Authentic Vibes In Morocco, Marrakech
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.
I’ve been to Morocco a few times, with the recent trip being a mum-and-daughter getaway. There are many locations to explore, but in this blog, I’ll tell you what Marrakech has to offer, with areas and hotels to stay in and fun things to do.
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Preparing For Morocco – Tips
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.
It’s good to keep up to date on any recommendations from your government. For the UK, check the GOV.UK site for Morocco to ensure you’re following all guidelines and advice.
Places 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 of the traditional Moroccan houses (riads) with an interior garden or courtyard have been converted into charming boutique hotels.
Recommends: Hotel & Ryad Art Place Marrakech offers a stunning 5-star stay with traditional vibes and beautiful rooms.
Gueliz: Gueliz is a modern district of Marrakech with 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. It’s a quieter location from the centre but still within a short distance of the Medina.
Recommends: 2Ciels Boutique & Hotels is a gorgeous 4-star stay with a boujee feel and upscale vibes.
Hotel Highlights
The Savoy Le Grand Hotel offered a peaceful and reserved vibe, perfect for a 5-star, aesthetically appealing, 5-star, and quiet place to stay.
RIU Tikida Palmeraie Hotel was more active, all-inclusive, and filled with lively evening entertainment and friendly staff. It was also more affordable and in a good location, making accessing other parts of Marrakech easy.
Fun Things To Do In Marrakech
Best Excursions!
Ourika Valley & Atlas Mountains Day Tour
This Ourika Valley and Atlas Mountains Day Tour takes you from your hotel to the Ourika Valley, 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.
Ourika Valley Hike
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. My mum and I 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 Cooking 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
If you want to go on a solo trip but are unsure where to start, the Female Solo Travel Ebook covers everything you need to know for an epic solo adventure!
Pottery Class
Another new experience my mum and 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 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.
Best Tours!
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. Exploring alone or on a Souks Market Tour with a local showing you around is easy.
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 street’s 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 deserts, it’s hard to resist quad bikes or buggy tours, which are favourites amongst many when visiting Morocco. Quad Biking is a fun way to let loose for those seeking an adrenaline rush.
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 involving the quad bike in Morocco, you’ll enjoy Moroccan tea in the Sahara desert or the Jibilets Desert before hopping onto quad bikes.
Camel Tours
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. Riding camels through the desert is a unique and unforgettable experience. You’ll sleep underneath the desert stars as you camp overnight and enjoy Berber activities, an authentic Moroccan indulgence throughout your trip.
Camels in the desert
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.
I recommend the Authentic Moroccan Hammam Experience. This relaxing ritual starts in a steamy room to open your pores, followed by a scrub with natural black soap (Beldi) and an exfoliating glove called a Kess. You’ll rinse off, treat your hair with Ghassoul, and finish with nourishing oils for soft, glowing skin. Locals do this weekly; after one visit, you’ll see why—it’s the ultimate self-care moment!
Other Experiences
Best Excursions!
That’s A Wrap!
From wandering the vibrant souks to soaking in a traditional Hammam, Marrakech buzzes with culture, colour, and unforgettable experiences. Whether you’re sipping mint tea in a riad, exploring ancient palaces, or getting lost in the magic of Jemaa el-Fnaa, there’s never a dull moment here.
This city truly has something for every kind of traveller, especially solo travellers and mum-and-daughter trips. So, pack your bags and let Marrakech charm you one adventure at a time!
