Marrakech in seven days: the best tours and excursions to get the most out of your week

Seven days is the perfect length of stay for all there is to see and do in Marrakech and to delve into the mysteries of the nearby desert. From its mosques, palaces and gardens to the indescribable atmosphere of its souk, every visitor's senses are enraptured after just a few hours.

Marrakech is one of Morocco' s Imperial Cities and the origin of its Medina, the ancient fortified citadel, dates back to Berber times. Its labyrinthine alleyways make it almost impossible to find your way around, but much of its appeal lies in wandering aimlessly to find a point of interest around every corner.

To make the most of having enough days to visit the city without rushing, this first day will be dedicated to getting to know its bustling medina, souks and the Jamaa El Fna square. If you prefer, you can do this first route with one of the guided tours offered in Marrakech.

The aim of this day, apart from seeing a few things already, will be to learn how to get around Marrakech and make sure you are aware of the various safety tips for a trip to Morocco.

A leisurely stroll through the Medina and souk of Marrakech

The medina, or old city, is the heart of Marrakech and hides within its walled interior many of the attractions that draw any visitor. This area is made up of a veritable labyrinth of narrow streets, most of which are very narrow. Thousands of people pass through them at any given moment, mingling with the countless shops that line the way.

This first stroll through these streets can impress many tourists, or even intimidate them a little. The presence of a guide can alleviate some of this shock, but this first contact with the reality of the medina should also help you get to know the hidden attractions of the Medina of Marrakech.

My suggestion is to spend a full morning exploring both these streets and the souk, the commercial area of the medina, which occupies a large part of its streets. Here you will be surprised by the wide variety of products on sale and the insistence of the traders on attracting potential customers. To take a break from the hustle and bustle, the medina offers a couple of places to relax. The main one is the so-called Jardin Secret (the Secret Garden), a restored former palace with beautiful gardens filled with cafés and shops.

Lunch at the Terrase des Epices

After this first stroll through the Medina and the souk, it's worth getting in touch with another of the country's cultural highlights: gastronomy.

Ideally, take one of the tours dedicated to this theme, but if that's not possible, it's best to keep an open mind and try the different Moroccan dishes on the menu.

For this first meal I recommend going up to the terrace of Des Epices, where the quality of the produce seems to be enhanced by spectacular views of the city.

Ben Youssef Madrasa

After regaining your strength, you will continue your walk through the medina, but this time with a specific destination: the Medersa or Ben Youssef Madrasa. This religious school housed some 900 students in its heyday.

Today it can be visited for an entrance fee. The central courtyard is particularly remarkable , as is the delicate decoration of its arches and doors. It is also surprising to see the austerity of the cells in which the students lived.

Very close to this place is the so-called Almoravid Quobba. Crowned by a dome, it is the only example of Almoravid art remaining in the city. Finally, it is worth taking the time to enter and explore the souk it houses, the Souk Foudouq Ouarzazi.

Jamaa el Fna Square

After touring the medina, it's time to visit the true icon of Marrakech and the whole country: the Jamaa el Fna square.

Although on another day of the trip you will return here to see the daytime atmosphere, it is when evening falls that the square takes on an impressive appearance. It is crowded with fortune tellers, musicians, acrobats, storytellers and plenty of places to eat. All of this gives it a look reminiscent of the tales of The Thousand and One Nights

Before you dive into the square, you can find a place in one of the cafés with a terrace in the area and watch the sunset from there. After that, I recommend you join in the magical atmosphere of the Jamaa el Fnaand dine on some local food at one of the tables set up there.

There are a number of excursions organised from Marrakech that will allow you to discover the desert.

Although all options have their charm, this time I have chosen the excursion that lasts three days and takes you to such interesting places as Ait Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate and the sand dunes of Dades.

Ait Ben Haddou

One of the most spectacular places to visit outside Marrakech is undoubtedly the ksar of Ait Ben Haddou.

Known as the gateway to the desert, the sight of this fortified town located on a cliff takes you back in time to the Berbers who built it to make it easily defendable.

A stroll through the kasbahs that line its streets is an experience you will find hard to forget. Their spectacular nature and good preservation have led to this place being chosen as the setting for many films and series, including Game of Thrones.

Ouarzazate and Taourirt Kasbah

Situated at the foot of the Atlas Mountain s and just a few kilometres from the desert, Ouarzazate (Ouarzazate in English) is a must-see for anyone passing through the area. The centre of town is Al Mouahidine square, lined with cafés, shops and restaurants.

