Marrakech Tourism: Sights and Attractions

The Marrakech of today boasts boutique hotels, celebrity chef run restaurants and deluxe hammams. But look behind the glitzy wrapping of its contemporary dynamism and you'll find the charm and mystery of the original city intact. This large city is pided into two parts, the old quarters, known as the Medina and the new town called the Gueliz. Get hold of a Marrakech guide, or a map if you will, and proceed to discover the wonderful experiences the city has to offer.

Djemaa el Fna is the most famous landmark of Marrakech. It is a large open space in the heart of the city where a daily age-old ritual continues till date. As the day proceeds, locals and visitors gather around the square to watch orange juice vendors make way for healers and henna-tattoo artists who in turn melt into the darkness to allow cobra charmers, astrologers and acrobats to perform. Once they're done entertaining you, its time for the male belly dancers and storytellers to begin their epics. The best way to enjoy the evening's assorted entertainment is to seat your self at one of the many cafes that line the square. The grilled meats and cooked salads served at these 100 odd cafes are fresh and delicious!

The Koutoubia is a seventy-meter high tower of the Koutoubia mosque, a landmark that dominates the entire city. Visible for miles, this 12th century tower is to Marrakech what the Eiffel is to Paris. The tower is laced with intricate tile work and topped with three golden orbs. Many visitors use it to navigate the old city's maze-like streets.

The Jardin Majorelle is easily the most visited attraction of Morocco. It took French artist Jaques Majorelle forty years of dedication to create this enchanting place. This walled botanical garden, once owned by Yves Saint Laurent, offers a magical stroll right in the middle of the city, yet very far away from it. Walk through green foliage and exotic flowers placed artistically around mosaic-lined ponds brimming with lotus flowers and water lilies. Splashes of a distinctive blue color appear in every other corner. There is also a delightful Art Deco styled building that seems to appear out of nowhere.

Souks of Marrakech. For a first timer, the souks of Marrakech can be quite overwhelming. There is, however, some sort of order in all this chaos and once you get your bearings, you're not going to want to leave this labyrinthine maze of streets! The best time to visit is early in the mornings if you're looking to avoid the rush, but if you're after good deals then go toward the end of day. It is quite an experience, with each souk named after the product being sold there, like the dyers souk, carpet souk, slipper souk and so on. This market is famed throughout the world as one of the most exotic places to shop.

The Saadian Tombs. Discovered as recently as the early 20th century, these tombs are the original burial place of the Saadian princes. Lavishly decorated, they give the visitor an insight into the opulence of this period of Moroccan history.

The El Badi and the Bahia Palaces. The El Badi Palace was reputed to be one of the most beautiful palaces in the world. As of today, it stands in its ruins, but enough remains to suggest its former grandeur. Built in the 16th century, it was later plundered to such an extent that everything movable was removed! The Bahia Palace on the other hand, built in the late 19th century, was recently restored to its former glory. It stands in stark contrast to the nearby El Badi Palace. Only a part of the palace is open to visitors, since the royal family it is still in residence.

After all this sight seeing, be sure to rejuvenate with a steam clean and an orange-flower oil massage at the nearest domed hammaam! Or just relax at the Ménara Garden on a picnic and soak in the magical essence of the "Red City"

Taking Trekking Tours in Morocco

All regions of Morocco can be trekked if you want adventure. Unfortunately, some regions of Morocco require summer trekking experiences. Jbel Toubkal is the highest mountain peak in the Atlas Mountains. The higher elevations experience heavy snow fall during winter. It can also turn very cold up there during the evenings. For this reason Morocco tours will hike the mountain at certain parts of the year.

This is only a concern for individuals wanting the ultimate adventure. Anyone who is visiting Morocco to soak up culture can find Morocco trekking all year. These types of tours can be day hikes, overnight treks, and even a few days out in the mountainous regions of the country.

One of the easiest trekking experiences to have is the Ourika Valley. This hike is three hours of walking, with three hours of driving. You will visit Berber villages, the salt mines, and a beautiful waterfall in the High Atlas Mountains. The valley is lush with plants and animals. If you are lucky you may even see a Barbary Monkey on the trek.

For anyone wanting a more involved High Atlas trekking sojourn Imi Ourlad to Imlil may be the right tour. This trekking High Atlas Mountains tour lasts for three days with four to five hours of trekking a day. Like many of the trekking excursions you will begin in Marrakesh and drive to Imi Ourlad before starting the hike up into the valleys and gorges of the regions. From Imi Ourlad it is possible to reach Tizi Nlbour at 1600 meters. This area provides a guest house for lunch called Imsker. Once you have lunch with a beautiful view as a compliment, you will move on to Ait Aisa. Ait Aisa is at 1400 meters. It is a village, with a very long history. The traditions of the area help you immerse yourself in the culture of the region.

