It is the most famous royal city of Morocco, with narrow alleys full of donkey carts, spicy souks and beautifully tiled Koranic schools: Marrakech. To explore all known and unknown places of this city, you will soon be busy for a day or three. But there is much more fun to see and discover in the area! Marrakech is a good base for nice trips, such as small mountain villages and date palm valleys only a few hours away. An overview of our best tours from Marrakech.
THE ATLAS MOUNTAINS
Perhaps a mountain hike is not the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Morocco. But apart from the colorful royal cities, palm oases and the desert, Morocco is for a large part covered with the Atlas Mountains. Less than two hours from Marrakech are mountain peaks that reach up to more than 4000 meters altitude. It is fun to make a multi-day trek with a guide, where you can see everyday life in the mountains. Uphill you will find here and there a village with mountain nomads roaming with their herd of sheep or goats. The views during this trek are insane, the rocks bizarre and erratic. You go along rivers and sleep in simple mountain huts in the middle of nature.
THE WATERFALLS OF OUZOUD
At 3 hours from Marrakech, in the middle of the Atlas Mountains you can admire this beautiful natural phenomenon . This is also wonderful for bird spotters. Whoever thinks of Morocco, thinks of the desert and does not expect such a rich natural scene at all. So be surprised!
OURIKA VALLEY
This place is one of the Moroccans' favorite attractions for a weekend outing. The Ourika valley is located 30 km from Marrakech, at the foot of the Atlas Mountains. It is the ideal place to enjoy the tranquility, the small villages, ... Ideal for escaping the bustle of the city.
ESSAOUIRA
Essaouira is our favorite coastal town in Morocco and from Marrakech you can get there in 3 hours by car or bus. In this cozy fishing village you will find white houses with blue shutters in the walled medina. You can wander endlessly through the lively souks and the winding streets and narrow alleys. Essaouira is a home for cheerful musicians and creative artists who have their little shop here. Because it always blows, it is also a paradise for wind and kite surfers and sailing boats. Our tip: make a sailing trip along the coast. On the front deck you can lie down and enjoy the view of the city and the coastline with the wind in your hair. You sail around small islands off the coast, where you can see the remains of an old Portuguese fortress and an abandoned prison.
VISIT THE KSAR OF AïT BEN HADDOU
After the dry Atlas Mountains, the impressive ksar of Aït Ben Haddou suddenly appears. A ksar is a kind of fort, from clay with straw, in which a village community lives. There are still a few ksars inhabited, but not as much as before. Some local families still live in Aït Ben Haddou. It is nice to wander through the streets and gates that wriggle upwards. At the top you have a view of the Atlas Mountains where the tops are often covered with snow. You can sleep here in small-scale hotels that look like a ksar, made of clay and with a nice swimming pool. A nice place to let your Moroccan memories sink in!
SAHARA DESERT
When you have more time at your disposal, it is advisable to drive through the Atlas Mountains. You will see the fertile soil then pass into the Sahara desert. A breathtaking experience that you will not soon forget. On the edge of the Sahara desert lies the village of Ouarzazate that you should definitely visit.
OUARZAZATE
This is a perfect day trip: trek through the Atlas Mountains with its beautiful landscapes and traditional Berber villages. The view of the landscape changes with the descent. In Ouarzazate itself, you should definitely visit the Ait Ben Haddou. This site is protected by UNESCO and inspired many film directors. Here Gladiator was filmed.
ASNI
Asni is an opposite of the warm, exotic Marrakech. This is a cold Berber town: a collection of villages around the river valley. Here you can even visit the Kasbah Toubka . In fact, Seven Years in Tibet was filmed here.
Finally, you can also do an excursion in Marrakech itself. With a guide that leads you through Marrakesh and shows the most important places.
