Our top 'things to do' in Morocco
1. Take a desert tour
As one of the largest deserts in the world, the Sahara is well worth a visit. Erg Chebbi, or the 'sea of dunes' is part of the infamous Sahara Desert, and you can book a tour around the area, with activities like camel trekking, dune buggy-ing, and even sleeping in one of the local camps so you can experience the starriest nights you've ever seen.
2. Sip some Moroccan Mint tea
Now we know us Brits can be funny about our tea (you should see the kick off in the office when Yorkshire Tea ends up in the cupboard instead of the usual PG Tips), but you'll have to put your preferences aside on this jolly, and open your mind to the world of Moroccan Mint tea. It comes without milk and it's served in a clear glass - no china cup in sight! The tea ritual is an experience in itself, so this one's got to be top of your list.
3. Surf's up!
Beaches in Morocco are known for their windiness, which makes them ideal for surfing, bodyboarding and all sorts of other watersports. Surf schools are located mainly in the South of the country, along the Atlantic coastline, so grab a board and catch a wave!
4. Hike the Atlas Mountains
The scenery around Morocco is jaw-droppingly beautiful. The Atlas Mountains have that off-the-beaten-track kind of feel, with views you’ll never forget.
5. Experience the lagoon town of Oualidia
Two hours from Casablanca, Oualidia has that quieter appeal to it, with a gorgeous crescent-shaped lagoon and incredible fresh fish restaurants to try.
6. Go shopping at the markets
Souks are the traditional marketplaces in Morocco, packed with leather goods, ceramics, stunning textiles and spices, making them the perfect place to grab some great souvenirs.
7. Take a cooking class
The best place to learn how to make delicious Moroccan cuisine is the country itself. You can learn how to cook all the traditional dishes and share them back home with your friends and family. Now that will up your dinner party game!
8. Visit a traditional Hammam
You can’t go to Morocco and not try a Hammam, TBH. It’s the ultimate holiday relaxation. You don’t have to think about this month’s rent or whether Tracy in Marketing has emailed you yet. Forget it. Your OOO is on… So sit back and enjoy the relaxation. The Hammam de la Rose is one of Marrakech’s best, where they will scrub and exfoliate you until you feel brand new.
Morocco: Holiday your way
Things to do in Morocco for Families
Agadir Beach and Taghazout Beach are the main sandy spots around Agadir, and your kids can have a jam-packed day of fun from the get-go. A little swim in the morning where they can practice their underwater handstands, then some lunch to refuel, a camel ride across the beach, and maybe even a surfing lesson thrown in for good measure. By the time it hits 5pm, they’ll be well and truly shattered. Every parent’s dream, right? We got you.
There are parks and then there’s Vallée des Oiseaux. Found right at the heart of Agadir, this park’s a huge open space that’s got a playground, banana trees (with, like, actual bananas), and even some animals that your kids can see up close. There are lots of cafés dotted around the park, too, so you’re never far from an ice-cold fresh orange juice. And you’ve also got Crocoparc nearby for even more animal-centred fun.
If your kids are obsessed with Horrible Histories and want to run around old palaces and gardens, then Marrakech will totally be their bag. With Bahia Palace, Jardin Majorelle and El Badi Palace – it’ll be a jam-packed holiday that they probably won’t EVER stop talking about. For those days where they have way too much energy to burn, Terres d’Amanar is an activities park that’s got obstacles for them to climb on, horses to ride, pools to swim in, and they can even try a bit of archery if they fancy themselves the next Robin Hood. And while there's no beach near Marrakech, it does have a waterpark, Oasiria, that’ll defo make up for it. There are wave pools, slides, climbing walls AND lagoons here to keep the little'uns entertained until the sun goes down. And you might just have fun, too!
Things to do in Morocco for Couples
Simply looking for a bit of relaxation on your romantic retreat? You could make your hols a mini wellness tour and try out a few Hammams across Marrakech. Hammam de la Rose is one of the best ones in the city, and not only will they scrub your stresses away, but they also offer massages and beauty treatments, too.
Les Bains de Marrakech is a whole spa experience, with massages, mud baths and facials on offer. Other relaxing retreats that are worth checking out are Hammam Rosa Bonheur, Heritage Spa, Marajah Spa, and Mythical Oriental Spa.
When the sun goes down, some wining and dining is in order, and for traditional Moroccan food of grilled meats and tagines, the restaurants Terrasse des Epices, Nomad, Cafe Tiznit, and Le Tobsil should all be on your list.
If you're heading to Agadir, we've got a crackin' couples' experience: a trip on the cable car, with 360° views of the city and the gorgeous bay below. Head here in an evening for some sunset snaps of your sweetheart and the city scape.
Things to do in Morocco for Culture Vultures
Agadir is a history buff’s HEAVEN. There’s so much to see and do that you might even have to extend your hol by a week (or two). The Agadir Kasbah used to be an ancient fortress built all the way back in 1540, to protect the city from Portugal invading it. It's located high up in the hills, so you’ll get your history fix and a cracking view of the city.
In 1960, Agadir experienced a massive earthquake that nearly wiped out the entire city, and Memoire d’Agadir museum serves as a reminder of the disaster to the locals and any tourists who pass through. It also has a cacti-filled garden where you can have a break from all the learning! And if you want to know what Agadir looked like before the earthquake? La Medina d’Agadir is an exact replica of what used to be - a window into the past if you will. But without the time travel. There’s also the Museum of Amazigh Culture where you can find out more about the Amazigh (often called the Berbers) who are the native people of North Africa, and it has over 900 exhibits.
Marrakech also has plenty for you culture vultures, and we won’t stand in your way if you wanna see it all. The Bahia Palace, which is a proper cultural icon of Marrakech, is Moorish architecture ‘on-point’. So, it’s perfect for history lovers and selfie-takers. El Badi Palace is about 400 years older than The Bahia, so if you’re into palace top trumps, you just found your winner. It was basically built for the Sultan to show off how rich he was, just because he could! And if you’re all about the aesthetic, Jardin Majorelle is an art history lesson in house form: get your sunnies on, it’s blue-min’ bright!
If you really want to prove to the folks back home that you’ve got range and can defo handle all the culture, team all of the above with the Saadian tombs (creepy but cool, in both senses) and a whizz round the Maison de la Photographie to fill in any blanks.
Things to do in Morocco for Adventurers
Agadir’s got more range than Rihanna at the Super Bowl, and that’s saying something! So why not get in touch with your wild side and explore the nature that Agadir has to offer? Paradise Valley is a great place to start, where you can hike up to the green pools, and get some awesome views whilst you’re at it. Whack a photo of this on your socials, and your whole family will be screaming internally from jealousy.
Or, you can venture a bit further out and take a day trip to Souss-Massa National Park where basically every type of natural feature exists. You’ve got ya wetlands, you’ve got ya forests, you’ve got ya sand dunes. It’s also one of the only places in the world where you might be able to see the unusual creature, the Northern Bald Ibis. Definitely bring a bird guidebook and some binoculars if that’s your thing.
If it’s on the back of a camel or on a quad bike, a day trip to the Sahara Desert is also a must, but you’ll probably be trying to get sand out of your hair for days after… Worth it.
