.

Arriving in Casablanca, you will settle into your hotel and in the evening you can soak up the romantic atmosphere. On your second day , stroll along Corniche Boulevard, experiencing the charm of Casablanca. See the grandeur of the Hassan II Mosque before transferring to Rabat.

Day three offers a leisurely exploration of Rabat before your journey takes you to Chefchaouen in the afternoon.

On day four , you'll immerse yourself in the charm of Chefchaouen, walking through its winding streets. The day will end with a transfer to the historic city of Fez.

On the fifth day , Fez will open up its ancient medina, Fez el Bali. Day six will begin with a journey to Meknes , known as the 'Versailles of Morocco', and the journey continues with a transfer to Marrakech.

On day seven , you will explore Marrakech. Day eight takes you to the coast to Essaouira , a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The dawn of day nine marks the end of your Moroccan odyssey. A transfer to Marrakech or Casablanca airport completes your journey. Read more .

Blue City - Chefchaouen, Morocco © Shutterstock

Check this 9-day Morocco itinerary:

Arrival in Casablanca.
Overnight in Casablanca.
Casablanca City Tour.
Casablanca to Rabat with city tour.
Overnight in Rabat.
Rabat morning at leisure.
From Rabat to Chefchaouen.
Camping in Chefchaouen.
Chefchaouen City Tour.
From Chefchaouen to Fez.
Overnight in Fez.
Full-day Guided Tour of Fez.
Via Meknes to Marrakech.
Day trip to Essaouira.

Create lasting memories in Morocco - book your trip with us .

Bab Bou Jeloud gate (Blue Gate) - Fez, Maroko © Shutterstock

Bab Bou Jeloud Gate (Blue Gate) - Fez © Shutterstock

The best times to visit Marrakech are spring ( March to May) and autumn (September to November ) when the weather is mild and pleasant. Spring brings blooming landscapes and comfortable temperatures, making it ideal for outdoor activities. Autumn offers similar conditions, with warm days and cool evenings, ideal for visiting the city's attractions.

Summer (June to August) can be very hot, with temperatures often exceeding 40°C (104°F). While some travellers may find this period challenging, those who don't mind the heat can still experience the charm of Marrakech, especially if they plan activities for the cooler mornings and evenings.

Winter ( December to February ) is usually mild during the day, but the evenings can be chilly. This season is a good time to visit Marrakech for those who prefer cooler weather and want to avoid the intense summer heat.

For a clearer understanding of the weather conditions in Morocco throughout the year, we recommend that you closely study our guide to the best time to visit Morocco .

Getting to Marrakech is convenient thanks to Marrakech-Menara Airport (RAK), located just 6 kilometres from the city centre and connecting it to international destinations. Trains and long-distance bus companies such as Supratours and CTM offer efficient ground transport, providing scenic views if you decide to take a day trip from Marrakech to Casablanca or from Marrakech to Fez .

Once you're in Marrakech, navigating the city becomes a delightful adventure. The labyrinthine Medina, home to bustling souks and the Jemaa el Fna square is best explored on foot. Taxis, both small and large, offer convenient transport, while bicycles and horse-drawn carriages (caleches) offer unique alternatives. Rental cars, guided tours and public buses in the city's newer neighbourhoods further enhance your ability to get around Marrakech and immerse yourself in its vibrant charm.

In Marrakech, everyday expenses cater for different budgets. For budget travellers, affordable accommodation and street food cost between $30 and $70. Mid-range options offer comfortable accommodation and meals for between $80 and $190, while luxury travellers can indulge in upscale accommodation and gourmet meals costing over $200 per day.

Transport costs depend on preferences: budget travellers may use public transport and the occasional taxi, mid-level travellers may use taxis and private transfers, and luxury travellers may use private and luxury transport, totalling between $15 and $50 per day. These estimates represent a flexible range that takes into account a variety of experiences in Marrakech.

Inspired? Browse our customisable Moroccan itineraries to start planning your perfect trip, and read The Rough Guide to Morocco or Pocket Rough Guide Marrakech .

Daunted by the prospect of planning? Talk to our local Morocco travel experts . We'll craft a personalised itinerary just for you.

Prefer to do it alone? Feel free to browse our pre-designed Morocco itineraries for ideas, and remember that all can be tailored to meet your specific needs. For more inspiration, discover some of the the best things to do in Morocco .

Prefer to do it alone? Get yourself a copy of The Rough Guide to Morocco and start planning your trip with our Morocco travel tips .

The Rough Guides to Morocco and related travel guides

In-depth, easy-to-use travel guides filled with expert advice.

Travel advice for Morocco

From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to Morocco

Culture and Etiquette in Morocco
Eating and drinking in Morocco
How to get to Morocco
How to get around in Morocco
Shopping tips for Morocco
Tips and travel advice for Morocco
Travelling with children in Morocco
Best time to visit Morocco
How to get a Morocco Visa

Find even more inspiration here

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written by Olga Sitnitsa

updated 10.06.2024

Online editor at Rough Guides, specialising in travel content. Passionate about creating compelling stories and inspiring others to explore the world.

Ready to travel and discover Morocco?

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16 Really Useful Tips for Visiting Marrakech

Morocco's pink city can be incredibly overwhelming, and whilst you can absolutely visit without having done the research, knowing what to expect or some top travel tips for Marrakech can make your visit all that more enjoyable.

So here they are - 16 really useful tips for visiting Marrakech.

(even more useful for first time visitors)

Updated August 2023

taxi drivers drive a hard bargain

Actually, that's kind of a nice way to put it. A more accurate one might be scammers.

For example, one afternoon we enquired with our riad manager how much a taxi should cost to 'x'. He informed us 10 dh - but then very quickly stated that we would never find a taxi driver that would charge us that, that the going rate for a tourist is at least 50 dh.

He was absolutely right. Even with 10 minutes of bartering, it was only heavy rain plus the end of a guy's shift that meant we got a lift for 30 dh.

We've heard there's a similar issue at the airport, whereby the actual 70 - 120 dh rate is ridiculously inflated to 350 dh!! Worst still, some tourists pay it.

Our recommendation is to always check with someone you trust to give you a guide on realistic prices - and be prepared to walk away if they won't come close. Remember, that by paying massively over the odds, you're making it much harder for everybody else that chooses to visit. Tourists can expect to pay a little more, but there's a limit to how much more is acceptable.

We definitely recommend booking your taxi from the airport in advance. We discovered that private firms were a fair bit cheaper than getting your riad to arrange it, and can recommend this one . Alternatively, public bus 19 takes 40 minutes to reach the Medina market centre and costs 30 dh per person.

you will get lost

Like, all the time.

Of course, if you have to be somewhere, ensuring you take the second turning after the lamp shop with the blue sign and not the third after the lamp shop with the green sign is important, but for most people who visited the medina or the souks, wandering the narrow streets and getting a little lost is part of the fun.

We discovered that eventually we'd end up at some significant sight or tourist draw from where it was easier to navigate the way back - or if all else failed, come across a taxi that would take us home.

Oh, and try not to pay too much attention to signs - especially those pointing to Jamaa El Fna. They were pretty much never correct, and had us walking in, what we later realised, was completely the wrong direction.

Which brings us on to our next point…

don't trust any man that offers advice without being asked

This sounds harsh, yet, if you take one piece of advice from this article, make it this - it'll improve your experience 100%.

Whilst there are undoubtedly nice people in Morocco, the sort the stand on street corners stating the 'this road is shut' or 'it's this way to the main square' are not to be trusted. At best it will end up with a trip to this helpful stranger's family shop, at worst it could end with an aggressive insistence that you pay for their guide (often after you've already followed them and completely lost you sense of direction).

If you do get lost - which, given the confusing nature of the medina, is a case of when more likely than if - ask in a local shop, or seek directions from an elderly person - people offering spontaneous help are more often than not in it to take advantage of you.

Alternatively, if travelling by yourself or would like the comfort of being guided by a local guide, consider joining a walking tour. It’ll help you get your bearings a little, and embolden you to discover the city by yourself in the days following. This three-hour historical and cultural tour has an abundance of excellent reviews and covers Marrakech’s most popular sights.

don't explore the medina at night by yourself

Our riad was fabulous.

It was away from the main hustle and bustle in a more residential area, meaning that it was a wonderful place to slink back to after a crazy day in the souks. This did mean however that given it was winter when we visited, it was pitch dark by the time we ventured back after dinner.

Even as a boy-girl couple, we felt a little uncomfortable at times and experienced a small amount of hassle - we would absolutely caution against doing this as an individual, especially as a female.

Top Tip // If you’ll be visiting Marrakech as a solo traveller (especially if you’re a solo female traveller), we’d recommend you consider staying in a hostel. This increases the chances of being able to explore the city with others, perhaps increasing the level of comfort you’ll feel whilst doing it.

And don’t worry, whilst Marrakech has plenty of standard hostels with cheap bests and somewhat lacking facilities, there are several truly fantastic riads that cater to solo travellers - places like the impeccably designed Equity Point , with a gorgeous pool, roof terrace and excellent rooms (both dorms and privates).

a word of caution about currency

We have a little jar currently sitting on our shelf full of small amounts of currency from around the world. In most cases, this amounts to a few pounds here and there - that is until you start counting the Moroccan stuff.

You see, despite having visited Morocco a number of times in the past, upon leaving Marrakech, we completely forgot that we weren't actually supposed to take the local currency out of the country, or that changing it - or spending it - once you've gone through airport security is next to impossible.

Unable to ditch it in duty free (isn't that crazy?), we set about indulging in overpriced airport food but even that didn't really work, and so, perhaps a tad controversially, we have a decent amount of dirham stored away in that little jar.

Anyway, moral of the story - change or spend you dirham before getting to the airport. We're sure there's a man in the souk who'd love to take it off your hands!

cover up ladies

Over the last ten years or so, Marrakech has exploded as a tourist destination, and if you let all those photos of bikini-clad Instagrammers deceive you, you may end up believing you can roam the streets of this much-loved Moroccan city dressed in hot pants and a crop top.

As far as muslim countries go, Morocco is relatively relaxed, but you'll still draw an awful lot of unpleasant and unwanted attention should you choose to venture out in anything too revealing.

So, keep the swimwear for the riad pool and stick with something that at least goes beyond your knees, covers your shoulders and doesn't reveal too much boob for exploring the streets.

a note about ATMs

The reason the above point can get a little tricky, is that in Marrakech, ATMs can be difficult to track down. Whilst you'll find plenty in the new town, they're few and far between in the Medina - and the ones that do exist often only accept domestic bank cards.

Whilst it's not ideal, if you're only going to be in Marrakech (as opposed to taking a road trip), try and establish how much cash you'll need whilst you're in town. Bear in mind that unless you're eating in upmarket restaurants or shopping in fancy boutiques, it's cash, not card, that reigns supreme, so you will really have to think of everything that you'll be spending.

To get an idea of how much things cost in Morocco, take a look at this post .

you simply have to stay in a riad

Whilst there are plenty of cheap hotel rooms and luxury resorts outside of the medina, we'll scream 'til blue in the face that you can't come all the way to Marrakech and not stay in a riad - after all it's kind of famous for them.

And don't worry if you'd rather save your pennies for desert adventures or countless tagines, you don't have to spend a fortune to get an awesome riad experience (although we hear this one is incredible if you feel like going completely and utterly crazy).

We stayed at Riad Porte Royale and were delighted with our stay, but if you're really not sure, you should definitely take a look at this post on the best budget riads in Marrakech .

An important thing to note, when working out how to get to your riad, is that given the nature of the medina (tiny, tiny streets), you'll usually not be able to take a taxi to the front door. But do not fear! With advance warning, most places can arrange to meet you at your taxi drop-off point.

Looking for a reliable airport transfer service? This one is highly recommended.

it's a great place to shop - but you'll likely find things cheaper elsewhere

If you're only visiting Marrakech, and nowhere else in Morocco, you can move on from this point - go forth and spend all your monies on spices, rugs and pretty pots. And be sure to read our guide on the best things to do in Marrakech to find out all about the city’s many souks!

If however you're travelling around a little longer, to a few other places, it will absolutely be worth bearing in mind that this is probably not the cheapest place to shop, not for quality goods anyway - and especially not if you're a dreadful haggler.

We're not saying don't try, but we definitely found some things cheaper elsewhere.

beware pickpockets

Whilst we did not see the actual pickpocketing going on, we saw a number of dodgy looking young Moroccan men with very fancy looking phones that did not appear to be theirs - sort of compounded by witnessed attempts to sell it on.

To be honest, it's not surprising. The streets are packed, it's a big city, and poverty (to an extent) is an issue. Just be smart, and you'll be fine.

Oh, and be sure to have decent travel insurance. We use True Travelle r, but you can find other options and our advice on finding the right policy for you in this post .

if you visit in the summer, prepare for the heat

We visited Marrakech in the deepest darkest depths of winter; it was still 24C and sunny most of the time. Having visited other cities in the country during August, we can imagine just how hot and stifling it gets here in the summer months!

So, think ahead.

Wear loose, light clothing, always carry a bottle of water with you and try and get the bulk of your exploring in the early morning and late afternoon. If possible, we'd probably recommend getting a riad that at least has a plunge pool - you'll be thankful for it when it's 45C out!

learn to haggle

This is much easier than it sounds.

Andrew is excellent, Emily is abysmal (she always feels guilty) but between us we usually get somewhere close to what we want...

There will be no prices, so ask the cost of something you like - and expect a ridiculous price. Now it's your turn, so quickly decide how much you'd like to pay and go in a little lower. This will allow you to increase your price when the real negotiations begin.

Always have a firm final price in your head, and amount that you simply won't go beyond. If you reach gridlock, politely turn down the offer and go to leave - you may find that this is enough to quickly get your final offer accepted.

Just remember, don't get caught up in wondering whether he would have gone lower. If you paid a price you were happy with, that's all that matters.

Also, when we speak of haggling, we generally mean in souks or for touristic / souvenir items. If you’re buying food from a street seller or produce, you shouldn’t need to barter.

speak with the locals

We're fortunate in that Andrew's french is actually pretty good (not by Parisian standards, but the rest of the French speaking world seems to tolerate it), and so this was our go to language in Morocco - whether or not people could speak some English.

Certainly, you won't struggle to get by if you don't speak French or Arabic, but as with anywhere in the world, a little smattering of the local lingo goes a long way - not only when establishing important information such as directions or bus times, but also in showing that you're willing to try.

It also makes arguing with taxi drivers a lot more fun!

stay alert on the streets

Negotiating the streets of Marrakech's medina involves a great deal of patience, and the ability to stay perfectly alert. People, bikes (pedalled and driven - all heading toward you), cats, donkeys, stalls and sellers; a cacophony of sights and sounds that can be overwhelming to the uninitiated.

There are no obvious lanes, few footpaths and an apparent lack of road rules; it is chaos, and absolutely not the place to stare down at your feet, or at your phone.

No, you need all your wits about you here!

avoid tap water

We're not the sort of travellers that insist on drinking bottled water (slightly different mineral counts will not mess up your digestive system that much - one day Emily's family will realise this), but when it's really not advisable or safe to drink the local stuff, we will avoid it.

And Morocco? It just so happens to be one of those places where tap water simply isn't all that good for you.

You should take a refillable water bottle like this insulated one (it keeps the contents cold for 24 hours) with you and take advantage of free filtered water, or invest in a Water to Go water bottle. These travel filter water bottles have been our constant companion on short and long-term trips to places with unsafe drinking water and have saved us so much money and hugely reduced our plastic footprint - they can be filled up from nearly any source and instantaneously filter, providing you with clean and safe drinking water.

This obviously doesn’t include boiled water, and we can assure you we had plenty of sweet mint tea with no problems (in addition to lots of street food that included veggies that may or may not have been washed properly).

avoid Jamaa El Fna (the main central square)

We hated Plaza Jemaa el-Fnaa; in comparison to the beauty that can be found in Marrakech's medina, this was the ugly side.

There are men with monkeys on chains, unsavoury characters, pickpockets abound and an abundance of overpriced and very average restaurants. In a country where alcohol is pretty much forbidden, there is a cruel irony that its day-to-day experience made us crave a cold beer more than anything else in the world.

Of course, you have to visit - it's part and parcel of Marrakech, a big tourist draw, and a place you literally can't miss - but we don't think you’ll actually want spend too much time there.

For those travelling alone to Morocco (especially if you’re female), you may prefer to experience the square with a tour: this ‘Taste of Marrakech’ evening experience , which takes you through the souks and then to dinner in Jemaa el-Fnaa, is a popular thing to do in Marrakech.

How to help // If you’re as outraged by animal rights abuses as we are, then head over to the Born Free website . They sent in a couple of photojournalists a few years ago to document what they saw (it wasn’t pretty) and put together a little template you can send to the Mayor of Marrakech. It’s a little act, but if enough of us do it, maybe these exploited animals will find some peace.

Where to Next?

13 Wonderful Things to Do in Marrakech

The Six Best Day Trips from Marrakech

The Best Riads in Marrakech For Those on a Budget

Riad Porte Royale | An Oasis of Calm in Hectic Marrakech

Marrakech to Merzouga | Our Moroccan Road Trip Itinerary

21 Things to Know Before a Moroccan Road Trip

Our Night in the Sahara Desert

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As amazing as Marrakech, Morocco is, at times, it all get a bit too much. The trick to make the very best of it (and limit the uncomfortable situations) is to be prepared - here are 16 really useful things to know before you visit Marrakech.

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Exquisite Escapes: Discovering the 8 Unforgettable Day Trips from Marrakech

If you’re visiting Morocco, Marrakech is a must-see destination. This city is full of attractions that allow you to immerse yourself in Moroccan culture and customs. But if you stay in Marrakech for more than a few days, you’ll probably start to wonder what other unique places Morocco has to offer. That’s where day trips come in. These trips give you the opportunity to explore the country’s diversity by visiting different locations outside of Marrakech. From the majestic Atlas Mountains to vast deserts and captivating coastlines, the best day trips from Marrakech offer unforgettable experiences that are definitely worth your time and effort.

Ouzoud waterfalls, ouarzazate & kasbah ait ben haddou, agafay desert, the high atlas mountains, the palmeraie, extra delight: the enchanting sahara desert.

Majestic Ouzoud Waterfalls with vibrant cascades amidst lush Moroccan landscape

If you’re looking for a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of the city and a chance to discover the unexpectedly lush and green side of Morocco, a day trip from Marrakech to the stunning Ouzoud Falls is a must. Located in the charming Middle Atlas Mountains, these falls have become one of the most popular excursions from Marrakech, and it’s easy to see why. The powerful El-Abid River drives the Ouzoud Falls, which cascade down multiple tiers over a staggering 110 meters (360 feet), creating a breathtaking spectacle. While you admire the awe-inspiring views of these remarkable waterfalls nestled within the El-Abid Canyon, there are plenty more adventures. Take a boat ride to the base of the falls, allowing you to get up close and personal with the cascading waters. Alternatively, you can take a refreshing dip in the cool river, immersing yourself in the natural beauty. The Ouzoud Falls day trip from Marrakech provides an unforgettable experience, combining the beauty of the falls with opportunities for exploration and relaxation in the stunning surroundings.

Essaouira's historic Medina on the Atlantic coast at dusk with seagulls and rocky shore

Nestled along the enchanting Atlantic coast lies the captivating city of Essaouira, an ideal destination for a delightful excursion from Marrakech. What sets a day trip to Essaouira apart is its distinct charm, offering a refreshing perspective on urban life in Morocco. The city’s allure is further enhanced by its breathtaking landscapes and an unexpected bohemian atmosphere. While the alluring beachfront may captivate your attention, it is advisable to venture into the heart of the city, where the Medina and fishing port area await. As you explore, your gaze will be drawn to the formidable city walls, adorned with formidable defensive cannons that stand sentinel, overlooking the vast expanse of the Atlantic ocean. The bustling port reveals a mesmerizing sight of azure fishing boats bobbing gently on the waves, while an array of enticing restaurants beckon with tantalizing aromas of freshly caught seafood. Above all, it is the serene and laid-back ambiance of this coastal haven that will leave an indelible impression on you, offering a tranquil respite before returning to the bustling metropolis of Marrakech.

Sunset view of the ancient Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou in Morocco with palm trees.

Embarking on a day trip from Marrakech to Kasbah Aït Benhaddou and Ouarzazate , the remarkable twin destinations located southeast of Morocco promises an unforgettable experience for travelers exploring the wonders of Morocco. Situated southeast of Marrakech, these two captivating locations have garnered international acclaim for their rich cinematic history, having served as iconic backdrops for numerous renowned film and TV productions, including acclaimed series like Game of Thrones, epic blockbusters like Gladiator, and thrilling adventures like The Mummy.

Aït Benhaddou , an awe-inspiring UNESCO-listed fortified village dating back to the 11th century, stands as a testament to the architectural brilliance of the past. Constructed using vibrant red mud bricks, this historical gem radiates a sense of enchantment and intrigue. Its ancient walls, narrow alleyways, and intricate details transport visitors to a bygone era, where they can freely wander and immerse themselves in the allure of this remarkable site. Each step unveils a new layer of the village’s rich heritage, making Aït Benhaddou an instantly recognizable marvel that has captured the imagination of many.

Meanwhile, Ouarzazate, affectionately known as the “Hollywood of Africa,” offers a captivating blend of Moroccan charm and cinematic grandeur. The town has established itself as a thriving hub for the film industry, attracting renowned directors and production companies from around the world. A highlight of any visit to Ouarzazate is a tour of the esteemed Atlas Studios, where visitors can marvel at the familiar sets that have brought iconic movies to life. Walking in the footsteps of cinematic legends, guests gain a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the artistry and craftsmanship that have shaped countless beloved films.

The combination of Aït Benhaddou’s historical allure and Ouarzazate’s cinematic prominence makes this day trip an extraordinary experience for culture enthusiasts and film fans alike. From wandering the ancient streets of Aït Benhaddou to exploring the iconic film sets of Ouarzazate, travelers are transported to worlds both real and imagined, gaining a deeper appreciation for the vibrant tapestry of Moroccan history and its significant contributions to the global film industry.

Golden hour over the undulating terrain of the Agafay Desert with the Atlas Mountains in the backdrop.

For travelers with an unquenchable thirst for desert exploration, a visit to the Agafay Desert stands out as a must-see destination near Marrakech. While the majestic Sahara holds an undeniable allure, the Agafay Desert offers a unique advantage by allowing for a convenient day trip experience that is otherwise challenging to achieve in the vastness of the Sahara.

Although the Agafay Desert may not boast the towering sand dunes synonymous with the Sahara, it compensates with its own distinctive charm and captivating landscapes. This hidden gem unveils a world of raw beauty, immersing visitors in an otherworldly ambiance that leaves a lasting impression. Whether you prefer the rhythmic sway of a camel ride through the arid terrain or the exhilarating thrill of quad biking across the desert , the Agafay Desert caters to various interests and preferences.

One of the highlights of this day trip is the opportunity to discover the rich traditions and hospitality of the Berber people. A visit to a traditional Berber village allows you to experience their vibrant culture firsthand, sipping on aromatic cups of traditional tea and engaging in insightful conversations that offer a glimpse into their way of life. This cultural immersion adds an enriching layer to the journey, fostering a deeper connection to the desert and its inhabitants.

As the day unfolds against the backdrop of the Agafay Desert , the ever-changing hues of the desert’s terrain create a mesmerizing spectacle. From the warm golden tones that dance in the sunlight to the ethereal silence that blankets the vast expanse, the desert casts a spell of tranquility and introspection upon its visitors. It is a place where time seems to stand still, inviting contemplation and reflection.

In the Agafay Desert, adventure and serenity intertwine, offering an escape from the hustle and bustle of Marrakech into a realm of natural wonders and cultural encounters. Whether you seek adrenaline-pumping activities or a peaceful respite amidst breathtaking scenery, this day trip from Marrakech to Agafay Desert guarantees an unforgettable and genuinely otherworldly experience, leaving you with cherished memories of Morocco’s desert treasures.

Ourika Valley

Situated just a short distance away from Marrakech, the Ourika Valley unveils a world of sublime beauty and captivating landscapes. Nestled within the foothills at the beginning of the majestic Atlas Mountains, this hidden gem is a sanctuary of natural wonders and cultural richness. As you venture into the Ourika Valley , you’ll encounter charming villages dotting the landscape, enveloped by enchanting cherry and almond orchards that lend a picturesque allure to the surroundings.

One of the remarkable aspects of the Ourika Valley is its preservation of Berber heritage and traditions. The Berber people, the original inhabitants of the region, continue to reside in the valley, living much as their ancestors did centuries ago. Exploring the Ourika Valley offers a unique opportunity to delve into the vibrant tapestry of Berber life, gaining insight into their customs, crafts, and daily routines. Depending on the day of your visit, you might chance upon a bustling Berber market, where vendors display an array of goods every Monday, showcasing the vibrant colors and flavors of the region. A visit to local collectives, engaged in the trade of Argan oil—a highly sought-after Moroccan cosmetic product—is also a common highlight, offering a glimpse into the age-old practices and techniques involved in its production.

Beyond the cultural encounters, the Ourika Valley boasts breathtaking river and mountain scenery, beckoning adventurers and nature enthusiasts alike. The meandering river, with its crystal-clear waters, presents an idyllic setting for relaxation and contemplation. As you explore further, the Setti Fatma waterfalls emerge as a true natural wonder. Cascading gracefully amidst the rugged terrain, these picturesque falls offer a serene and refreshing atmosphere. Numerous hiking trails originate from this point, inviting explorers to embark on exhilarating journeys through the Atlas mountains, each path leading to new vantage points and breathtaking views.