The next day you move on to Imnan Valley, Arg, Amssakrou, Ikiss, and then stop in Tinghrinn. All the while you are on this trip look out for the natural wildlife of the area. Tinghrinn is at 2100 meters. The last day takes you back down the High Atlas Mountains and to Marrakesh. All along the way you will spot waterfalls, streams, and running rivers teaming with the runoff from higher elevations. Whether you want a day hike or several days to experience Morocco the options are there for you.

Excursions in Morocco From Marrakech (1)

Marrakech is a captivating city that offers innumerable opportunities to explore Morocco's countryside, beach resorts, mountain ranges and desert areas. From Marrakech, an extraordinarily well connected city, it is easy to travel to some of the most marvellous places in the country, including the stunning fishing port of Essaouira, the lovely small village of Imlil at the edge the Toubkal National Park, or the sensational Ait Benhaddou Kasbah near Ouarzazate.

1. Essaouira

Essaouira is an absolutely charming fishing port on the Atlantic coast, some 110 miles west of Marrakech. Its weather is quite lovely all year round, with a temperature between 60° F in winter and 80° F in summer.

Many celebrities have visited this wonderful city, from the internationally renowned film-maker Orson Welles, who shot his film "Othello" in Essaouira from 1949 to 1952, to the rock legend Jimi Hendrix in 1969.

The beautiful medina of Essaouira is listed by UNESCO as World Heritage Site and offers wonderful crafts, charming winding alleys as well as countless kinds of spices, food products and traditional remedies and oils.

Essaouira is also known by surfers and windsurfers as one of the best spots in Africa for the practice of these sports. Several international competitions are held in the city and many clubs and associations offer a chance to enjoy its fantastic surfing and windsurfing conditions.

The cultural scene of Essaouira is vibrant and varied, and the most important cultural event in the city is undoubtedly its Gnawa International Festival of World Music which, although focused on the traditional Gnaoua musical genre, it also includes rock, folk, jazz and reggae.

2. Imlil and the Toubkal National Park

Imlil is a small village located some 40 miles south of Marrakech, at the heart of the High Atlas Mountains, and 5700 feet above sea level. It is very close to Djebel Toubkal, the highest mountain in North Africa, and thus constitutes an unbeatable base for attempting its summit or for organising trekking and climbing expeditions.

Once in Imlil, a visit to the Asni Berber market (Saturdays only) is definitely worth while, as is a visit to the souk at Tahanoute, a walk up to the Kasbah or a lunch at the Kasbah Toubkal or the Kasbah Tamadot. Imlil offers an incomparable opportunity to immerse oneself into a Berber village for a day.

Imlil is located quite close to the Toubkal National Park, a 38.000 hectares park full of natural diversity and beauty. Also from Imlil, there is the possibility of a visit to Tin Mal, where a stunning mosque, built in 1153-54, displays a wonderful picture of the skill of the High Atlas sedentary tribes.

Mount Toubkal: A Friendly Four-Thousander

Jebel Toubkal ("Jebel" means a mountain in Arabic) is a friendly four-thousander located in the Atlas Mountains in Morocco. Its height of 4167m makes it a worthwhile mountaineering target. It can also be a warm-up mountain for more challenging adventures later in a climbing season. There is little technical difficulty in climbing the mountain in the summer months when there is no snow (generally, May or later). I climbed the mountain at the beginning of April.

Once landed in Marrakesh, it is worth heading directly into the Atlas Mountains to start acclimatization process. One can take a taxi directly from the airport into the mountains. The drive from the airport to Imlil, a little Berber village located at 1740m in the Atlas Mountains, takes one and half hour by car. One can stay in a riad there or in any small Berber villages nearby (for example, Ait Souka where I stayed) close to the path of the mountain. The best choice of accommodation is probably Kasbah du Toubkal which is in league of its own in the area.

Once Imlil is reached, the next stop of this mountaineering trip would be base camp refuges ("Les Mouflons" and "Nelter" which are located right next to each other). A Berber's "4x4" (a mule) can be hired to carry rucksacks which makes the hike to the refuges easier. Mules are the only feasible way of transporting anything heavy further into the Atlas Mountains since most of the treks are too narrow for anything else. It is relatively straightforward to reach the refuges. A local guide can be hired though if needed. Some mountaineering equipment can also be rented from the locals in Imlil: for example, crampons and ice axes in the early part of the year. This may need to be arranged in advance though.

The trekking path leads from Imlil to Around after which a small river needs to be crossed into a floodplain. Then, the path goes through the valley on the left side of it in the direction of the trek. One can see mules coming both ways along the path carrying provisions and luggage as well as people into and out of the refuges and villages. It is almost impossible to lose your way on this trek. The path is also busy with tourists coming from around the world. There are several opportunities to stop for a sweet mint tea ("Berber whisky" as the locals jokingly call it), snacks and refreshments along the way. The slope of the path is gentle until the village of Sidi Chamharouch. In April, one can go in training shoes up to the village.