Ouarzazate is also known as "the Hollywood of Africa" because of the presence of several film studios and the number of films that have been shot there, taking advantage of the city's beauty. If you have time, it's worth visiting the Atlas Studio facilities to learn about the city's relationship with the seventh art.

On the outskirts of Ouarzazate is another of the area's great attractions: the Taourirt kasbah. It is considered to be the largest kasbah in the country and, after being restored, its extraordinary decoration is on full display. Surrounding it is the medina, a place where life seems to have stopped.

Dades Valley

Known as the "Route of the Thousand Kasbahs", to travel through this valley is to enter the heart of nature. The Dades Valley is bathed by the river of the same name, which rises in the High Atlas Mountains. The whole area is full of impressive canyons and gorges, not forgetting the oasis of Skoura.

The route may also take you to other attractions such as the kasbah of Amridril and the Valley of the Roses.

Despite its location, you will be amazed at how the areas where there is water have developed a large ecosystem and how the locals take advantage of it to plant orchards, palm groves and other plantations. As soon as the water disappears, everything becomes desert.

Night in Tinerhir

Although the excursions may differ somewhat, many of them spend the first night in the small town of Tinerhir.

There are really only two main roads in this town, but walking along them is quite pleasant. Its location as a transit point for travellers has led to the opening of several terraces where you can sit and watch the weather pass and relax.

The only place to visit is the old Kasbah of Cheikh Bassou, now converted into a luxury hotel, although you can go inside to see the original rooms and walls.

Merzouga desert

After breakfast, the tour continues to its most interesting point: the Erg Chebbi dunes in the Merzouga desert. Normally, this part of the tour combines the motor vehicle with a camel ride to the bivouac where you will spend the night. Erg Chebbi is the only real sandy area in this part of the desert and is 22 kilometres long and 5 kilometres wide.

The day ends with a traditional dinner at the camp. You can't miss the sunset in the desert, nor the blanket of stars that will envelop you during the night in the desert of Marrakech.

After waking up, you will make your way back to Marrakech. On the way back to Marrakech, you will still be able to enjoy the unique landscapes and make some interesting stops.

After two nights and three days out of Marrakech, it's time to get back to the city. This day we will return to the medina to visit some of its most important monuments.

Koutoubia Mosque

The silhouette of the Koutoubia Mosque can be seen from much of Marrakech. The interior cannot be visited as it is used for worship, but the exterior decoration and its 70-metre-high minaret make this building a must-see. The whole structure is rather reminiscent of the Giralda in Seville.

The mosque was built in the 12th century on the site of another mosque that was located there. From its name, which means "of books", it is assumed that there was a large market dedicated to books in the area.

This building is the subject of a curious legend: once it was built, the walls of the mosque began to bleed so heavily that the blood stained the streets and houses of Marrakesh red. It is for this reason, according to this myth, that the town is known as "the red city".

Saadid Tombs

The next destination is the Saadid Tombs, built by Sultan Al Mansur at the end of the 16th century to bury his mother.

A few decades later, Sultan Mulay Ismail (known as The Bloody) ordered the entrances to the tombs to be bricked up and they were forgotten until the French rediscovered them in 1917.

Today, the tombs can be accessed through a narrow passageway leading to a courtyard where dozens of second-tier figures of the al-Mansur court are buried. In addition, the mausoleum in which the sultan's mother lies, the Hall of 12 Columns (where al-Mansur himself was later buried), the prayer hall and the Hall of the Three Niches can be visited in the complex.

El Badi Palace

One of the advantages of having a guide is that he or she will explain everything you are seeing. Otherwise, you may miss some interesting details. In this case, the first impression when you arrive at El Badi Palace is that it is just a ruin. However, these ruins were once the most lavish palace in the world. With 360 rooms, it was built using Italian marble, onyx from India, granite brought from Ireland and gold leaf to adorn the walls.

Today's visit is limited to the palace structures, as well as the beautiful surrounding gardens with their orange trees, carob trees and pools. In the underground area you can still see the cells used for the prisoners. The luxurious minbar that hides the prayer room should also not be missed.

After this visit I recommend you take a break for a bite to eat at La table de Marrakech, one of the best mid-priced restaurants in Marrakech. It also has a terrace with truly unbeatable views.

Bahia Palace

This other palace, fortunately in better condition, is considered one of the most interesting buildings in Marrakesh.