Traditional Berber village with earthen houses nestled in the Moroccan mountains.

When you think of Morocco, it’s hard to ignore the allure of the Atlas Mountains. These majestic ranges span vast stretches of the country and have become an essential part of any traveler’s itinerary. Specifically, the majestic High Atlas Mountains near Marrakech stand as the loftiest section of this expansive mountain range, offering a captivating realm of exploration that will leave you in awe.

As you venture into the High Atlas Mountains, you’ll find yourself immersed in a world of natural wonders and cultural encounters. The mountains are adorned with countless valleys, each possessing its own unique charm, and calling out to intrepid adventurers. With every step along the well-maintained trails, you’ll be treated to breathtaking vistas of rugged peaks, deep gorges, and cascading waterfalls that paint a picturesque backdrop at every turn. The serenity of the surroundings will envelop you, allowing you to marvel at the pristine beauty of this rugged terrain.

However, the allure of the High Atlas Mountains extends beyond their scenic splendor. Scattered throughout the valleys, you’ll stumble upon traditional Berber villages, where ancient customs and traditions have withstood the test of time. The Berber people, known for their warm hospitality, offer a window into their way of life, providing an opportunity to learn about their rich cultural heritage. Engaging with the locals, sampling traditional cuisine, and exploring local markets will immerse you in the vibrant tapestry of Berber culture, forging connections and deepening your understanding of this remarkable region.

While popular destinations like Ourika and Imlil boast well-established tourist infrastructure, there are hidden gems within the High Atlas Mountains that offer their own unique appeal. The town of Asni, for example, exudes an authentic atmosphere, providing a quieter alternative for those seeking a more off-the-beaten-path experience. As you venture deeper into the heart of the mountains, the Mizane and Zat Valleys reveal their untamed beauty, inviting intrepid explorers to uncover hidden trails and encounter lesser-explored villages. These lesser-known corners of the High Atlas Mountains offer a chance to escape the crowds and immerse yourself in the tranquility of nature.

Whether you’re a nature enthusiast, a culture lover, or an adventurous soul, a day trip from Marrakech to the Atlas Mountains promises an unforgettable experience. The interplay between breathtaking landscapes, traditional Berber communities, and lesser-explored corners creates a tapestry of exploration that will leave a lasting impression. So, lace up your hiking boots, breathe in the fresh mountain air, and let the High Atlas Mountains unveil their secrets as you embark on an extraordinary journey through Morocco’s natural and cultural wonders.

Silhouettes of palm trees in Marrakech's Palmeraie against a vibrant sunset sky.

Yearning for a taste of escape within the city itself? Look no further than the Marrakech Palmeraie, a captivating expanse of palm groves that offers a serene sanctuary for a plethora of outdoor activities. Nestled at the northern fringes of the city, this verdant oasis serves as a dreamlike backdrop for thrilling adventures, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in a world of excitement and natural beauty. While the presence of resorts and golf courses nearby may give the impression of a tourist-oriented facade, it is important to recognize that the Marrakech Palmeraie holds a rich historical significance that dates back to the 12th century.

As you step into the Marrakech Palmeraie, a sense of tranquility envelops you. The lush greenery of the palm groves offers respite from the city’s bustling energy, transporting you to a realm of serenity and natural splendor. This idyllic setting sets the stage for an array of thrilling outdoor activities that cater to different preferences and interests. Embarking on a camel ride through the palm-fringed trails provides a unique perspective, allowing you to traverse the landscape in a time-honored manner, much like the Berber nomads of old. The rhythmic sway of the camel’s gait and the gentle rustle of the palm leaves create an immersive experience, evoking a sense of timelessness and adventure.

For those seeking a more adrenaline-fueled escapade, quad biking presents an exhilarating option. Roaring through the palm groves on an all-terrain vehicle, you’ll experience a thrilling rush as you navigate the winding paths and open spaces, your senses ignited by the stunning surroundings. The juxtaposition of the vibrant green palms against the clear blue sky paints a vivid picture of natural beauty, amplifying the excitement of the adventure.

Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca with its towering minaret beside the Atlantic Ocean at dusk

Ranked alongside Marrakech, Casablanca stands as one of the most renowned destinations in Morocco, easily accessible for a fulfilling day trip. Situated on the northern coast, Casablanca serves as the country’s largest city, primarily functioning as a vibrant commercial and industrial hub. A visit to Casablanca unveils a dynamic cityscape where modernity intertwines with tradition, offering a range of notable attractions to explore.

Casablanca’s Medina, a bustling old quarter, presents a fascinating labyrinthine experience that exceeds even the chaotic charm of Marrakech. Wandering through its narrow streets, you’ll encounter a vibrant tapestry of sights, sounds, and aromas, immersing yourself in the bustling atmosphere of everyday life.

In contrast to the medina, the Place Mohammed V stands as a testament to the city’s more contemporary identity. Located within the modern French colonial part of Casablanca, this spacious square exudes a distinct European influence, characterized by elegant Art Deco architecture and a sense of openness. Strolling along the streets surrounding Place Mohammed V provides a glimpse into Casablanca’s cosmopolitan charm, with stylish cafes, boutiques, and restaurants offering a taste of the modern Moroccan lifestyle.

However, the crowning jewel of any Marrakech to Casablanca day trip is the magnificent Hassan II Mosque, a breathtaking architectural masterpiece and the second-largest mosque in the world. Although relatively young, having been completed in 1993, the mosque’s sheer scale and striking design command attention and reverence. Perched on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, its minaret soars to dizzying heights, while intricate details adorn the interior, showcasing the craftsmanship of Moroccan artisans. A visit to the Hassan II Mosque offers a profound spiritual experience and a profound appreciation for the fusion of traditional Islamic architecture and modern engineering.

Camel caravan trekking through the sweeping dunes of the Sahara Desert at sunrise.

While not feasible for a day trip from Marrakech, a journey to the Sahara Desert deserves a notable mention. The allure of the vast and mystical Sahara can not be denied, but its considerable distance from Marrakech necessitates careful planning and allocation of several days in your Morocco itinerary. The journey to the Sahara Desert spans approximately nine hours by car, emphasizing the immense expanse that separates these two distinct landscapes.

To fully immerse yourself in the awe-inspiring beauty of the Sahara, it is recommended to embark on a three-day tour from Marrakech to Merzouga , allowing ample time to savor the unique experiences this iconic desert has to offer. The tour typically entails a mesmerizing camel ride, traversing the undulating golden sands as you delve deeper into the heart of the desert. The rhythmic sway of the camel’s gait, accompanied by the silence of the dunes, creates an atmosphere of tranquility and introspection, transporting you to a world untouched by time.

As twilight approaches, climbing the Erg Chebbi Dunes unveils a breathtaking spectacle. With every step, you ascend to new heights, granting an unparalleled vantage point from which to witness the ethereal desert sunset. The shifting hues of the sky, bathed in shades of crimson, gold, and purple, create a captivating tableau, leaving an indelible imprint on your memory.

A highlight of the Sahara Desert experience is the opportunity to spend a night in a Bedouin camp. Nestled amidst the tranquil dunes, the camp provides a sanctuary amidst the vastness of the desert, where you can marvel at a tapestry of stars illuminating the night sky. In this remote oasis, you gain a deeper appreciation for the nomadic lifestyle, forging a connection to the ancient traditions that have shaped the Sahara for centuries.

Morocco Travel Essentials

A tourist riding a camel led by a guide through the sandy dunes under the bright sun in the Moroccan desert

June 8, 2024

Camels trekking across the sun-drenched sand dunes of the Sahara Desert under extreme summer temperatures.

May 26, 2024

Diagram illustrating the structure and function of a traditional Khettara irrigation system, including the mother well, access shaft, Qanat channel, and distribution network.

May 19, 2024

Scenic view of a river, historic Kasbah, and unique rock formations in Dades Valley, Morocco.

May 14, 2024

Luxurious Moroccan riad interior showcasing classical architecture with carved archways, opulent chandeliers, and a central garden area.

May 6, 2024

Group of adventurers riding quad bikes across the smooth sand dunes of Morocco Sahara Desert at dusk.

April 23, 2024

Woman in white blouse and skirt walking amidst vibrant, colorful traditional rugs and textiles displayed on walls and piles in a Marrakech souk, showcasing the rich culture and craftsmanship of Moroccan markets.

April 5, 2024

Assortment of traditional Berber costumes on display at the Yves Saint Laurent Berber Heritage Museum.

April 1, 2024

Casablanca beer bottle next to a full glass and traditional Moroccan tea set on a mosaic table.

March 30, 2024

Community of Moroccan people celebrating Eid Al Fitr in a decorated street.

March 13, 2024

Meandering river in Ourika Valley with lush greenery and towering Atlas Mountains.

January 15, 2024

Mother and child enjoying a vibrant alley in Chefchaouen, with blue walls and plant pots, capturing a joyful moment.

December 20, 2023

Four friends enjoy a candlelit dinner in the Agafay Desert, with rolling dunes under a twilight sky.

December 14, 2023

Silhouette of Koutoubia Mosque's minaret against a twilight sky with a crescent moon during Ramadan in Marrakech, Morocco.

November 15, 2023

A woman tourist enjoying a traditional Moroccan tea served by a man in a blue turban outdoors with mountains and greenery in the background.

November 6, 2023

Woman with flowing hair joyfully running in front of Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou

November 2, 2023

Woman in orange dress leading camel at sunset in Merzouga dunes.

October 28, 2023

Woman in traditional attire watching the sunset over the Sahara dunes with a camel caravan in the background

October 25, 2023

August 20, 2023

Interior view of the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca showcasing the intricate architecture and ornate decoration.

May 15, 2023

Caravan of tourists on a camel trek across the sweeping sand dunes of the Moroccan Sahara Desert.

May 8, 2023

Smiling Moroccan man in traditional blue djellaba and turban standing by an old door in a Kasbah.

April 22, 2023

Camel caravan meandering through the majestic dunes of Erg Chigaga in Morocco's Sahara Desert.

April 5, 2023

Tourists exploring the bustling souks of Essaouira with local shops displaying crafts and wares.

March 21, 2023

Moroccan chicken Tagine with olives, preserved lemons and a cup of Harissa sauce

March 7, 2023

Scenic aerial view of Moulay Driss Zerhoun, the holy town perched on the hills of Morocco.

February 26, 2023

Moroccan horsemen in traditional attire performing the Fantasia, a cultural equestrian display.

February 9, 2023

Night view of Chefchaouen, Morocco, with its iconic blue houses illuminated under a twilight sky.

January 19, 2023

Cozy rooftop terrace of a Marrakech restaurant with views of Koutoubia Mosque amid palm trees at dusk.

December 23, 2022

Group of children in traditional Moroccan attire in a mountain village, showcasing the vibrant cultural heritage.

October 15, 2022

A panoramic view of the Dades Valley with traditional Moroccan architecture and lush greenery, against the backdrop of the snow-dusted Atlas Mountains.

September 10, 2022

Three women showcasing different outfits suitable for a Sahara Desert tour in Morocco.

August 5, 2022

Camel on Taghazout beach with Moroccan village in the background.

July 11, 2022

Verdant forests in the foreground leading to the snow-covered peaks of the Atlas Mountains under a clear blue sky.

June 23, 2022

Home » Travel Guides » Morocco » 15 Best Day Trips from Marrakech

15 Best Day Trips from Marrakech

Marrakech is Morocco’s most famous tourist destination.

The name conjures up images of spices, souks, deserts, and riads; an exotic place of bustling markets, ancient walled streets, and ramshackle houses.

It’s an exciting, vibrant and colorful place to visit; a place where you may well be as frustrated at times as you are enthralled, but where every moment is different and life is unique, noisy and seemingly chaotic.

The city is full of history, culture and excellent Moroccan cuisine, where every turn you take opens a world of new shocks and surprises that will keep you transfixed for days.

Beyond the historic walls of Marrakech, this city in the foothills of the high Atlas Mountains is the perfect launching pad to the surrounding area.

From deserts and waterfalls to Berber villages and rocky valleys, there are many day trips to take from Marrakech.

1. Ouzoud Falls

The Ouzoud Falls are an incredibly impressive set of waterfalls that plunge from high cliffs far down into a huge basin.

The multi-layered waterfall cascades from a maximum height of 110-meters, and in an otherwise arid landscape, the location is a veritable oasis in the desert, where lush, green vegetation is found amongst the rocky confines of this canyon.

The area is famous for its olive trees; after hiking to the falls, you can relax in the shade of these trees while you feel the cooling breeze of the crashing waterfall filling the air with refreshing sprays of water.

If you are really overheated, you can even swim in the Al Abid River which the falls plunge straight into.

It’s a glorious day trip from Marrakech, and one not to be missed.

Recommended tour : Ouzoud Waterfalls Full-Day Tour from Marrakech

2. Palm Groves of Marrakech

Known as the Palmeraie, the palm groves of Marrakech are a dense area of land that is completely devoted to the growing of palm trees.

It’s a strangely beautiful place; the palm trees are grown in the desert and are completely reliant on the ancient irrigation network that has been here for centuries to survive in this harsh climate.

The area is around 50 square miles and the palms are used to harvest dates, so expect to be given plenty to try by the local growers and sellers that you find here.

Many people will choose to join an adventurous quad bike tour to ride around the desert and the Palmeraie, a unique way to experience this beautiful and surreal landscape.

Suggested tour : Marrakech Desert & Palm Grove Quad Bike Tour

3. Sahara Desert

Marrakech is surrounded by desert, however, the really brutal and almost unbelievable landscapes of the famous Sahara Desert don’t truly begin until you are at least a few hour’s drive outside the city itself.

The Sahara is the world’s largest hot desert.

It’s a place of extremes, where little water is found and sand dunes tower high on the horizon.

It’s an almost mystical place – especially locally – and a trip even to the edge of the Sahara is an enlightening experience.

Many people will choose to undertake multi-day expeditions through the desert guided by locals; however, if you are short on time, you can still travel to where the Sahara begins and admire the harsh, natural beauty before returning to Marrakech for the evening.

Multi-day tour : From Marrakech: 2-Day Zagora Sahara Desert Tour

4. Agafay Desert

If you would rather stay closer to Marrakech and experience a desert closer to your accommodation, then the Agafay Desert – although not quite as famous or as sandy as the Sahara – is within easy reach of the city.

Found between the Atlas Mountains and Marrakech, the Agafay makes for an excellent day trip.

You won’t find the distinctive sand dunes here that you may be imagining, but you will find a rocky, barren and seemingly lifeless terrain that is difficult to fully comprehend in its sparseness.

It’s a humbling place to visit – you may be able to tour some of the local villages and marvel at how people have managed to thrive here for thousands of years.

Suggested tour : Quad Biking Tour in Agafay Desert

5. Essaouira

Essaouira is a vibrant port city found on the Atlantic coastline of Morocco.

It’s a welcome escape from the desert and the dry climate of Marrakech, and a trip here makes for a long but rewarding day trip.

Enjoy the beautiful sea breezes along the coast, as well as the colorful culture and buildings of the city.

The Medina is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it’s begging to be explored, while the narrow maze of alleys and souks are as quintessentially Moroccan as you can get.

Recommended tour : Day Trip to Essaouira from Marrakech

Agadir is another coastal Moroccan city that’s found a good three-hour drive from Marrakech.

The city is making a name for itself in tourist circles as a sun-drenched, windswept and relaxed place to visit.

There is an ever-growing number of resorts taking advantage of the beautiful beaches and coastline, while the city itself is an interesting example of modern Moroccan culture and life – it’s large enough to easily escape the tourist trail and discover something new.

7. Casablanca

The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, Morocco

Casablanca is the only other city that could rival Marrakech in terms of international fame.

The name Casablanca has gone down in history, thanks to the movie and the romantic connotations associated with it.

The reality is probably very different to what you might expect, and it’s a good thing to only make a day trip to the city – it is a sprawling, urban mass.

It’s worth the journey to see this famous place for what it really is, to walk through the old streets and the new and experience an inseparable piece of Moroccan history.

8. The Atlas Mountains

The Atlas Mountains make up a vast and towering range that rises sharply close to Marrakech.

The mountain range stretches through three countries and the highest peak stands over 4000-meters tall.

The Atlas Mountains are an integral part of not only local geography but local Berber history and culture.

Marrakech is an excellent location from which to launch yourself into the mountains; many of the valleys and villages can be reached on day trips from the city.

Recommended tour : Berber Villages & 3 Valleys Atlas Mountains Day Trip

9. Ourika Valley

The beautiful Ourika Valley is found 50-kilometers to the south of Marrakech in the cool shadows of the Atlas Mountains.

The valley is full of small, local villages that have stood here for centuries, while the cool climate makes it a lush and verdant place to explore, particularly during the hot summer months when Marrakech can become scorching.

There are waterfalls, a mountain backdrop, and epic scenery wherever you turn.

Available tour : Ourika Valley & Atlas Mountain Full-Day Tour

Imlil is a local Berber village that’s found high in the Atlas Mountains.

Standing at 1800-meters, it’s set in spectacular surroundings.

Many visitors will use Imlil as a base for getting even further into the mountains on multi-day treks, including to the summit of Mount Toubkal, the highest peak in the range.

But it’s perfectly fine to simply explore here for the day – see the way the Berbers have lived here and adapted their lifestyle to the mountains and even make a few small hikes into the surrounding area.

Lower down than Imli but perhaps easier to reach, Asni is the gateway into the Atlas Mountains when you travel here from Marrakech.

It’s a quaint place of mud-brick buildings and dusty streets, where you can see local life happening on the streets.

12. Ait Benhaddou

Ait Benhaddou is a marvelous UNESCO World Heritage Site that’s found on the outskirts of the Sahara Desert.

It’s an ancient, fortified town that has stood guarding the trade routes through the desert for centuries.

Today, the town is more famous for the huge number of movies that have been filmed here.

You will most likely recognize the walls, towers, and streets from at least one film that you have seen.

Despite its now touristy, star-studded fame, the town is still an incredible and distinct example of Moroccan architecture and history and it’s well worth the dusty three-hour drive from Marrakech to see.

Suggested tour : Day Trip to Ouarzazate and Ait Benhaddou

13. Ouarzazate

Further along the road, to the south of Ait Benhaddou, can be found the fortified town of Ouarzazate.

Like its neighbor, Ouarzazate is also used as a filming location by many studios and has featured in countless historical epics and desert-based movies.

This is really where the Sahara begins too – after the high plateau that the town is built upon disappears to the south, the sandy dunes of the desert truly begin.

Suggested tour : Ouarzazate Full-Day Tour from Marrakech with Lunch

14. Amizmiz

Found in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains, just an hour’s drive from Marrakech, Amizmiz is an excellent example of a relatively untouched Moroccan Berber town.

Life here is slow.

The town is colorful but there is little of great interest to see except on a Tuesday, when the weekly market arrives as villagers from the mountains and surrounding area descend upon Amizmiz to buy and sell their produce.

It’s an incredible sight to witness.

15. Oukaïmeden

Oukaïmeden is a very high altitude resort that’s found in the snowy peaks of the Atlas Mountains.

At the right time of year, it makes for an incredible contrast to the lowlands and Marrakech.

No longer is there sun, heat and desert, now there is snow, wind, and cold.

It’s a famous ski resort within the country, and being only a two-hour drive from Marrakech, you can quite literally spend the day skiing before heading back to the warmer climes of the city for the night.

15 Best Day Trips from Marrakech:

Ouzoud Falls
Palm Groves of Marrakech
Sahara Desert
Agafay Desert
The Atlas Mountains
Ourika Valley
Ait Benhaddou

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Planet Marrakech

The definitive Guide to Marrakech

The Ultimate Itinerary for a Week in Marrakech

Magical Marrakech is one of the most captivating and enchanting destinations in Morocco.

A former imperial city, it combines gorgeous historic architecture with large and thriving souks, awesome cultural experiences, and more modern facets, such as trendy shopping areas and a modern night scene.

There’s a rich choice of places to stay in Marrakech, ranging from traditional riads in the heart of the medina, to decadent resorts in the outer areas of the city.

While many travellers opt to spend just a few days in the Red City, it’s well worth planning a longer stay to full let you get under the skin of this evocative North African city.

Plus, a longer stay means that you can really make the most of your time and explore more of the surrounding areas with day trips to even more amazing places!

Here’s how to spend one week in Morocco’s marvelous Marrakech:

Table of Contents

Day One: Discover the Medina’s Many Charms

Spend your first day in Marrakech exploring the ancient medina, the old walled area that still evokes a strong sense of age-old traditions.

The medina is often said to be the heart and soul of Marrakech, and it’s where you’ll find many of the city’s historic and cultural attractions.

You can stroll through the atmospheric streets on your own, pausing to visit the diverse attractions at leisure. Alternatively, having a local guide can really help you to maximise your time.

One of the most iconic attractions in Marrakech is the splendid Koutoubia Mosque.

A striking city symbol, you can gaze up at the soaring minaret, admire the fine architectural details, and hear the lilting call to prayer issued from the tower five times per day.

Although non-Muslims cannot enter the mosque you can still enjoy the lush gardens and descend into the old bathing room at the back of the mosque.

The stunning Bahia Palace is another highlight of the medina. Built in the 19th century, it was one of the finest buildings on Earth at the time of its construction.

Complete with ornamental gardens and splendid embellishments, you can admire traditional Moroccan craftsmanship, including zellige tilework and decorative stucco plasterwork, with a blend of Islamic and Moroccan styles.

Don’t miss seeing the harem, with its soft silkworks and colourful stained glass.

Visit the Merdersa Ben Youssef for religious insights and to enjoy more striking architecture.

Once an important place of religious study, it was established in the 14th century and in operation until the 1960s.

You can see the small study rooms and the beautiful shaded courtyard, and feast your eyes on intricate woodwork and tiling.

The medina has several i nteresting museums to add to your day’s itinerary too, including Dar Si Said, a former elegant palace that now houses a range of artisan items, Musee de Mouassine, which is a restored home from the Saadian period with a display of traditional Berber items, and the curious and quirky Tiskiwin Museum.

See the ornate Mouassine Fountain, visit the pungent tanneries, and view the medieval funduqs (old inns used by travelling traders).

Call into a tiny café for a pot of mint tea and enjoy a typical meal of tagine in one of the many restaurants throughout the medina.

Day Two: Travel Back in Time and Shop Till You Drop

Head just outside of the medina to visit two more of Marrakech’s famous historical attractions: the evocative Saadian Tombs and the El Badi Palace.

The Saadian Tombs served as the peaceful and refined final resting place for leaders, nobles, and prominent members of society from the Saadian era.

There’s a few stunning mausoleums and tombs as well as more basic tiled memorials among the grass.

The site was sealed and forgotten about for many years, letting nature take over and the burial ground to escape damage by human visitors.

Today, it has been restored and cleared. The well-preserved site offers fascinating glimpses into the past.

El Badi Palace is a haunting ruin today. Built in the 1570s and once a splendid architectural treasure, it used to have more than 350 dazzling rooms set around lush gardens, a large reflecting pool, and an expansive courtyard.

Although now bereft of the opulent marble, ivory, cedar wood, gold, and other expensive materials that once adorned the palace, you can use your imagination to picture how grand the palace would have been in its heyday.

Make your way back towards the medina and take a stroll through the old Jewish quarter, Mellah .

An under-visited part of the medina, you can see the overgrown graves in Morocco’s biggest Jewish cemetery, old synagogues, and homes that were once occupied by the city’s sizeable Jewish community.

Day Three: Explore the Enticing Coastal City of Essaouira

Take a day trip out of Marrakech to visit the popular coastal city of Essaouira .

Don’t worry if you get a sense of déjà vu as you explore the historic city—it was used as a filming site for Game of Thrones!

Although often windy, Essaouira’s long sandy beach is a pleasant place for an afternoon stroll before returning to Marrakech.

On the return journey, call into an argan oil cooperative to learn how the sought-after oil is produced and keep your eyes peeled for sightings of unusual tree-climbing goats.

Day Four: Combine Action and Relaxation in Marrakech

In the morning, before the day becomes too hot, head out to the oasis-like landscapes on the outskirts of Marrakech: La Palmeraie.

The large palm grove boasts thousands of trees as well as olive and citrus trees.

You can enjoy various exciting activities in the lush setting, including ATV riding, golf , camel riding, and horse riding. You’ll also find a number of luxurious resorts and shops.

After fun at the Palmeraies, head back towards the city to unwind in the stunning Majorelle Garden.

One of the most beautiful gardens in the city, it was created in the 1920s by a French painter. Later, it was taken over by famous fashion designer Yves St Laurent.

Stroll through the attractive gardens and admire the rich array of fauna, with bamboo, palm trees, water plants, vibrant flowers, cacti, and more.

There are water features and fountains to add to the visual appeal and you can pause for a quiet moment on one of the benches.

Before you leave, visit the informative and interesting Berber Museum. Spend the afternoon discovering the newer part of Marrakech: Gueliz.

Built during the French colonial period, the wide tree-lined streets of Gueliz are a stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of the medina’s narrow alleys.

There are several art museums to visit in Gueliz and the streets have plenty of cool public art. If you like high-class shopping, the air-conditioned malls are ideal.

You’ll find an array of eateries and you can spend the evening watching a show at the Theatre Royal (check the schedule and book tickets beforehand) or sampling the local nightlife in one of the area’s bars and clubs.

