Day Trips From Marrakech
Planning day trips from Marrakech? You have landed on the right place!
This article features professionally designed 8-day itineraries from Marrakech that will make planning your day trips easy.
All the excursions are planned with the help of local guides, our 15 years of experience as a Moroccan Travel and Tour agency, and feedback from our 1750+ guests.
Best part?
All our Marrakech tours can be aided with experienced English-speaking guide and comfortable Mercedes Vito to make the most out of your day.
Let the travel begin!
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1
Marrakech Walking Tour
The tour begins with the exploration of the major imperial city, Marrakech. Popular as the “Red City of Morocco”, the place has a lot to offer to the tourists. You will spend the day roaming and touring its narrow streets and souks. Filled with traditional woven carpets, art objects, mounds of spices, and fresh fruits, the medina offers several souvenirs to take home. Entwined with the shops are some landmarks like Koutoubai Mosque and Ben Youssef Madrasa which you will cover in the tour. The lunch will be at a restaurant of your choice inside medina.
Later, you will head off to the Djemaa el Fna, Bahia Palace, and Photography Museum of Marrakech before returning to the hotel.
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2
Essaouira
Essaouira, formerly known as Magador, is a coastal town located 3 hours from Marrakech. Beautiful beaches and delicious seafood make the town a welcoming place for both tourists and locals. Along the coasts of the beach are the old ramparts that soak in decades of culture and history of this ancient city. A little further from these city walls is the UNESCO protected medina, the Old Jewish Quarter, Jewish Cemetery, vibrant souks, and the Moulay el Hassan square.
You will leave from Essaouira late in the afternoon to reach Marrakech around 7 in the evening. Drop off in your Riad in Marrakech
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3
Atlas Mountains and the Three Valleys
This day serves as an escape from the bustling city life and into the fresh air and lush greenery of Atlas Mountains. If you are visiting Morocco in winter, you will be welcomed by snow-capped peaks. On your journey towards the mountain peaks, you will encounter Berber village and families that are inhabited in the High Atlas Mountains.
The tour will be led by an English-speaking guide who will provide you with insights about the mountains and its lifestyle. You will camel-trek to Imlil Valley, where you will savor the traditional Moroccan tea and savor the picturesque view of the valleys. Lunch will be above Ait Souka Village, after which you will be chauffeured to the azure artificial lake and Kik Plateau before leaving for Marrakech.
The journey will begin early so that you have enough time in your hands to go on a walk, enjoy a camel and a mule ride up the mountains, take pictures, enjoy a laid-back lunch with Berber cuisine, fruits, and drinks.
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4
Lunch at Kasbah Tamadot (Asni)
The fourth day is all about a luxury lunch in Sir Richard Branson’s Kasbah Tamadot. Located in the small town of Asni, the Kasbah overlooks a ravine, creating a breathtaking setting. Away from the crowdy and busy city, this Kasbah is a relaxing retreat surrounded by mountains, greenery, and landscapes. You enjoy fresh air and lunch here.
Inside the Kasbah, the Kanoun restaurant serves scrumptious dishes centered around traditional Moroccan and international cuisines. Every dish that is served at the place will satiate your hunger and taste buds, leaving a subtle aftertaste to savor. You can order fruit juice or drinks alongside the full-course meal to make your lunch more refreshing. The most popular dish in the restaurant is fish tagine.
With its astounding view, tantalizing menu, friendly staff, and charismatic setting, the Kasbah will make your day.
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5
Agafay Desert
Away from the urbane settlements, the Agafay Desert lies tucked in the corner of Marrakech, untouched by modern development. It is one of the lesser-visited attractions of Morocco that is in complete contrast with the bustling streets of the city.
You can go here to take a glimpse of the majestic Sahara Desert. Its sand dunes, blooming wildflowers and barren land is like a mini Sahara Desert altogether. On the edge of this desert is the manmade Lake Takerkoust, which was built in 1929 to provide electricity to Marrakech and its neighboring cities. You can swim, sunbathe, jet ski, or pedal boat at the beaches near Agafay.
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5
Aït Benhaddou and Ouarzazate
Ouarzazate is a windy city which is located 300 km before the great Sahara Desert. The city is popularly known as “The Gate to the Desert” or “The Moroccan Hollywood”. The buildings in this city boast a concoction of modern and traditional Moroccan architecture. You can visit its Atlas Studio, which is one of the world’s largest; and Museum of Cinema to have a look at the location where some of the world’s greatest movies were filmed. The site was recently used as a backdrop in Game of Thrones (Season 3) and Prison Break (Season 5).
The Kasbah-town of Aït Benhaddou is located nearby at a distance of 30 km from Ouarzazate. This ighrem is the starting point of several excursions to the Sahara Desert via the valley of Draa River. This UNESCO protected site is a home to a thousand ancient houses that have borne witness to royalty, luxury, loss, and a rapid decrease in the area. Now only 3 families reside in the Kasbah. With the help of our native guide, you will get fascinating insights about the history of Aït Benhaddou. Several movies have been shot here including the Gladiator and Prince of Persia.
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6
Ourika Valley
The final day will be spent in Ourika Valley’s mountain-valley vibe. A refreshing and soothing place, this verdant valley is full of flower beds, orchards and gardens. The place houses makeshift café and BBQ joints, where you can have your lunch.