10 Best Activities in Marrakech

10 Best Activities in Marrakech

10 Best Activities in Marrakech: Marrakech is a place with incredible tourist destinations to visit: history, architecture, art and beautiful natural landscapes. Come and discover all the hidden gems in this ancient Moroccan city.

Marrakech, also known as the Red City, is an ancient city founded in 1071 in central Morocco. Here, you’ll find a wide variety of activities to do during your stay. So whether you join one of the guided tours or explore on your own, you’ll discover the history, culture and natural scenery of this magical place.

If you don’t know what to do and see in Marrakech, you can take a camel ride in the Palmeral, taste the local cuisine and learn how to prepare some dishes in a cooking class. You can also get lost in the historic center, go shopping in the souks and even visit the desert. I’ll tell you all about it.

Take a camel ride through Marrakesh’s palm grove:

The Marrakesh Palm Grove is the perfect place for camel rides during your stay in the city. This small oasis with more than 100,000 palm trees will amaze you with its scenic beauty and calm desert atmosphere.
This guided activity usually starts at the door of your hotel in the city, from where you will travel by car to the palm grove for about 10 minutes. There, you’ll get on the back of a camel and, for about an hour, enjoy unique perspectives.

You’ll see a series of dry riverbeds, beautiful desert areas, some local villages and hundreds of palm trees along the city. It’s definitely the perfect setting for you to take the best photos. You’ll also learn about Berber culture and sip traditional mint tea under the shade of the trees.
A special feature of these camel rides is that you’ll be able to wear a Tuareg. This is a traditional Moroccan garment used to protect you from the desert sun. In fact, this outfit, together with the sandy trails, will provide the perfect backdrop for the best photographs.

Useful information:

Price: the average price for this activity is around €40 per person.
Duration: this camel ride usually lasts around two hours.
Benefits: you’ll ride a camel through a small oasis covered in palm trees and contemplate the beautiful landscape.

Take part in a cooking class in Marrakech:

If you’re a fan of Moroccan cuisine, you can’t miss a visit to Marrakech to sample its exquisite cuisine. And better still, learn how to prepare traditional Moroccan dishes in the company of a local professional chef.
This type of activity takes place in the kitchen of the chef’s home, usually located in the Medina area. But before that, you’ll take a stroll through the local market to buy the fresh ingredients, herbs and spices you need.

You will prepare a starter, a main course and a dessert. These are all traditional recipes usually offered in Marrakech restaurants and tasted daily by the locals. You can also suggest your favorite Moroccan dishes to the expert.

For example, below are some of the most common dishes prepared during this culinary experience:

10 Best Activities in Marrakech: The tajine or stew of chicken, lamb or vegetables.
Pastilla: a pastry that combines the sweet taste of puff pastry with a savory filling and an exquisite aroma of cinnamon.
Couscous: a dish made with wheat semolina, which is part of Berber cuisine.
zaaluk, which is a salad of lettuce, tomato, tuna and onion.

Useful information:

Price: the price of the activity is around €42 per person.
Duration: the culinary experience usually lasts four hours.
Benefits: you will learn the secrets of Moroccan cuisine, prepare some traditional dishes and stroll through a local market.

Embark on a tour of the Marrakech desert:

Traveling to the so-called red city and not discovering its desert areas would be like never having visited it. That’s why you should include a day trip to the Marrakech desert in your itinerary. You’ll be able to enjoy all the benefits of this beautiful place.
To be precise, this activity takes place in the Agafay desert, approximately 40 minutes by car from Marrakech, as it is the closest to the city. Iis a small oasis with a desolate and arid landscape.

On this excursion to the Agafay desert from Marrakech, you will travel with a driver-guide, who will tell you the history of the place and some anecdotes. When you arrive, you’ll enjoy the breathtaking desert landscape, take photos and relax with a traditional mint tea in a tent.
On the other side, The guide will accompany you on a camel ride through the desolate landscapes of the Agafay desert. You’ll get a different view of the place: stone dunes, the High Atlas mountains and, if you’re lucky, you’ll occasionally see wild flowers growing.