Day Five: See the Scenic Ouzoud Cascades

Pack your swimming gear and comfy shoes and head out to the beautiful Ouzoud Falls for a scenic day trip from Marrakech.

Located in the Atlas Mountains, the spectacular waterfalls tumble some 110 metres (360 feet) over a dramatic clifftop.

You can admire the falls from different levels and from different viewpoints. Watch out for the cheeky barbary apes that swing through the trees and wander along the footpaths at the upper parts of the falls.

There are shaded walking trails to follow and orchards to explore. Hike down to the bottom of the glorious cascades, where you can enjoy a boat ride beneath the falls, rafting, and (depending on the time of year) swimming.

There’s a good selection of places to eat around the falls and you can pick up souvenirs in the quaint gift stores close to hand.

In the evening, there are various ways to enjoy your time when back in Marrakech …

Take it easy in a café, have a few drinks in a bar, relax in a spa, wander around Djemaa el-Fna, or simply spend an evening unwinding in your accommodation to feel refreshed for your next day out.

Day Six: Take in Diverse Scenic Landscapes

Although definitely no match for the mighty Sahara Desert, the Agafay Desert is a reasonable alternative for people wanting to experience desert-like landscapes on an easy excursion from Marrakech.

Something of an under-rated gem, the arid, lunar-like terrain offers diverse activities. Gaze upon the unusual landscapes, scramble across the dunes, go horse riding, visit the oasis, and join a jeep safari.

Next stop is Lalla Takerkoust, an artificial lake with a tranquil air.

Take some time to chill out on the lakeside beaches, go boating, ride a quad-bike, and soak up the stunning views of the blue-green lake with the mountain backdrop.

Continue to Imlil, a charming village in the High Atlas Mountains.

There are various trekking routes to follow and it’s the main base for people wishing to take on the challenge of climbing Jbel Toubkal, the tallest mountain in the Maghreb.

Local guides are easy to book to help you make the most of your experience.

If you are able to spend the night (rather than racing back to Marrakech), take a seat on the rooftop of the kasbah to watch the sun set majestically over the mountains.

In the morning you can wake early to watch the sunrise and hear the melodic call to prayer before travelling bac to Marrakech.

Whether travelling back to the Red City from Imlil, or whether you returned to Marrakech the previous evening, you can spend your last day shopping for souvenirs, soaking in a hammam, or hitting up any spots that you didn’t have time for earlier in the week.

Perhaps take in a couple of art galleries or museums, visit the pretty Agdal Gardens, or wander through the frenetic souks for some last haggling and gift shopping.

There really are many diverse ways to enjoy a week in Marrakech!

Only got a weekend to spend in Marrakech… Check out our Weekend Itinerary guide

3 Days in Marrakech Morocco: Best Things to Do

collage of marrakech text says 3 days in marrakech

Arguably one of the most popular tourist destinations in Morocco, Marrakech (or Marrakesh ) is also one of the oldest and largest Moroccan cities. The Red City, aptly named for the crimson-colored sandstone used in its construction, lies just north of the Atlas Mountain foothills.

The heart of Marrakech is its old medina, a fortified city dating back to the 12th century. Accessed only by passing beneath one of the giant, imposing doors (or Bab), it reveals a bustling hub at its ancient heart.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site that is enclosed by modern suburbs, the Medina is not to be missed. Like most visitors, meandering through its winding streets will be a highlight of your trip to Marrakech. Best of all, Marrakech’s medina lies close to some of the most rewarding sightseeing experiences on offer in the city.

ⓘ TIP: Don’t worry about getting lost in the medina. Your favorite maps or navigation app on your phone will help you navigate the winding streets. You won’t be lost for long!

Arched alley leading deeper into the Medina

Where to stay in Marrakech

You can take your pick from a myriad of places to stay in Marrakech, whether it be a hotel, Airbnb or a traditional riad. Whichever you choose depends on your travel style, but the riad is the most uniquely Moroccan.

What is a traditional Moroccan riad?

Somewhat unique to Marrakech, the opportunity to stay in a riad is not to be missed! You will, however, be hard-pressed to find an authentic, traditional riad outside of the old medina. So stay in the medina, as we did!

Our first 3 days in Marrakech, we stayed on one end of the souk, and then we stayed in another part of the old city after our Sahara desert tour. Both were delightful and we recommend them.

After navigating rather painstakingly through the dusty passageways of the old medina, an oasis awaits, ready to revive your senses. These seemingly hidden riads (or traditional homes centered around a courtyard) are the shiny, azure jewels in the crimson crown of the medina.

The centerpiece of a traditional riad (or ‘gardens’ in Arabic) is usually a fountain or swimming pool, flanked by citrus trees or lush palms, and studded generously with ornate, colorful mosaic tiles. Once the homes and palaces of the wealthy elite, these riads have mostly been redeveloped to accommodate the large volume of tourists seeking refuge in the busy Medina.

As is customary, they will greet your arrival with Morocco’s traditional aromatic mint tea. Your host will pour it with a flourish from the spout of a Moroccan teapot held high overhead.

After tea, you can expect to be escorted to a beautifully appointed room that is embellished with Moroccan textiles and decor. Room windows and doors open onto an interior courtyard, making you feel sheltered from the outside world.

Dar Taliwint Riad

Dar Taliwint takes advantage of traditional design elements like Morocco’s colorful glass. Only the sunlit colors dancing across the riad’s walls disturb its calm, peaceful atmosphere.

This intimate riad is an Arab-Andalusian-style guesthouse with only four guest rooms. The rooms open onto the central courtyard, and each has its own private balcony spot where you can sit and relax.

Another riad in Arab-Andalusian style, Riad Safa became our “Marrakech home away from home” when we returned from three days in the Sahara Desert.

With its whitewashed architecture, wood tones, and hints of turquoise, the riad was very serene and luxurious. All of the six uniquely decorated rooms oozed Moroccan culture and overlooked an inviting splash pool in the courtyard below.

Rooftop tent of Riad Safa taking in the city skyline of Marrakech.

Don’t ask us to choose a favorite, because we can’t. We completely enjoyed both riads we stayed at. Both are within walking distance to Jemaa el-Fnaa and other top Marrakech sights,

If you prefer to stay outside of the medina, we can also recommend Hotel Le Meridien N’fis. We stayed there while attending a nearby conference. Two unexpected bonuses: It’s across the street from a shopping mall, and the hotel has a bar. (Yes, drinking alcohol in Morocco is legal!)

What to do in Marrakech in 3 days

The varied landscape of Marrakech lends itself well to a multitude of activities, in seemingly changing environments across the city and surrounds.

From well-camouflaged camels in the lush foliage of palmeries, and secret palace gardens, to earthen suburbs lined with castle-like homes, bustling souks, and local eateries serving up authentic cuisine, Morocco is a place of wonder.

Marrakech is a treasure trove of history, culture, and textural beauty. There is an almost palpable energy in the air of this contrastingly ancient and modern city. Within walking distance of the medina or a quick taxi ride, you will discover the most wonderful things to do.

We’ve spread the top sightseeing activities into a 3-day Marrakech itinerary because it’s not only about visiting attractions. They are wonderful, of course, but the best part comes from walking around and absorbing the city’s unique atmosphere.

The other thing to consider is that Marrakech can be oppressively hot for much of the year, which can seriously sap your energy. Planning an afternoon siesta or tea break back at your riad will be a welcome break. Resume your sightseeing later in the afternoon, when the sun isn’t as intense.

If you have less time in Marrakech, consider a private tour that will quickly show you the highlights. We like this tour because it allows you to customize your itinerary according to what you would like to see and do.

If you have more time, add a few day trips – there’s so much else you can see outside of Marrakech! We spent 3 days in the Sahara Desert (Merzouga), and the experience was unforgettable.

The exciting dealers of Jemaa al-Fnaa square

Day 1: Koutoubia Mosque + Jemaa el-Fnaa + souk

Once you arrive in Marrakech, you’ll most likely want to head straight to the souks – just as we did! Marrakech boasts the largest, busiest souks in all of Morocco. Take it from us: venturing into the bustling honeycomb of a souk, vibrating with activity, colors, and textures, is a complete sensory experience.

Koutoubia Mosque

Koutoubia Mosque (or Mosque of the Booksellers ) can be found opposite Jemaa el-Fnaa. Amongst the hundreds of smaller Mosques in Marrakech, Koutoubia Mosque is notably also the tallest building in Marrakech. It’s also Marrakech’s largest and most centrally located mosque.

Non-Muslims cannot venture inside its doors, but the ornately decorated building is pretty enough to enjoy from the outside. Surrounding the mosque is a large plaza with gardens. We can’t imagine a more peaceful way to begin the day.

Cost: Free of charge
Open: 9 am – 6 pm daily
Plan to spend: ± 30 minutes
Distance to Jemaa el-Fnaa: 5-minute drive / 13-minute walk

Jemaa el-Fnaa

Located in the medina-quarter of Marrakech, Jemaa el-Fnaa is the busiest square in all of Africa. A few hours spent here will reveal the shifting sights and sounds of the square, and the large North African market, or souk, that borders it.

Snake charmers dot the square, serenading cobras with enchanting tunes from flutes, while scores of locals and tourists alike scutter around. As the day passes, the square becomes busier and livelier as dancers, musicians and storytellers join the crowd.

Sample the (cheap!) freshly squeezed orange juice on offer and then head towards the souk.

We love local markets. It’s fun to navigate the nooks and crannies lined with trinkets, textiles and energetic merchants.

This is where you can purchase all those treasures that are so typical of Morocco. It’s all here: clay tagines, silver teapots and trays, colorful lamps, rugs and hand-woven baskets. If you don’t have extra room in your suitcase (say, for a Moroccan leather pouf?), most merchants can ship.

It’s part of Moroccan culture to haggle, so never pay the first asking price. If you’re ready to buy, be ready to sit down to barter over mint tea. Along the way, you will learn more about the desert lifestyle and history of the nomadic Moroccan Berbers from enthusiastic storytellers.

If you find yourself lost in the souk for several hours, you can enjoy local cuisine from one of the numerous food stalls. They seem to be everywhere you turn. If you’re worried about food safety, busy restaurants are trustworthy.

Cost: Free of charge. Bring cash for purchases and tipping
Open: Mid-morning to midnight daily
Plan to spend: as much time as you want
Distance to old medina: 5-minute drive / 8-minute walk

ⓘ PRO TIP: If some enterprising locals tell you “you’re going the wrong way” or “it’s closed,” ignore them. It’s a common scam. If you accept their help, they will hassle you for a fee once you arrive. We heard it a lot there. If someone persisted, we said “we’re going to our riad and we already know how to get there.”Day 2: Saadian tombs + Bahia Palace

Colorful iron and glass lanterns available in the Medina.

After you’ve fully enjoyed the excitement of shopping in a local souk, take some time to enjoy a historical tour of Marrakech.

Saadian tombs

The Saadian tombs , or sepulchers (small burial rooms or monuments), date back to the 16th century and can be found to the south of the medina, near the Kasbah Mosque. The tombs are a sight to behold, adorned elaborately with Italian Carrara marble, mosaics, carved cedar wood and surrounded by an exquisite garden.

Housing four sultans and their families, the tombs were walled up by Moulay Ismail, the Alawite (or Alaouite ) sultan who had since risen to power. A secret passageway exists between the tombs and the Kasbah Mosque.

Although the tombs are open daily from 9 am until 2 pm, and 3 pm until 6 pm, late afternoon is the recommended visiting time due to the popularity of the tombs by tourists.

Cost: 6 €
Open: 9 am -5 pm (Monday to Sunday)
Distance to Bahia Palace: 7-minute drive / 16-20 minute walk

Saadian tombs displayed with Islamic features and colors.

Bahia Palace

The “palace of the beautiful, the brilliant”, Bahia Palace is located in the southeast section of the medina and dates back to the 19 th century. The palace is open to the public and is a popular sightseeing spot.

Thanks to its ornamental marquetry and painted woodwork, it is a sight to behold. The ornamental palace is the result of 14 years of craftsmanship by top Moroccan artisans. It was once home to the grand vizier Abu ‘Bou’ Ahmed, his four wives, and 24 concubines, who resided in small, beautifully decorated salons in the harem.

The entire complex spans over eight hectares. While there, you should check out the petit riad, grand riad, marbled grand courtyard, harem, a room of ‘honor’ and vast stretches of lush gardens.

Bahia Palace also hosts art exhibitions and Arab-Andalusian concerts.

Cost: 1€
Open: 9am-5pm (Monday to Sunday)
Distance to tanneries: 9-minute drive / 21-27 minute walk

Evening street food tour

Morocco is known for its bold and flavorful cuisine, and what better place to discover it than the bustling city of Marrakech?

If you are an adventurous eater who wants to experience Marrakech’s food culture on foot, consider an evening street food tour.

A husband-and-wife team has curated some of their favorite places in the streets and back alleys of the medina. An official, licensed Moroccan guide to take you to places you likely won’t find on your own, and in 3.5 hours you’ll experience parts of Moroccan food culture that most visitors never see.

Most dietary restrictions can be accommodated. Learn more here.

Moroccan street food featuring grilled chicken with olives.

Day 3: Hammam de la Rose + Jardin Majorelle

No doubt after two days of sightseeing you will want some downtime. Perfect chance to relax and enjoy Marrakech from a different perspective.

Visit a hammam

Experience a ritual from the daily life of Moroccans and visit a traditional hammam, which is essentially a type of public steam room for bathing.

Very similar in construction to a Turkish bath, hammams are located throughout Morocco and form a place for both socializing and cleansing. There are typically two types of hammams: those for locals and those for tourists.

Authentic, local hammams rarely provide cleansing essentials (you’ll need to bring your own), and as the name suggests, you will be among curious locals. These are gender specific, with both the male-only and female-only hammams open at differing times.

Dan and I visited a hammam that caters to tourists, so we enjoyed the experience together.

What happens at a hammam

Leave your inhibitions, and preconceived ideas behind as you strip bare and indulge in a cleansing routine (which may be performed by a hammam attendant).

Here are the basic steps:

Upon entering the hammam, you will be escorted to a tiled, tiled floor-to-ceiling steam room. You will join others sitting on the benches lining the walls.
He/she will saturate your entire face and body in hot water
Lather up with black Moroccan soap and let it soak in for a few moments
Rinse you down from a bucket of piping hot water, and
Let the scrubbing begin! A rough ‘kessa glove’ will slather off dead skin.
Finally, you’ll have your hair washed. What a treat!

Fantastic experience at Hammam de al Rose

Our hammam experience

Our riad host warned us that a local hammam may not be up to the level of hygiene that we Westerners might expect. In some cases, they can be somewhat scary.

Tourist hammams generally provide more of a private space in a lavish, modern setting and are closer to the Western ideals of hygiene that tourists may be accustomed to.

On his advice, we decided to visit Hammam de la Rose , an upmarket hammam located in the heart of the medina. Offering both the “oriental tradition of hammam” with beauty treatments and massage, this modern hammam made it possible to enjoy the experience together as a couple.

And as an unexpected souvenir, they gave us our Kessa gloves to take home!

Cost: 250-450 Dirhams for a traditional hammam experience
Open: 10am-8pm (Monday to Sunday)
Plan to spend: ±2 hours
Distance to Jardin Majorelle: 12-minute drive / 25-minute walk

Jardin Majorelle

A luscious retreat encased in earthen walls amongst the bustle of Marrakech, the Jardin Majorelle botanical gardens is worth spending a few hours in, freshly pampered from the hammam.

A short walk to the Berber Museum inspires awe, with its representation of ancient North African indigenous tribes, showcasing jewelry and craftsmanship over the ages.

Seek refuge in a quiet corner of the gardens, serenaded by the gentle sounds of rustling leaves and palm fronds overhead, and take a moment to pause at the Yves Saint Laurent Memorial.

Yves Saint Laurent’s ashes were scattered near this small Roman pillar.

A stroll to the refreshing central fountain reveals a magnificent artist’s villa studio, adorned with bright coats of ‘Majorelle blue’ and vibrant yellow paint.

Cost: 70 Dirhams (garden) / 30 Dirhams (Berber Museum)
Open: (Monday to Sunday) 8 am – 6pm. Closes at 5:30 pm October to April
Plan to spend: ± 1-2 hours
Distance to old medina: 13-minute drive / 31-minute walk

Beautiful Jardin Majorelle with water features and fresh ripe oranges.

Musée Yves Saint Laurent

After enjoying the botanical gardens, why not pay a visit to the Yves Saint Laurent Museum next door?

The fashion legend attributed his reintroduction to color to Marrakech, saying, “Before Marrakech, everything was black.”

The museum is open to the public and displays a sampling of pieces from the designer’s lengthy career, housed in its rosy-hued, terracotta walls.

Open: 10 am – 6 pm Thursday-Tuesday (closed on Wednesday)

Extra time? Take day trips from Marrakech

Now that we’ve told you where to go in Marrakech and what to see in 3 days, we’d like to share another travel tip: Changing hotels wastes a lot of energy and travel time.

After seeing Marrakech, explore the surrounding area with a few day trips from Marrakech. There are numerous Marrakech day tours to choose from depending on your interests. The best day tours usually combine a cultural or historical element with some activity and, of course, eating good food!

You can do your own Marrakech excursions without a guide, of course. It’s easier to negotiate if you speak French or Arabic, but most day tours go to places where they speak English.

We prefer guided tours. Besides the transportation (and sometimes a meal), we also get a professional guide who will ensure we don’t miss anything important. For one flat price, we get history, don’t-miss sights, cultural insights, food tips, and even an interpreter.

Our tour guide with a local child in the Sahara Desert.

Here are a few of the action-packed activities you can add to your Marrakech itinerary.

Camel ride + quad biking + hammam spa

This full day tour from Marrakech combines two of Morocco’s most popular action-packed activities, with a relaxing hammam experience that will leave you clean and refreshed.

Hot air balloon ride + desert camel ride

Imagine having the chance to see Marrakech from a totally different perspective . Get aerially-inclined with a hot air balloon ride, high above the buzz of Marrakech, floating effortlessly over the dusty desert.

A day trip to Ouarzazate and Ait Benhaddou

Traveling from Marrakech, a day trip to Ouarzazate and Ait Benhaddou promises an unforgettable experience, complete with a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kasbah Ait Benhaddou, and the ‘Hollywood of Africa’.

After experiencing the charm of inland Morocco, the coastal city of Essaouira is just a few hours drive away. Soak up the sights of this beautiful city on a guided day tour like this one . Stopping to sample Moroccan argan oil, enjoy Moulay El Hassan square, and savor local seafood are just a few of the fun things to do in Essaouira , so don’t miss it.

Sahara Desert

You can visit the Sahara Desert with a 1-day or overnight excursion to Zagora, but you won’t see everything you might imagine. If you want to experience a sunset camel ride over a sea of red dunes, you’ll need a multi-day trip. We spent 3 days in the Sahara and can’t recommend it highly enough. Seeing a midnight-black sky full of stars was absolutely incredible.

ⓘ PRO TIP: If Fes is also on your itinerary, Get Your Guide offers a 3-day desert tour that begins in one city and ends in the other. ( Can you say “free transportation”? )

What to wear in Marrakech

One of the first things you might notice about Moroccan women is that many do not wear headscarves. Morocco might be considered a liberal Muslim country, but it is still very conservative by many people’s standards. Thus, you should dress more modestly than you normally do.

Wearing revealing clothing is considered disrespectful to the local culture. Always keep your shoulders and knees covered (both men and women) and avoid showing any midriff or cleavage. This is especially important if you want to enter any religious buildings or family homes.

Think light, loose, and long. Light colors, loose fit, long-sleeved shirts, trousers, and long skirts are perfect for Morocco. Not only will they cover your body and keep you cool in the heat, but they will also protect you from the harsh sun.

ⓘ TIP: Quick-dry fabrics wick sweat away from your body and keep you from feeling sticky in the heat. You can easily wash them out in the evening and they will be dry by the next morning.

Now you know what to do in Marrakech!

There’s no need to miss out on any of the fun in and around Marrakech, whether you have a few hours to spare or a few days With a little careful planning, you can squeeze in plenty of memorable experiences that will leave you with memories and stories of Marrakech that will last for the rest of your life.

Inspired? Pin this post and share it with your friends!

Beautiful streets of the Marrakech Medina.

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Written by Linda

Linda is multilingual and has been to over 50 countries. Her insatiable love of travel, cuisine, and foreign languages inspired her to create As We Saw It, where she documents her trips, shares practical itineraries, and offers insider tips. She’s passionate about helping fellow travelers save time, money, and hassle, and loves to discover new places to explore.

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6 thoughts on “3 days in marrakech morocco: best things to do”.

I had been considering quick break to Marrakech for some winter sun, and your itinerary has given me some great ideas. It is also always useful to have a heads up about the common local scams, so thanks for highlighting them.

Glad it was helpful, Dan.

This has always been on my bucketlist! Saving this for when I start planning my trip!

Great, Naomi. We made a lot of Pinterest pins just for that purpose!

You make me salivate… returned to work from gorilla trekking in Uganda and feel like i need another holiday. Morocco seem to be my next destination, not in January but definitely this year

Thanks Astho. You make us salivate too, because we’ve long wanted to do a gorilla trek. 🙂

Comments are closed.

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How to plan a perfect day trip to Essaouira

Last Updated on October 21, 2023 by

Essaouira is as small picturesque city facing the Atlantic coast of Morocco. Famous for being perpetually crossed by the Alizée s. Strong trade winds that will make your lovely hat useful as a pen without ink. Essaouira is beautiful as the sound of its windy name. Located at less than 3 hours drive from Marrakech, Essaouira is the ideal location for a day trip or a short weekend away. In this guide, you will discover how to plan the perfect day trip to Essaouira from Marrakech for a full day of fun. Ready for exploring? Let’s go!

Essaouira has always been in my bucket-list of places to visit in Morocco. So, when we planned our 10-day road trip around the country, I decided to “sacrifice” one of the days in Marrakech for a nice day trip. What a great decision! Essaouira is charming and full of lively places. From the animated area of the port, to the (much easier to navigate) medina, to its lovely walls. A walk at sunset in its Atlantic promenade and you will feel like in a movie set with the wind blowing its fresher breeze.

Table of Contents

A (short) history of Essaouira

Day trip to Essaouira - View of the medina near the Clock Tower

Essaouira, is different from any other city you can visit in Morocco. Indeed, it has a strong European influence because its proximity to the coast and the past Portuguese and French presence. This shaped its history and architectural appereance since the Middle Ages making it the city that is today. When entering the medina, I had like a sort of déjà vu . Indeed, the city looked somehow similar to Faro in Algarve. Not sure if it was for the type of architecture of the Clock Tower, but the vibes were very similar.

History of a name

There is no better way of knowing a place than by its name. Essaouira’s one have quite an interesting twist. Indeed, we can say that the current name Essaouira (spelled as ESS-ə-WEER-ə) is the modern name of the more ancient city of Mogador . This was actually the official name of the city until the 1960s, when it was changed to the current Essaouira. There’s a debate about the origin of this name. In fact, some believe it originates from the Phoenician word “ migdol ,” meaning “small fortress.” Some others, assume that the name came from a Muslim saint buried in the city called Sidi Mogdoul. The truth is yet to be determined.

Portuguese and French Mogador

Day trip to Essaouira - ruins of Castelo Real of Mogador in the coast of Essaouira - view from a balcony

Portuguese, started the occupation of the Moroccan coastal cities in 1415. By 1515 they were already occupying 6 different cities and 6 other stand alone fortresses. Cities included Tangier and Azamor at just 15 mins from Casablanca. Fortresses included Santa Cruz do Cabo de Gué that later became Agadir and Castelo Real of Mogador in what it would become Essaouira. Nevertheless, the fortress had a short life. Indeed already in 1541, after the fall of Agadir, was abandoned to its destiny and fell in the hands of local pirates. French tried to occupy Mogador in 1629 but this initial occupation never happened as they returned back to Sale’ after gaining a good trade agreement with the Sultan. The fortress of Mogador was later destroyed in the late 18th century.

The foundation of Essaouira

The current city of Essaouira is relatively modern compared to the rest of Moroccan cities. Indeed, it was founded by the Moroccan King Mohammed III in the mid 18th century. His main objective was that of building a royal port known to the world that was as close as possible to Marrakech. The construction of the city started in 1760 under the direction of the French architect Théodore Cornut in collaboration with other European and Moroccan architects.

It is widely recorded that Cornut’s work was influenced by the work of the military engineer Vauban at Saint Malo. Indeed, both cities have similar appearance with their large bastions and the citadel enclosed within the walls. Cornut itself wanted to be in charge of the Kasbah area’s construction. Since its completion in 1770 till the 19th century, Essaouira was regarded as Morocco’s most important port. It was famous as the Port of Timbuktu thanks to its straight road to the central Morocco leading to the Atlas Mountain and desert.

Even after the bombardment and destruction of the Mogador fortress in 1844 and the French Protectorate until 1956, Essaouira remained a central location for sea trade.

Today, the medina of Essaouira (former Mogador) is regarded as a UNESCO World Heritage site. This because it represents an exceptional example of a late-18th-century fortified town, built according to the principles of contemporary European military architecture in a North African context.

Essaouira travel information

Here below you will find all the essential information to plan a perfect day trip to Essaouira.

How many days do I need in Essaouira?

