Things to do in Marrakech
12 private experiences · from a few hours to a few hours · starting from Marrakech
Marrakech is full of experiences beyond its famous square. Fly over the palm grove in a hot-air balloon at sunrise, cook a tagine in a riad kitchen during a Moroccan cooking class, ride a camel at sunset in the Agafay desert, or taste the city's street food by night.
To explore the city itself, join a guided tour of the hidden medina, ride through it in a vintage sidecar or cover more ground on a guided bike tour. Outside the city, you can go rafting and canoeing on the rivers of the High Atlas, ride a jet ski on Lake Lalla Takerkoust, or play golf on the courses around Marrakech, set among palm groves with views of the Atlas.
These activities last from a few hours to half a day, most include pick-up at your hotel, and they are easy to add to a stay in the city or to the end of a longer tour. New to the city? Start with our first-time tips for Marrakech.
All experiences (12)
Plan with our guides
PlanningFirst time in Marrakech: 12 tips to enjoy the Red City
How to get around the medina, haggle with a smile, avoid common tourist traps and choose the best experiences in Marrakech, from local guides who live there.
PlanningMoroccan food: 12 dishes to try and where to eat them
Tagine, couscous, pastilla, tangia, harira and mint tea: a local guide to Moroccan cuisine, with table manners and the best ways to taste it on your trip.
PlanningMorocco with kids: a family guide to the desert, the Atlas and Marrakech
Camel rides, waterfalls, quads and a night in the dunes: how to plan a family trip to Morocco, with pacing tips and the activities children love most.
Sight guideThe Saadian Tombs of Marrakech: A Hidden Royal Necropolis
Visit the Saadian Tombs in Marrakech, the 16th-century royal necropolis rediscovered in 1917: their history and the Chamber of the Twelve Columns.
Sight guideEl Badi Palace: The Ruined Splendour of Marrakech's "Incomparable" Palace
Explore El Badi Palace in Marrakech, the vast 16th-century Saadian palace built by Ahmad al-Mansur and stripped by Moulay Ismail: its history.
Sight guideZawiya of Sidi Bel Abbès: The Shrine of Marrakech's Patron Saint
Discover the Zawiya of Sidi Bel Abbès in Marrakech, the shrine of the city's patron saint and the most important of its Seven Saints.
Sight guideJemaa el-Fna: How to Experience Marrakech's Legendary Square
A complete guide to Jemaa el-Fna, Marrakech's UNESCO-recognised main square: its history, storytellers and Gnawa musicians, the evening food stalls.
Sight guideThe Souks of Fes and Marrakech: A Shopper's Guide to Morocco's Great Markets
How to explore and shop in the souks of Fes and Marrakech: how the markets are organised, the best areas for leather, carpets and lanterns.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best day trip from Marrakech?
It depends on what you like: Ait Ben Haddou for history and film sets, Essaouira for the ocean, Imlil for mountain walks, the Ourika Valley for an easy escape, the Ouzoud waterfalls for nature, and the Agafay desert for a taste of the desert without a long drive.
Related: 7 day trips from Marrakech, compared
Can I visit Ait Ben Haddou in a day from Marrakech?
Yes, but it is a long day of about 12 hours and roughly 400 km return, crossing the High Atlas by the Tizi n'Tichka pass. You visit the UNESCO-listed ksar with a local guide and usually stop in Ouarzazate. For a calmer pace, combine it with a 2 or 3-day desert tour.
Is Essaouira worth a day trip from Marrakech?
Yes. Essaouira is about three hours from Marrakech and makes a relaxing day: a UNESCO-listed medina, a lively fishing port, grilled fish for lunch and fresh sea air. On the way you pass the argan forest, where goats climb the trees, and a women's argan-oil cooperative.
How high are the Ouzoud waterfalls?
The Ouzoud waterfalls drop about 110 metres into a green gorge in the Middle Atlas, about three hours from Marrakech. You can walk down to the base, take a small boat close to the spray and see Barbary macaques in the olive trees.
Can I hike in the Atlas Mountains on a day trip?
Yes. From Imlil, about 1.5–2 hours from Marrakech at the foot of Mount Toubkal, a local mountain guide leads an easy 2–3 hour walk through Amazigh villages such as Aremd, with lunch in a Berber home. The pace is adapted to the group and a mule can carry tired walkers.
Related: Imlil Valley Day Trip from Marrakech
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