Marrakech, Grand Tour of the Desert & Essaouira – 8 Days

Marrakech Morocco, Ben Youssef Madrasa Koranic school

Marrakech has been called the « Red City » for its red sandstone walls and buildings that date back to 1000 years ago. It is also home to a vibrant medina, an old Arab quarter. Start your day by exploring Africa’s most bustling square, Jemaa El-Fna. Then, take a break from the heat in the gardens of the Koutoubia Mosque . For a taster of 16th century architecture, visit the Ben Youssef Masa Islamic School. Admire the intricate details such as arabesques and Islamic calligraphy and the colorful Zellij (intricate tilework).

Marrakech’s streets are lined with Fondouks, which were medieval traveler inns that served merchants with shelters and supplies. Many of these have been converted to residential properties, while others can be explored as large shopping areas or workshops. A few of the sites are located south of Jemaa el-Fna may be worth your time. You might also want to visit the 500-year-old Saadian Tombs or the expansive courtyard and sunken garden of the 17th century El Badi Palace or the intricate woodwork of the 19th century Bahia Palace.

Boumalne Dades Valley

You can leave the bustling city behind by heading east towards the desert and ascending the High Atlasmountains. Try to spot Mount Toubkal at 13,671 feet (4.167 m). You will pass Berber villages made up of traditional mud-brick houses along the route. You can eat lunch in Taddert, visit the Argan Oil Cooperative, and learn how local women extract the oil from the argan nuts to make oil for the cosmetic, health, and food industries. Continue on the winding road until you reach the Tizi N’Tichka pass. Stop to admire the magnificent view.

Continue east towards the desert hub and filming site of Ouarzazate. Take a tour of the movie studios to discover which movies were shot in the desert. The Musee du Cinema is a great place to visit for movie buffs. You will pass many small towns as you travel along the Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs to Boumalne Ddes. Here, you can see traditional farming techniques in action. As you travel through the fragrant Kela’a M’gouna valley, the « Valley of the Roses », be sure to watch out for nomads tending their animals. Boumalne Dades is a major town that stretches the Dades River.

Early morning walk over the sand dunes at Erg Chebbi

Today, you’ll drive eastward to your final destination: The sand sea at Erg Chebbioutside Merzouga. Stop in Tinerhir along the way to see the river oasis on either side. You will find impressive mesas and plateaus in the surrounding desert landscape. You can explore the Todra gorge located nearby. This 984 foot (300 m), deep ravine is cut by the Todra river. Continue on to the desert city of Erfoud. Visit a craft shop to see how fossil-rich rocks can be skillfully converted into useful and decorative objects.

Merzouga, the town closest to Sahara, is the next stop. Stop in Rissani to see the livestock auction and the « donkey parking area ». You will soon see Rissani’s massive sand sea, Erg Chebbi rising from the horizon. Once you reach Merzouga switch to another vehicle and take your personal camel with you to start your trek across the sand dunes to your Bedouin-style campsite. Enjoy a warm meal and traditional music by the fire while you hike to the top of a nearby dunes.

Ait Benhaddou

Before exploring the Desert, rise early to see the Saharan sunrise. Rent a sandboard, join an Erg Shibi tour (circumnavigating the sand dunes), and/or a quad ATV tour. To explore this Saharan village, head south to Khemliya. Rissani will offer you a second opportunity to visit Maison Tuareg which is a shop selling traditional carpets and jewelry. Continue on to Alnif, passing through the umbrella-shaped trees in the acacia forest before you reach your lunch stop. Continue on through the Draa valley, which is densely populated with date palmeries. You can also pick up a bag of dates to take along.

Travel west to the medieval Ait Benhaddou. Ait Benhaddou is a protected UNESCO site and the most well-known kasbah fort or fortification in Morocco. It was once a key point along the trans-Saharan route that connected Marrakech, Ouarzazate and the southern desert. After the day-crowds are gone, spend the night in the old city and explore the narrow streets. You can pay a small fee to climb to the top of the kasbah for beautiful views. You have the choice of staying for the night here or going to Ouarzazate just 45 minutes before.

Create your tour

Jemaa El-Fna is alive in the evening.

Explore the narrow passageways and alleyways of the old kasbah before the masses arrive to take in the atmosphere of this fortified 11th-century city. You can leave Ait Benhaddou and travel back to Marrakech by going up and over the High Atlas Mountains and through Tizi n’Tichka Pass. You will notice a drastic change in the climate and landscape as you descend the High Atlas’s north-facing slopes. You will soon find yourself in Marrakech’s bustle and bustle, after all the peace and tranquility of the desert and mountains.

It is possible to enjoy the remainder of the afternoon at an easier pace. Jemaa el-Fna is alive in the evening with performers, snake charmers and musicians. The Square is best enjoyed in the evening. You can wander its stalls and take in the sights by the vendors. You can grab a bite from one of the food stalls, or you can enjoy the sights from afar at one of the cafes around Jemaa el-Fna. After a long day, take a stroll to the Koutoubia Mosque to see the floodlit lights before returning to your accommodation.

Seafront ramparts at the Atlantic in Essaouira

After breakfast, head west towards the Atlantic coast and the laidback beach town Essaouira. You will travel along rolling plains and through endemic argan forest. You may be able to see goats grazing on argan fruits if you are lucky. This is a sight you can only see when grass pasture is scarce or unavailable.

You can spend the day in charming Essaouira (a port city) which is a pleasant contrast to hectic Marrakech. You can browse the UNESCO-protected Medina, take a ride on horses, learn how to kitesurf, or simply walk along the Skala (the 18th century seafront ramparts) along this coast. European engineers designed the walls with old brass cannons that offer views over the Atlantic. Jimi Hendrix lovers may wish to take a taxi to Diabat at Essaouira’s end, where he is said to have spent some time. Enjoy freshly caught seafood as you walk back to Essaouira.

Marrakech’s labyrinthine souks, shops and markets

Essaouira, also known as « Windy City », is well-known for its strong ALizee trade winds which hit the crescent beach. It is a popular spot for kitesurfing. You can either watch the kiteboarders in action or take a lesson before you return to Marrakech. You can stop at the Argan Oil Cooperative along the way to learn how the valuable and costly oil is extracted from this nut.

Dar Di Said Museum, also known as the Museum of Moroccan Arts, is a place to visit for clothing, jewelry and beautiful Hispano-Moorish decorations of cedarwood. After exploring the complex labyrinthine souks markets hidden behind regular restaurants and shops, you can indulge your senses. To find spices, woodwork and traditional Moroccan slippers, visit Souk el Attarin and Souk Chuari. To see traditional dyeing techniques used in cloth and yarn, visit Souk Des Teinturiers.

Almoravid Koubba

Depending on your flight details you can discover the Almoravid’s only remaining monument, the 12th century Almoravid Koubba, before visiting the Marrakech museum. The museum is located in the 19th century Dar Mnebbi Palace and houses a large collection of traditional and modern art. It contains artifacts from Berber, Moroccan Jewish, and Islamic cultures.