Essaouira is a relatively small city. We found that one day trip for us it was satisfying to check-off all its main landmarks. However, if you want to savour more the local cuisine or have a better understanding of the city off the main beaten path, 2 days would be the right amount of time to explore.

Getting to Essaouira

Reaching Essaouira is very straightforward. Indeed, the city has been purposely built to be the closest port city to Marrakech. So, it proposes itself as a natural destination to visit for a day trip. We personally drove from Marrakech but, if without car, Essaouira is well-connected also by public transport.

Driving to Essaouira

Driving to Essaouira is very simple. The city is at less than 3 hours from Marrakesh and you’ll drive a route called N8 than R207 that is all straight (so you can’t get it wrong). As the route is straight and boring, I recommend you to download a podcast or a playlist to listen along the way.

We rented a car from Avis Downtown in Marrakech and this is my recommended rental for the trip as they were very professional with zero attempt to scam us (yes, I am looking at you Jordan ).

The only thing you should pay attention when driving along this road, are speed cameras and police checkpoints. Indeed, it looks like this is one of the most surveilled routes in Morocco and speed infringements are heavily fined. The maximum speed you can go is 80 mph. Therefore, don’t expect to arrive earlier than you should. At the entrance of Essaouira, you’ll see a big police checkpoint where the maximum speed is 20 mph. Don’t go faster, or they’ll stop you and fine you.

Key swingers in Essaouira

As soon as we entered the city and passed the main police check-in, we saw something very unusual. Quite a lot of people jumped in front of our car or tried to approach us while driving by swinging some keys up in the air. I looked at Alessio and I literally said “what’s going on with these people?”. Some of them swinged their keys in the distance, some others were more aggressive and literally jumped in front of the car (yes we risked a few times to hit one of them trying to find parking). It took a while for us to figure it out what was going on. Especially because there was no info online about this weird “phenomenon” and nothing similar happened during our days in Marrakech.

We later discovered those people were trying to sell rental accommodations to possible tourists/local visitors in Essaouira. I honestly never seen anything like this before. In fact, it wasn’t just a matter of 1 or 2 people. A single road had at least 20 swingers. So, imagine how many we had to avoid until reaching the parking.

They are totally harmless, of course (if one doesn’t consider the possibility of getting hit by a car). But I thought I would write a few words about them because you will likely encounter them, yet finding information about them is difficult.

We saw some key swingers also in Chefchaouen but not as many as in Essaouira.

Parking in Essaouira

Parking in Essaouira, particularly during summer, can be a problem. Indeed, the city is quite popular for its beaches and summer festivals, so many Moroccans head there in summer. In this regard, on my map I saved a parking called “Parking Moulay Al Hassan” that turned out to be closed for some kind of festival that day. This was the biggest parking close to the city. After a moment of panic, we found another parking that on the map is just called “Parking lot”.

This is free to use (the other parking has a fee) and it’s just by the beach and just 6 mins walk from Sqala du Port. I pinpointed it on the map above. Not sure if the other parking will open on regular days but this one is a great alternative.

Arrive by public transport

Essaouira, is well-connected by public transport. In fact, there are two main coach services you can use to reach the city if not self-driving.

These are CTM and Supratours . CTM is the national company in Morocco, they provide newer and reliable buses with routes all around the country. The only downside is that they don’t have multiple departure times for certain destinations (e.g. for Essaouira), therefore if a slot is complete you should check different providers.

Soupratours is managed by ONCF and the tickets can be bought from the same website . Conversely to CTM they have multiple departures for certain destinations and their bus stations are generally closer to the city centre/medina than CTM. Soupratour bus tickets are 100 MAD one way. CTM tickets are slightly cheaper (90 MAD) but there is only one departure for Essaouira at 8.30 am.

Day trip to Essaouira. Getting around the city

Day trip to Essaouira - View of the sea from the city bastions

Getting around Essaouira is very easy. In fact, the city is fully walkable and you don’t need a car or public transport to move from one place to another. However, if you have mobility problems, please note some part of the city are not accessible. This regards particularly a part of the ramparts and walls.

A perfect day trip to Essaouira

The below is exactly the itinerary we followed for our day trip to Essaouira. If you depart early enough from Marrakech (e.g. around 8/8.30 am), you should arrive by 11/11.30 am. This will give you plenty of time to explore the medina before heading for lunch.

If you arrive by 11 am, you have at least 2 hours to spend around the medina before lunch! This is perfect to explore the Medina markets and the Sidi Mohammed ben Abdallah Museum .

Explore Essaouira Medina and its souks

The Medina of Essaouira corresponds to the former Mogador. It’s surrounded by the 18th-century bastions and regarded as a UNESCO World Heritage site. If you have already visited Marrakech, you will notice a lot of differences between the two medinas. Indeed, Marrakech is chaotic and loud, full of vendors and tourists walking any walkable space (without counting the motorbikes!). The Medina of Essaouira couldn’t be more different. In fact, most of it is made of very quiet roads where children play football and residents live a quiet life.

In the central area, particularly in the main street Avenue de l’Istiqlal , you can find the souqs and fish markets. You’ll feel the smell of the fish markets much before you’ll see them as the air in that area is completely pervaded. As much as I don’t like fish, this smell reminds me a lot of the Pescheria in Catania (the city where I grew up). So I couldn’t help but feel somehow at home. One of the souks to check-out is certainly the one at Place du Marché aux Grains that has a lot of lovely shops.

Tips for photographing the Medina of Essaouira

Day trip to Essaouira - Place du Marché aux Grains

It’s already known that Moroccan people don’t like much being photographed (who can blame them after all?). Nevertheless, people from Essaouira are particularly sensitive about the topic. You have to be very careful and trying to don’t photograph people’s faces directly (even at distance). Of course, sometimes is unavoidable due to the crowd, but be careful as much as possible.

In fact, I believe they don’t like people with cameras regardless of what they are photographing. I tell you this because I was trying to photograph a cat and a random man came to me telling me I couldn’t take pictures on the street (whaaat?). Other two people wanted to see what picture I shoot fearing they were in it. Of course they weren’t, but they saw me shooting at distance so they thought I was catching them. If you are a woman traveling alone, people (men) approaching you and asking you (not very politely) to see your shots can be quite intimidating. Therefore be careful. Better safe than sorry!

Visit the Sidi Mohammed ben Abdallah Museum

Day trip to Essaouira - Sidi Mohammed ben Abdallah Museum carpet hall

The Sidi Mohammed ben Abdallah Museum is the history museum of Essaouira. This has been named after the city’s founder, King Mohammed III. This museum is hosted in a 1800 colonial house and displays some of the oldest items belonging to the Gnawa ethinic group. These can’t really be found anywhere else. There is also a carpet hall displaying some beautiful handcrafted items of the area.

Nevertheless, my favourite part was actually the building itself. Indeed, this old building is one of a kind. Before hosting the museum, it was a seigniorial riad with a large number of rooms. Where now appears the staircase, there was a lovely courtyard with a large central fountain. The riad was transformed into the City Hall during the French protectorate. During this period, the courtyard was transformed and the staircase was built instead.

Day trip to Essaouira - Sidi Mohammed ben Abdallah Museum exhibition

To me it still looks like a riad, but with a modern twist makes it a unique type of building. As you can expect, not many people know about this museum (the all coming for the Game of Thrones location uh?). Therefore, when we visited, it was absolutely deserted. This gave us a lot of time, not only to visit the exhibition but also to take some lovely pictures.

On a side note, I noticed that most explanatory cards on the item displayed were only in French or Arabic. Therefore, if you don’t speak those languages it’s hard to determine what are you are looking at. Nevertheless, you can ask at the entrance the mini English guide and the lady will give this to you (it’s free of charge).

Information for visit

The entrance fee to the museum is 60 MAD to be paid in cash.

The address is 161 Avenue Mohamed Zafzaf, Essaouira 44000, Morocco

After our morning tour it was time for a lovely lunch!

Where to eat in Essaouira

Day trip to Essaouira - Mandala society outdoor and indoor pictures

The food scene in Essaouira is exciting! There are a lot of nice places. Little rooftop cafes, terrace bars, traditional restaurants and, of course, the best places where to have grilled fresh fish. There is literally something for everyone. After days of tagines in Marrakech, when I heard of this little brunch place called Mandala Society I was super excited to try it!

The restaurant is located on the main street of Essaouira. The space of the restaurant is very cosy and organised in multiple levels. There are not many tables and the restaurant is super popular. Therefore is better to book in advance to avoid any disappointment.

Day trip to Essaouira - Brunch at Mandala society

Mandala Society serves brunch until 2 pm and this is amazing because the brunch board includes a brunch dish, fresh orange juice and coffee. I personally take the Mandalavoca (but with bagel) and my husband enjoyed a Mandala quesadilla (all pictured above).

If by any chance Mandala Society doesn’t have space, another nice place for lunch is Cafe’ Clock.

Mandala Society Address

Av. de l’Istiqlal, Essaouira, Morocco

After a very filling lunch, it’s time to check off some well-known places. I am talking about the Essaouira Ramparts and the famous Sqala du Port , both set locations of Game of Game of Trones in Morocco. We ended up our tour with a walk in the fishing harbour of the city.

Walk the Essaouira Ramparts and walls

Day trip to Essaouira - Essaouira ramparts

The Ramparts of Essaouira and the remaining walls are located towards the northern part of the city. These surviving walls and their ramparts are fully walkable and free to access for visitors. They wall part is also accessible to wheelchairs. Nevertheless the Rampart of Mogador (central picture) is separated from the walls by some non-accessible steps.

The Rampart of Morgador is part of the original wall belt. Also the cannons on the walls date back to the 16th century. During the day, this part of the city is very crowded. So a better option for visiting is getting here at sunset time. Moreover sunset from the Essaouira ramparts is really special!

Don’t forget to explore the lower part of the walls. Here you can find a lot of pottery stores and handicraft boutiques. If you have some additional time, end your walk with a visit to the little museum La cité heureuse Essaouira hosting some lovely reproductions of the city walls.

Have a GoT moment at Sqala du Port

Day trip to Essaouira - Sqala du Port different bastions and monumental gate

Most tourists think that Sqala du Port is just the famous GoT bastion (first photo). Nevertheless, Sqala du Port is the entire fortified area of the harbour. Sqala du Port was built in 1769, ordered by Mohammed III. It was built over the Castle of Mogador of which stones were used for this fortification.

The entire fortification functioned as a defensive artillery for the port area. It was built in Manueline style and is formed by two main bastions (first and third photo) and a central monumental gate (second photo) called Bab el-Marsa, which served as access to the city. The most famous (and photographed) bastion is called Borj el-Barmil.

Unfortunately, climbing Borj el-Barmil is forbidden. To take some nice pictures, you have to get down to the boats’ floating platform (trying to not fall into the water). The bastion close to Bab el-Marsa instead is accessible, although I though was inhabited by someone giving the hanging clothes.

Explore the Essaouira fishing harbour

If you want to see some action, the fishing arbour of Essaouira is the best place. In the space of 30 mins we saw: children and teens jumping into the water from the bastions, boats coming and go with fresh fish cargo, people queuing to buy fish and even people cooking fish.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t take many pictures because it was quite a crowded area and I didn’t want any issue, but I really wish I could! The port area starts at Borj el-Barmil and continue for about 2 km. Most of the area is currently under renovation so it’s not fully walkable as there are works in progress.

If you are a big fan of fish dishes, you probably should’t miss the Marssa Grillade restaurant. I would say that more than a restaurant is just 4 tables under two parasols. However, the special thing about this place is that they grill fish that was just caught or you can bring your own fish and grill it there. So, you can’t find anything fresher than this in the city. We saw a long queue of tourist waiting for a table and many other sitting already there and looking like they were having the best meal of their lives. So I suppose the fish was delicious.

For your convenience I pinpointed the place in the map above.

Sunset goodbye drink at Salut Maroc

After a full day exploring this lovely city, it was time for us to say goodbye and get back to Marrakech. But not before having a sunset (in our case pre-sunset because it was 5.30 pm) drink at one of the nicest restaurants/bar in Essaouira: Salut Maroc.

The restaurant and bar of Salut Maroc are located on the rooftop of a 18th-century riad just on the walls of Essaouira. This was former Merchant’s house and later a Consulate building that is now been converted into a lovely boutique hotel (and restaurant at the top).

It’s one of the nicest places where to have a drink (or even a meal) as it offers an unbeatable view on the coast and the historic ramparts of Essaouira. From here you can spot also the small Îles Purpuraires (Purple Islands). Ancient islands where the Romans used the purple dye extracted from molluscs plucked from the bay, to dye their imperial togas. One of the two small islands is the Isle of Mogador where the ruins of the former fortification still lie.

Where to stay in Essaouira

I haven’t personally stayed in Essaouira because I visited just for a day trip. However, I worked long enough in this sector to know when a place is worth the extra cash. I selected below a few places that I would personally choose if I had to plan an overnight stay in the city.

Luxury stay in Essaouira

There are not many luxury hotel chains in Essaouira or, more precisely, there are many places that call themselves “luxury X” but they are not real 5 stars hotels. A name that can grant certainly a more luxurious experience is Sofitel Essaouira Mogador Golf & Spa . This is located slightly off the city’s area but this is repaid by a quiet environment, sophisticated interiors and access to the beach.

If you don’t want to give up to a city stay but still want to enjoy a luxury vibe Heure Bleue Palais – Relais & Châteaux is centrally located. It offers breathtaking views on the Medina in a historical charming house.

Boutique hotels in Essaouira

If you have a mid-range budget but still want to enjoy a lovely place and great service, boutique hotels are usually the best. As I mentioned before, Salut Maroc is principally a hotel, which happen to have a fantastic rooftop bar! The whole place is super colourful and the rooms are decorated with fantastic patterns.

Hotel Le Médina Essaouira Thalassa sea & spa – Mgallery is also a valid option if you want an upscale stay rather than a historical house.

Budget stays in Essaouira

If you want to stay within a budget without compromising on the quality, Vent des Dunes is cheap, highly rated, close to the city and they even provide an airport shuttle. An additional lovely option is Riad Chbanate. This lovely riad is finely decorated, has a spectacular rooftop and even some impressive bath tubes with a view on the Medina.

Eco-friendly stay in Essaouira

I decided to post also about eco-friendly places to stay because it’s a cause I care a lot and there are a growing amount of people in search of places that are proud of their respect for the planet. One lovely eco-friendly stay in Essaouira is Les Jardins de Villa Maroc. Particularly their Ecodomes, that according to the description from the hotel are “based on a sustainable architecture model, the Ecodomes are built from local materials, only using what can be found in the region of Essaouira. The round constructions are naturally anti-seismic and autonomous in energy. Each room is an individual Ecodome as part of our boutique hotel concept, ensuring the privacy of every guest”.

Day trip to Essaouira. Map of all the locations

Find here the map of all the locations mentioned in this blog to find them easily. This includes also the hotels and restaurants mentioned. Some hotels are outside the city and you’ll need to move the map a little further to find them.

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I loved the detailed information you provided. Essaouira is actually my favorite city in Morocco. It’s more laid back in our experience, and was a great respite after the craziness of Marakech.

What a detailed blog post, loved the location map which makes finding everything easier!

Wow what a detailed guide!! I would feel very prepared 🙂

I love doing day trips when traveling! Would love to try out essaouira! Looks like a picturesque place to visit. Thanks for sharing all your recommendations!

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The ultimate agafay desert day trip from marrakesh.

The Agafay Desert is located in Marrakech, Morocco and it’s wonderful. If you find yourself in Marrakech, you should definitely venture out of the city centre and explore some of the delights the Agafay Desert offers. If you’re looking for a tour that will allow you to experience the desert in style, then I suggest you opt for the “Traditional Lunch In The Agafay Desert” offered by Musement.

Below I take you through what the day entails, and how you can book your adventure too!

Travellerspoint

Lunch In The Agafay Desert: Our Experience

Bradley and I were picked up at 11 am in a private car and we made our journey to the Agafay Desert. We were staying at the Aqua Mirage Hotel (Which I recommend), and it was around a 45 minute drive to the camp we would be having lunch at.

As you drive through the desert, you’ll come across a selection of camps, but we kept driving further in and this made me even more excited. The landscape of the desert as you drive is awesome, it looks like something from Mars or another planet. I’d never seen anything like it.

After driving for around 45 minutes, we arrived at the luxury desert camp and it was unlike anything I’ve ever been to before. You can actually stay overnight in this camp and when you visit for lunch, you’ll probably convince yourself to return!

The camp is beautifully secluded, quiet, and there is an awesome swimming pool (that’s actually a Jacuzzi too!). Imagine visiting in the summer when the temperature is 45 degrees outside and you’re chilling in this awesome pool. It was winter when we visited, so it was a little too cold to take a dip.

The camp actually had some reservation work going on, which meant we got to dine by the pool and the choice to swim, but when the work is complete you’ll have your lunch separately on your own, surrounded by desert, pretty awesome!

The staff at the camp made us feel so welcome, and kept insisting we feel like we’re at home. They even gave us a tour of the camp and a sneak peak inside the tents (which are awesome!).

Next, we had some time to relax before lunch was ready, so Brad and I popped on the sun loungers and read our books whilst enjoying the sunshine and peace around us. As digital nomads, we rarely switch off, and the fact there was no WiFi truly was a blessing. It’s a perfect spot for a “digital detox”.

As we were relaxing, our host brought us some mint tea, which is a specialty in Morocco and it was delicious (not too sweet like lots of other places make it).

Around 1 pm, our host announced that lunch was ready and I truly didn’t know what to expect, other than authentic Moroccan food of course.

We were treated to a delicious 4 course meal. We started with a vegetable soup (that had orange in it, something I’ve never tried before), followed by an assortment of sauteed vegetables, followed by classic tagine, an amazing beef version (a specifically of the Marrakesh region) and a tomato and aubergine dish that oozed flavor. Just when we thought we couldn’t eat anymore, a dessert was delivered to us of traditional pastilla with honey and milk with almonds. Brad practically ate mine too (I was pretty darn full at this point!)

Read Also: My 90 Top Travel Tips!

The service was exceptional, the staff truly want you to have a magical experience. After lunch, we relaxed for a while to let the food settle. The guys at the camp assured us there was no rush on leaving, (I did not want to leave at all!), but when we felt ready, our driver was waiting for us and we thanked our hosts and made our journey back through the desert.

All in all it was a fabulous day and as far as an Agafay Desert day trip went, I think I got a great taste of what it’s like to experience the desert. A delicious lunch with those views is more than I could have imagined and I’d 100% repeat the experience in the future.

What I really love about this Agafay desert trip is that it’s an “all-year” activity. We visited in winter and experienced highs of 22 degrees Celsius (which is perfect for me!), but just imagine the temperatures in summer, autumn and spring. It’s an awesome activity, regardless of the time of year you visit.

Don’t forget to bring a camera, you’re going to want to take lots of great pictures!

Read Also: How To Plan An International Trip

Who are Musement?

Our Agafay Desert Day Trip was actually organised by Musement who are a platform that allows you to book amazing experiences all over the world. When it comes to experiences in Marrakech and Morocco they have a whole range to choose from, but I highly recommend the one we went on.

Musement have a WIDE range of experiences, attractions and tickets for all over the world.

Other Agafay Desert Day Trip Ideas

If you don’t fancy a lunch in the Agafay desert then you can do other things too. Some of my favorites include:

A sunrise hot air balloon ride with a traditional Moroccan breakfast (pretty epic!)
Quad bike through the desert (for those adrenaline junkies)
Camp in the Desert overnight (lots of places to choose from)

So there you have it, if you fancy having your very own lunch in the Agafay desert, then don’t forget you can book your trip right here.

A special thank you to Musement for organizing our trip! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Let us know what you think.

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A Perfect Week: Best things to do in Marrakech in 7 days

Posted on October 5, 2020 February 27, 2024 Author Priya Leave a comment

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Marrakech is a place steeped in history and architecture, the city with its souks, palaces and the labyrinth-like medina is best navigated leisurely with a guide or someone who truly knows it well particularly if you only have a few days. We spent a perfect week in Morocco last December and here are some highlights of the best things to do in Marrakech if you have at least 3 days in the city and 7 days in the area.

A Perfect Week: Best things to do in Marrakech in 7 days | Outside Suburbia

Most people planning a trip to Morocco manage to get to The Sahara desert, Fes, even to Chefchaouen, nicknamed the “blue pearl of Morocco,” on a 10 day trip. But we like to go slow and decided to save Fes, Chefchaouen and Casablanca for a future trip and spend most of our time in Marrakech.

WHAT IS IN THIS POST

Our 6 night / 7 day Marrakech Itinerary

We spent 2 days at Kasbah Tamadot resort nestled high in the Atlas Mountains and hiked up for traditional lunch at Berber house in one of the villages. The other 5 days we spent in Marrakech exploring the Red city and doing some side trips.

Our 7 day Marrakech Itinerary 2 days in the Atlas Mountains 1 day to Essaouira on the Atlantic Coast 3 days in Marrakech 1 day to the Agafay Desert

We flew directly from our desert adventure at Agafay to the airport to catch a flight to Porto, Portugal.

Agafay Desert near Marrakech | Outside Suburbia

Must See and Best experiences & things to do in Marrakech

The heart of Marrakech lies in its historic city center – The Medina, now a UNESCO World Heritage site. For centuries, the medina acted as a political and economic hub. Royals resided here, international trade took place here and the influence radiated throughout the Middle East from here. Walking through the many narrow alleyways of this 11th-century maze, life still seems the same in Marrakech in many ways.

You will catch a whiff of the fresh bread baking in the morning when people bring their dough to be baked in the bakery, there are small shops selling everything from produce to rugs, shoes and mass-made trinkets. Kids hurry past little trolleys the transport the luggage of tourists since the cars can’t make it inside these narrow streets.

The best way to explore Marrakech is with a guide | Outside Suburbia

On day one in Marrakech, we visited Bahai Place, Saadian Tombs, walked around the Jemaa el Fna Square and had dinner at Nomad .

1. Bahia Palace

We met with our local guide arranged by the Riad and took a taxi to the Bahia Palace to start our tour. Within walking distance of must-see Marrakech sights like Jemaa El Fna, the Badi Palace and the Saadian Tombs sits the intricate Bahia Palace. This 19th-century palace exemplifies the lavish lifestyle of the Moroccan upper class. Before it was open to the public, this property housed various Moroccan royals.

A Perfect Week: Best things to do in Marrakech in 7 days - Bahia Palace | Outside Suburbia

The palace features intricate entryways that lead to colorful mosaics and latticework, as well as elaborate walkways that lead you to courtyards and gardens. The palace was ransacked in the early 1900s but the members of the royal family continue to stay here occasionally. Today, Bahai Palace in one of the top places to visit in Marrakech. You will love the Moroccan zellij tiles, carved cedar wood doors and panels of intricately carved plaster.

Badi Palace was once a playground for Saadian royalty but today it is just some sandstone ruins. We skipped this Marrakech attraction and headed to the Saadian Tombs.

2. Saadian Tombs

The cemetery, which sits just south of the medina has more than 160 tombs filled with the remains of prominent Saadians. The members of this Arab dynasty are considered descendants of the prophet Muhammad. First used in the early 14th century, the Saadian Tombs’ intricate decor of mosaics, cedar ceilings, colorful mosaics and Carrara marble headstones are a must see Marrakech attraction.

A Perfect Week: Best things to do in Marrakech in 7 days

3. Koutoubia Mosque

We followed our guide as he led us through the Jewish quarters and more alleys inside the medina. We would have surely lost our way if not for him. After several turns and a stop for some mint tea, we ended up in the southwest corner of the medina to see Marrakech’s most recognizable landmark, Koutoubia Mosque.

A Perfect Week: Best things to do in Marrakech in 7 days - Koutoubia Mosque

Featuring salmon-hued walls and tile works, expansive archways, the impressive 253-foot-tall minaret (or tower) of this 12th-century Moorish looms over the Square. The mosque is the inspiration for several other religious sites, including the Hassan Tower in Rabat, Morocco, and La Giralda in Seville, Spain .

You have to be a practicing Muslim to enter the Mosque, so we stopped to listen to the prayer call and headed to the Jemaa el Fna Square that was bustling with activity.

4. Jemaa el Fna Square

The sun was setting and it was the best time to enjoy the square observed our guide. You can spend hours if not days in the winding souks, tanneries, fresh-juice stalls, and labyrinthine streets of Jemaa el Fna square but the square comes alive at dusk. You will find snake charmers, street performers and people in groups playing different games.

A Perfect Week: Best things to do in Marrakech in 7 days - Jemaa el Fna Square | Outside Suburbia

Over the course of our private tour, our local guide pointed us to shops selling all kinds of things — handmade slippers, shiny lanterns, exotic spices, rose oil, and kaftans. We were not shopping for anything other than a few souvenirs. But visiting here is a must, it is one of the unique things to do in Marrakech.

We bid our guide goodbye and headed to Nomad for dinner and took a horse and carriage ride back to our hotel to rounds out the experience.

On day two in Marrakech, we visited the Jardins Majorelle and planned a Hammam for the evening .

5. Jardins Majorelle

Jardins Majorelle designed by famed painter Jacques Majorelle and later rescued from a potential hotel project by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé deserve at least a whole afternoon. Strolling around the lush grounds with its colorful pots and art is a welcome breather from the hustle and bustle of the city. It is also home to the Berber Museum which was formerly Jacques Majorelle’s studio and Yves Saint Laurent Museum. The well-preservated rooms have a curated collection that tells the story of the indigenous North African people.

