Morocco is such a beautiful country, from the bustling souks to the peaceful raids and orange sands of the Sahara it's one of my favourite places!
Plan before you go
I'm veryyyy into my organising, I live for it! 😂 So, before I head to any country I do as much research as possible either through online travel guides or from friends who have already been. First, decide what kind of a holiday you are wanting - for us we like a mix between being active and chilling out.FYI : MOROCCO is only a 3 hr flight from Dublin. This is another reason why I love it so much. You don't travel far at all to see a completely different lifestyle and culture.
We stayed at Riad Sun of The Light for 4 nights. It was the perfect start to our holiday as the owners were extremely accommodating and very informative about what Marrakesh is like; from the sights worth seeing and of course getting around the infamous Madina and 100's of souks there are.
We spent days getting lost in the souks and walking around talking with locals and seeing what they had to sell. I have since discovered I have a slight obsession with crystals and pretty stones. Anytime I seen a souk selling some it was goodbye Alison...
I do feel like this is the best way to make the most of central Marrakech and the souks as going for only a day trip or at night can be extremely hectic due to the crowds. It's a lot nicer to take at your own pace, go back to your raid and chill when you're tired. Later head out to a rooftop restaurant and watch the sunset and the Madina come to life.
This was insaneeee!!! I've always wanted to go on a Hot Air Balloon and Morocco offered the perfect experience to do it.
We were lifted and taken to outside Marrakesh to a small Berber Village where most of the village work on the Hot Air Balloons. You're taken up slowly on the balloon and watch the sunrise over the mountains, it's AMAZING. One thing I could not get over was how quiet it was, you're up so high, yet it's so peaceful. While it is quite pricey it was definitely worth it and such a great experience.
We booked HERE
Morocco has so much to offer! We decided to take a 3-day tour to the Sahara Desert. Be aware - the drive is very long. You have 3 full days of driving, broken up by different stops in different historical sites / Berber villages.
1. Stay in a Riad
I definitely advise staying in a Raid for a few nights. It's the perfect way to see what life is like for a typical Moroccan family and to really see Marrakesh in all of its glory.We stayed at Riad Sun of The Light for 4 nights. It was the perfect start to our holiday as the owners were extremely accommodating and very informative about what Marrakesh is like; from the sights worth seeing and of course getting around the infamous Madina and 100's of souks there are.
We spent days getting lost in the souks and walking around talking with locals and seeing what they had to sell. I have since discovered I have a slight obsession with crystals and pretty stones. Anytime I seen a souk selling some it was goodbye Alison...
I do feel like this is the best way to make the most of central Marrakech and the souks as going for only a day trip or at night can be extremely hectic due to the crowds. It's a lot nicer to take at your own pace, go back to your raid and chill when you're tired. Later head out to a rooftop restaurant and watch the sunset and the Madina come to life.
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| Source: Fathom |
2. Hot Air Balloon
We were lifted and taken to outside Marrakesh to a small Berber Village where most of the village work on the Hot Air Balloons. You're taken up slowly on the balloon and watch the sunrise over the mountains, it's AMAZING. One thing I could not get over was how quiet it was, you're up so high, yet it's so peaceful. While it is quite pricey it was definitely worth it and such a great experience.
We booked HERE
3. Take a ride on one of the many Horse and Carts
If you're wanting to see outside the Madina and the drastic difference between the New Town and Old Town, a Horse and Cart ride is a great way to do this. This is a lovely way to finish the evening after a meal in the Madina. Prices will vary, however you should be looking to pay 200dH (20Euro) for a 1 hours tour.
4. Go on a Day tour!
There is a shorter 2-day tour however, from online reviews the 3-day tour (Merzouga) takes you into the proper desert, whereas the 2-day tour (Zengoza) is only the outskirts. It is a lot more rocky, rather than sandy.
You visit various sightseeing destinations during the 3 days and places were you will be advised to buy head scarves for the desert. Unless you really want a scarf there is no need buying one, you travel into the desert in the evening on camelback and early the next morning to watch the sunrise, so it's a lot cooler. I brought my own but soon took it off as it wasn't needed.
You visit various sightseeing destinations during the 3 days and places were you will be advised to buy head scarves for the desert. Unless you really want a scarf there is no need buying one, you travel into the desert in the evening on camelback and early the next morning to watch the sunrise, so it's a lot cooler. I brought my own but soon took it off as it wasn't needed.
FYI - Camels are crazy uncomfortable, I've never had a thigh work out like it, imagine a slow version of being on a rodeo bull, up and down the sand dunes hahah.
We booked our tour HERE
5. Quick note on safety
Before we left, I had read quite a few reviews about unwanted
male attention and people feeling unsafe. You will be fine as long as you aren't
silly and put yourself in those kinds of situations.
I brought long dresses and outfits that covered my shoulder and knees and also a few outfits which didn't.
I brought long dresses and outfits that covered my shoulder and knees and also a few outfits which didn't.
However, after the first few days, I stopped caring about what I wore as there are so many tourists that everyone just wears what they
want.
Everyone will try to get you into their souks! Just be polite and say "No Thanks" or even better "No Shukran (pronounced shook-ran) and they will leave you be.
TIP: Never agree to the first price. Go for 1/3 of what they have asked and always have a set price in mind you are willing to pay.
Don't be naive, if anyone is offering you directions or to carry your luggage to your raid don't expect them to be doing this for nothing in return. This includes ladies trying to give you "free" henna, as well as getting pictures with the monkeys and snake charmers. If you are going to give a tip 10/20 Dhs is sufficient, this exchanges to around €1/€2.
We never felt unsafe, but we did play it smart - having a money belt for cash and wearing appropriate bags so that you don't need to worry about being pickpocketed, will put your mind at ease.
Everyone will try to get you into their souks! Just be polite and say "No Thanks" or even better "No Shukran (pronounced shook-ran) and they will leave you be.
TIP: Never agree to the first price. Go for 1/3 of what they have asked and always have a set price in mind you are willing to pay.
Don't be naive, if anyone is offering you directions or to carry your luggage to your raid don't expect them to be doing this for nothing in return. This includes ladies trying to give you "free" henna, as well as getting pictures with the monkeys and snake charmers. If you are going to give a tip 10/20 Dhs is sufficient, this exchanges to around €1/€2.
We never felt unsafe, but we did play it smart - having a money belt for cash and wearing appropriate bags so that you don't need to worry about being pickpocketed, will put your mind at ease.
6. Spend some time living it up
We stayed at the Be Live Collection, this was an all-inclusive hotel with amazing food and drink. If your looking for a lively hotel this was perfect. It is Adult only and has numerous activities on throughout the day so you have loads to do.
Morocco is a beautiful country to visit and i can't wait to return!
Alison x
Morocco is a beautiful country to visit and i can't wait to return!
Alison x