Marrakech — The Red City
About Marrakech — The Red City
Marrakech, a former imperial city in western Morocco, is a major economic center and home to mosques, palaces and gardens. The medina is a densely packed, walled medieval city dating to the Berber Empire, with mazelike alleys where thriving souks (marketplaces) sell traditional textiles, pottery and jewelry. A symbol of the city, and visible for miles, is the Moorish minaret of 12th-century Koutoubia Mosque.
Marrakech is a feast for the senses. Known as the “Red City” due to the clay used to construct its historical walls and buildings, this city blends ancient history with modern Moroccan culture. It is the most popular destination in Morocco and the primary gateway for tours into the high Atlas Mountains and the Sahara Desert.
The Historic Medina and Jemaa el-Fnaa
The heart of Marrakech is the Medina, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Inside its historic walls lies Jemaa el-Fnaa, one of the world’s most famous squares. During the day, the square features orange juice stalls, water sellers, and snake charmers. At sunset, it transforms into an open-air food market with smoking grills, storytellers, musicians, and dancers.
Palaces and Gardens
Marrakech is home to stunning architectural masterpieces, including the Bahia Palace and the Saadian Tombs. For a peaceful escape from the Medina’s hustle and bustle, wander through the Majorelle Garden, a botanical garden designed by French artist Jacques Majorelle and later owned by Yves Saint Laurent, featuring cobalt blue structures and towering cacti.
Tours Visiting Marrakech
10-Day Imperial Cities & Sahara Desert Tour from Casablanca
The ultimate Moroccan journey. Discover the Blue City of Chefchaouen, explore Roman ruins, visit Fes & Marrakech, ride camels in Merzouga, and stay in a luxury desert camp.
12-Day Morocco Grand Tour from Casablanca: Cities, Sahara & Coast
A complete round trip from Casablanca: Rabat, Chefchaouen, Volubilis and Meknes, Fes, two nights in the Sahara, the gorges and kasbahs of the south, Marrakech and the Atlantic port of Essaouira, returning to Casablanca for your flight.
14-Day Grand Morocco Tour from Casablanca
The ultimate Moroccan immersion. Explore Casablanca, Rabat, Chefchaouen, Fes, Meknes, the Sahara Desert, the Atlas Mountains, Essaouira, and Marrakech over two unforgettable weeks.
2-Day Fes to Marrakech Express Desert Tour
Travel from Fes to Marrakech with a night in the Sahara on the way: the Middle Atlas and Ziz Valley, a sunset camel ride and desert camp in Erg Chebbi, then the Draa Valley, Ait Ben Haddou and the High Atlas.
2-Day Marrakech to Fes Express Desert Tour
The fastest way to sleep in the Sahara on your way from Marrakech to Fes. Cross the High Atlas, ride camels into Erg Chebbi for sunset, spend a night at a desert camp and continue north through the Middle Atlas to Fes.
2-Day Zagora Desert Tour from Marrakech
Short on time? Experience the Sahara Desert on a 2-day excursion from Marrakech to Zagora. Cross the Atlas Mountains, visit Ait Ben Haddou, and sleep in a desert camp.
3-Day Errachidia to Marrakech Desert Tour
Start in Errachidia, finish in Marrakech: a sunset camel trek and a luxury desert camp in Erg Chebbi, the Rissani souk, the Todra and Dades gorges, then the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs, Ait Ben Haddou and the High Atlas.
3-Day Desert Tour from Fes to Marrakech
Explore the middle Atlas mountains, see Barbary macaques in the cedar forest, ride camels into the gold dunes of Erg Chebbi, and cross the high Atlas mountains to Marrakech.
3-Day Marrakech to Merzouga Tour: Two Nights in the Desert
Maximise your time in the Sahara: drive straight to Merzouga, then spend a full day exploring Erg Chebbi by 4x4 and camel, with one night in a riad and one at a luxury desert camp, before returning to Marrakech.
3-Day Desert Tour from Marrakech to Fes
Travel from Marrakech through High Atlas Mountains, Ait Ben Haddou, Dades Valley, and Todra Gorge. Ride camels in Erg Chebbi dunes and drive north to Fes.
3-Day Marrakech to Merzouga Desert Tour
Experience the ultimate Sahara Desert adventure. Travel from Marrakech across the High Atlas Mountains, explore Dades Valley and Todra Gorge, and ride camels into the Erg Chebbi luxury desert camp.
3-Day Ouarzazate to Marrakech Desert Tour
Start at the gateway to the Sahara: Ait Ben Haddou and the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs, the Dades and Todra gorges, a sunset camel trek and a luxury desert camp in Erg Chebbi, then back west through the Draa Valley and over the High Atlas to Marrakech.