A Perfect Week: Best things to do in Marrakech in 7 days - Jardins Majorelle

If you love fashion, you can’t miss a visit to Yves the Saint Laurent Museum. Seems like it is a popular place in Marrakech and be prepared for long lines, crowds, and selfie stick toting fashionistas.

6. Get scrubbed in a traditional Hammam

A traditional Hammam is one of the must-have experiences and top things to do in Marrakech. The exfoliating glove and the Moroccan black soap are used for this traditional ritual. The plant pulp contains black olives rich in vitamin E and gets the skin ready to scrub. A rough exfoliating glove ( kessa in Arabic) is used by the attendant usually a woman to remove the dead skin. The benefits of a traditional hammam in Marrakech include removing toxins, increases blood flow and lymphatic improvement. It offers deep cleaning and purification of the skin and physical and spiritual relaxation.

Experiencing a traditional Hammam is one of the top things to do in Marrakech | Outside Suburbia

A hammam in Marrakech offers a time of relaxation and wellness where the skin can return to its natural brightness. Be prepared stripped naked and to see layers of old dead skin being peeled away! There are many Spas and Hammams in Marrakech that offer this and we opted for the experience at 72 Riad Living where we spent a night. It was private and intimate and one that still brings giggles in our family.

On day three in Marrakech, we rode Quad bikes on the Agafay Desert

7. Ride Quad bikes on the Agafay Desert

If you are short on time but looking for some desert adventures, a fun experience in Marrakech is to cruise the desert landscape on quad bikes. Arrive at the rendezvous point to meet your guide, who will have all appropriate gear and plan a route that has you riding on rolling hills of the Kik Plateau and down into the Agafay Desert with its oases and dry river beds. You can see the Atlas mountains in the distance.

We spent two nights on the outskirts of Marrakech, at the foothills of the Atlas Moutain.

8. A trip to the Atlas Mountain

If you want a glimpse of rural Moroccan life, plan a trip into the valleys and adobe villages of the Atlas Mountains. We spend 2 days at a kasba h in the foothills of the Atlas Mountain . It was one of the best resorts we have ever been too. I know I say that all the time, but this was pretty special!

Imlil, a village at the foot of the country’s highest peak, Jebel Toubkal, is worth a trip as well. From Imlil, hiked for a few hours to get to a restaurant to enjoy a traditional tagine prepared by Berbers . One of the best meals of the trip! Tajines cooked with fresh figs and vegetables!! The food was excellent and the views amazing – we could not have asked for a better afternoon!

The choices for day trips from Marrakech are endless, you can even go to Casablanca or Ben-Haddou – we opted for a day on the coast .

9. A day to the Essaouira on the Atlantic Coast

Essaouira lies roughly 3 hours to the west of Marrakech. It’s an ancient coastal town dating back to at least the 5th century BC. With a picturesque port, a not so intimidating souk, and wonderful shoreline, it is worth the drive. On the way stop at the Argan Oil Coop to pick up some fresh argan oil(they have a long shelf life) and handmade saffron soaps. Albeit touristy you might want to stop to check out the goats climbing on the Argan trees. Have some change for the goatherd, goats don’t amble up on trees for free!

A day in Essaouria Morocco | Outside Suburbia

Places to eat in Marrakech

La Table Du Riad at Riad 72 Living is an elegant and intimate culinary experience that serves seasonal and traditional Moroccan dishes but in a reinvented modern presentation.

Nomad is a must eat multi-level restaurant for many reasons. Go during sunset and eat at one of their two gorgeous terraces. The food is a modern interpretation of traditional Moroccan dishes. Don’t miss the orange cake.

Yacout is home to one of the most picturesque riads in the city, Yacout is a tried-and-true standby for both locals and visitors.

Other Things to do in Marrakech

If you have a few more days in Marrakech you can in a hot air balloon ride with Champagne toast and Moroccan breakfast or a guided shopping trip to the souks at Jamaa el Fna Square.

Maybe plan a day trip to Ben-Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed group of clay dwellings that once served as a trading post. The trip will take you through the Ourika Valley, the Atlas Mountains and you can make a stop at the Ouzoud Falls.

Of course, if you are willing to endure the 9-hour drive, a trip to the Sahara desert to spend a night or two in the Berber tents, ride camels, sandboard and catch a sunset on the dunes is one of the top things to do in Morocco.

The Medersa Ben Youssef , an extraordinarily well preserved 16th century Qur’anic school in the medina is another attraction in Marrakech you should add to your itinerary. Sultan who refurbished the Medersa in the 16th century had artisans from Andalusia to carve the intricate stucco. It is open for non-muslims to visit but sadly it was closed for renovation when we were there.

You might also like: Moroccan Foods you can’t miss when visiting Morocco

Hope you find this guide of things to do and 7 day Marrakech Itinerary helpful when planning your trip.

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Top things to do in Marrakech | Outside Suburbia

Note: This post may contain affiliate links, partnership or sponsored content. If you purchase an item via one of these links, we may receive a small commission at no extra charge to you. But as always images and opinions are our own. For more information on our affiliates and privacy policy at Outside Suburbia see here .

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Morocco Today

Local’s Epic Guide to 17 Best Day Trips from Marrakech

May 2, 2024

I love Marrakech and visit every chance I get for a whole lot of reasons. One of those reasons is that the city’s epic location makes it easy to enjoy some of the best day trips from Marrakech.

No really, the sky’s the limit since some of the best day tours from Marrakech will take you to a beach town to go surfing, a desert to ride camels, the mountains to go trekking, or an ancient village that has become a premier Hollywood filming location.

So, regardless of what you’re into, there really is a day trip from Marrakech for you. But, the best part? Many of these top day trips from Marrakech are located less than 3 hours away from the city (max).

Therefore, you won’t have to spend the entire day sitting on a bus just to get out for two hours and then go right back home.

Trust me, I have done most of these Marrakech day trips since i live here and think they are a great way to see Morocco in a limited amount of time.

I mean, if you only have a couple of days in Marrakech, then get out of the city and enjoy a taste of what other regions have to offer by signing up for some of the best day tours in Marrakech, Morocco.

But, enough chitty chat. Let’s have a look at some of the best places to visit near Marrakech right now!

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure for more information. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

#1 🏆 PICK FOR THE BEST DAY TRIPS FROM MARRAKECH: A HOT AIR BALLOON RIDE

The absolute best excursion on this list, imho, is the hot air balloon ride . it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience filled with stunning views. so, have your camera 📷 ready for so what are you waiting for book your hot air balloon ride now, 1. go on a hot air balloon ride.

Hot air balloons soaring through the sky above Marrakech.

⭐️ Rating: 4.9/5.0 (341 Reviews) Price: $200.00 per person Duration: 2 hours 📍 Meeting Point: Pick up included Operator: Marrakech Dream Ballooning Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!

If you’re not sure how many days to spend in Marrakech then plan enough time for an incredible hot air balloon ride above the city .

It’s a truly one-of-a-kind way to enjoy sweeping views of Marrakech during an awesome, 45-minute flight above the city.

It’s also way more affordable than the balloon ride I did over Cappadocia which also got canceled every other day due to high winds.

So, after getting picked up from your riad in Marrakech, you’ll travel just 20 km to the Marrakech hot air ballooning sight.

You’ll stand in awe as they blow up the balloons right before your eyes (I loved watching the process and thought it was super cool) and enjoy some pastries, tea, and coffee before a quick safety briefing.

“The whole experience was amazing, from the food to the staff and the balloon flight. Initially we were skeptical about the value for money, but honestly after being there and watching the set up and experiencing the morning I couldn’t recommend it more highly. Our pilot was so friendly and full of information on the area and the flight itself. The flight was very calm, so peaceful and relaxing. A once in a lifetime experience!! “ Susan ( read more reviews now )

Then, before you know it, you’ll be soaring through the sky and admiring sweeping views of the city and the surrounding mountains.

You’ll then land and dig into a traditional Berber breakfast inside a Caidal tent. Just don’t leave before getting your flight certificate since it makes for a cool Marrakech souvenir.

2. Oukaimeden

⭐️ Rating: 4.9/5.0 (1960 Reviews) Price: $74.92 per person Duration: 8 hours 📍 Meeting Point: Hotel pick up available Operator: Attractive Tours Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!

Want to visit the highest ski resort in Africa and enjoy stunning views of the Atlas Mountains topped with snow?

If so then check out this epic Marrakech day tour since Qukaimeden is only about an 1.5 hours away from Marrakech.

First though, you’ll get picked up from your centrally located hotel and drive around 1 hour to Ourika Valley.

You’ll take stunning photos, sip on local tea, and meet a local Berber woman extracting Argan oil before continuing on to Oukaimeden.

As you drive along quaint mountain roads and see traditional Berber villages made of adobe, learn about Berber culture and stop for an authentic Berber lunch with views of Sidi Fares valley.

“Such a fun day and a great group of people! It was a long one, but packed lots in with the women’s co-op, different locations, delicious lunch and kind local Berber / Amazigh people. Marwan (our guide and driver) was super knowledgeable and a great storyteller, stopped often for photos and took great care of us. The Atlas Mountains are stunning – honestly a must do when in Marrakech! Definitely bring layers, it’s much cooler in the mountains.” Mariel ( read more reviews now )

Afterward, stop by Asni valley and see the amazing apple, walnut, almond ,and peach trees the region is known for as you gaze out at the Atlas Mountains.

You’ll then slowly make your way back to Marrakech as you pass Tahanaout valley on the ride home.

It’s a great way to see a lot of Morocco in a short amount of time. Definitely a long but fun day.

3. Ait Benhaddou

A view of the Kasbah outside Marrakech and a long walkway across a river leading to an old mountain village.

⭐️ Rating: 4.6/5.0 (282 Reviews) Price: $86.86 per person Duration: 1 day 📍 Meeting Point: Hotel pick up available Operator: Tours from Marrakech Details: Read more on Get Your Guide now!

I’m not gonna lie to you, Ait Benhaddou is a bit far away from Marrakech. Like, 3 hours of driving far from Marrakech.

But, this place is beyond epic and a spot you’ll definitely see if you decide to do a 3-day desert tour from Marrakech (I did this and it was 100% worth it).

See, Ait Benhaddou is a historic ighrem or ksar that sits along an old caravan route that was used by traders going from Marrakech and the Sahara.

It is such an exquisite example of Moroccan clay architecture that it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

But, the awesomeness doesn’t end there since this is one of the best places near Marrakech that has been featured in Hollywood films like Gladiator, Babbel, Kingdom of Heaven, Lawrence of Arabia, and more.

So, sign up for this Ait Banhaddou and Atlas Mountains day trip and you’ll take winding roads through the Atlas Mountains to the ancient town of Ait Benhaddou.

Known for its iconic Kasbah you’ll learn all about the history of the area, and its people, before discovering the center of the film industry in Morocco.

Climb to the top of the hill for sweeping views of the valley and marvel at traditional clay architecture that is unlike anything you’ve ever seen.

“This is a lovely day tour! We have stopped on many beautiful places. Almost everywhere our tour guide Youssef had a little story. We had a really good lunch by a local family guesthouse. At Ait Ben Haddou we got an other tour guide who we needed to pay a little extra. We could ask any questions we had so we learned a lot. I think this day tour really is a recommendation, 10 out of 10!” Lisanne ( read more reviews now )

You’ll spend two hours here admiring views of the Kasbah, and digging into an epic meal on a terrace before continuing to Telouet and the Ounila Valley.

From here, it’s homeward after spending the day in one of the most beautiful places in Morocco.

4. Ouarzazate

A view of the studios in Quarzazate with many buildings sitting in the desert.

⭐️ Rating: 4.4/5.0 (3306 Reviews) Price: $38.24 per person Duration: 13/14 hours 📍 Meeting Point : Pick up included Operator: Click Excursions Details: Read more on Get Your Guide

Located right near Ait Benhaddou and Todra Gorge, Quarzazate is known as the gateway to the Sahara.

It’s home to the Taourirt Kasbah, which features a gorgeous, 19th-century palace and incredible views of the surrounding area.

You can also drive southeast through the Draa Valley’s lush palm groves as you make your way to the desert.

To visit, try this day trip to Ouarzazate and Ait Benhaddou . You’ll get picked up from your hotel and whisked away on a glorious Marrakech day trip into the Atlas Mountains. Just be sure to have breakfast in Marrakech first since it’s a long day.

You’ll drive for an hour and stop at the quaint village of Ait Ben Barka to enjoy the views and explore Toufliht.

Afterward, continue through Tizi n’Tichka pass and stop to take stunning photos as you stand 7,415 feet (2,260 meters) above sea level.

Get back in the spacious, air conditioned van and drive another 80 minutes to Ouarzazate and Atlas Film Studios.

It is the largest film studio on the planet and was even featured in Game of Thrones.

You’ll enjoy an 80 minute guided tour through the studio/area before grabbing lunch while admiring the awesome views around you.

“I really liked the tour. Badr was an excellent guide who kindly explained us the history of Morocco and responded to our curiosities. Youssef was an excellent driver and always available. Ait Ben Haddour was wonderful. just One little tip: in Ouarzazate there should be a little more time to explore studios or other activities.” Anonymous ( read more reviews now )

You’ll then continue another 20 minutes to Ksar Aït Benhaddou, the final stop of the day.

During your two hour visit you’ll visit the area and learn about why this is such an important UNESCO World Heritage Site before going back to Marrakech.

Be prepared for a VERY long day and just know that you will have to pay for everything a la carte (lunch/admission fees) throughout the day.

5. Imlil and Toubkal National Park

⭐️ Rating: 5.0/5.0 (320 Reviews) Price: $38.00 per person Duration: 6 hours 📍Meeting Point: Hotel pick up available Operator: Marrakech Day Trips – Tours Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!

What I love about this day trip from Marrakech is that it’s only about an hour and a half away from the city.

Yet, you’ll be transported to an entirely new world when you arrive at Imlil during this High Atlas Mountains day tour .

So, get ready to hike through Toubkal National Park and marvel at Mount Toubkal, which stands at 4,167 meters tall and is the tallest mountain in North Africa.

Just be aware that this hike is intense, although not technically challenging.

But, if you think you can manage it then you’ll enjoy stunning views from the top. However, you’ll need more than a day if you want to hike to the top of Mount Toubkal .

Otherwise, you can always just go for a leisurely stroll through the village and learn a bit about Berber culture.

Personally, I’d go with this Atlas Mountains and Toubkal Museum Day Tour .

First, get picked up from your Marrakech hotel and enjoy a picturesque drive through Moulay Brahim Gorges and Tagom towards Tahanaout.

Stop at a Argan Cooperative to see argan oil production and learn about local Berber argan production before continuing through the scenic valley of Asni.

It’s a place celebrated for its lush fruit orchards and for majestic views of Toubkal Mountain.

Arrive at Toubkal National Park and visit the ecomuseum to learn about the unique biodiversity of the Atlas Mountains and engage with interactive displays.

“We had Hassan as our driver and Ghafour as our guide. I am a Captain in a major international airline used to using these services. In 46 years flying, I have never seen a more helpful driver, safe, with good English, always on time with good WhatsApp comms the day before. The guide had a great standard of English. He made sure he understood what we wanted and then delivered. He was cheerful and took excellent photos throughout, and sent us others he took. Again great comms on whatsapp. Both went the extra distance to make a memorable day. I would recommend these 2 guys to anyone making a booking. We have already passed their Getyourguide details to our friends. Well done for a special day.” Anonymous ( read more reviews now)

Next, proceed to Imlil Mezik where you’ll commence your hike as you walk through walnut groves and past a striking Imlil waterfall.

Take in views of the river from 1,900 meters above sea level before enjoying delicious Moroccan cuisine (tagine, couscous, soup, mint tea) from the terrace of a local restaurant.

You’ll then finish your hike through Imlil and make your way back to Marrakech. However, you do have the option to extend your tour with a visit to Takerkoust Lake and the Kik Plateau.

6. The Atlas Mountains

View of the green grass of the Atlas Mountains on a sunny day with snow in the foreground. This is one of the best day trips from Marrakech.

⭐️ Rating: 4.8/5.0 (3675 Reviews) Price: $47.96 per person Duration: 1 day 📍 Meeting Point: Pick up included Operator: Tours From Marrakech Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!

Stretching out for 2,500 km across northwestern Africa and into Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, this incredible mountain range separates the ocean from the Sahara.

It is a paradise for hikers who want to explore unique terrain, walk through vast canyons, see incredible wildlife, and marvel at local Berber villages.

As previously mentioned, the range’s highest peak is Mountain Toubkal in Toubkal National Park.

So, if you would like to enjoy all that the park has to offer, sign up for this incredible Atlas Mountains full day hiking trip .

After an early morning departure from Marrakech, you’ll begin your journey towards Moulay Brahim Gorges.

Once there, you’ll hop on a camel and enjoy the ride of a lifetime since breathtaking views surround you.

Continue by vehicle as you pass by quiet Berber villages on your way to Imlil Valley.

Upon reaching Imlil, a local will greet you with warm mint tea before you begin a 2 to 3 hour hike to Armed.

“Really enjoyed our day in the High Atlas Mountains. Excellent value for money, excellent guide and great food too! Views were incredible, learnt a lot and we had perfect weather for the walk (in March). Visiting Agafay Desert for a quick camel ride, second breakfast at the co-operative and the waterfall were all a bonus. You even get to drive back via the road used in Mission Impossible. Highly recommend guide Mustafa and driver Abdul.” Harriet ( read more reviews now )

It’s a village that is the highest and most expensive within the Imlil Valley. During your trek, you’ll pass Ait Mizan, Targa, and Imoula en route to the Berber community of Ait Souka.

Along the way, you’ll stop at Tamatert to marvel at the expansive views from ancient irrigation terraces that feed local vegetable crops.

Eventually, you’ll arrive at a local Berber home in Ait Souka, where you can dig into a well-earned traditional lunch with mint tea.

Conclude your adventure by descending through the opposite side of the valley. Pass Taourirt and arrive back at the van that will take you to Marrakech after a glorious day of hiking.

7. Visit The Agafay Desert

Camels hanging out in a group in the Agafay Desert. They have camels on their back and that are standing together on a sunny day.

⭐️ Rating: 4.7/5.0 (358 Reviews) Price: $43.55 per person Duration: 5 hours 📍Meeting Point: Pick up included Operator: The Concept Tour Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!

The Agafay Desert is a rocky/sandy oasis (don’t expect to see the vast sand dunes of the Sahara) that sits a mere 40 or 45 minutes outside of Marrakech.

It’s a great place to go if you want to escape the chaos of the city and enjoy stunning views of the Atlas Mountains.

You can visit during the day or at night. However, I think a visit in the evening is one of the top things to do in Marrakech at night.

I mean, you get to go stargazing, you can watch the sunset, and don’t have to deal with the heat/sunburn during one of the best tours of the Agafay Desert .

Sure, you can hire a private driver to take you here. But, I like to make my life easier by booking a Agafay Desert Sunset Camel Ride and Dinner .

You just show up at the designated time and your local guide will whisk you away on an epic adventure where you can learn all about Berber culture.

You’ll even get to visit an argan oil cooperative on the way to the desert, before getting some epic Moroccan tea upon arrival.

You’ll then go on a camel ride through the desert and enjoy a beautiful sunset as the stars twinkle to life in the sky above you.

“Unforgettable experience with a magnificent setting to do with family, as a couple it’s cute or even with children without problem. Pick-up from your hotel, a beautiful camel ride of around twenty minutes but it is more than enough to contemplate the magnificent desert with its sunset. Then we had dinner with a good soup, a good tagine with a good quantity and fruit. I really wasn’t expecting a meal like that. The perfect beautiful campfire. Put your shoes closed or sandals closed and a small fleece for the nightfall.” Paul ( read more reviews now )

At the end of your ride, you’ll be welcomed into a local desert camp where you can enjoy an authentic Moroccan dinner and some delicious traditional desserts.

During your meal, listen to live Berber music and relax around a campfire before arriving back at your hotel at 11:00 pm.

Local Tip: If you have time, you could spend the night in the desert at one of the best camps in the Agafay Desert or at a luxury Agafay Desert camp for a truly luxurious experience.

Book Your Morocco Travel Consultation Now!

Nervous about traveling to Morocco and are not sure where to start when it comes to planning your tour?

Want to see the country from the local perspective?

Have an itinerary planned but aren’t sure if it needs any tweaks?

Don’t worry! I have you covered! Book a private consultation now and let me help you plan your trip. These one on one calls are designed to tailor your itinerary according to your personal preferences and needs!

8. Casablanca

The gorgeous outer facade of the Casablanca Mosque is one of the things that you will see as part of the day trips from Marrakech.

⭐️ Rating: 4.4/5.0 (376 Reviews) Price: $39.46 per person Duration: 10 – 12 hours 📍 Meeting Point: Pick up included Operator: Click Excursions Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!

Believe it or not, Casablanca is just a 3-hour drive from Marrakech. So, you could easily do a day trip from Marrakech to Casablanca, aka the economic capital of Morocco.

Generally, I suggest at least spending the night in a city to really get a feel for it.

However, I am not a huge fan of Casablanca and feel like this Casablanca day tour gives you the chance to see the main attractions without getting jaded by the size, grit, crime, and lack of transportation that make Casablanca a tough city to visit (just my personal opinion).

There’s no way around it, this will be a long Marrakech day trip and you WILL be spending a lot of time in the car.

But, you’ll get to spend five hours in one of the most iconic cities in Morocco, so I feel like it’s worth it.

Now, your pickup is early. Like, 7:00 am early. But, you’ll leave right from your hotel and head directly towards Casablanca.

After an almost 3-hour drive, arrive in Casablanca and walk along broad boulevards as you marvel at incredible, contemporary architecture.

“We had an amazing time with our guide Abdul and the driver Boja! Everything was well organised and we were able to catch the vibe of Casablanca. Best thing was to visit the beach at the end of the trip. If you’re in Marrakesh do this tour to see the vibrant city of Casablanca!!” Anonymous ( read more reviews now )

Wander through the harbor area, famous for its plazas and covered walkways. Enjoy beautiful modern designs before exploring the maze-like streets of the Medina.

Continue to United Nations Square and Mohammed V Square, before visiting the central market and the royal palace next door.

Experience all that the vibrant Harbors district has to offer before seeing local landmarks like the Lourdes Notre-Dame Cathedral and the illustrious Hassan II Mosque.

You’ll end the day in the upscale Anfa district, where you can shop for souvenirs at a seaside mall before going back to your hotel.

So while you deffo won’t be able to experience ALL of the city’s highlights, you’ll get a feel for all of the most iconic spots.

9. Palmeraie

Me and boyfriend sitting side by side on red quad bikes on a sunny day in Essaouira. He is wearing a black and white plaid shirt and I am wearing a red jacket and sunglasses.

⭐️ Rating: 4.8/5.0 (3054 Reviews) Price: $28.88 per person Duration: 3 hours 📍 Meeting Point: Pick up included Operator: MENARA QUAD MARRAKECH Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!

Just 30 minutes outside the city center you’ll find Palmeraie. It’s this super cool palm tree oasis on the northern end of the city that consists of thousands upon thousands of trees.

This oasis is so big that it is 5 miles long and covers 54 square miles. So, the best way to enjoy one of the most unique places in Marrakech is to ride a camel or quad bike through it.

Personally, I would love to try this Quad Bike Tour to a Palm Oasis and the Jbilat Desert . Not only is the experience well-reviewed but it looks hella fun.

Essentially, you’ll get pick up from your hotel, drive around 25 minutes to the oasis, and then get a 10-minute safety briefing before setting on your quad with a helmet and safety googles.

Ride through this desert oasis for an incredible two hours and enjoy stunning views, with circuits available for both new and advanced riders.

“The activity was quite nice, the only downside is that the equipment (helmet and quad) is a little (a lot) worn. On the other hand, the walk is pleasant, the guide is rather attentive and special mention for the superb photo session worthy of a photographer ^^ Tea break is appreciated ☺️.” Jodie ( read more reviews now )

During the trip, you’ll get two small breaks where you can sip on mint tea, eat bread with honey, and take lots of photos before returning to Marrakech.

View of two billboard signs and a ferris wheel and palm trees in the background in Agadir.

⭐️ Rating: 4.4/5.0 (354 Reviews) Price: $24.97 per person Duration: 12 – 14 hours 📍 Meeting Point: Pick up included Operator: Click Excursions Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!

Agadir is another major city in Morocco that is just a 3-hour drive from Marrakech (do you sense a theme here with everything being 3 hours away?).

Honestly, most people skip Agadir during their trip to Morocco. However, I think that’s a shame since I have been to Agadir and think it has a lot to offer.

Not only can you relax on a 10 kilometer beach (touristy but nice), but you can take a walk on the beachfront promenade before marveling at the historic grandeur of the Kasbah.

It’s a fortress from the 16th-century that is home to stunning views.

It’s an excellent place to stop before visiting the Agadir Memorial Museum. During your visit, learn all about the 1960 earthquake that basically destroyed the city.

Afterward, explore the markets at Souk El Had d’Agadir so that you can shop for cool things like spices, clothes, ceramics, jewelry, and more.

For the best experience, and to see as much of the city as quickly as possible, book this full day trip to Agadir .

You’ll get picked up from your hotel at 7:30 am and stop for a quick breakfast before arriving in Agadir. You’ll begin your day at Crocoparc and marvel at 325 Nile crocodiles.

Afterward, visit Agadir Ufla archaeological site and enjoy some stunning views before heading to the Kasbah of Ufla.

