With 48 hours to spend in Marrakech, you have time to wander the old medina, see the city’s star attractions, and get out into the desert for a taste of adventure without straying too far from the city. See below for tips on how to make the most of your two days in Marrakech.
Day 1: City and Souks
Morning: Get your bearings in the maze-like streets of Marrakech on a guided tour. Whether on foot or from an air-conditioned vehicle, see city highlights, including the Bahia Palace, Jardin Majorelle, Saadian Tombs, city wall, Koutoubia Mosque, and circus-like Djemaa el Fna square. If you prefer a self-guided tour, take a hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus.
Afternoon: After lunch, head to the medina to shop the city’s colorful souks. The tightly packed maze includes vendors selling leatherwork, ceramics, jewelry, woven rugs, spices, and lamps. Get lost on your own, or take a private shopping tour with a guide to glean tips on how to haggle.
Night: Treat your taste buds to the flavors of Morocco on a street food tour. Eat where locals eat at hard-to-find stalls deep within the medina. Learn about traditional dishes and how they’re prepared while sampling tagine, unfamiliar meats, Moroccan breads, couscous, and sfenj, a traditional donut.
Day 2: Outdoor Adventure
Morning: Regroup with a day of fresh air. Wake before the sun for an early morning hot air balloon flight above the Moroccan desert. Gaze down on the city and foothills of the Atlas Mountains. Most balloon rides include a traditional Berber breakfast of corn bread, olives, fresh fruit, and mint tea.
Afternoon: Soak up the Moroccan countryside on a guided quad bike excursion through the deserts just outside the city. Ride past Berber villages and through palm groves on an all-terrain vehicle, and stop at a Berber home for mint tea and a snack.
Night: End your day of outdoor adventure with a sunset camel ride through a palm grove. Hear stories illustrating the important relationship between camels and the Moroccan people as you learn to ride a camel while donning a scarf worn by Morocco’s desert dwellers.
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