Activities and Advice for Travel In and Around Marrakech

Marrakech is often the top destination in mind for travellers planning a trip to Morocco, and in today's episode Azdean is joined by Destination Morocco's Operations Manager, Sam, live from Marrakech, to chat about all kinds of activities and recommendations that make a visit there more complete.

The central square, Jemaa el-Fnaa, the Bahia Palace, the medina and the Majorelle Gardens are all wonderful starting points. What are some options though after you've spent some quality time in those places, and are ready to see more?

Marrakech is a great home base for everything from day hikes in the Atlas Mountains, to exciting desert activities in Agafay, hot air balloon rides from the nearby plains or a day trip to Essaouira.

Or you can stay in town and check out the many fascinating museums, which shine a light on Berber culture. Food tours and cooking classes are another great option to keep you busy. Find some new skills to take home with you and make your own tagines!

It's a fun conversation with our man on the ground in Marrakech, bringing this vibrant city closer to home for our listeners.

Here are some of the activities we cover today:

• Taking a Moroccan cooking class or cooking tour
• Going on a food tour, and/or a street food tour specifically
• Enjoying an early morning hot air balloon ride
• Visiting Berber villages in the Atlas Mountains
• Hiking in the mountains
• Discovering four of the premier museums in Marrkech
• Visiting the Sahara Desert and kasbahs
• Making a side trip to Essaouira
• Getting out to the Agafay Desert

Resources Mentioned in this episode:

Episode: Balloon Rides over Marrakech and Mountains

Imlil (the popular Atlas hiking starting base)

Aroumd (another Atlas hiking base) 

Yves Saint Laurent (YSL) Berber Museum at Majorelle Gardens

Tiskiwin Museum, Marrakech

Photography Museum

Dar El Bacha Museum

Taghazout, fishing and surfing spot near Agadir

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If you're a discerning traveler who values an immersive, curated adventure, visit www.destinationsmorocco.com, and let us bring your dream Moroccan vacation to life.

Learn more about Azdean and Destination Morocco.

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Transcript

AZDEAN: 0:50

 Welcome to the Destination Morocco podcast, the show that takes you way to the beautiful country of Morocco. I am your host, azadeen Al-Mustakim. In each episode, we explore Moroccan culture, history, attractions and activities real and practical information coming from experienced travelers and native Moroccans like myself. Our goal is to help travelers that are struggling with planning any type of trip to Morocco. Our company, destination Morocco, builds personalized tour packages that will ensure you enjoy our country just like local. Follow us at DestinationMoroccoco.co. And now let's go exploring. 

AZDEAN: 1:40

 Welcome to Destination Morocco podcast. The guest for this episode is none other than Sam, from our headquarters in Marrakech. Sam, welcome on board.

SAM: 2:01

 Thank you, Mr Azadeen. Thank you for your invitation.

AZDEAN: 2:03

 You're very welcome. From the silks of Marrakech to the whole historic meeting, to the stunning pictures of the Visabella, there's something for everyone. But there's so much more to see and do in Marrakech. Sam, would you please help us and take us, guide us through what you expect for people who are visiting Marrakech? What are some of the things to see and do?

SAM: 2:27

 Yes, thank you. The first thing that I suggest is taking a cooking class. As you know, moroccan cuisine is famous for its old flavors and a very diverse cuisine, which is a mix of Berber cuisine, arabic cuisine and the Jewish cuisine, which gives it one of the best cuisines worldwide, and you can take a cooking class to learn how to cook some of famous dishes in Moroccan cuisine, including tagine, for example, tangia, pastilla, and there is many more other dishes which is famous and which is specific to each region in Morocco, for example, pastilla, which is specific to the region of Fes. You can learn about how to cook tangia, which is one of the best dishes in Marrakech, of course.

AZDEAN: 3:20

 That's very interesting. What else can they also do, staying in the idea and the term of food?

SAM: 3:27

 Of course, go on a food tour. Sample of delicious and diverse cuisine of Morocco on a gated food tour in Marrakech or Fes, saouira or Tangier is something that you don't have to miss. While visiting Morocco as well, you can take street food, street food, especially in Morocco. I'm sure that you will love it. There are so many things that you can try during your street food tour in Morocco. You can try a heat meat cook slowly. You can try it on the Zemezna Square in Marrakech.