Next, visit gorgeous Agadir beach, walk along the promenade, and grab lunch before doing a guided tour of the Souk (market).

“We were collected from the hotel by Imad the driver and guide. We had two stops before Agadir. 1st stop was a coffee shop and 2nd to visit the crocodile park. The journey was pleasant with lot to see. IMAD the driver was well spoken in different languages, explained about all the sites we visited. I will definitely recommend.” Karina ( read more reviews now )

You’ll end the day at the Marina and can explore a commercial port filled with cool restaurants and bars before continuing back to Marrakech.

It’s a pretty fast paced tour but you’ll definitely experience most of the top attractions in the city. It’s also worth noting that the entrance fee to Crocoparc is not included in the price of the tour.

⭐️ Rating: 5.0/5.0 (23 Reviews) Price: $51.21 per person Duration: 8 – 10 hours 📍 Meeting Point: Pick up included Operator: Click Excursions Details: Read more on Viator Now!

Just an hour away from Marrakech by car, Asni is a quaint little town that is home to some breathtaking mountains.

For anyone who loves hiking, Asni is one of the best day trips from Marrakech since it is the ideal place from which to set off into the Atlas Mountains.

You’ll also love that a diverse network of trails are available, including everything from leisurely strolls to arduous climbs.

Feel free to enlist the help of a local guide or venture out on your own during one of the best day tours from Marrakech.

Also be sure to explore the surrounding Berber villages, where you can immerse yourself in indigenous culture and local traditions.

While some villages are reachable by car, others require a hike, like the 2-hour hike you can do during this day trip to Asni and Imlil from Marrakech .

It’s an incredible hike near Imlil that will take you all along the base of Mount Toubkal.

“We had a great day with Hassan our great tour guide who took us for a walk through the mountains, waterfalls and villages of Imlil area. We made a tea break in a beautiful Kasba watching the landscape from above. At the and there was a tasty lunch😀” Anat ( read more reviews now)

Plus, if you do this tour on a Saturday, you’ll get to explore a traditional local market in Asni too.

12. Ouzoud Waterfalls

Panoramic view of the waterfalls at Ouzoud. You can see large brown cliffs and boats in the water beneath the falls.

⭐️ Rating: 4.6/5.0 (8551 Reviews) Price: $24.97 per person Duration: 10 hours 📍 Meeting Point: Pick up included Operator: Ando Travel Ltd Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!

Want to visit the tallest waterfalls in North Africa? If so then sign up for this epic group tour now .

They stand at an astounding 110 meters (360 feet) tall and are only about a 2.5 hour drive from Marrakech.

I did a day trip here and thought it was fun hiking down to the waterfall and doing a fun local boat ride to the base of the falls.

I also loved that I got picked up directly from my hotel and that it was a small group of around 10 people.

We also got to see and photograph some local monkeys before started to climb down towards the waterfall.

“The driver picked us up at 8:30 to start our journey to Ouzoud waterfalls so we could meet our guide there! We had a great day! We saw the waterfalls, wild monkeys which we gave them peanuts, visited a cooperative where they make Amlou, Honey etc…. and finished with a delicious lunch at a restaurant located on the mountain with the view on the waterfalls. Defo recommend this trip, just be ready to walk a lot, and hike. Wear good shoes and comfortable clothing, take water, snacks and anything to entertain yourself for the road as it takes 3h to reach the waterfalls.” Leila ( read more reviews now )

Yes, it was a bit touristy, but the traditional boat ride offered stellar views of the falls. I also actually really enjoyed the food I had at the local restaurant.

The service was great, the decor was charming, and you got a bunch of courses included with your meal. I had the Berber Omelet and it was really tasty.

The views of the falls are also great, but do remember that lunch is not included on the price of the tour.

After lunch, you start to climb out of the falls and get to enjoy panoramas at the top before heading back.

It was a lovely day trip from Marrakech and I would 100% do it again.

13. Ourika Valley

⭐️ Rating: 4.6/5.0 (3442 Reviews) Price: $17.47 per person Duration: 8 -10 hours 📍 Meeting Point: Pick up included Operator: Click Excursions Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!

Escape the chaos of the city and enjoy the natural beauty of Ourika Valley.

After all, this magical place is located just 45 minutes away from Marrakech and allows you to explore local Berber Villages, gorgeous waterfalls, and more.

To visit, try this Ourika Valley & Atlas Mountains Day Tour . You’ll venture deep into the Atlas Mountains during this incredible day tour from Marrakech.

After getting a quick and easy hotel pick up, soak up the breathtaking scenery of lush meadows interspersed with traditional Berber villages from the 16th and 17th centuries.

Opting for a Monday/Thursday tour affords you the unique opportunity to explore a roadside souk and shop for lots of cool souvenirs.

“We had a great day out, beautiful scenery. Travelling to and from Ourika valley was comfortable and our driver was helpful and courteous. Anouar our guide was great and as it was a bit steep in places he helped my wife to navigate the climb. He was also good at taking some excellent photos of us along the way. The restaurant we stopped at was ok by the side of the river bank.” Michael ( read more reviews now )

See orchards brimming with fruit, terraced vegetable plots, and villages precariously perched on the slopes of steep hills.

Admire the incredible effort of the Berbers, who transported building materials up steep mountains to construct small, cliffside dwellings and cultivate the land.

Travel through a palm-filled valley as you follow the Ourika River and see Setti Fatma waterfall before heading back to Marrakech.

14. Essaouira

The iconic arched bridge with the boats is just one of the scenes you will see when you head out to Essaouria as part of day trips from Marrakech.

⭐️ Rating: 4.3/5.0 (78 Reviews) Price: $20.57 per person Duration: 10 hours 📍 Meeting Point: Pick up included Operator: Atlas Desert Expeditions Trips Details; Read more on Get Your Guide Now!

I listed Essaouira first as one of the best day trips from Marrakech for a couple of reasons. Firstly, I live here and ADORE this super windy, super quiet beachside town.

It’s super chill and Essaouira is different from Marrakech since it’s very cool (temperature-wise) and you can relax on the beach, go for a swim, or try surfing/kite surfing.

Otherwise, just go for a walk on the extensive beachfront promenade here before hitting up the Medina to go shopping in Essaouira . It’s small, super navigable, and a lot less congested than the one in Marrakech.

So, go for a wander and check out local landmarks like the Old Scala, the Scala du Port, and even a cool Jewish Museum too.

Now, you may be wondering, should I book a day tour to Essaouira from Marrakech?

Personally, I don’t think it’s necessary. You definitely don’t need a guide to explore the city and can easily hop on a Supratours bus that will drop you off right near the Medina.

Plus, Supratours runs like five buses a day to Essaouira, so you’ll have no problem getting there and back. As a result, you could also visit Marrakech as a day trip from Essaouira .

Tickets are also very affordable at around 100/120 Dirham each way ($10.00-$12.00) and the trip will generally take 3/3.5 hours each way.

It also gives you the freedom to take the first bus out and the last bus back so that you can stay in the town a little longer.

But, if you want to make your life easier you can sign up for this tour here . They’ll pick you up/drop you off at your hotel and will take you directly to Essaouira.

“The trip was great and well organized! Good communication on beforehand and during the trip. Ibrahim messaged us before, confirming the pick up location and after to check in how the day trip went. Faissal was an excellent driver! He got us there and back safely. We made a few stops along the way: a restaurant, an argan oil factory/shop and on the way back the same restaurant. Essaouira is such a lovely beach town. We enjoyed its beach and scenery. I definitely recommend this trip. It was good value for money.” Hannan ( read more reviews now )

The price also works out to be about the same (or cheaper) than taking the bus.

But, you can get delayed by late travelers and will have to sit in the van while you pick everyone up at their Marrakech hotels.

Plus, if you do the group tour , you’ll probably get to stop along the way and take photos of the cute goats sitting in Argan trees. If you like Essaouira, you could even spend the night at one of the best hostels in Essaouira .

15. Todras Gorge and Dades Gorge

View of the red rocks of a gorge in Morocco with water running through it.

If you’re drawn to natural beauty and breathtaking landscapes then consider adding Dades Gorge and Todra Gorge to your list of the best day trips from Marrakech.

The drive to these destinations requires a lengthy trip across the Atlas Mountains. Sometimes 6 hours so this may be a bit too far for some.

But, the extended journey will be worth it due to the stunning panoramic views and spectacular terrain you’ll see along the way.

Upon reaching Dades Gorge, visitors can wander through the dramatic rock formations and enjoy the picturesque scenery.

After all, this gorge is famed for its towering rock walls which extend upwards nearly 300 meters in some spots.

A river meanders through the valley and adds a picturesque charm to this amazing place.

Afterwards, visit Todras Gorge with its slender canyon and towering 160 meter tall walls.

Hiking through Todra Gorge alongside a river that curves through the valley and enjoy the awesome beauty of this natural forces at work.

16. Imouzzer

Located near Paradise Valley (just outside of Agadir), Immouzer is home to incredible cascading waterfalls that are unlike anything you’ve ever seen.

To visit, you’ll need to endure a 3-hour car ride. But, upon arrival, visit the Cascades d’Imouzzer by hiking through lush forests to the base of the waterfalls.

Feel free to do so either on your own or with an expert guide.

Other fun activities to enjoy include rock climbing, rappelling, and so much more since Paradise Valley is an oasis of tranquility that you will never want to leave.

Afterward, relax by the pools of Asif Tamraght Gorge and stand in awe of Tinkert Wadi waterfalls, which are only visible during the winter.

17. Lalla Takerkoust Lake

⭐️ Rating: 5.0/5.0 (4 Reviews) Price: $97.00 per person Duration: 1 day 📍 Meeting Point: Pick up included Operator: Caravane Du Grand Erg Details: Read more on Viator Now!

If you drive just an hour away from Marrakech, you’ll find this beautiful lake with sweeping views of the surrounding Atlas Mountains.

Visit during this private day trip to Lake Takerkoust,Asni and Ourika Valley from Marrakech and you’ll start the day with a 9:00 am pick up from your hotel.

You’ll travel through the Ourika valley, where you’ll see stunning waterfalls and charming Berber villages before stopping at a traditional Berber home.

Your host Malika will teach you how to prepare traditional Moroccan tea and bread before introducing you to the nuances of the Berber culture.

If you want, set out on a quick camel ride before meeting a local guide for a hike through Ourika Valley.

“This tour was amazing! We got an early pick up by a knowledge and friends guide. Before arriving at the foot of the Atlas mountain we stop at two Berber shops were the people gave us an education on how the rugs and Argan oil were made. The waterfalls and hike was spectacular and breathtaking.” Javier ( read more reviews now )

You’ll see Setti Fatma waterfall before digging into lunch at a lovely, riverside restaurant.

Afterward, travel through the valley of Asni-Tahanaout and take in lovely mountain views from 1400 meters in the area before visiting the Kik plateau.

You’ll then make your way back to Marrakech and pass the dam at Lala-Takerkoust after one of the best day tours from Marrakech.

If you are looking for the absolute best on this list of day trips from Marrakech, then I would day pick the Hot Air Balloon ride 🎈. Not only is it an experience that you will remember for life but the views are really amazing. Definitely something that you would need to keep your camera 📷 ready for! So what are you waiting for? Book your Hot Air Balloon ride now!

Map of the best day trips from marrakech.

Click here to see the full map.

Best Day Trips from Marrakech FAQs

Where should i travel to from marrakech.

Some of the best places to travel to from Marrakech include Essaouira, the Ourika Valley, the Atlas Mountains, the Ouzoud Waterfalls, Casablanca, Ait-Ben-Haddou, the Agafay Desert, and Oukaïmeden.

I would do a day trip if you are planning at least a 3-day Marrakech itinerary .

Can you Do a Day Trip from Marrakech?

You can do a ton of different day trips from Marrakech as outlined in the post above.

You can get away from the tourist and explore the real Morocco during trips to Essaouira, the Atlas Mountains, Ouarzazate, Ait Ben Haddou, and Essaouira.

How Many Days is Enough for Marrakech?

Try to spend two or three days in Marrakech . This will give you enough time to see the city’s major highlights and to do a cool day trip from Marrakech. If you spend at least 4 days in Marrakech then you’ll definitely be able to do a day trip.

Can You Do a Day Trip from Marrakech to Casablanca?

Yes, you can do a day trip from Marrakech to Casablanca. Casablanca isn’t my favorite city so I think it’s a great way to quickly see the city’s highlights without actually having to stay there.

Map with location of best day trips

That wraps up this post on the best day trips from Marrakech. Did your picks for the best day tours from Marrakech make the list? If not then let me know.

And if you found this post useful then be sure to join our email list and Facebook group now for even more awesome travel tips.

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15 Things I Wish I Knew Before My Sahara Desert Tour

Taking a Sahara Desert tour and riding camels into the orange-hued sand dunes, illuminated by the setting sun was a big bucket list item of mine.

Perhaps it’s because I watched Aladdin far too many times as a kid (sorry Mom).

Or maybe because after riding horses and going dog-sledding in several places around the world, riding a camel in a Moroccan desert seemed like the logical next step?

Or perhaps it was the solitude of the desert and the immensity of the dunes that compelled me.

Either way, I was sold: I’d absolutely be taking a Sahara desert tour from Marrakech on my trip to Morocco .

Whatever the reason, when I was in Morocco I spent nearly two days of my trip traveling by minivan from Marrakech to the Sahara Desert (and then back to Fes afterwards).

Was it worth it to go through all that effort to ride camels in the Sahara Desert? Yes, but… it’s complicated.

Photo of shadows in the sand dunes in the Sahara Desert in Morocco. A line of camels is walking in the desert on a sand ridge.

Like with much of my Moroccan experience, there were some serious highs and lows. This is par for the course for my time there.

Even though I read several blog posts about Sahara desert tours before I went, I wish I was more prepared for what an overnight Sahara tour would actually entail — which is exactly why I’ve written this post for you.

As a rule of thumb, I found that managing my expectations and not romanticizing things in an unrealistic way was key to enjoying my time in Morocco. I suspect it will be the same for you.

So, is a Sahara tour worth it? I personally think so, but I’ll let you decide after reading this post.

If you’re wondering if a Sahara Desert tour is worth the money, I can’t answer that for you directly, but I can share all the good, the bad, and the truly WTF experiences I had along the way so you can make the right call.

Without further ado, here are the top 15 things I wish somebody told me before my Morocco desert tour… and what I’d do differently next time!

Ripples of sand and sand dunes in a beautiful orange color in the Sahara Desert in Morocco

Table of Contents

My Top 3 Picks: Sahara Desert Tours from Marrakech

Fair warning… I have a lot of thoughts about my Sahara desert experience.

If you don’t have time to read the entire post, fair play — I’ve made it easy for you by listing my top 3 most-recommended tours. The clusterf*** of a tour that I took is, obviously, not included.

I’ve done extensive research on them to make sure I am recommending tours way better than the disaster of a tour I took, which I am not listing because it was a truly awful experience.

#1 TOP PICK

a person with a hat on throwing sand in the sahara desert

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 Day Sahara Desert Small Group Tour ✔️ Best bang for your buck ✔️ Includes all accommodations & meals (except lunch)

camels winding their way through a path in the dunes in the sahara desert

3 Day Private Sahara Desert Tour ✔️ Entirely private tour, just you and your group ✔️ Customize the itinerary more to your liking

sahara desert sky in the beautiful desert landscape

3 Day Marrakech to Fes Desert Camping Tour ✔️ Provides transfer to Fes instead of returning to Marrakech ✔️ Hotel, camping, breakfast, and dinner included

Morocco Desert Tour FAQs

How do you get to the sahara desert in morocco.

Man sitting atop a shaggy camel on the sand dunes in the Sahara desert at sunset, with orange dunes and pink and purple clouds in the sky above.

The best way to get to the Sahara Desert is typically by guided tour from one of Morocco’s main tourist hubs, usually Marrakech.

You can also take a bus or drive a rental car to Merzouga and then book your desert activities separately, like staying in a luxury desert camp and organizing your activities via them.

Alternately, if you really want to avoid the drive, you can fly to Errachadia Airport.

However, it’s still 2 hours away by car from Merzouga, and you won’t be saving that much time.

How do I get to the desert from Marrakech?

4x4 white jeep-like car cruising through the orange rolling dunes of the sahara desert with beautiful, dramatic shadows and landscapes

Visiting the Sahara Desert from Marrakech is the most common way to access it. But it’s not close!

It’s typically about 12 hours to the desert (one way), spread across two days of transit on the way there, going via the breathtaking Atlas Mountains.

On the way back, you don’t make any stops except to eat and use the bathroom, so it just takes one full day on the way back to Marrakech.

Alternately, some tours will bring you onwards to Fes if you are traveling north after Morocco, like if you’re following my 10-day Morocco itinerary which includes Fes, Chefchaouen, and Tangier.

In my opinion, a guided tour is the best and easiest option. However, it only allows for limited time in the desert itself: most of the time is getting to the Sahara.

Other more adventurous options include booking a bus to Merzouga, renting a car and driving to the Sahara, and flying to Errachadia and then booking a taxi to get you to Merzouga.

What are the best desert tours in Morocco?

The rooftops of Marrakech with the tall minaret of the mosque and Atlas Mountains in the distance on a sunny day

I’ve done a ton of research on what the best tour companies are after my subpar experience (which you can read about more below).

But here are my quick picks based on where you want to start and end, and if you want a group tour vs. a private desert tour.

Marrakech Group Tour: If you’re coming from Marrakech and want to return there, I suggest this tour .
Marrakech Private Tour: If you’re coming from Marrakech and want a fully private tour with just your group, I suggest this tour .
Marrakech to Fes Group Tour *: If you’re coming from Marrakech and want to end in Fes, I suggest this tour . *This is what I did
Fes or Fes to Marrakech Group Tour : If you’re coming from Fes, and want to return to Fes or head onwards to Marrakech, I suggest this tour .

If you are coming from Essaouira, Rabat, or Casablanca, it’s a lot further to the desert.

To streamline things, I suggest making a waypoint at Marrakech first.

What sand dunes will I see in the Merzouga Desert?

A caravan of camels following a desert tour guide in the orange sands of the Sahara desert on a sunny day

Since most desert tours from Marrakech go as fast as possible, you will likely see the Erg Chebbi dunes, which are the closest to Merzouga.

Note that on a 3-day tour to the Sahara, you will not see Erg Chigaga, the largest dune in the Sahara.

This would require different planning than your standard Sahara desert tour and it’s simply not offered by most mainstream desert tours as it’s not located near Merzouga at all.

If you really want to see Erg Chigaga, you’ll have to plan for that specifically as it’s further south.

This tour includes visiting the area around Erg Chigaga and staying the night in a luxury desert camp near the dune.

However, you’d have to get yourself to M’Hamid first for this tour, which is rather far from Merzouga and not the easiest to travel to, as this tour does not include transport to M’Hamid.

What are the best things to do in the Sahara Desert?

Person wearing a hat, sweater, pants going down a sandboard in the Sahara Desert, with a desert camp visible in the background

There are all sorts of activities you can do in the Moroccan desert — from camel trekking to desert glamping to sandboarding to ATV riding and more.

While it sounds like a lot of time, a 3-day tour actually gives you fairly limited time in the Sahara Desert.

Once you get to the desert, you will do a sunset camel trek, have a desert camp meal, stargaze, sleep in a tent and be able to watch the sunrise before leaving again — that’s about it.

If you want more time in the Sahara Desert, I suggest taking the bus to Merzouga and planning an independent trip there rather than taking one of the Marrakech tours.

You can stay at one of the desert luxury camps for however long you like and organize desert exploration activities directly with them.

How do I visit the Sahara Desert independently?

Eco tents in a glampsite in Morocco with views of the dunes and some desert shrubbery on a hazy day.

If you don’t want to do a tour, you can visit the Sahara Desert (fairly) independently by getting yourself to Merzouga, either by bus or rental car, and then renting accommodations in the desert.

There are all levels of budget and luxury for desert camps available.

Since picking out unique accommodations around the globe is one of my main passions I’ve cultivated over my near-decade of travel blogging, I’m here to help!

I’ve written a guide curating the 9 best desert camps in the Sahara Desert here to help you narrow down the immense options.

Red moroccan style carpets and sitting areas at a luxury desert camp out in the Sahara desert

There are some great luxury glamping options such as the Sahara Desert Luxury Camp and the Desert Bivouac Merzouga which offer improved amenities such as private bathrooms and beautifully designed rooms.

There are also more bare-bones accommodation options like Desert Berber Fire Camp and Dune Merzouga Camp .

Expert Tip: When pricing out your trip and making decisions, don’t just look at the base price, but also look for what’s included in each property and make an assessment based on that.

You may have to pay for transit, meals, etc. which could eat into your “savings” compared to a higher-priced but more all-inclusive experience.

Value in Morocco can be hard to suss out until you really get into what’s included and excluded on each option, so check the tour or camp’s inclusions before deciding.

15 Things to Know Before Your Morocco Sahara Desert Tour

You cannot do a sahara desert trip on a day trip from marrakech ..

Sunrise at the beautiful desert camp in Sahara Desert, Morocco, with lamps and sitting areas and tents visible in the distance

Merzouga, the gateway to the Sahara, is 350 miles or around 560 kilometers of winding mountain passes and dizzying curves away from Marrakech.

As a result, you shouldn’t expect to be able to reach the Sahara in a day from Marrakech!

At a bare minimum, you need 3 days to visit the Sahara Desert from Marrakech, all of which will entail serious amounts of driving.

It’s about 12 hours of driving in a van each way between Marrakech and Merzouga (not including stops), so expect to spend a good portion of your 3 day Sahara desert tour on the road.

If you only have time to do a day trip from Marrakech, you will simply not be able to see true sand dunes like you can see in Merzouga and Erg Chebbi, full stop. Adjust your expectations so you won’t be disappointed!

Cushions set up around tables to enjoy tea in the rock desert outside of Marrakech

If you only have one day for a desert trip from Marrakech, you can do a camel ride through the rocky Agafay desert and palm grove outside of the city.

It’s not as impressive as the dunes in the Sahara, that’s for sure, but you will get that quintessential desert vibe.

Prices are quite reasonable – you can check prices for one-day tours here .

With two days, you’re a little better off – you can get to the Zagora Desert and do a sunset camel ride, sleep in a desert overnight, and have a sunrise camel ride the next day.

Tours to Zagora are a little pricier than just a day trip, obviously, since it includes accommodations and more meals, but it’s still a good value – learn more about two-day tours here .

As a bonus in their favor compared to day trips, trips to Zagora also include a visit to Ait Benhaddou, a UNESCO site that is also a Game of Thrones filming spot.

While Zagora isn’t quite as impressive as Merzouga (and I’d say that is true by a good margin), it’s still a worthwhile option to compare.

Not sure what to pick? I wrote quite a bit more on how to decide between the two in this post on choosing between Merzouga vs. Zagora for your Morocco desert trip.

If you can spare the time and the money, then I highly recommend picking the Sahara Desert as your final destination (the three day tour option).

In my opinion, the rock desert and palm oasis outside of Marrakech is nowhere close to how spectacular the Sahara Desert is.

As a result, the palm desert should only be booked if you have extremely limited time or funds, but you still have a camel ride and desert experience on your Morocco bucket list.

The Zagora Desert is closer to what you would want from a Sahara Desert tour, but it’s still a ton of driving plus an overnight.

At that point, unless time is an absolute deal-breaker, I’d urge you to just go for the full three day Sahara tour instead.

It’s not much more money (about $30 more than the Zagora tour), and absolutely nothing in my life compares to the beauty of seeing the sun rise and set in the Sahara Desert for myself with my own eyes.

Book your 3 day Sahara desert tour here!

The Sahara Desert is even more magical than you expect .

People in the Sahara Desert on a camel trek through the sand dunes led by Berber guides

In my now 70+ countries of travel, I’ve still never seen anything quite as beautiful as the Sahara Desert.

That’s true even to this day, and even despite some rather negative experiences I had there (more on that in just a bit).

There is something otherworldly about the contrast between the orange sand and the blue sky, and the way the sand ripples in perfect formations that look as if they could only drawn by an artist’s hand.

As sunset fell, I almost wanted to pinch myself to confirm that it was real. But if it was a dream, I didn’t want to risk waking up.

The softness of the orange sand, the seeming infiniteness of the rolling dunes, the way that footsteps looked as they left magical trails in the sand, the inky blackness of the sky punctured by a million tiny stars at night… there’s simply no comparison to the Sahara.

Getting to the Sahara Desert from Marrakech is a royal pain, and yet somehow it is completely and utterly worth it.

Book your Sahara tour in advance so you can read reviews .

berber guides leading a small group of four people through the sand dunes of the Sahara Desert

The worst piece of advice that I read (and unfortunately followed) about taking a tour to the Sahara desert is that you shouldn’t book it in advance.

Their bad advice was that you should try to get a better deal by waiting for a tout in the souks to offer you a better price than what you can book online.

Here’s the thing I’ve discovered about trying to cut cost and corners in a place like Morocco: you can likely get a cheaper price, but you will not get a better deal .

What do I mean by that? You will make up for that price difference somewhere, either with poor quality service, bad guides, or through scams and upsells along the trip.

I went on one of the cheapest tours I could find, and I don’t recall the company name as I booked it from a random tout in the souk (as I was told to do by bloggers who I won’t name).

One of the worst parts of my tour experience getting told that the A/C in the van is “broken” on a 115 degree Fahrenheit day so they could save money on gas.