It takes about two and a half hours to reach the village of Sidi Chamharouch (2350m) where one can stop for a lunch. It is located by a small waterfall near the steam coming from the mountains. The main attraction of the village is the small mosque of Sidi Chamharouch. However location aside, the mosque looks fairly unspectacular. Berbers say that a visit to the mosque can heal various illnesses. The village itself looks like all other Berber villages though: small rectangular stone houses. The views into the valley are beautiful though and can be enjoyed sipping freshly squeezed orange juice under the sun.

After Sidi Chamharouch, the trek becomes steeper so one needs proper sturdy boots to continue. There are opportunities for refreshments and tea along the path so there is no need to carry much water. The path follows the river Assif n'Ouagounss. It can take two more hours to reach the refuge "Les Mouflons" and its older and cheaper cousin, refuge "Nelter". The refuges are located at the height of 3207m. The evening can be whiled away by talking to other tourists from around the world. The altitude makes itself felt at 3200m so one also needs rest to acclimatize.

Most people wake up at 5:30-ish the next morning, have breakfast at the refuge and start to ascend the mountain. It is busy outside of the refuges. In April, it may be cold up on the mountain. A good idea is to have a Sigg water bottle since my water in a plastic bottle got partially frozen half way through the trek. It is also a good idea to carry thermos with hot water for one of the breaks to the top. Unexpected was a strong wind blowing down the mountain and throwing icicles into the face. The wind was sometimes so strong that one had to stop and wait for it to subside. It did try to pull me off that mountain! At 3700-3800m, it does become a little more difficult. One must be properly dressed at this time of the year since missing something as basic as gloves may make it impossible to reach the top. Based on the conversations in the refuge after the climb, some of the hikers did not make it to the top and had to return due to altitude sickness or just because they got cold. I needed a base layer, a fleece and a shell jacket to feel comfortable getting to the summit. One needs also to have crampons in April. An axe or walking poles are also a necessity early in the climbing season. An ice axe is needed mostly for support when walking in crampons on the slopes.

It took three hours to climb the mountain. The views from the top are beautiful and far reaching. The mountain does sadly suffer from graffiti at the top though. A half of an hour at the top for rest and two to two and a half hours to descend (with taking pictures) make the round trip about six hours. It can take another three and a half hours to return to Imlil with stopping for lunch at Sidi Chamharouch. Marrakesh can be reached by the fall of the night by taking a taxi from Imlil (needs to be arranged in advance).

Tourist Attractions in Morocco

Sand-dunes to snow-skiing, lush vineyards to hot deserts and mix in sandy beaches, Morocco has it all! This North-African region is a sensory overload and multi-colored mesh of culture and design. Travelers will be awed through the beauty and timeless magnificence of this land that may be resplendent in its culture, heritage and art.

Be allured by the breath-taking architecture of Morocco's mosques, palaces and historical web sites that happen to be by the hundreds all close to this state. Leave your map behind as you go to the labyrinth of Marrakesh exactly where streets are overflowing with quite a few distractions from snake-charmers to silver leather poufs. Dive into the myriad of stores in Marrakech's markets where by just one can come across anything from olives to carpets.

Then head on to Fes, the cultural and religious center of Morocco in which dynasties originating from Muslim Spain and Arab East collided. Together with its bazaars, mosques, medersas (theological colleges), tanneries and crammed streets; Fes has a certain spirituality to it which is a testament to its centuries-old heritage and traditions.

Go to the well-known Casablanca where Morocco is most cosmopolitan. Famed for its rich art galleries and fashion designers, this area exudes its richness and achievements to the planet. The stifling traffic jams and shanty towns are contrasted through the city's hotels, parks, fountains and colonial architecture.

All these destinations have stunning backdrops of areas like the Sahara desert, the mountain ranges of High atlas or even the Oregano Mountains. If you are searching for relaxation, traveling towards the fishing villages of Dakhla along the Moroccan coast or for the beaches of Plage Quemada.

Always remember to travel to the numerous museums like the Museum of Antiquities or the Museum of Moroccan Art where collections of historic manuscripts, pottery, jewelry and other historic objects can be found. Entertainment doesn't stop there! Morocco's theater scene showcases the Shakespearean plays and different modern productions that happen to be full of Moroccan tradition and folklore.

Spring-time (mid-March to May) is when Morocco looks lush and green while autumn (September to November) is when the climate has cooled. Be mindful at the same time on the timing of the Ramadan because town establishments close throughout the day and function hours are lessened.