The Bahia Palace has 150 rooms and multiple courtyards and gardens spread over 8 hectares. The building was ordered to be built in the 19th century by Sultan Si Moussa, although its owner was a former slave, Abu Bou Ahmed, who strove to give it as much splendour as possible.

The most interesting parts of the visit are the harem area and the aforementioned courtyards and gardens. Likewise, there are few sights more beautiful than the decoration of its ceilings.

Mellah: the old Jewish quarter

To end the day you can visit the old Jewish quarter of the city, called (as in the rest of the country) Mellah.

This quarter was built to receive the Jews expelled from Portugal and Spain in the 16th century. There they brought their culture and religion, and today two of the most interesting places to visit are the Al Azama Synagogue and the Jewish Cemetery...

Apart from these two places, it is worth taking a leisurely stroll through its narrow streets trying to find the differences with other parts of the city. The neighbourhood also has a large number of shops with cheaper prices than in the souk of the medina.

One of the most interesting places to visit in one day from Marrakech is Essaouira. The visit will not leave anyone indifferent, so I recommend hiring an organised excursion or even getting to Essaouira on your own.

Essaouira

If you want to make the most of this day, you should leave early to cover the 160 kilometres that separate the two cities and get to your destination as soon as possible. Essaouira is a coastal city full of charming places, so much so that its medina was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Strolling through its streets, which are much quieter than those of Marrakech, will allow you to discover unique corners and the beauty of each of its ochre-coloured houses. Don't forget to take a stroll around its port, crowned by a large bronze cannon. You must also visit Moulay al Hassan square and its souks.

Another visit of interest is related to one of the products that give the area its wealth, the argan tree, a tree from whose ripe seeds a precious oil is extracted. It is very interesting to visit one of the cooperatives dedicated to the production of this oil and learn about its properties.

Its location by the sea means that its restaurants offer plenty of fish and seafood dishes. Whatever your choice, I assure you that you will love them.

Enjoy dinner on your return to Marrakech

When you return to Marrakech in the evening after your excursion, you are likely to be quite tired. For this reason, it's best to find a good place to dine and relax.

Many riads, if you're staying in one, offer high quality traditional dinners. If you prefer to go out, you can go to the great terrace of the Nomad or the beautifully decorated Le Jardin.

The feelings on the last day of any trip are bittersweet. On the one hand, all the moments you have experienced are still fresh in your memory, but on the other hand, the time to return home is drawing ever closer.

To bid farewell to your stay in Marrakech, I have prepared a not too intense route, thinking especially of those who have to go to the airport from the centre of Marrakech during the day to catch their return flight.

Last purchases in the souk

With all the experience you have gained during your stay, this is the best time to return to the souk to buy some gifts or souvenirs. As you will have noticed, the best way to get around this market is not to get nervous at the insistence of some of the vendors.

So wander through the streets of the souk without setting a course, choosing the parts of the souk where the types of goods you are looking for are sold. One of the most colourful areas is Rahba Kedima Square, where all the shops and stalls selling spices and aromatic herbs are located.

Of course, don't forget the unwritten rule of the souks: bargain, bargain, bargain until you reach an agreement.

Menara Garden, an ideal place for a picnic

I'm sure that a visit to the souk, no matter how relaxed you try to be, will have exhausted more than one of you. There is no better place to recover than the Menara Garden, the largest in Marrakech.

As well as strolling along its paths, I recommend that you imitate the locals and buy some food to eat under an olive tree. Try to find a good spot, as the garden tends to receive many visitors, especially in summer in Marrakech and on public holidays.

The Majorelle Garden

After the picnic it can be very pleasant to take a stroll to one of the most peaceful spots in the city: the Jardin Majorelle.

This garden was created by a French painter, Jacques Majorelle, who had an art deco-style villa built and surrounded by cacti, bamboo and other plants. This oasis in the middle of the city is also notable for a kind of deep blue colour that the painter himself invented to make the space he had designed more eye-catching.

Get to know the modern quarter of Gueliz

As evening falls, it's time to visit Marrakesh's modern quarter. This quarter, called Gueliz, was built by the French during the protectorate.

The centre of the quarter is the Place 16 November, from which several large avenues lead off, built in the style of Parisian boulevards. The most important is Mohammed V Avenue, where you will find the most modern Western-style shops and restaurants. The most striking thing about this area is that it has a totally different atmosphere from the medina, which is only about 3 kilometres away.

Depending on the time of day and when your flight departs, this area is perfect for both sampling some local sweets and grabbing a bite to eat.