They put on the fan and insisted the A/C wouldn’t work, and they only put it on after I insisted many, many times… upon which, the A/C magically worked perfectly.

If I hadn’t insisted and begged for them to do so, I would have roasted in the car for hours all based on believing a lie.

I was constantly up-charged on everything, from lunch to the made-in-China scarves that they insisted was mandatory for the desert.

A variety of colorful cotton scarves for sale in the Sahara desert

At this point, two days into being scammed and disrespected, I was so stubborn that I spitefully tied a shirt around my head at this point — just to prove a point.

Oh, and I also got scammed by a rug vendor in a Berber village we visited… but more on that later.

Instead, I highly recommend booking your Sahara desert tour in advance with a company with a good reputation and a strong online presence.

Quite frankly, it’s not because of any merits of the company itself or the uniqueness of the tour.

View at night of a desert camp in the Sahara with beautiful stars overhead and a fire near the tents

All tours follow a similar route (typically included are the High Atlas Mountains, Aït Benhaddou Kasbah, the Dades Valley & Dades Gorge, Todra Gorge, Ouarzazate, etc.)

It’s just because a company that has put in work to establish a solid online presence has a ton more to lose.

Compare the level of service they have to provide with the hundred or so indistinguishable tour companies who make their profit off of selling to tourists on the street, for whom reputation and word of mouth means little.

A desert tour with good reviews and a large digital footprint will be more scrupulous and careful as to protect their reputation and their livelihood, and that’s a good thing for the consumer.

A pair of dromedary camels with seats on them in the Sahara dsert, resting and waiting for travelers

After carefully researching dozens Sahara Desert tour offerings and comparing them to my own experience, this tour is the one I’d recommend for travelers on a budget who want a good group tour experience.

With an average of 4.5 stars out of nearly 4,500 verified reviews, including several positive reviews from solo women, this company is tried and tested in a way that I’m comfortable with recommending despite not having tried this exact tour for myself.

You can check tour specifics, itinerary details, and prices here on Get Your Guide , which protects your purchase and provides free cancellation if your plans change.

A sunset happening in the Sahara desert with an orange-toned sky.

In the sake of fairness, it’s important to note there are some bad reviews, mostly from people who said that there’s too much driving — unfortunately, this is true no matter what company you go with.

Be aware no matter what you choose that the Sahara desert is huge, as it’s the largest desert in Africa (and the largest hot desert, period , after the Antarctic and Arctic deserts).

Morocco’s section of the Sahara Desert is basically on the border of Algeria, and you have to cross through the High Atlas Mountains, so there is simply no avoiding the drive.

Any shorter tour will not take you to the Sahara, but instead to far less impressive rocky deserts closer to Marrakech.

If you want to go onward to Fes after your trip instead of returning to Marrakech (a common choice to avoid backtracking, and one that I made), they also run a tour from Marrakech to the Sahara ending in Fes, which you can find here .

Be cautious and do your research if you are a solo female traveler .

The sun setting over the Sahara Desert with brilliant pink and dark clouds

I’m telling you this because I, in my eternally stupid penny-pinching ways, did exactly the opposite and paid the price.

I don’t remember what the exact name of the tour company I went with: something incredibly generic, literally like Sahara Tour Morocco .

I should note that I did this tour before becoming a more diligent note-taker as a blogger.

I followed the (bad) advice of others and just went wandering through Marrakech and booked it in-person from one of the men in the medina selling tours.

Again, this is what I was told was the best ( read: cheapest ) way to book a Sahara desert tour by other backpackers.

While sure, it was cheaper (I paid about the equivalent of $100 USD for a 3-day trip in July, after some haggling), I ended up having a pretty horrible experience.

They lied about many things: the inclusions, the air conditioning, how I’d get to Fes after my tour finished.

Shadows cast by camels in the desert , seen from above while sitting on a camel

But on the tour, I was sexually harassed by my guides, and even worse, I was nearly groped while I was sleeping in the desert.

It all started innocently enough, in my mind. I was sitting after dinner, chatting with a guide trying to learn more about Berber culture.

Without victim-blaming myself (as a person or two have done in the comments…) , I must say that I need to remind myself that North American (and specifically Californian) friendliness is not always the smartest move.

Especially with men from more conservative cultures, they can mistake courteous talkativeness as an invitation for something physical.

After a while, this guide got progressively creepier and creepier as the night got darker, continuing to move closer to me as we talked.

I felt paralyzed with the knowledge of what was happening yet also frozen and powerless to stop it.

Then he asked me if I wanted to go somewhere alone with him to see the stars better (um, they’re plainly overhead, but k) .

Despite my repeated insistence that I just wanted to sit and enjoy by myself, he continued to ask.

Eventually, I had to tell him quite directly that he was bothering me, that I was upset, and he needed to leave me alone. He went away.

Stars overhead in the desert, with some stars and camps and tents visible

It may sound simple enough, but for a nonconfrontational girl like me who hates conflict, it was difficult.

After he left, I enjoyed the next few hours a lot, chatting with my fellow travelers and admiring the vastness of the sky and the hints of the Milky Way overhead.

Later that night, since it was July, virtually all of the travelers chose to sleep outside where there was a breeze instead of the stuffy tent .

It was impossible to breathe in tents and there was a nice breeze outside. Meanwhile, a different guide set up his sleeping site about five feet from me.

He placed a large pillow as a buffer between us, which I took comfort in, and I fell asleep.

I honestly remember feeling glad that I had a benevolent guardian to keep me away from the creep who was hitting on me earlier.

Dark night sky in the Sahara desert with a few stars overhead and tent faraway visible lit up faintly

I woke up maybe an hour later to him staring at me, saying “shhhhh,” just a few inches away from my face, the pillow he had placed between us nowhere to be seen.

It was, in a word, terrifying.

He tried to tell me to go back to sleep, but you better believe my a** was up and in my hot stuffy tent as quickly as I could manage in my sleep-drunk state.

I didn’t sleep much the rest of the night, obviously.

Since I didn’t book online, had no plans to return to Marrakech (I ended my tour in Fes), or have any papers confirming who I went with, I didn’t really have a way to review the tour.

I also didn’t feel comfortable going to the police for a variety of reasons (namely, the language barrier and gender norms with a culture of victim blaming, etc).

If I had booked it online, I could have read reviews from other female travelers if they had a similar experience.

Had I been more smart about how I booked the tour, it would have been much easier to report the bad behavior I experienced on this tour.

This way, I could hopefully help ensure it wouldn’t happen to other female travelers down the line.

I still feel sort of sick to my stomach when I think about not being able to report this. I hate the fact that this behavior will likely continue to other women.

This is why I recommend booking in advance with a reputable company so strongly and emphatically.

Ripples in the sand in the Sahara Desert beautiful orange sand

For solo female travelers, I recommend booking online.

As I said above, I suggest this tour if you want to go onward to Fes, or this tour if you want to go back to Marrakech at the end of your trip.

Sadly, this kind of behavior is not that uncommon for Morocco.

Other women have had similar experiences with their guides in the desert (read Lauren of Never Ending Footsteps’ experience here )

I’ve also, of course, heard positive stories as well, though these usually come from men or people who traveled as a couple.

As a solo female traveler, I can tell you though that it’s better to spend the extra money and book a tour in advance so you can read all the reviews.

That won’t completely shield you from an assault or harassment, but it’s one small (but important) layer of protection.

A lot of fuss is made about dressing properly in Morocco.

I will say that I was covered up almost all the time and not particularly provocative in any way, shape, or form, and I was harassed frequently.

Allison wearing a dress that comes down to her knees and a white light linen jacket

When writing this post, since I didn’t have a personal tour recommendation, I vetted the companies and pored through the reviews pretty thoroughly.

The tour I recommend above looks to be the best, safest option for solo female travelers, and still looked to be a good option as of this update (January 2024).

If reading this in the future, and you’re a solo woman, I’d do my due diligence and check the reviews from the most recent few months, just in case there is a new guide who is causing trouble.

Read what is included carefully .

Camel shadow on the sand dune in Sahara Desert, Merzouga, Morocco

My Sahara desert tour included round-trip transportation to and from Marrakech and the Sahara Desert. This included pick up and drop off at your riad.

When booking my tour with one of the tour operators in the medina, I told them I wanted to go onwards to Fes, a common thing tourists do to avoid backtracking.

The tour operators said that all the transportation (including to Fes) was included in the price they gave me, but I never got that in writing.

Surprise surprise, when it came time to get a shared taxi towards Fes, we ended up having to fork out about $30 USD or so per person to get there.

I can say that the price was pretty fair, but the method of being duped, stuck in the desert with no other options, is a principle I can’t stand by.

But at this point, after nearly being groped by one of the guides, I was ready to get out of there — no matter what the cost.

Tip: If you want to go onward to Fes like I did and avoid backtracking, be sure it is included on your tour! I suggest this Marrakech to Merzourga to Fes desert tour .

Tour guides in the Sahara desert with their camels

The shuttle bus was comfortable enough, but they kept insisting that the A/C was broken after the first day.

This was extremely was annoying, as I was overheating and feeling incredibly nauseous with only the fan on, since we couldn’t open the windows in the back.

After enough of the minibus complained, they turned it on again and voila: it was magically working. Strange.

The tour included two nights accommodation, one in a hotel on the way to the desert and one in the desert camp itself.

The accommodations at both were of decent quality, actually, they were better than I expected for the price, to be fair. The tour cost included the camel ride as well.

a dish of meatballs served with bread in a tagine

Here are a few things most tours do not include: no lunch on any of the days, so you’ll have to either BYO food or add on another $10 USD or so for each meal.

No matter what tour you go on, you can be guaranteed that you’ll be forced to eat at expensive, mediocre restaurants — likely wherever your tour guides get the best kickback, unfortunately!

Most tours don’t include any beverages, water, etc. either so keep that in mind and bring plenty of cash for the tour.

Keep your expectations in line with reality .

rugs surrounding a campfire and some makeshift tents in the Sahara

The price range of Sahara Desert tours varies wildly based on the level of luxury.

One blog post I read said their (comped, I might add) tour cost $700 USD per person for a 3-day tour, which is expensive for many — and definitely an outlier for Morocco, at about 5x the cost of the tour I recommend.

However, it would absolutely be worth it for a special occasion like a honeymoon when you won’t want to be crammed in a van with 15-odd other travelers.

Meanwhile, on the low end, you can spend about $120 USD for a 3 day, 2 night tour.

You won’t be staying at the luxury desert camps you’ve seen the Instagram girls enjoying, but rather bare-bones tents with an outhouse and very few creature comforts.

But who needs showers when you can bathe in the gorgeous light of a million tiny stars in the clearest night sky you’ll ever get a chance to see?

Most tours cost somewhere in the ballpark of $100-200 USD for a 3 day, 2 night Sahara tour, and that’s a fair price.

The tour that I recommend shakes out to about $40 per day, which I think is fair given all the inclusions and its good reviews.

Check out the ratings & reviews of this Sahara Desert tour

Riding a camel is not at all like riding a horse .

A group of camels near the dusk hour sitting on the sand

If you’ve romanticized a camel ride in the desert, let me demystify that for you. This is no pleasant horse ride through a meadow.

Riding a camel is among the least comfortable things I’ve done, and I’m amazed that people actually even trained camels to be ridden after feeling how freaking uncomfortable it can be!

While camel trekking, my thighs were sore by the end of the first hour. I could barely feel my butt when I got off the camel.

The camel slid in the sand quite a bit, leaving me lurching and clutching on for dear life (camels are even taller than they look).

Anyway, the next day, I was given the option to ride on the roof of their ATV or go back the same way doing a camel trek – you better believe I chose the roof (though to be honest, that choice was mostly to avoid the creepy guide).

Despite my complaining about the discomfort, however, I’d do it again – the views are simply that magical, and the camel ride — as uncomfortable as it is — is a huge part of the desert experience.

Just be prepared! As I mentioned at the outset of this post, managing expectations is the key to enjoying your Sahara desert trip.

Going in the summer isn’t the worst idea ever .

view of Erg Chebbi Dunes in the Sahara Desert - at sunrise, in Morocco

I did my Sahara Desert tour in July… aka the stupidest time in the world to go to Morocco.

It was 115° F (46° C) in the desert the day we arrived… so that may have had something to do with why the price I negotiated was so low.

The car was hot and stuffy, but that was because my driver purposely shut off the A/C, something that won’t happen on a reputable tour.

Still, I’ll say that 115° F in Morocco isn’t nearly as bad as 90° F and humid in NYC.

I’m a Californian who grew up in a particularly hot and dry part of the state, and I will fight to the death that dry heat is 100x better than wet heat.

To me, the desert heat wasn’t a deal-breaker, especially since we arrived at the desert at sunset when the night breeze was already coming in nice and cool.

And at night, it cooled down to a nice 75° F (24° C) or so, and it was downright pleasant and beautiful with a light wind.

However, the tents were still like an oven that would have been impossible to sleep in, but outside underneath the stars downright pleasant (minus the gropey guide…)

On the other hand, it will be freezing in the winter .

Man wearing winter clothes standing in the Sahara dunes

Many people approach the Sahara Desert with the misconception that it’s hot year-round, but this is patently false.

The desert is home to wild temperature swings – even in the summer, a 115° F day dropped to a 75° F night, a 40° F temperature variation. This is standard.

This is true even in the winter. In the peak winter months such as January, the desert will be around 65° F / 18° C in the day and hovering around 32° F / 0° C at night.

And yes, it even snows sometimes in the Sahara!

If you visit the Sahara Desert in winter, you’ll want to bring some thermal tops (I like these from 32 Degrees ) as well as a thin down jacket to keep you warm.

Be prepared for long days of driving and some dull stops .

Atlas mountains in Morocco with a road below it at a mountain pass on a sunny day

It’s about two long days in a van from Marrakech just to get to the Sahara desert (not including the 12 hour drive on the way back).

If you have 2 or 3 weeks in Morocco , that’s fine – but if you have a really limited amount of time for your trip, it’s a lot of time in a car.

The views are simply beautiful, particularly the Atlas Mountains and the Dades Gorge, so keep your camera at the ready to snap some shots.

You’ll pull over a few times at scenic overlooks throughout the trip, which helps to break up the drive.

However, besides stopping at the UNESCO site of Ait Ben Haddou and a pretty gorge, most of the stops are pretty uninteresting.

Many stops were aimed at getting as much money out of you as possible as opposed to being interesting for sightseeing.

This is common with group tours, even small group tours, but it was cumbersome nonetheless.

I will say that they did give us a lot of bathroom stops, which as someone with a clinically small bladder, I really appreciated!

Bring some anti-nausea pills .

Allison, the author of the article, standing with a dress with matching seasickness bands and shoes

There are so many twists and turns on the road to the Sahara Desert because you have to pass through the Atlas Mountains, the Dades Gorge, and the Tizi n’Tichka mountain pass — all of which involve countless hairpin turns!

I get motion sickness quite easily, so I lulled myself into a state of near-constant semi-slumber for the two days with the help of my Sea Bands .

They worked okay at keeping me from barfing, but I would have preferred actual Dramamine .

Personally, I’d choose the normal version over the non-drowsy that I usually opt for, to better help me sleep off all those hours in the van.

I’d also bring some stomach medicine like Pepto Bismol tablets just in case.

Morocco has some issues with food safety and undrinkable tap water that can end up messing with some travelers’ stomachs.

I was fine during my two weeks in Morocco, but I know several people who got food poisoning while they were there, so better safe than sorry.

Bring plenty of cash (about $100 USD worth) .

A wallet on a table with 20 50 100 and 200 dirham notes

There are plenty of little add-ons throughout the Sahara Desert tour that end up driving up the price quite a bit.

Figure about $1 per bottle of water, $2 per soda, money for tips for various people you encounter along the way, and extra for souvenirs and strongly “recommended” purchases along the way.

Your guides will also take you to expensive and uninspiring restaurants for lunch, though since I wasn’t a big fan of Moroccan food to begin with, that wasn’t a huge loss in terms of flavor.

The cost of lunch while on your Sahara desert tour is usually about $10 USD per meal, which is about 3 times the price of a meal elsewhere in Morocco.

This is pretty standard for every tour and is part of the reason why the price of your Sahara Desert tour is so low.

Virtually all tour guides are getting a kickback for bringing people to the restaurant, guides, and shopping stops, so they make up the money there.

Be aware that most stops are designed for the guides to make more money

Clothing for sale at a stall near the Sahara desert

Pretty much every stop we made along the way to the desert was rushed and not that interesting.

All of these stops seemed designed for us to spend extra money, rather than to enjoy a particularly beautiful location.

For example, the stop at the rug store, the gift shops at Ait Ben Haddou, and the completely unnecessary stops to encourage us to buy specific scarves to wrap around our heads for the desert tour.

I understand this is how they make up for their slim margins, but I just wish the tour cost a bit more.

I’d rather pay more so that we didn’t spend so much time making a million souvenir stops.

Instead, I’ve had preferred to spend more time at the few stops that are interesting, like Ait Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate and the Draa Valley and the Dades Gorge.

But that’s just how guided tours in Morocco go, I guess, unless you opt for a private tour and can tell them you’re not interested in these stops.

Buy a rug with caution .

In a moment of weakness, I splurged on (what appeared to be) a gorgeous hand-woven Berber rug at the village near Tinghir, paying about $40 USD for a very tiny lambswool rug.

Mind you, when I took this Sahara desert tour, I didn’t even have a home — so why I needed a rug was beyond me… but alas, FOMO got me yet again.

Anyway, when I unwrapped it a few days later, I discovered they had swapped it out for another one entirely!

Despite not having touched the rug until I opened it, I opened it to find it completely and totally falling apart at the edges.

I ended up trashing it rather than lugging around a fraying rug for the rest of my trip. Fool me once…

Consider the pros and cons carefully.

While I had a mixed bag of experiences, in my opinion, it was still absolutely worth taking a Sahara Desert tour, as it was a huge bucket list item.

However, if I could do it again, I would have researched what tour I took, and not have just gone with the cheapest desert tour option that a tout offered me on the streets of Marrakesh.

My safety and overall enjoyment is worth more than a few dollars, and so is yours.

I don’t want to scare you from taking a Sahara desert tour: thousands of solo female travelers take them, and take them safely.

But in the spirit of full transparency, I want to share my experience with you so you can be prepared should any shadiness occur in the Sahara.

(And judging by the fact that my story is not unique, that is a possibility).

I will readily admit that traveling Morocco can be frustrating as a woman.

Adjust yourself accordingly: be courteous, but distant; not rude, but not friendly, and you’ll likely have a more positive experience than I did.

I’m of the belief that you shouldn’t let fear dictate what you do or take away from your dreams.

Even though I had a bad experience on my Sahara desert tour, there are a few things I could have done differently.

Guide leading a traveler on a camel through orange sand dunes

I could made friends with and stuck with other female travelers rather than chatting with the guides.

I could have vetted the tours more carefully and picked one with better online reviews rather than trying to seek out the lowest price.

To be clear, this is not to victim blame myself, nor to victim blame anyone who has had something similar happen to them. (Though a few people in the comments have chosen to go that route…)

It is solely upon the predator to not be a predator, and not on the victim to prevent harassment or an attack.

However, just like there are measures to can take to avoid theft, there are a few things you can do to make yourself slightly safer against harassment from men.

I hate that I have to write this here, but my experience is so not out of the ordinary that I feel compelled to share these tips.

Sadly, these are just facts of life for traveling alone in a country as unfriendly to solo women as Morocco is.

View in the desert in the morning in the Sahara

If you don’t like the idea of a Sahara desert tour, you could take the badass alternative and rent a car and driving out to the Sahara Desert , like the bloggers at Along Dusty Roads did.

But again, if you’re solo, this may not be the best course of action – road trips are always best enjoyed with a travel buddy.

Ultimately, you’ll have to make the call, but in my gut and despite what happened to me, I say go for it – the Sahara desert is something that must be seen to be believed.

Even with all the crap I dealt with on my 3 day Sahara tour — I wouldn’t take it back. I’d just go with another company, obviously.

What to Bring on a Sahara Desert Tour

Person tossing sand while wearing a scarf around their head sitting in the orange sand of the Sahara Desert

Motion sickness pills: Don’t underestimate how winding the roads will be leading out to the desert! You will cross all sorts of high mountain passes between Marrakech and the Sahara Desert. Motion sickness pills will be your friend. I had motion sickness bands and they helped (but not quite enough). I wish I had Dramamine !

Snacks: I didn’t enjoy the food at the lunches we stopped at along the way and I wish I had packed enough snacks to skip a lunch or two. Snacks can also be a nice pick-me-up when you need a little sugar rush after countless hours of driving. I like packing Larabars for a pick-me-up.

A camera and tripod (for night photography): You’ll want a camera with a zoom lens and the ability to use manual settings to capture the best of the desert in all its beauty. A smartphone won’t quite do it, especially for night photos!

This is the camera I used in the Sahara desert. I also suggest a tripod if you want to photograph the Milky Way and do some astrophotography — you’ll likely never find darker skies!

Tents for camping in the Sahara Desert at night, lit up by a fire or lantern, with the Milky Way overhead

Long sleeve shirt and pants: Even if it’s hot, you’ll want to have your arms and legs covered for multiple reasons during your desert tour. For one, it’ll protect you from the hot Moroccan sun… but for another, it’ll shield you (a tiny bit) from prying eyes.

A scarf: It can occasionally get windy in the Sahara Desert. Your guides will insist that you have a scarf they can wrap around you like a turban to protect your face from the sand, and they will make a stop in Erfoud or somewhere nearby the desert to buy overpriced scarves. Just bring your own scarf because the scarves you can buy there are not good quality and are basically single-use.

Layers (in winter): If you’re visiting the Sahara in the winter, you’ll want to bring warm layers as the desert can drop down to freezing in the nighttime (not kidding!). Bring a thermal top/leggings (I like these from 32 Degrees ) as well as a thin down jacket to keep you warm.

Allison Green is a former teacher who has been travel blogging since 2016. She has a Masters in Teaching and a B.A. in English and Creative Writing. Her blog posts merge her background as an educator with her experience traveling to 70+ countries to encourage ethical, meaningful travel. She has been a speaker at the World Travel Writers Conference and her writing, photography, and podcasting work has appeared in National Geographic, CNN Arabic, CBC Canada, and Forbes, amongst others. Now a full-time traveler, she has lived in Prague, Sofia, New York City, and the San Francisco Bay Area.

95 Comments

While that sounds like a really cool experience, it also sounds like quite a lot to go through just to get there. Good on you for making it!

I totally agree! I wanted to represent my experience beyond just pretty pictures of sand, so that anyone who’s considering the same can make an informed choice. For me, it was worth it… just barely.

Thank you for sharing! Your experiences will help us in designing our trip to Morocco!

Hi! Nice and helpful blog! I’d like to know the tour operator you got on this trip. I find it affordable. 🙂 Can you please drop me an email? Thanks!! 😀

Will do Ivy, thanks for commenting!

Hi Allison! Thanks for the post – it’s very helpful! Can you please email me details of the tour group you used?

Thanks Shumaila! Unfortunately, I don’t remember the tour company I used. I also wouldn’t really recommend them due to the harassment issues I had. You’ll find the same tour on offer virtually everywhere in Marrakech 🙂

Thanks for sharing! I’m traveling to Morocco in April 2019 and doing research about the usual stuff (scams/theft, pinching pennies, female travelers).

My plan is to book a 3-day Sahara tour starting in Marrakech and ending in Fes in order to save a little time and money, but I never considered renting a car for my party of two. Very useful tips.

Hi JD! Glad to hear you are doing the research ahead of time. It will pay off in Morocco for sure. I definitely think it could be worth renting a car, especially because it will give you more time to enjoy the desert. Hope you have a great time in the Sahara, it is such a beautiful place!

Thank you so much for sharing this. I wanted to see the actual Sahara too. I love spending the night in Sahara desert and do it every chance I get, but I’ve never seen one quite so orange–that looks amazing. That sounds like an amazing experience in Sahara desert trip but also not like the funniest experience getting there. The Sahara Desert trip also give so many activities to the tourists to do. So I was very excited to go there and do so many fun in the Sahara desert trip.

Thanks Asmaa, it was really beautiful, but you’re right, not the best experience in getting there….

Where does your luggage go? Is there a luggage restriction?!

I brought all my luggage with me as I went onwards to Fes after reaching Merzouga. There was no luggage restriction – my friend brought an abnormally large bag and was totally fine.

Thanks for sharing your experience! It’s very helpful!

You’re welcome! Enjoy your Morocco trip, whatever you end up doing! 🙂

it’s an amazing post very informative. Keep writing Thanks for sharing.!!

Thanks Mark

Thanks for the honest blog! My friend and I, both females, want to do this next year. I’m thinking I’ll book a well known tour from our home here in Australia instead of when we get there. I’m happy to pay more for safety and no gross gropey men. Though I’ve heard morocco is terrible for women travellers. Do you think two 30 year old Aussie women travelling Morocco and Spain will be ‘safe’? I’ve travelled a lot of Asia, Dubai, USA. But Morocco is my next bucket list adventure as is camping in the Sahara.