AZDEAN: 4:04

 Just to back up, I think I heard you say ahead. That's one of the Moroccan delicacies. I don't think a lot of people opt for that one, but it's not really for everyone. I love it. We grew up eating it, so I'm used to it. It might be a little bit different taste for a lot of people, I don't know. When Andrew Zimmerman visited Marrakech it was one of the tough ones for him to taste. Just approach it with caution, just in case. But also just to add to what you have been saying, sam, the cooking classes. They can be done in Riyadh, they can be done in a hotel, they can be done in somebody's home. Also, when it comes to the food tour, it's just basically you're just sampling foods from shop to shop or place to place, like in half a day or so. And the other one that you were saying, the street food. The street food is very intriguing. It's really, really interesting, especially when it comes to Marrakech. Marrakech is the best spot in the whole of Morocco when it comes to street food, especially in the square. It has come along the way for the last two or three decades. It has improved so much. But still, if you don't know what you're going in those stalls you might get lost. So I would always recommend having somebody send you somewhere or recommend one of those stalls for you to go and enjoy your meal. The other thing is, if you see a place where there's a lot of tourists, I may not want to sit at that table, but I'll go to a table where it's full with the locals. So that's my recommendation when it comes to street food. Now, we're going to keep staying in the same Marrakech area. Another other thing that they can do, sam.

SAM: 5:35

 One of the things that you can experience while you are in Marrakech or in Morocco is especially in Marrakech. She's going to hot air balloon right so over the Morocco landscapes and taking a stunning views from above. When you ride a hot air balloon over Marrakech, you're gonna get a view special views over Marrakech, including the old Medina, including the suburbs of Marrakech, including the stunning views of the Atlas Mountains. I can say that's one of the best experiences that you can do for couples and especially for families. It's highly recommended to enjoy when experience it starts from early morning and Ince with the sunrise, including breakfast on the air. It's one of the best experiences you can enjoy during your trip to Morocco.

AZDEAN: 6:26

 That's really interesting. I know I'm afraid of heights. I'm not sure if I'll be able to do it, but I might give it a chance because I remember we talked to Sharif on his episode With the hot air balloon experience and it sounded really, really good. So I definitely want to try this summer for sure. But also, just to let the audience know that the company will pick you up from your other hotel I'm about early, early morning, like Sam said, at 6 am and then they take you to it's an off-site location where so many balloon companies work and basically go with one that you book with and that's what the tour really would take place. The ride should be about maybe 45 minutes to an hour, but it's just incredible Describe you. It's really really amazing. By 9 am you should be done. This is what I really like about it, because you still have your full day ahead of you, that you can still do a lot of things, a lot of other experiences and stuff like that. So this is amazing. Thank you, sam, for that. Now we're gonna switch again, marcus. We're gonna switch a little bit of scenery and landscape. What would be the next thing to do? An experience for tourists and visitors.

SAM: 7:30

 As you come to Morocco, as you visit Morocco, one of the things or Experiences you have to do is visit in the high Atlas Mountains, including the Berber villages, and a lunch with the Berber family, as well as a guided hike of Like one hour and no. One hour and a half to two hours, is something you don't have to miss when you are in Morocco. The Atlas Mountains we have like three chains of Atlas Mountains, including the high Atlas Mountains, the middle Atlas Mountains and Anti Atlas Mountains, but we recommend highly to visit the high Atlas Mountains. For example, the Imli Valley is one of the best spots to enjoy this experience, to enjoy a guided hike and then end by enjoying our Traditional Berber lunch with a local family in Imli. Here you will learn with your guide a local guide, of course, mountain guide to learn about how the Berber lives, they spend a daily life and how they cook their meals every day using traditional stuff. You can learn about how to prepare even Moroccan tea with mint, and so on and so forth.

AZDEAN: 8:44

 That's really really interesting seeing those things. That really takes me back to my own village now for a lot of the guests. Some they like to go hiking, but they're not. They don't want to do something. That is really really hardcore hiking. Can you explain to us in terms of miles, kilometers, and also you know the trails? How are they? Do they walk with these animals to help along the way, or how does it?