3-Day Shared Desert Tour from Fes to Marrakech
Travel from Fes to Marrakech via the Sahara in a small group of up to 12, with private rooms and private en-suite tents for everyone. A camel trek and desert camp in Erg Chebbi, the Todra and Dades gorges, and Ait Ben Haddou.
3-Day Shared Desert Tour from Marrakech to Merzouga
Our small-group version of the classic Sahara loop: travel with up to 12 other travellers, sleep in private rooms and private tents, ride camels into Erg Chebbi for sunset, and return to Marrakech. The best-value way to see the desert.
3-Day Shared Desert Tour from Marrakech to Fes
Travel from Marrakech to Fes via the Sahara in a small group of up to 12, with private rooms and private en-suite tents for everyone. Ait Ben Haddou, the Dades Valley, the Todra Gorge and a sunset camel trek in Erg Chebbi.
4-Day Agadir to Marrakech Desert Tour via Merzouga
Travel from the beach to the Red City by way of the Sahara: the Anti-Atlas and Taliouine's saffron fields, Ait Ben Haddou and the Dades Valley, the Todra Gorge, a sunset camel trek and a luxury camp in Erg Chebbi, and finally the Draa Valley and the High Atlas to Marrakech.
4-Day Casablanca to Marrakech Desert Tour via Fes
Land in Casablanca and reach Marrakech four days later having seen the Hassan II Mosque, Rabat, an evening in Fes, a night in the Sahara at Erg Chebbi, the Todra and Dades gorges and Ait Ben Haddou.
4-Day Fes to Marrakech Desert Tour
Four balanced days from Fes to Marrakech: a riad at the foot of Erg Chebbi, a full day in the desert with a sunset camel trek to a luxury camp, the Todra and Dades gorges, and Ait Ben Haddou on the way to Marrakech.
4-Day Desert Tour from Marrakech to Fes
An enhanced desert trip. Cross the Atlas Mountains, explore Dades and Todra gorges, spend a full day discovering Merzouga nomad culture, and travel north to Fes.
4-Day Sahara Desert Tour from Marrakech
The classic desert loop. Explore Ait Ben Haddou, sleep in Dades, spend 2 nights glamping in Erg Chebbi dunes with a full day of 4x4 discovery, and return to Marrakech.
4-Day Ouarzazate to Marrakech Desert Tour with Two Desert Nights
Four days from Ouarzazate to Marrakech with real time in the Sahara: Ait Ben Haddou and the Dades Valley, the Todra Gorge, a sunset camel trek and luxury camp, a full day with nomads and Gnawa musicians around Erg Chebbi, then back over the High Atlas.
4-Day Shared Desert Tour from Fes to Marrakech
A small-group journey from Fes to Marrakech with two nights around Erg Chebbi: a sunset camel trek and desert camp, a full day with nomads and Gnawa musicians, the Todra Gorge and a guided visit of Ait Ben Haddou.
5-Day Agadir to Merzouga Desert Loop
A full loop from the Atlantic to the Sahara and back: out through the Anti-Atlas via Taroudant and Taliouine, the Dades and Todra gorges, a sunset camel trek and a luxury camp in Erg Chebbi, then home over the High Atlas via Ait Ben Haddou and Marrakech.
5-Day Casablanca to Marrakech Tour via Chefchaouen, Fes & the Sahara
Five days from Casablanca to Marrakech taking in the blue city of Chefchaouen, a guided morning in the Fes medina, a night at a desert camp in Erg Chebbi, the Todra and Dades gorges and Ait Ben Haddou.
5-Day Fes to Marrakech Desert Tour
The unhurried way from Fes to Marrakech: a night at a desert camp and a full day around Erg Chebbi, the Todra and Dades gorges, the Valley of Roses and Skoura, then Ait Ben Haddou and the Glaoui kasbah of Telouet.
5-Day Marrakech & Sahara Itinerary
The perfect first trip to Morocco from a single base: arrive in Marrakech, head over the High Atlas to the Dades Valley and the Erg Chebbi dunes for a night at a desert camp, then return for a guided day in the Red City. Airport transfers included.
5-Day Marrakech to Chefchaouen Desert Tour via Fes
Cross Morocco from south to north in five days: the High Atlas and the Sahara, a guided day in the Fes medina and a final night in the blue city of Chefchaouen, with drop-off in Tangier or Fes.
5-Day Marrakech to Fes Desert Tour
The unhurried way from Marrakech to Fes: Ait Ben Haddou and Telouet, the Skoura oasis and the Valley of Roses, the Dades and Todra gorges, two nights around Erg Chebbi, then north through the Middle Atlas to Fes.
5-Day Marrakech to Merzouga Desert Tour
A relaxed private loop from Marrakech with short daily drives: the High Atlas and Ait Ben Haddou, the Dades and Todra gorges, a full day around Erg Chebbi, the Draa Valley and the Glaoui kasbah of Telouet.