Hi Lucinda! I had some crappy experiences (mostly what I’ve written here) and so definitely recommend you book online and vet reviews thoroughly before. Get Your Guide is great because they are transparent about the companies they work with (unlike Viator which hides the names which I find so sketchy) so you can read reviews and they take down tours that do not meet standards. I think Spain and Morocco are safe enough, but I would pay for guides in the souks to avoid unwanted attention and stresses. I got spun in circles by people in Marrakech souks trying to get me to buy from their shops and I nearly had an anxiety attack – they put up all these signs saying “to the big square” which just led me… of course… into another shop. Keep in mind though that if you travel with a guide they will usually inflate the prices quite a bit… the guide I had in Fes brought us to a shop that charged about 5x more for argan oil than any other shop and we didn’t even properly bargain at those shops… in short I find Morocco safe enough but so, so exhausting.

Compared to the majority of Moroccans, we Westerners are extremely well off. Even if I am not rich by UK standards, compared to most of Africa, I am wealthy and can afford to travel, though of course not on luxury trips. So please remember that all the Moroccans vying for your cash are just trying to make a living and support their families. Of course they want to get the best price for their goods/services, but they are not malicious or trying to cheat you.

Personally I wouldn’t sleep outside as a lone female in the UK or Europe, so why would I think this is going to end well in North Africa? I think people let their guard down when they are travelling. I don’t do stuff there that I wouldn’t do at home.

I have had some dodgy experiences in Morocco sure, but no worse than in the UK tbh. In my experience on my many trips to Morocco, the people (especially away from the tourist traps in Marrakech) are very kind and welcoming. They will always help a traveller in need. And if they want a tip at the end, how is that different from the person who carries your luggage in the US?

To your second paragraph, because I can’t even with the victim blaiming… Literally, every single person on this tour was sleeping outside because it was 45 C during the day in the desert in July, and the tents were like being baked alive. Surely, the people who you are quite literally paying to guide you and keep you safe should not be expected to attempt to molest you if you sleep outside with, I repeat, the entire tour group. That doesn’t make me somehow deserving of an attempted groping.

I have no qualms with recognizing my privilege relative to where I’ve traveled. I don’t tend to haggle much and prefer to accept a slightly inflated price, knowing I can afford it. What I do not like, however, is having people lie to my face, and that’s what happened to me quite a bit in Morocco. I encountered plenty of friendly people who were doing tourism right, haggling, bargaining, that sort of thing. Unfortunately, I also encountered a lot of people who straight up lied to me, and the same goes for other friends of mine as well. That’s not acceptable behavior in the tourism industry, no matter what your poverty level is, and trust me, I’ve traveled to countries far more impoverished than Morocco and never experienced the same level of cheating.

Your experience seems to be different than mine – which is great, and I’m so happy your memories of Morocco are less fraught than mine. However, you are trying to argue with me about my own experiences, which I’ve tried to present honestly and in service of the reader so they can have a better time than I did. I find that insulting.

The worst of my experiences has also happened at home. Statistically speaking, that’s usually the case, just by virtue of how long you spend there vs. other places. However, out of the 60-odd countries I’ve been to, Morocco was the toughest country I’ve traveled to as a woman in terms of harassment. I’ve heard a lot of stories from other female travelers in Morocco being assaulted or harassed, including at least three fellow female bloggers I can think of who were victims of either assault or attempted assault. It’s something we should be honest with our readers about (even though you risk being picked apart by other lovely women such as yourself!) so that other women can experience destinations safely.

Thank you so much for caring enough to be truthful in your advice and warnings about everything. So refreshing to actually read an honest review. I practically had a nervous breakdown on my trip there. The harassment from a lot of the men can be quite unexpected and unnerving. I even a bad experience with a group of boys that looked about 10 or 11. They surrounded me and lifted up my long loose dress (I was trying to be extra conservative my whole trip) to pinch my butt. This is in broad daylight, with lots of people around in Essouria. When my brother I was traveling with saw, he ran over yelling at them to stop and pulled me from their grasp. They then started picking up rocks and stoning us! I’m not kidding. We had to run away as they continued chasing us, picking up stones and hurling them at us. Thanks again for warning women to be safe and the cultural differences.

Helga, I’m so sorry to hear that you had such a frightening and violating experience. This sadly just goes to show that no matter how women dress or act, we can be targeted at any time, anywhere. Unfortunately Morocco happens to be one of those places where it happens more often. I don’t want to dissuade people entirely from going to Morocco — many women have wonderful trips to Morocco and never experience anything too negative! — but I did want to be fully honest about how I experienced it, and I appreciate you taking the time to be vulnerable and share your experience too. Hugs to you.

Apologies, I thought this was a forum for sharing experiences and views.

It is – that’s why I published your comment, even though it was rather rude and belittling of what I experienced. However, you can’t expect to victim blame me on my own website and have me not respond to set things straight.

Kudos Allison. Speak your truth. I think you handled Kathy’s comments quite professionally 🙂

Thanks for this info. I am traveling with my hubby, but this is great as we begin to plan our trip.

Thanks Stefanie 🙂 I get thousands of comments and generally try to respond professionally… but I’m only human and comments can get under your skin, especially when recalling an unpleasant experience. Glad I handled it OK from an outside eye, and thanks for the encouragement 🙂

I hope you guys have an incredible and memorable trip, and I’m glad it was useful! Despite the problems I had, my night in the Sahara was a magical experience, and I strongly recommend everyone do one while in Morocco – where else can you see such orange sand and such an incredible night sky?

Bravo! I read this thread and support you 100%.

Hi Allison, Thank you so much for sharing your experiences. I would love to get a referral from you on your hotel/riad in Marrakech and which company you used for a souk guide. I’m traveling there in September and have been feeling overwhelmed trying to vet companies, hotels, etc. Female, traveling alone, although a good generation older than you. Were there any Marrakech tours you found exceptional? I’ve been considering Majorelle Gardens, an Atlas Mountain & 4 Valleys day trip. I’ve read other articles that mentioned leaving the friendly smile at home, thanks for reiterating. Thank you!!

You’re welcome Donna! I was on a strict budget (wanted to spend about $20 a night) and stayed at Dar Rosa, which was fine and safe but simple. I have a post on all the best riads in Marrakech on all budgets, which may be helpful: https://eternalarrival.com/travel-blog/africa/morocco/best-riads-in-marrakech-where-to-stay/

I had a souk guide in Fes, not in Marrakech, and it was arranged through a friend of mine’s riad (don’t recall the name of where she stayed). I know GetYourGuide has a souk guide so I would check the reviews of that. Definitely can recommend Majorelle Gardens — 100% worth it. I went to the Atlas Mountains on my way out to the Sahara and it was beautiful but I bet a dedicated day trip would be fabulous. I have some Marrakech itinerary recommendations here as well with suggested tours and activities: https://eternalarrival.com/travel-blog/africa/morocco/3-days-in-marrakech-itinerary/

Hey Allison

I booked a trip from Marrakech to the Sahara and up to Fez through Ando Travel. It came down to them and another and after reading your article I went with Ando. Maybe they have cut some major corners recently but the experience was terrible. Look into seeing if there is a better group you can suggest as this trip just kept stumbling from the get go. Otherwise I appreciate your insight to the adventure!

I’m sorry to hear your trip let you down! Can you be a little more specific as to what some of the problems were? I’m happy to recommend another tour company but need to know what the issues were with Ando to see if people would encounter the same issues on other trips (for example virtually all trips have a ton of shopping stops where they try to make commission, crappy overpriced food, etc.) I see many complaints to be honest when I do the research so it’s really hard to find one that’s universally rated highly – I’ve found one that’s universally pretty positive but it’s quite pricy as it’s a private tour. Let me know more and I’ll see what I can update!

Amazing and well-written post. If you want to experience the desert from Marrakech, you need 4 days. If you only have 3 days, you’ll have to drive a lot from Merzouga to Marrakech on the last day. Thank you for sharing

Very good tip Simo, thank you! It’s a lot of driving that’s for sure!

amazing blog post, Loved it! I just wanted to ask you about what you did with your luggage or what you can do. Do you leave it at the hotel you will be staying in after the Sahara desert tour , or do you take it with you on your Sahara tour, if yes can you take all the luggage with you? Thank you.

Thanks Shania! I brought my luggage with me because I went onto Fes. Most people who returned to Marrakech packed a smaller bag and left their larger suitcase at the hotel. There is room for luggage but not a TON so if your bag is very large, it’s better to leave the bigger bag in Marrakech unless you are not returning there after the Sahara

Hi Allison I liked you blog very much!

You are welcome when you like to return here.

Very detailed assessment, Allison. I read in one of your responses that you went from Merzouga to Fez. Was that through a tour or on your own? We will most certainly book the Get Your Guide tout but could not see an option of Marrakech – Merzouga – Fez.

Hi Arjun! I took a tour from Marrakech to Merzouga and then paid separately for a shared taxi onwards to Fez. However, there is a GYG tour available that does Marrakech – Merzouga – Fez: https://www.getyourguide.com/marrakech-l208/private-3-day-marrakech-to-fes-desert-tour-t54315?partner_id=3EC2E85&cmp=MarrakechtoFez it’s run by Ando Travel who seem to have a decent reputation overall (although I’ll note one commenter here didn’t enjoy their trip with them but didn’t elaborate on how so I’m not sure what was substandard).

Great blog. Very informative. It helped. Thank you, Nanlee

You’re welcome!

Hello Allison: I read everything about your Morocco trip. Thanks a million. I wish I had read yours before booking a tour with Gate 1. Since we leave town on Friday, there is no way we could catch the Saturday tour you recommended, Do you or other travelers know any decent 3-day group tour starting on Sunday from Marrakesh? We plan to go directly from Casablanca airport to Marrakesh by train. (Saturday – losing 1 day). Stay overnight. Then take the 3-day Sahara tour then catch the train from Marrakesh to Rafat to catch our tour.

I particularly thank you and other travelers for sharing the learned lessons because it takes courage (to share your lessons) and generosity (helping others to avoid them). Life is too short to learn all my lessons on my own. As a single female traveler, I had a very unpleasant experience in New Zealand. So, these advice are greatly appreciated.

Hi Kim! Sorry for my delayed response but I replied to your other comment which should hopefully answer your questions. And I also appreciate your support in sharing my story <3

Hello Allison:

Thank you very much for your blog and articles and passed on your lessons. I learned a lot from them. I wish that I have read them before booking Gate 1 Morocco tour. Now, we are trying to squeeze in what we learned from you and adapted it to our tour.

We live home on Friday and arrive at Casablanca airport on Sat at 2:30 PM. Do you think that we have enough time to get to Marrakech that night to take the next day 3-day tour Saraha? After the Saraha tour, we need to take the train that night to Rabat. Which is the best reasonable Riad nearest to the train station in Marrakech? Or should we go on to Fes with our luggage then try to go from Fes to Rabat to take our tour on Wednesday night? Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Also, do you know of any private tour for 1-day tour in Fez? My travel partner read many blocs and found none of the recommended ones have a solid record, without complaints on stirring shopping since we have only 1-day in Fez.

If we want to go to Chefchaouen, we need to take the tour from Fez, do you know any tour to Chefchaouen from Rabat? Again, thank you very much for all the information.

Hi Kim! I think you should have enough time to get to Marrakech the following day. If you want to travel comfortably and stress free I found this transfer: https://www.getyourguide.com/casablanca-l244/one-way-private-transfer-from-casablanca-to-marrakech-t24449/?partner_id=3EC2E85&cmp=MarrakechTransfer otherwise the cheaper way would be by train, here’s a guide here: https://vagrantsoftheworld.com/on-the-train-again-casablanca-to-marrakech/ .

As for riads near the train station – mostly you’re going to find riads in the medina, not by the train station. Instead, if you want a riad, I’d suggest staying in the medina and then taking a taxi to the train station, which shouldn’t be more than $5 USD tops (and should be less). I have a post on Marrakech riads here: https://eternalarrival.com/travel-blog/africa/morocco/best-riads-in-marrakech-where-to-stay/

As for private tours — I actually don’t! I did a tour with my friend’s riad’s recommended guide (I can’t remember the name of the riad nor the guide) but I wasn’t impressed as we were brought to many shops with ultra-inflated prices… we’re talking 5x the price for argan oil. The best reviewed I could find was this one: https://www.getyourguide.com/fes-l829/fes-private-full-day-sightseeing-tour-of-the-holy-city-t66936/?partner_id=3EC2E85&cmp=Fes but the reviews are mixed.

And nope, sorry, I don’t know any tour to Chefchaouen from Rabat, sorry. I personally went Marrakech–>Sahara–>Fes–>Chefchaouen–>Tangier using publi transit or shared taxi so my route was quite different than yours!

Thanks a million, Allison. These are very helpful. I will follow up with your lead.

You’re welcome! Have a great trip!

Thank you so much for this, Allison. I am a senior citizen with some back and hip problems. I REALLY want to have this wonderful experience but an hour and a half on a camel does not sound like a smart idea for me. Do any of these companies offer the option of a short camel ride with the rest of the treck done in a van?

Hi Vickie! Yes, with some back and hip problems a camel will surely be quite uncomfortable. I can’t speak to this tour specifically but I know when I went, there was an ATV which they brought all the gear for cooking dinner in the desert, etc. and I was able to ride this back in the morning. If you e-mail the tour operators about your concerns, you can most likely take the ATV into the desert and not have to ride the camel but still get to experience the Sahara. I don’t know if they’ll be able to accommodate the short camel ride as well but you can ask!

Very interesting

Hi! I loved your post, it is really helpful for women who are going to morocco. I tryed to book my tour with ando travel but They dont have tour during my days in morocco. Do you have any other companies to recommend? Thank you!

Hi Isabela! I’m happy to hear that. Marrakesh Travel Services also has a well-reviewed tour (avg. 4.4/5 with 300+ reviews) which you can find here: https://www.getyourguide.com/marrakech-l208/3-days-sahara-merzouga-erg-chebbi-t56040/?partner_id=3EC2E85&cmp=3Day – maybe they have availability during your trip?

Hello Allison, thank you for all of this very helpful information. A question- in the article you mentioned Ando Travel as a company you’d recommend for a Sahara desert trip. My partner and I would like to a 4 day (rather than a 3 day) Sahara desert trip from Fez to Marrakesh. Ando Travel only offers 3day trips from Fez to Marrakesh, not 4 day trips. Do you have any other Sahara travel companies that you’d recommend that might offer a 4day trip from Fez, rather than the 3day? If so, please advise! Thanks in advance, Allison!

Hi Aaron! This 4-day tour is really well-reviewed, but it’s quite a bit pricier (but looks to be higher quality): https://www.getyourguide.com/marrakech-l208/sahara-desert-discovery-tour-4-days-t17850/?partner_id=3EC2E85&cmp=4Day . I also found this one: https://www.getyourguide.com/marrakech-l208/atlas-mountains-sahara-desert-4-day-tour-from-marrakech-t15903/?partner_id=3EC2E85&cmp=4Day but it looks to have a bit of mixed reviews. Without firsthand experience it’s hard to find a recommendation but these seem to be the best reviewed options I could find. Hope that helps! Have a fantastic trip!

You’re awesome. So many insights on what to do, what to expect, etc. I plan on visiting Marrakech in March, I don’t know if I am going solo or not. I had planned on staying 5 days total in Morrocco. Do you think its worth visiting the Sahara Desert with the limited time because I also want to see the blue city and tour Marrakech in general as well.

Hi Rashida, those are all really far apart… I would perhaps suggest Fes instead because you can do the blue city (Chefchaouen) as a day trip from there. I wouldn’t suggest the Sahara Desert with that limited of an amount of time, unless you skip the Blue City entirely

I love your honesty….the good, the bad, the ugly. You’re very gutsy! Lots to consider. I plan to give the Sahara a miss. Thanks

Thanks Patricia! I always want to be honest with my readers, as I’d feel bad if someone had a bad trip based on incorrect or lack of information. Have a great trip, even if you don’t see the Sahara 🙂

Hi Allison, it was so comforting to read your post. I just returned from Morocco and a trip to the Sahara Desert. I went in September knowing it would be hot but didn’t count on it being “fly season” as well. We spent a lot for the “luxury” desert camp but felt so disappointed. Between the heat, the flies, and windowless tents (that were oven hot and claustrophobic), it was not fun. Then my husband got food poisoning from the “gourmet” dinner (not good food). What made me most sad however, were the number of scammers. It was hard to trust anyone even people who seem totally benign.

How nice to read an honest review as many bloggers these days are simply advertising rather than giving the full picture. Happy Travels!

Hi Rachel. So sorry to hear your trip was not what you hoped it would be 🙁 You’re definitely not alone and I hear that a lot which is why I tried hard to research better companies (though I hear mixed things about basically every company so it’s not an easy task!). It’s such a bummer that your luxury experience sounds basically the same, if not worse, than my own budget experience. I hope you have other positive memories of Morocco to help balance out how disappointing the Sahara was for you. Morocco was way more full of lows than highs for me personally, it’s a really difficult place to travel in my opinion, so know that you aren’t alone!

Hi Allison! Thanks for this post – it’s very helpful. I am contemplating a 4-day trip but am stuck on whether to do it round trip from Marakkesh or back via Fez instead. Which would you recommend?

It depends where you are flying out of and how you’re planning your journey. If you want to see Fes and Chefchaouen then I’d suggest going onwards to Fes rather than going all the way back to Marrakech and backtracking. But if you’re flying out of Marrakech, or want to spend more time along the coast such as in Essaouira etc, then going back to Marrakech is a good idea. Personally, I really didn’t like Fes that much, but I loved Chefchaouen and it made sense because I took the ferry to Spain via Tangier. But for other itineraries it’s hard to say 🙂

Hi Allison,

I just wanted to say that your review was super informative and I’ll definitely be booking the company you recommended for our trip this coming Christmas. Thank you so much for the writeup!

You’re welcome! I’d love to know how it goes after so I can keep future travelers in the loop on what my readers recommend! Keep us posted 🙂

Hi Allison, thank you for all the info. Would you recommend a desert tour to a solo (male) traveler? I will be solo traveling for the first time and although I enjoy the perks coming from that, I feel that a 3-day experience could be a bit extreme. What are your suggestions?

Hi Luigi! If you want to see the desert, yes. If you want to go to the Sahara, it is a minimum of 3 days… unfortunately there’s no getting around that due to how far away it is and how you have mountains in between Marrakech and the Sahara. I was glad I went, despite my own personal bad experience, and still recommend it!

Do you think a private tour is worth it compared to a shared tour for a group of 8? For us it is 1.5x more expensive for the private tour. This is for 3-Day Sahara Desert To Merzouga From Marrakech

Hi Chippy, I’d be inclined to suggest the private tour because you’ll have more control over the itinerary and its stops, especially if you are a group as large as 8. I think you’d have a better time!

Hi! This is super helpful, thanks for the review. I was wondering if by any chance you could remember the shitty tour you experienced if you saw a name or logo? I booked one here [redacted] nd when i read your review i got scared it might be the same! I’m going in January so I’d still have time to change if you happened to remember or recognized it. Thanks!

Hi Natalia! That doesn’t look to be the same tour I took… but I couldn’t guarantee it [I removed the link as its against my comment policy :)]

I hope you have a fantastic trip regardless of whether you go with them or the company I suggested!

was our first time visiting Morocco and we definitely made the right choice by choosing this tour. I picked this one specifically because I didn’t want a tour company that had seen so many tourists that they start to not care about taking people around their country. Where it’s more a money-making business, where you are part of a big group and you will not receive any sort of bespoke individual experience. We were so lucky to have ismail as our tour guide as he was a genuine and nice person, who loves his country.

From the very first email ismail was extremely polite and helpful, more than any other tour company I’d spoken to. We ended up travelling with just him, my husband and me. We went from Marrakech to Ait Ben Haddou, to the Todras, Atlas Mountains, several Oasis and obviously to the Sahara desert. It was still a whistle stop tour as we only had 3 days but it was definitely the way to go. Having stayed in Marrakech for 2 days I was very much ready to leave the hustle and bustle (and generally being harassed at the souks) to explore what Morocco was really about.

Todras gorge was really lovely. There had been some rainfall so you could walk into some of the water. Really nice. It was quite busy though, but no more than the other big landmarks like Ait Ben Haddou.

My favourite place was actually Skoura, one of the little Oasis on the first night. The place we stayed was run by a family business and you can really tell. It was remote, but stunning. Not at all touristy, and very authentic. The food was the best I’d had in Morocco, just divine! Just as an aside, although I love tagines, you do want some change, so this was the one that stood out as it felt a little more authentic. Most of the food you’ll get in Morocco (not just in the tour) is very similar — varying types of tagines, wraps or kebabs, with rice or salad. Not a huge amount of variety unless you really look for it. We loved Nomad in Marrakech, this restaurant has amazing food!

The trip to the Sahara was amazing, albeit short. We set off on camel when the sun was quite low, maybe 6–7pm and then arrived at the camp by nightfall. We had dinner with a few other people on the tour, and the locals did a song and dance for half an hour or so. We then ventured out to the desert to see the stars, and although we went back to the camp around 1am, the moon was so bright you could have slept under it for sure. The temperature was perfect. However we had to leave at about 5am to catch the sunset, so thought we’d better sleep in the bed. The camp was extremely clean and nice given it’s in the middle of nowhere, so if you’re a clean freak like me, you’ll have no problems! There’s good toilets and running water. You sleep in a type of metal room, which is probably ventilated but still quite warm. The beds aren’t exactly comfy, quite hard really, but there’s electricity and sheets, what else do you need!

You can see more of my adventures and what I experienced from my pictures. All in all, what you see is what you get. The tour speaks for itself. You visit all the places on the itinerary and you’re greeted with nice people and go to places that are really quite unique. On top of that, you’ll be with a guide who knows a good deal about Morocco and will work hard to make sure you have a good time. We were even privileged enough to see ismail home, meet his family (they were very shy!) But an insight into how Moroccan people actually live? That is something you can’t buy.

Thanks for sharing your experience in so much detail!

Well, I am SO glad I saw this as I am planning my trip to Morocco. I love your writing and the info you include is so helpful. Keep writing!!

I just have to say this was incredibly informative and very in depth! Well written, thank you so much for sharing 🙂 Did you feel the tourists sites along the way to Merzouga were worth the stops? we’re torn between selecting a 3day/2night tour that is spent either 2 nights in the desert (basically driving from marrakech>merzouga in one day and back on the third day) or 1 night in a hotel in Dades and one night at the desert camp (Marrakech>Dades hotel, Dades>Merzouga, Merzouga>Marrakech) that has more time for tourist stops along the way. Again great blog post! 😀 can’t wait to experience this (the good parts lol) for ourselves.

I thought the tour stops besides Ait Ben Haddou were a bit dull – so I’d go for one with less stops and more time in the desert!

Hello Allison,

I am headed to Lisbon at the end of the summer and then on to Morocco. I am not sure that I will have enough time to experience the Sahara the way you did. Any suggestions on what I could do to get some of the experience?

If you only have time for a day trip I suggest doing a trip to the Agafay Desert outside of Marrakech, you could hot air balloon or ride camels there.

Such a great and informative article about Morocco desert tours and the Sahara excursions. Thank you for sharing

Thanks Alex. Have fun!

We are flying into casablanca this week. Then making our way to marrakech. So hard to pick a desert tour company and a hotel. We still havent booked anything.

It is overwhelming – I hope my article was helpful to suggest where to book?

This article is great. I hope you can help provide more info – Unfortunately I suffer from motion sickness and signed up with a group of women who’s organization has planned a trip to morocco with a jaunt at the end to the Sahara desert from Fez. I am nervous whether or not this is the trip for me due to my motion sickness. I would love to correspond with you more.

I can’t know how bad your motion sickness is but for me I found it quite dizzying. But I also went on a horrible tour (not linked here) where they pretended the air conditioning was broken because they were trying to save money by not keeping it on and just using the open windows. I would suggest Dramamine.

Great post Allison!

My girlfriend and I are planning to rent a car from Marrakech Airport going to Merzouga. How would you describe the roads and driving this route? Is it safe in your opinion?

Thanks, Rune

The driving is very winding but other than that I think it is pretty well paved and safe. It is very long though so prepare for 8+ hours of driving.

Thank you. I think this is very helpful information.

You’re welcome Brenda, enjoy!

This looks like an amazing tour! I’ve always wanted to explore the Sahara Desert and this looks like the perfect opportunity. Can’t wait to hear more about it!

Have a great time!

I really enjoyed all the details you put into this itinerary Thank You! I will definitely do my booking via your preferred links. One question, after the 3 DAY Shara Tour how many hours’ drive is it to go on to FEZ? Curious if it’s also a brutal long drive as it was to get to Sahara from Marrakech.

Thanks , Mike

Hi Mike! It was also a long drive but we did it in a straight shot with very minimal stops (bathroom breaks, lunch) so it wasn’t too bad. I don’t recall exactly, but it’s 460km and it’s estimated to take about 7-8 hours without stopping which feels about right.

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The 7 Best Day Trips From Marrakech

The 7 Best Day Trips From Marrakech You Shouldn’t Miss

1. Ouzoud Waterfalls

2. Aït-Ben Haddou & Ouarzazate – My favorite day trip from Marrakech

3. Agafay Desert

4. Essaouira

5. Imouzzer

6. Casablanca

7. Dades Gorges – The most adventurous day trip from Marrakech

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taxi drivers drive a hard bargain

you will get lost

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Exquisite Escapes: Discovering the 8 Unforgettable Day Trips from Marrakech

Table of contents

Morocco Travel Essentials

15 Best Day Trips from Marrakech

1. Ouzoud Falls

2. Palm Groves of Marrakech

3. Sahara Desert

4. Agafay Desert

5. Essaouira

7. Casablanca

8. The Atlas Mountains

9. Ourika Valley

12. Ait Benhaddou