SAM: 9:07

 work? Yeah, this is a good question. Imli is the next starting point for tricking in Morocco and one of the famous spots. It's one hour and half drive from Marrakesh. Okay, so for the trails or for the hiking or tricking, it depends on your physical. There is low level, there is medium and there is like a high level. Depends on your physical force and, for example, if you are like Groups of friends, if you are families, so there is something for everyone. You can start from Imli. For example, you can visit the Casbah, you can visit the village of Aram and for kids, for example, or for the people, they can take, for example, a long hike, they can ride mules. I should, yeah, to enjoy this experience, to visit the Casbah and to visit the villages on the top of the mountain.

AZDEAN: 9:58

 Wow, that's really really interesting. That actually answers my own question, because I know Not doing a lot of walking might be physically active. Then when I go to my village it takes me about two days or so to get through the muscle ache and you know, my legs start to hurt a little bit. So, but this makes really sense. So, okay, that's excellent. Now what else can we do if we're still staying in the vicinity of Marrakesh? What else can we do our guests or tourists can do.

SAM: 10:25

 One of the best things, of course, is to visit the city. The city of Marrakech is one of the oldest imperial cities in Morocco. We have four imperial cities. We have Marrakech, fez, rabat and Mignes, so by far Marrakech is the best. When it comes to, marrakech is rich of history, heritage and culture. So when you visit Marrakech During your city tour, you can explore the palaces, enjoy the beautiful architecture of the palaces, including the Bahia Palace, including the Bahia Palace, the Majlal Gardens. You can visit the Kato Bia Mosque and a live and sentry Mosque from outside, by the way, and not from inside, because it's not allowed to visit inside the mosque and, as well, visit the souks, the souks or the old Medina. The old Medina of Marrakech is like a kind of labyrinth Fall of alize or of color. Yeah, it's a colorful town and a Medina that you can enjoy like. You can just go there for hours and hours and hours, and you will not feel bored visiting this amazing Medina.

AZDEAN: 11:33

 That sounds really, really amazing. So just to give the listeners a little bit of perspective, in terms of the souks, or the square, or Jamal square, regarding to the Kato Bia Mosque, their walking distance, they're next to each other actually, just they're separated by a street. So when you can see it, and it's amazing, the souk is just the market. Jamal Trans Square has been UNESCO heritage site, I believe, since 19. I'm not really sure, 85 or 87, but it's been quite some time, and just one of the must see stops in Marrakech, for sure. And also in terms of the culture, there's a lot of Berber culture, there's a lot of Jewish culture. Can you tell us a little bit about that in Marrakech?

SAM: 12:10

 Yes, if you want to learn about Berber culture in Marrakech, I recommend highly to visit Efsalorro Berber museum, visit the Artisqueen Museum, visit La Mison de la Photography and Darle Pesha Museum. As you know, marrakech used to be the capital, the first capital for Berbers. So this is the trace of the Berbers there. So when you visit the museums, you will get an idea about the Berbers of Marrakech. Throw your history through a hand of the fears, starting from the 11th century to 2023.

AZDEAN: 12:46

 So just to give the listeners a little bit of perspective, you mentioned the first, the Berber Museum, ysl. So just to make the connection YSL, it is the designer. That's where he lived, the mazurel garden. He bought it a long time ago and he took care of it and he made it what it is today. And actually he lived and died in Marrakech and Little bit of his story is that he was working at the time for Chris Dior, the designer, and he was not really doing well, so he needed a little bit of occasion to clear his head and creativity. So he went to Marrakech for a couple of days but then he fell in love with the city, with the colors, the diversity, everything. Then he spent the rest of his life in Marrakech and when you look at his fashion, the colors, they always reflect to the colors of Marrakech and also the colors of Morocco. So it's a really, really intriguing story and it's a must see stops. You know the garden of Marrakech we have to see it. Then the museum next to what you have to see it. So it just it's a really, really happening spot in Marrakech. Now we're gonna switch a little bit of gifts. Besides Marrakech, what's there for the tourists to see. What else would you recommend or would you like to talk about?