5-Day Tangier to Marrakech Desert Tour
Step off the ferry or plane in Tangier and cross Morocco to Marrakech in five days: an evening in Chefchaouen, a guided afternoon in the Fes medina, a sunset camel trek and a luxury desert camp in Erg Chebbi, the Todra and Dades gorges, and Ait Ben Haddou.
6-Day Casablanca to Marrakech: Imperial Cities & Sahara
Six days from Casablanca to Marrakech with time to explore properly: the Hassan II Mosque and Rabat, a night in Chefchaouen, a full guided day in Fes, a sunset camel trek and desert camp in Erg Chebbi, then the gorges and kasbahs of the south.
6-Day Tangier to Marrakech Tour: Chefchaouen, Fes & the Sahara
Six days from Tangier to Marrakech: Cap Spartel and the Caves of Hercules, Chefchaouen, the Roman ruins of Volubilis and imperial Meknes, a full guided day in Fes, a night in the Sahara, and the gorges and kasbahs of the south.
7-Day Morocco Itinerary from Casablanca to Marrakech
A complete week in Morocco: the Hassan II Mosque and a night in Rabat, Chefchaouen, the Roman ruins of Volubilis and the imperial city of Meknes, a full guided day in Fes, a night in the Sahara, and the gorges and kasbahs of the south.
7-Day Desert Tour from Tangier to Marrakech
The ultimate North-to-South crossing. Explore Tangier, wander Chefchaouen's blue streets, visit Fes medina, ride camels in Erg Chebbi, and end in Marrakech.
8-Day Morocco Itinerary: Casablanca, Fes, Sahara & Marrakech
Eight days from Casablanca to Marrakech covering the whole country: Rabat, Chefchaouen, Volubilis and Meknes, a full guided day in Fes, a night in the Sahara, the southern gorges and kasbahs, and a full guided day in Marrakech.
8-Day Ouarzazate to Marrakech Grand Loop: Sahara, Fes & Chefchaouen
A full loop of Morocco starting in Ouarzazate: the Dades and Todra gorges, two nights around Erg Chebbi, a guided day in Fes, Chefchaouen, a night in Rabat and the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, ending in Marrakech.
8-Day Tangier to Marrakech Tour with Two Desert Nights
The complete journey from Tangier to Marrakech: Cap Spartel, Chefchaouen, Volubilis and Meknes, a full guided day in Fes, two nights around Erg Chebbi with a full desert day, the Todra and Dades gorges, Ait Ben Haddou and a guided day in Marrakech.
9-Day Morocco Itinerary from Casablanca with Two Desert Nights
Nine unhurried days from Casablanca to Marrakech: a guided visit of the Hassan II Mosque, two nights in Chefchaouen, Volubilis and Meknes, a full day in Fes, and two nights around Erg Chebbi with a sunset camel trek, a luxury camp and a full desert day.
Day Excursions
Agafay Desert Sunset Camel Ride & Dinner
Less than an hour from Marrakech, the stony Agafay Desert is the quickest way to feel the desert: a sunset camel ride with the snowy Atlas on the horizon, then dinner under the stars at a desert camp.
Essaouira Day Trip from Marrakech
Escape the heat of Marrakech for the Atlantic breeze of Essaouira: a women's argan oil cooperative on the way, the UNESCO-listed medina and its sea ramparts, the blue fishing boats of the port and fresh grilled fish for lunch.
Imlil & High Atlas Villages Day Hike from Marrakech
Walk in the shadow of Toubkal, North Africa's highest peak: a guided hike from Imlil through walnut groves and terraced fields to the Berber village of Aroumd, with a home-cooked lunch in a family house.
Marrakech Full-Day Guided City Tour
See the best of the Red City in one day with a licensed guide: the Koutoubia Mosque, the Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs, the Ben Youssef Madrasa, the souks and the Majorelle Garden, finishing at Jemaa el-Fna as the square comes alive.
Ouarzazate Day Trip from Marrakech
Explore the 'Hollywood of Morocco'. Discover Ait Ben Haddou, visit cinema studios, and cross the majestic High Atlas Mountains on a day excursion.
Ourika Valley & Setti Fatma Waterfalls Day Trip
The easiest escape into the High Atlas from Marrakech: an argan cooperative and Berber family visit in the Ourika Valley, a hike to the waterfalls above Setti Fatma, and lunch by the river.
Ouzoud Waterfalls Day Trip from Marrakech
Visit North Africa's most spectacular waterfalls: a 110-metre cascade in the Middle Atlas foothills, a walk down through olive groves to the pools, a boat ride beneath the falls, and wild Barbary macaques in the trees.