Marrakesh, An Exotic Adventure: Experience The Best Desert Tours From Marrakesh

The old imperial city of Marrakesh, located in western Morocco, lying close to the foothills of the majestic Atlas Mountains, really gets to you because once you get there, you just can’t bring yourself to leave. A vacation in Marrakesh throws you into a culture packed with activities where you experience Berber culture. Experience firsthand, the bustling souks or marketplaces selling traditional clothing, pottery, handicrafts, and jewelry and, of course, amazing Moroccan food. Besides shopping, you can get some of the best desert tours from Marrakesh, which will eave you with a memorable experience of the Great Sahara Desert.

Leaving the souks behind, you can wander off to the Medina with its myriad of palaces and buildings. If you want to experience Marrakesh, then accommodation in the buildings and mansions of the Medina is a great way to soak in the atmosphere. To experience the nightlife, you could visit the new town, the location of modernized restaurants and bars selling authentic Moroccan food.

Ethnic Accommodation in Marrakesh

Accommodation in Marrakesh is never a problem. You could easily bunk it out in the most rustic accommodations or stay in an oriental palatial splendor. Affordable and budget Riads or guesthouses are available deep in the souks and in various pockets of the city. There are a variety of budget inns near Djema, which is one of the marketplace areas in Medina.

Suppose you really want to pamper yourself by looking for hotel-style accommodation. In that case, there are several mid-range to high-end Plameraie Villas providing the best atmosphere and style, true to Marrakesh culture in Marrakesh.

Food Options in Marrakesh

The best places to eat in Marrakesh are not the fancy restaurants or eating houses which could be a tad expensive. Food stalls in the Djema are the best experience where you can see your ingredients being prepared, so you know that you’re getting fresh and authentic stuff. Chefs usually set up their stalls at sunset, which is the best time to get hold of the cooking action.

The biggest benefit of riad accommodation comes with home-cooked food. You will be surprised by how well chefs of a riad can cook. The quality and sophistication of the food are comparable to a menu fit for royalty.

Excursions from Marrakech

If you truly want to experience an adventure of a lifetime, then make day tours from Marrakesh or any excursion to any of the famed sites mentioned below.

Ourika Valley: 80 km from Marrakesh, beginning at Setti Fatma the foothill village of the snowcapped Atlas Mountains. Discover the many quaint villages and dine on food cooked over wood fires in Ourika Valley.

Essaouira: a small artisan colony once visited by Jimi Hendrix. Famed for its famous beach featuring windsurf rings and dining on fresh seafood. Essaouira makes for a wonderful lazy walk in less than 20-degree temperatures.

Ait Benhaddou-Ouarzazate: Travel along the Tichka pass to the gateway of the Sahara and site of atlas film studios. Movies fans would love to know that Movies like ‘The Mummy, Gladiator, and Lawrence of Arabia’ was shot in this area. One of the best and scenic Marrakesh day tours.

Marrakesh to Zagora

The desert tours from Marrakesh to Zagora could well be the experience of a lifetime. The 2-day tour takes you through the heights of the Atlas Mountains via Tichka pass, situated at an altitude of 2,260m. From the Dra valley, it’s a camel trek to Zagora, where you could well experience the lively sights and sounds of the desert with the right tour operator. Live in an oasis, sample the culinary delights and culture of a lovely Kasbah, and spend a while exploring the quaint Benhaddou village en route to Zagora.

Desert tours from Marrakesh on Camelback

No trip to Morocco is complete without a grand desert tour from Marrakesh. 3-day excursions are available from Marrakesh to Zagora, the Dades gorges, and Mendez. The tours pass through breathtaking scenic terrain through the tichka pass, the Dades valley and gorges to the desert dunes at Merzouga.

The Grand Sahara Tour

A complete Sahara tour takes you across the captivating Sahara on camelback. During the day tour, you are taken to the quaint village of Ait Benhaddou, which is usually the route taken by most tour operators. A camel ride is more of a Sahara adventure through palm groves, an oasis, to Dades and the Valley of Roses.

Touring around Merzouga will get you the chance to spend the night in the Sahara desert in nomadic tents. Now that is truly worth the entire experience. What’s interesting about the desert tours from Marrakesh is the experience of ethnic nomadic and Bedouin culture, not forgetting the beautiful Berber villages and tantalizing Moroccan cuisine?

Quad Biking Desert Tour

For the younger generation, the best excursion among all desert tours from Marrakesh is being able to explore the vast virgin desert areas riding quad vehicles. The tour takes you to the palm grove and the unique stone deserts of Marrakesh.

Ride over mountains and valleys and visit the Berber villages in the Atlas Mountains; Or simply make a trip to Asni and Imlil to very picturesque villages near North Africa’s highest peak Mt. Jebel Toubkal.

The city of Marrakesh

The city of Marrakesh is not without its own quaint sights and sounds. Besides the desert tours from Marrakesh, there are many things to do while relaxing in the city. Walk through Medina’s alleyways and traditional markets, the old part of the city. The marketplace is a maze of shops featured as small cubicles selling everything from spices, textiles, carpets, curios and Moroccan handicrafts. You can also spend a day visiting the city’s ancient sights, starting with its museums and the ancient Saadian tombs.

Besides places in North Africa, if you have plans to travel around Europe then Zürich in Switzerland, should be on the list of places to visit.