Enjoy The Authentic Vibes In Morocco
Welcome to Morocco, Marrakech! This fabulous country in Northern Africa is a special place brimming with personality. Its population mainly consists of Arabs and Berbers (Amazigh). It is known for its famous souks, classic mint tea, argan oil, delicious Moroccan food (mainly its tajines), spices, mountains, dunes, camels, and the Sahara Desert.
With plenty to see and do, a trip to Morocco should be on your list. There are many locations to explore, but I’ll tell you what Marrakech offers in this blog.
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Things To Consider Before Going To Morocco
Morocco is generally a safe place to explore, but like everywhere, including your home country, you should be vigilant. Although Morocco’s culture differs from the UK’s, you should respect all countries’ rules, cultural values, and norms.
During Ramadan, activities and restaurants might operate at different hours or be unavailable, so check the activities you plan on doing to avoid disappointment. Morocco also gets unbelievably hot, so cover yourself in sun lotion for that pain-free tan.
Where To Stay In Marrakech
Medina: The historic Medina of Marrakech is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the city’s heart. It is within walking distance of iconic landmarks, allowing you to immerse yourself in the city’s rich culture and explore its narrow alleyways, historic sites, and vibrant markets. Many raids (traditional Moroccan houses with an interior garden or courthouse) have been converted into charming boutique hotels.
Gueliz: Gueliz is a modern district of Marrakech that offers an atmosphere different from the Medina. It’s known for its Western-style amenities and features wide boulevards, trendy shops, and various restaurants and cafes.
Savoy Le Grand Hotel
Marrakech is home to some fantastic hotels. I visited Morocco twice and stayed at two different great hotels. They both offered different atmospheres, with the Savoy Le Grand Hotel being more peaceful and reserved, perfect if you are looking for something aesthetically appealing and quiet.
RIU Tikida Palmeraie Hotel
The other hotel was the RIU Tikida Palmeraie Hotel, which was more active, all-inclusive and filled with lively evening entertainment and friendly staff.
My Other Hotel Picks:
More Guides:
Ourika Valley & Atlas Mountains Day Tour
Ourika Valley Hike
This Ourika Valley and Atlas Mountains Day Tour takes you from your hotel to the Ourika Valleys, located in the breathtaking views of the Atlas Mountains. You’ll visit a traditional Berber house and a women’s Argan oils association to see how this famous oil is made, with a chance to purchase as much oil as you like for great prices.
You’ll then go on a fantastic trek to Ourika Valley, a must-do in Morocco. The view at the top is worth the hike; with help from your guide, you’ll be proud of this achievement. Be aware that this trek is a moderate-level climb and very high up, so wear suitable footwear.
The hike is a 90-minute walk from beginning to end, with a guide assisting throughout. The tours are usually half-day or full-day, with other options for added extras, such as a camel ride or lunch by the river.
Waterfalls, lunch by the river and Argan oil explanation
Food Class Cooking Experience
I had never had a food class cooking experience before, so I was pretty excited when I saw this experience available. As a foodie, it goes hand in hand with what I love—chicken. We booked the Food Class Cooking Tour and had a chef called Leila, who was great to learn from and cook with for our first Moroccan dish.
Selecting the vegetables on the food class cooking tour before prepping to cook
First, Leila will take you to the market to pick out the vegetables you’ll be eating, from carrots to aubergine, a variety to make for your sides.
Once at Leila’s home, the food class will begin; everything will be prepped, from the vegetables to the chicken. We seasoned the vegetables in ways we’ve never considered before and learned a lot of skills and tips. The tajine went on the stove while we enjoyed our starters: seasoned vegetables, eggplant salad, potato salad, cucumber salad, zucchini salad, and carrot salad with bread; it was delicious!
The tajine lemon chicken was so good that it fell off the bone and melted into our mouths. Yum, yum, yummy! We finished the three-course meal with a light dessert: thin waffles, yoghurt, cinnamon, and strawberries. My favourite dish from the food class was the carrots seasoned with cinnamon, sugar, olive oil, ginger, salt, and sesame seeds.