Be sure to pick official guides rather than faux guides that garner their commission from certain hotels or articles sold to you from particular stalls. Women should be conscious of a certain level of sexual harassment that may be incurred from wearing inappropriate clothing or by making eye-contact. If especially harassed, threatening to file an investigation towards tourism police or the brigade touristique can be very effective.

Discover Morocco's Spectacular Geography on a School Tour

Morocco is an ideal destination to choose for a school tour: it is close enough to the UK to make it easily accessible, but it is also as different from the UK as any place could be. Not only are the culture, history and cuisine of Morocco diverse and colourful, but the geography of this wonderful country is perfect for students of the subject to visit and, undoubtedly, be inspired. The contrast between the bustling cities and the tiny Berber villages nestled into the Atlas Mountains is marked, but for geography students on a school tour, this makes it all the more exciting.

Students and teachers alike cannot fail to be impressed by the unique geographical experience Morocco offers. Unlimited educational opportunities are provided by both the stunning landscapes and the human interaction within both a rural and urban setting.

Geographical Background

Morocco is located in Northern Africa and borders both the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. The topography varies dramatically and there is a huge difference between the coastal areas and the interior mountain ranges, which are often snow covered. The coastal areas and the valleys between the great mountain peaks are where much of the agriculture takes place, as local farmers make use of the fertile soils and mild climate.

The highest point in Morocco is Jebel Toubkal, a mountain that rises over 4000m above sea level; the country's lowest point sits at 180m below sea level, an interesting phenomenon for a young geographer on a school tour to consider. Many of the deserts lie just outside major cities, and within a very small area students have the opportunity to develop their geographical knowledge of many different concepts.

Human Geography

From a human geography perspective there are huge differences between the coastal areas and the mountainous interior. Wealth abounds in many of the coastal resorts and bustling cities, while in the interior the Berbers live as they have done for hundreds of years - in complete harmony with their environment and climate. Students will be fascinated to learn how the Berber communities survive, and in fact thrive, in the harsh environment. A visit to the Atlas Mountains (and Imlil in particular) can give students a chance to experience the Berber communities first hand, while also studying the desertification, irrigation systems, agriculture and other interesting geographical aspects of this area. This is the ideal place for fieldwork studies that can focus on all manner of subjects.

Modern Morocco

Lalla Takerkoust is close to the capital city of Marrakesh and is testament to the great efforts that have been put in place to keep Morocco moving into the 21st century. The manmade lake serves as a source of hydroelectricity and irrigation. Today, it is also a tourist attraction, particularly for those that love the outdoors; it is the ideal location for walking, cycling or just relaxing with a picnic, soaking up the views.

The itinerary of a school tour should definitely include some time in Marrakesh. The vibrant, colourful and intriguing capital is a great place for students to begin to appreciate a country that has moved into the modern world but still retained many of its traditional aspects. The old town will be nothing like anything your students have experienced in their own country. It bursts with energy and is a fun place to spend an afternoon exploring and soaking up some authentic Moroccan culture.

The Sahara Desert is to Be Experienced and Not Talked About

I have enjoyed our Sahara desert trip immensely. The journey took us through the proudly standing sand dunes of Erg Chigaga, Morocco. An array of small to big sand mountains reaching as far as our eye can see.

The solitude of the trek was very relaxing and calming. It was a great mediation to think of nothing and become the center of the Universe. I followed the footsteps of my guide and his blue veil and blue djellaba leading our camels. He was a local Nomad boy that grew up in this forsaken region and seemed like he knew every sand dune, every curve of the desert.

Our camels were strong, beautiful and smelly. I suddenly had a great appreciation for these animals. They walk so gently; in slow pace rocking from one side to other. Without any complain they carry loads of heavy equipment, supplies and our food. As gratitude, I had fed them peels of my orange and carrots out of my cous cous.

I enjoyed the evenings so much, when the sun started setting down and temperature cool of. The desert at that time became like one flame of red color. All was red before the black pitch night with million of stars, strong and bright covered the night sky. I have never seen so many shooting starts, now I hope that all my wishes will come true!

At night our guide made campfire and prepared delicious diner for us. We have even baked our own bread in the sand. We passed the time before heading to sleep by listening to his singing and drumming, by talking about life, his, ours. The stories told will be remembered. One night a small group of local Nomads joined us. These people are the only people you might encounter on your journey though the Sahara desert. Their herds of animals and children look at your with interest. Their nomadic life might seem romantic and they greatly appreciate the help one another.

I love adventure and have explored our Earth a bit. I have ski in the Alps, climbed the Kilimanjaro mountain, dived in the Great Barrier reef, followed the road to Machu Pichu and I am proud to say that trekking of the Sahara Desert was so different to all these and so unique. It someway helps you reflect to your inner I.