SAM: 13:57

 I recommend people to visit the Sahara dessert as well as the caspaz. So when you are in Morocco, I had recommend to visit the caspaz, of 45 villages Dealing back centuries and centuries ago. I recommend to visit the Eid al-Nahadu Caspar. Eid al-Nahadu Caspar is very famous. It's a uni school world heritage site and it was used to be a scene for mini international movies, including gladiator, games of Tron and so on and so forth. After visiting the caspaz, I had recommend to visit the Sahara dessert of Mirzouga and enjoy a camera ride experience Camera ride experience in the Sahara dessert and watch the sunset over the huge San dunes of Ergishby in Mirzouga and, of course, spend a romantic night under the stars in a luxury desert camp in Mirzouga. There is plenty of camps, luxury camps, where you can spend a loving night there and enjoy your time in the Sahara dessert.

AZDEAN: 15:01

 Eid al-Nahadu is close to my village. Last time when I visited there was, I would say, about an hour. Give or take few minutes. What's the best time to visit Eid al-Nahadu in your opinion?

SAM: 15:12

 Oh, the best time to visit Eid al-Nahadu. I suggest to visit it early morning or late afternoon, because there is an amazing Partner on the view where you can taste some memories, some amazing photos, a lifetime experience.

AZDEAN: 15:26

 Okay, perfect. When I went, we were the only ones and by the time we left there were, you know, buses and buses of tourists just flooding the place. So I felt really good doing it early. Now, what do you talk about Ait-Muhaddu? Ait-muhaddu is the gate to the desert. The next stop would be Dad's Valley and so forth. Just to give you an idea, if it takes four hours of driving to get from point A to point B, we're going to have to make at least four or five stops, because the scenery, oh my God, it's just, it's it's mind-blowing, it's beyond incredible. And I know this because I've taken that route. I've taken it from Kiewet, from my village, all the way to Merzuga, and it's just amazing, amazing, amazing. So now when we talk about the Kaspat Ait-Muhaddu unfortunately that's, that's what the West know, because of the movies, because of the media, but there are thousands even better than Ait-Muhaddu. There are a lot of people who don't know and they don't get enough credit. However, you will see them on your way to the desert. So that's why I say you know, when you're going from Ait-Muhaddu towards Merzuga Desert, make sure you stop quite a bit, because there's so much to see and cover and you don't want to miss it. Then, the other thing that you mentioned, sam, when it comes to Merzuga. Merzuga, it's the sunset, and then the early, early, early morning, when you wake up and look at the skies, the stars in the sky, they just look so bright. It's just, it's something that I have never seen in my life. It's just, it's amazing. But then again, the stars, they look different in the summertime than the winter time. So if you haven't gone in the summer, you need to do it again in the winter, if you can. So that's what I would suggest. What do you think, sam?

SAM: 17:05

 Absolutely yes. Merzuga is a lifetime experience and I encourage everyone to visit Merzuga once in a lifetime at least, especially, as you mentioned, the sunset, the stars at night and the early morning sunrise, as you see the change of the colors of the dunes as the sun rises. It's just I can't describe it by the way. It's just. How do you feel it?

AZDEAN: 17:31

 I know, I know. So what else would you recommend or suggest, sam, for the visitors or people that are traveling, whether they are solo traveled or they are a couple traveling by themselves, or in a small group, or backpackers even? What would you recommend to them to visit?

SAM: 17:48

 I recommend highly to visit Isawira. It's a coastal city, very beautiful small town, full of history. It's a medieval city, by the way. I like it because it's a picturesque city, full of life, full of I know. When you visit Isawira you feel like you are traveling back on time and you're not just enjoying the heritage and the culture of the locals. It's very simple, very quiet, and don't miss a walk on the beach of Isawira. It's just an amazing experience as well. Visit the Sqala, the old harbor of Isawira that used to be a meeting point of caravans. Some writers, historian writers, say that they were back 5,000 years ago, which is one of the amazing cities that you have. Absolutely to take a day trip from Marrakesh or even spend one night in Isawira. It's highly recommended to take a day trip or spend two nights in Isawira because there is so much to discover and so much to see in Isawira.