Cooking up a storm on our food class experience, yummy lemon chicken tajine with veggies
This four-hour food class was our first food class cooking experience, and it was fantastic; I highly recommend experiencing these Moroccan delicacies.
You can find great cooking tips tutorials on Leila’s Instagram @Cheflailacookingclasses
A few other food classes offer different dishes and private lessons if you’d like to cook alone with your group instead.
Pottery Class
Another new experience I tried was pottery class; let me tell you, it is so fun! You’ll feel like a kid again as you spend two hours getting messy and creative in this Pottery Class Experience.
The space to be creative at the pottery class ft. Mum
Four sisters own this quirky, cool place. This pottery class is equipped with everything needed to make pottery and ceramics or embroider a bag in the fabric with complete freedom. You’ll enjoy making different vases and intuitive designs in this relaxed environment. If you’ve never done a pottery class before and want to try a different type of excursion, this is the perfect class to choose.
Our first-ever pottery pieces
You can check out their website for their workshops and reserve your 2-hour pottery class experience directly for £20. Also, follow them on their fast-growing Instagram @Iamsaty_handmade_marrakech, where they post their fantastic work and reels.
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Souks Market
There are three main souks in Marrakesh: Souk Semmarine, Souk Nejjarine, and Souk El-K. Souks mean ‘market’ and are sometimes referred to as the Medina, indicating where a particular product can be found. Souks are bustling markets that offer textiles, food, carpets, leather goods, spices, handicrafts, and various products; they’re undoubtedly the most colourful and liveliest I’ve ever seen.
Enjoying the night-time food and smoothie stalls at the Souks
Jemaa el Fnaa Square in Marrakech is where hundreds of locals meet daily to enjoy the streets’ entertainment and the hustle and bustle, from storytellers, musicians, acrobats, snake charmers, and jugglers to performers. It offers a lively atmosphere and is home to local Souks with some of the best stalls in Morocco.
On a tour around the Souks, your guide will show you the best stalls and give you insider tips about the quality of items. To end your tour, you’ll learn how to interact with and bargain with local sellers before enjoying the famous Moroccan tea and a ‘msemmen’ (local pancake).
Desert & Quad Bikes
In a country with dunes and desserts, it’s hard to resist quad bikes or buggy tours, which are favourites amongst many. Quad bikes are a fun way to let loose for those seeking an adrenaline rush. There are a few Quad Bike Tours to choose from.
Super fun quad bikes in the desert
Before the quad bikes, you’ll discover traditional Berber villages and meet locals to learn about their way of life. As with many tours, you’ll enjoy Moroccan tea in the Sahara desert or the Jibilets Desert before hopping onto quad bikes.
Camels
Camels in the desert
Another popular experience is riding camels; you’ll see camels everywhere in Morocco. A popular three-day tour with camels to consider is the Sahara desert to the Erg Chebbi Dunes, where you’ll see the impressive Atlas mountains and visit the UNESCO Kasbah Ait Benhaddou. It has served as a set for many Hollywood movies. You’ll also see the Valley of the Roses and Tinghir. This is a unique and unforgettable experience riding camels through the desert. You’ll sleep underneath the desert stars as you camp overnight and enjoy Berber activities, an authentic Moroccan indulged experience throughout your trip.
Hamman Spa Experience
A hammam spa experience is the ultimate Moroccan experience. The traditional steam room offers massages and exfoliation, dry and damp heat, showers, soaps, and salts. The experience makes you feel fully rejuvenated with silky smooth skin. There are plenty of hammam experience opportunities.
Other Experiences
That’s A Wrap!
With so much to explore in Marrakech, you sure will have a jam-packed great time. So, what are you waiting for?
Craving A Luxe Escape?
Boujee holidays within your budget.
Or are you interested in exploring other locations in Morocco? Check out ‘The best 5 cities in Morocco to explore‘.
