Marrakech Holidays
Morocco, Africa
Marrakesh is Morocco's most legendary city, noted for its lively souks, and rich history and culture. Wander the narrow alleyways and streets of the medina, stopping off to take pictures at the tanneries, haggle for anything that takes your fancy at one of the many stalls, visiting the mosque. Evenings are spent in Djemaa El-Fna, where you'll be entertained by dancers, storytellers, snake charmers and many more fantastic characters. If you want to escape out of the city, then the Atlas Mountains are a perfect retreat, where you can enjoy walking and even skiing in season, stop off at remote Berber villages and see spectacular waterfalls.
What to Do in Marrakech
You could easily spend a few days in Marrakesh seeing the sights at a leisurely pace – the heat can be exhausting in the heat, so have regular stops for mint tea or orange juice. Amizmiz has one of the biggest souks in the Berber mountains, held every Tuesday. This is the perfect place to come if you want to get a feel for how life has gone on here for centuries. If you're here in the winter, then Oukamaiden is Morocco's main centre for winter sports. Come here to ski, snowboard and enjoy the lively après ski scene. If you visit in the summer, then this has some excellent and very quiet hiking trails.
Where to Stay in Marrakech
You'll find a range of accommodation in Marrakesh – everything from budget hostels to fancy hotels. You can also sometimes sleep on a mattress on the hotel roof! But wherever you stay, try to include a visit to a traditional hammam or bathhouse.
Marrakesh is the main base for exploring the region, and it is easy to book excursions to the surrounding areas – cycling and pony trekking holidays are also available. Moroccan food is excellent – you should definitely try a few tagines during your stay, and some of the local salads. Always haggle in the markets – it's unlikely you'll ever pay what a local would, but it's fun trying!
You can combine a beach holiday on the Moroccan coast with an inland stay, depending on your tour operator.