AZDEAN: 18:52

 I think, isawira. If I'm in Marrakesh and will day trip, I'll stay in Isawira until my time, maybe 9pm, maybe have dinner in Isawira and drive back to Marrakesh, the downtown. It's a small downtown, medina. It'll take you a few hours, maybe a couple of hours, to see it. But one of the must-see areas is absolutely the fish market. You have to experience it. I mean, the fish is just beyond incredible. It's really really delicious. It's a really good dead experience. You have to go through it to understand it and it's a lot of fun and you get to interact with the locals and you may get scammed for a few bucks, which is OK, but it's going to be a lot of fun. But then it has its own Jewish history, jewish quarter, incredible. Then the city now looks very clean, looks very nice, looks very modern, but also it has that hippie feeling because they have yearly music festivals, gnawa Festival. It's normally almost the week in September or so. So in terms of explaining the Sawa to somebody, I would say it's like Austin, texas, they say keep Austin weird. This Sawa is the exact same way. They also call it the winter city of Morocco because it's always windy and it's one of the top destinations there in the summertime because it's always cool. So the temperatures are in the 20s versus the 30s or the 40s in Marrakesh. It's always cool, it's always nice and also it's a really, really hot spot for surfing. So if you like surfing, this Sawa is one of the best spots to do that. In addition to it, about an hour and a half of drive, there's an area called Terazut, which is next to a major city, agadir. Then, if you go all the way down to the south, is one of the major cities. That's called Dakhna. We have not made any itineraries, but we can make some itineraries to see that part of Morocco, which is just unbelievably beautiful. Ok, moving on, sam, to end this episode, what's one of the last things and what are the best things that you would recommend?

SAM: 20:46

 If you are traveling to Morocco, for example, and you are in Marrakesh and you have only a few days and you can't go to the desert, I highly recommend to visit the Agafai Desert. Agafai Desert is the nearest desert to Marrakesh. It takes only 40 minutes drive to get there and you can enjoy many, many experiences and activities there, including a come ride, a bargy ride or a quad bike. Don't forget to enjoy a dinner in a local restaurant or camp Desert camps there is so many of them there and there is so many restaurants there and I highly recommend to enjoy dinner there. If you can take a day trip maybe a day trip to Agafai Desert there is so many things and many activities that you can experience. Then you drive back to Marrakesh. The advantage is that there is no long drive only 40 minutes and you get there, to this amazing desert near Marrakesh.

AZDEAN: 21:43

 That's really really good. Just to add a little bit what we have, sam Sam, agafai is the substitute to Musuga Desert. Musuga is 100% desert, but sometimes it's inconvenient because of the drive, because of the time that it takes to get there. So this one, we highly recommend it, especially during summer time. There are different camps, it's a massive area and you can have any type of experience that you wish. So, whatever you're celebrating, if it's just a romantic dinner, if it's a huge event, agafai is definitely one of the best spots to host it. And keep in mind, you can always go back to Marrakesh or spend the night in Agafai. Great, great options, great recommendations. Sam, it's been amazing having you back on the podcast and it's a lot of fun to talk to you and chat with you.

SAM: 22:32

 Yeah, if we want to talk about Morocco, maybe it will take us years. Yeah, we can talk about thousands and thousands of years of history and heritage and culture. A mix of Berber, Jewish and Arabic culture, which makes the country, as you say at the beginning, a diverse country, and there is always something for everyone.

AZDEAN: 22:54

 So this concludes our episode for today. Sam, we're very grateful, very appreciative to you, to your hard work and everything that you do for the company, and it showed Everybody's happy. I don't take the credit, but it's you. You take all the credit because it's your hard work, because it's you and the team in Marrakech. So I'm very grateful for all that you do and I really appreciate you for that. Thank you for that.

SAM: 23:19

 I appreciate it. Thank you very much.

AZDEAN: 23:21

 Absolutely. Thanks for joining us this week on the Destination Morocco podcast. Our dedicated show website, destination Morocco Podcast dot com, is where you can find all of our episodes, leave a review, find our social media links and even register as a guest. If you have been to Morocco yourself and would love to share a story, advice or recommendations, you're welcome to participate in our podcast. Whether it's a five minute story or a full conversation, we will guide you through the steps so that you can share your experience with our listeners. We will be back soon enough with a new episode for you as we continue our exploration of the beautiful country of Morocco. See you then.