Useful information:

10 Best Activities in Marrakech: Price: the price of the Marrakech desert tour starts at 30 euros per person.
Duration: the tour lasts approximately six hours.
Benefits: you’ll enjoy a breathtaking desert landscape with stone dunes and the High Atlas Mountains as a backdrop.

Take a photo tour to get the greatest views of the area:

Leave selfies in the past during your stay in Marrakech and make the most of the magical scenery of this ancient city. Let a professional record your trip by taking a photo tour of the tourist destinations that interest you.

After meeting the photographer in the city center, the adventure begins. You’ll walk through the Medina with its mosques, the narrow streets of the souks and the enormous Jemaa El-Fna square, which will serve as the backdrop for every photograph. You can also choose your favorite destinations in advance. For example, a trip to the palm grove or the Marrakech desert.
Whatever the destination, the photographer will brainstorm to take advantage of the reflections and shadows offered by Marrakech’s natural light. In addition, he will look for the best perspectives for you and you will get incredible photos.

Useful information:

10 Best Activities in Marrakech: Price: the price of this photo tour is around 227 euros per person or groups of up to 20 people.
Duration: the activity is usually planned to last around three hours.
Benefits: you’ll get incredible professional photographs in digital format, which you can share on your social networks and keep as a souvenir of your trip.

Explore the Medina of Marrakech:

If you plan to spend a day or more in Marrakech, you should incorporate a tour of the Medina, or old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, into your itinerary. This will allow you to delve into the culture and history of the so-called red city.

Although you can do this on your own, it’s best to join one of the guided walking tours of the area. That way, you won’t risk getting lost in the narrow but picturesque streets of the Medina.
Whichever option you choose, you won’t have to worry about what to see and do in Marrakech’s Medina, as it is home to many places of interest. For example:

The Bahia Palace: this is a 19th century building with mosaics, paintings and gardens.
The Kutubia Mosque, dedicated to the worship of the Islamic religion in Marrakech.
Astumbas Saadid: erected in honor of Sultan Ahmad al-Mansur’s parents in the 16th century.
The souks or traditional markets.

Useful information:

10 Best Activities in Marrakech: Price: the cost of a walking tour of Marrakech’s old town usually starts at 49 euros per person. However, it’s free if you do the tour on your own, and you only need to pay the entrance fee to the attractions.
Duration: the activity usually lasts around four hours.
Benefits: You’ll discover the history and culture hidden in the historic center of Marrakech.

Visit the Majorelle Garden in Marrakech:

Among the best things to do in Marrakech is a visit to the Majorelle Garden. It is a small oasis that has been controlled by the hand of man to offer an important botanical collection, various species of birds and a small sample of Moroccan architecture.

You can walk around the garden on your own and gradually discover the hidden gems it houses. This is the case with:

The cactus collection: with around 60 different species.
The palm collection: with a large family of local palms and others brought from the Canary Islands, the Pacific, Africa, the Mediterranean basin and India.
Bamboo forest: with a long stretch of bamboo brought from Asia.
The aquatic plant lagoon: where you’ll see beautiful water lilies and some lotus flowers.

You’ll have access to the Berber Museum, whose exhibitions will help you learn about part of the city’s history, the Memorial dedicated to couturier Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé, the Boutique and Café Majorelle. You can also visit the Yves Saint Laurent Museum, dedicated to the famous French couturier.

Useful information:

10 Best Activities in Marrakech: Price: general admission costs an average of 14 euros per person, Moroccan students around 2 euros, international students around 6 euros, Moroccan citizens and residents from 7 euros. Free entry for children under 12, press, travel agents and national educational establishments.
Visiting hours: The Majorelle Gardens are open from October to April from 8:05 am to 6:05 pm, from May to September from 8:05 am to 6:35 pm and in Ramadan from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Advantages: You’ll enjoy a peaceful space surrounded by beautiful natural scenery, while learning about botany, history and fashion.

Marrakech hot air balloon:

If you’re planning to explore Marrakech in two days or more, it’s a good idea to incorporate an aerial experience into your itinerary. This is the case with a hot air balloon ride with a professional pilot, to discover the best panoramic views of the city in all its splendor.
The activity usually takes place at sunrise or sunset, depending on your preference. Whatever the case, when you arrive at the destination designated for the experience, you will receive flight instructions from the pilot. You will also see the team inflate the balloon.

