Ways to Experience Moroccan Culture in Marrakech

Experience a Moroccan spice market and the height of the hubbub at Marrakech’s central square, Djemaa El Fna, on a 3.5-hour food tour. With a food-loving guide, learn about Morocco’s exotic spices and flavors; watch buyers and sellers haggle at a meat market; and sample culinary specialities such as fluffy Berber pancakes and ghoulal, a soup made with snails. Finish with an authentic Moroccan dinner surrounded by the dizzying colors, sounds and sights of Djemaa El Fna. Numbers are limited to 12 for a more personalized experience.

Gain a newfound appreciation for Moroccan cuisine during this small-group cooking class, including shopping at the market, preparation of a traditional dish and lunch. Learn some Arabic phrases from your guide to shop at the ‘souq’ (market) for ingredients. Then create a traditional Moroccan meal such as couscous or ‘tagine’ (a meat and vegetable dish named after the pot used for cooking). Finish by enjoying lunch with fellow students in the courtyard of a 'riad,' a traditional Moroccan dwelling. This small-group class, limited to 12 participants, also includes a recipe sheet so you can replicate the dish later.

Experience a Moroccan dinner and take in the show at Fantasia Restaurant in Marrakech, a legendary 4-hour experience. Relax on soft cushions and sample the classic cuisine of the Maghreb, as musicians, belly dancers and acrobats hold the spotlight. Watch a dramatic Rif ceremony: opposing tribes highlight each group’s best riders, who shoot and strut in a display of warrior bravado. Take in majestic Arabian horses, traditional songs and a desert caravan then finish the evening with a glimpse of a mythical flying carpet.

Escape the bustling souks and discover the beauty of the Moroccan countryside on this camel and quad-biking tour from Marrakech. Explore the open desert with a guide during your camelback ride, and admire fine views over the rugged terrain. Enjoy a refreshing cup of Moroccan tea with a local family and gain insight into life outside the busy city. Following a traditional Moroccan tagine lunch, hop onto your powerful quad bike and zoom off through the palm groves. Spin past traditional Berber villages and farms, then return in comfort to Marrakech.

Make like a true Moroccan with a classic mint tea and camel ride on this sunset experience from Marrakech. After pickup from your Marrakesh hotel, visit a traditional Berber home to enjoy a refreshing mint tea with a friendly Berber family. Next, continue to the Palmeraie, a palm grove that edges Marrakesh. Here, hop on a camel and enjoy a leisurely ride around the lush palms and sunset-washed sands of this picture-postcard grove.

Escape to the desert outside Marrakech for a 2-hour small-group camel ride set among the rugged North African terrain. Don your protective head scarf and jump aboard your camel for a ride amidst natural groves of palm trees and the ever-changing light of the desert sky. Then take a break in a Berber village to enjoy some friendly hospitality, accompanied by Moroccan tea and a pancake snack. This small group trip, limited to just 16 guests, also includes air-conditioned round-trip hotel transport, a multilingual guide, bottled water and a protective head scarf for the sun.

Get under the skin of Marrakech’s ancient medina and historical highlights on this full-day tour, including lunch. With a knowledgeable local guide, stroll through the tangled lanes and souks; take in the sights, sounds, and aromas of vast Jemaa Al-Fnaa; learn about Moroccan culture at art at the Tiskiwin Museum; and explore the ornate pavilions and gardens of the beautiful Bahia Palace and Saadian Tombs. Savor lunch at a medina restaurant and take snaps of top Marrakech attractions such as Koutoubia Mosque.

Discover some of Marrakech’s most beautiful buildings and hidden treasures on this morning tour. With a local guide, admire top Marrakech attractions including the Koutoubia Mosque with its sublime minaret; and the pavilions, courtyards, and perfumed gardens of the Bahia Palace. Hear historical anecdotes from your guide as you explore and round off your tour with visits to the decorative Saadian Tombs and Tiskiwin Museum, home to a fascinating exhibition on the ancient Saharan caravan routes between Marrakech and Timbuktu.

Make the most of an evening in Marrakech with this cultural show and dinner tour, complete with transport and ticket included for a hassle-free experience. Travel to a palm grove and soak in the ‘Arabian Nights’ atmosphere as you savor a lamb-on-the-spit dinner in a traditional ‘caidales’ tent. Then, sit down to an outdoor cultural show featuring live Arab steeds, horsemen, battle recreations, acrobats, belly dancers, and magic.

Enjoy an oasis of exotic plant life and beautiful gardens in the desert city of Marrakech during this excursion to the city’s Majorelle and Menara Gardens. Explore the intriguing history of Majorelle Garden, learning about its French-influenced architecture and connection to iconic designer Yves Saint Laurent. Then head to olive groves and orchards of Menara Garden before finishing the day with a horse-drawn carriage ride through Marrakech. This Marrakech garden excursion also includes all entrance fees and round-trip transport from select hotels.

Explore Marrakesh’s vibrant souks and get your bearings in its old medinas on this afternoon excursion. Delve into the maze-like lanes of stalls and workshops, and peruse the myriad of artisan crafts and souvenirs with haggling tips from your guide. Visit an herbalist shop to discover some favorite local herbal remedies, oils, and concoctions and watch the whirl of vendors, musicians, acrobats, and street artists in Jemaa El Fna square.

Travel from Marrakech to the Berber region of the High Atlas Mountains on a private day-trip, and discover riverside communities, rich culinary traditions and stunning high-valley scenery. Explore the market town of Asni, and head off-road towards the Azzaden valley, where farmers tend terraced fields in the shadow of alpine peaks. Sample local bread, herbs, oil and honey, and enjoy a traditional 3-course meal on an open-air terrace. Walk down the valley for a simple tea, take a cooling swim or stroll to an adobe village on a hillside perch.