A long weekend in Marrakech

Marrakech makes for a beautiful long weekend from any European city. With five days, you will have plenty of time to both explore and relax. The weather is perfect in the winter, and you can also immerse yourself in a fascinating culture. All our tours are private, with personal guides and drivers. 

We suggest five nights, so you could depart on a Thursday and be back home on a Tuesday, for instance. We recommend a healthy balance between heading out on unique, immersive experiences and the chance to relax at a suitably lovely hotel beside the pool. Furthermore, we always tailor-make your time here, so do call us to talk through the options.

Here is what we suggest for the perfect long weekend in Marrakech. You begin by flying in Marrakech, and we advise that you spend your time in one of the hotels in the Palmeraie, which is the area that surrounds the city. These hotels have far more extensive gardens, often with a large pool and generally more space to relax. We can, of course, put you in a Riad in the medina, although, for five nights, you tend to feel somewhat constricted. 

Your first day is at leisure. Afterwards, you can enjoy your first evening with a drink and a traditional tagine. The following day takes you into the city. We suggest heading in after breakfast and exploring the Saadian Tombs, El Badi Palace, Jewish Quarter (Mellah) and Bahia Palace. These sites will be especially of interest to those who love their history and culture. You then arrive at the iconic Jemaa el-Fna square for lunch. If you just want to see the souks, you can spend the morning at leisure and start your day of exploring in the afternoon.

You will head into the souks with your private guide. We suggest spending two or three hours exploring the various nooks and crannies and many different souks and eclectic stalls. You re-emerge from the souks at the Djemaa el-Fna at dusk, as the food stalls are starting to emit their glorious spice-infused wonderfulness. 

The next day, wake up early for a marvellous experience. You’ll be picked up and taken to the Agafay Desert for a hot air balloon flight. The views over the desert and Atlas Mountains are incredible. You’ll land and see a traditional side-car awaiting you, and you’ll whizz off into the New Town to see a different side to Marrakech. Afterwards, you’ll delve into some of Marrakech’s hidden souqs and quirky museums.

Next, you’ll head into the Atlas Mountains in the Ourika Valley. You’ll have the chance to take a short (or long) day walk through traditional villages. We will also take you into a local Berber home for a mint tea.

Finally, spend your last day in Marrakech at leisure. You might want to head into the town for shopping or relax by the pool with a good book and a drink. If you want to see and do more, we suggest our most off-the-beaten-track experience in Marrakech. For example, we can truly let you know the city through Moroccan eyes and the markets that they visit. For the more active, we can arrange varying degrees of bike tours, such as an easy cycling trip through the Palmeraie to more challenging cycling trips into the High Atlas Mountains.