You’ll reach an altitude of around 1,371 meters and fly over the skies of Marrakech for approximately two hours. You’ll be amazed by the majestic views of the desert, the palm grove and other open landscapes of the city and its surroundings.
This experience is ideal if you’re traveling to Marrakech with children, as they’ll have fun while learning about the history of the Medina, some of the monuments and Muslim culture in general, thanks to the guide’s commentary. What’s more, you’ll be able to take aerial photos with incredible perspectives.

Useful information:

Price: the price of this activity is around 350 euros per person.
Duration: the activity usually lasts around 4 to 5 hours.
Advantages: you’ll be able to see the city of Marrakech from a bird’s eye view and get some breathtaking panoramic views of the sunrise or sunset.

Visit a hammam in Marrakech:

Going into a hammam to enjoy a Turkish bath is a good idea during your stay, whether you plan to spend one to seven days in Marrakech, or even longer. You’ll be able to relax, take care of your skin and escape for a few hours from the hustle and bustle of the streets of the Medina.
For this experience, you’ll be picked up from your hotel and taken to one of the city’s hammams. These hammams generally include Les Bains de l’Alhambra, Les Bains de Marrakech, Sublima Spa, among others.

When you arrive at the hammam, you’ll feel like a local. You will be able to experience up close one of the activities of Muslim culture, which has been part of the social life of the inhabitants of this part of the world for centuries.
You will receive a traditional treatment consisting of a sauna, an exfoliating bath with eucalyptus soap and a massage with Moroccan argan oil. All this is accompanied by the usual mint tea, which you’re sure to have tasted since your first day in the city.

Useful information:

Price: this activity starts at 60 euros per person.
Duration: the hammam experience in Marrakech usually lasts around two hours.
Advantages: you’ll relax and take care of your skin in a hammam, while discovering the traditional Turkish bath.

Take a guided walking tour of the souks of Marrakech:

Marrakech’s souks are located in the Medina, so passing through them is a must when walking through the old city. Undoubtedly, this colorful maze of little shops deserves a little more time. For this reason, it’s ideal to take a guided walking tour of the so-called haggling mecca and buy some products.
You won’t have to worry about not knowing your way around Marrakech and the narrow streets of its souks, as your guide will take you to see the stalls that make up the souks. You’ll discover the places with the best bargains and learn how to haggle like a local.

As you immerse yourself in the souks, you’ll see a wide variety of products: slippers, a variety of carpets, Moroccan fashion, leather bags, ceramics, jewelry, lamps, argan oil, kaftans and other handicrafts. You’ll also find vegetables, fruit, street food, spices and more.
In addition to the information provided by the guide about the history of the place, you will have the opportunity to talk to the traders to learn about the culture of this part of the world. You will also observe the artisans at work in their stores.

Information of interest:

10 Best Activities in Marrakech: Price: this guided tour of the souks of Marrakech usually costs around 34 euros per person.
Duration: the activity lasts around three hours.
Benefits: You’ll explore the souks of Marrakech with a guide, with plenty of time to buy some local products.

Hop on a quad bike to explore the mountainous terrain:

If you like adventures on wheels, then during your stay in Marrakech, you can’t miss out on a quad bike tour. You’ll explore the mountainous terrain, allowing you to discover incredible natural contrasts.
This type of activity starts outside your hotel in Marrakech. There, you will be picked up and taken by car to the Palmeral, a transfer of around 10 minutes. The guide will show you the most basic concepts of the quad.

You’ll pass through a series of rocky trails and desert plateaus until you reach a beautiful hill. From there, you’ll have a breathtaking view, where the color of the desert sand blends with the color of the palm trees. You can also stop for a refreshing mint tea with the locals in a Berber village.

Useful information:

10 Best Activities in Marrakech: Price: the cost of this adventure starts at 45 euros per person.
Duration: This tour usually lasts around five hours.
Benefits: You’ll be able to explore some of Marrakech’s desert plateaus and rocky trails on a quad bike, in a lively guided adventure.