The city of Marrakech
06 March
The beautiful city of Marrakech has been finally crossed off my bucket list. A quick three day weekend getaway in the 'Red City' couldn't have come at a better time.
Marrakech is made up of two main parts, the new town, and the old town which is known as the medina. We stayed in an area called Gueliz, a pretty modern side of Marrakech surrounded by shops, cafes, and restaurants. However, many people tend to stay in a Riad to experience the local culture and local hospitality so this may be something you want to try.
We stayed at the Red Hotel, a 10 minute drive from the airport so It was a very quick and easy transfer. This hotel is situated opposite a train station so if you're feeling really adventurous and want to explore beyond your surroundings then you have no excuse.
Like every holiday activities have to be included in your itinerary. Quad biking and Camel riding throughout the palm grove of Marrakech was definitely on ours. You also get to stop off for some authentic mint tea with views of the High Atlas mountains which is honestly so beautiful.
Morocco is a great choice for travellers interested in sunshine, friendly locals and culture!
MONEY
- The exchange rate is quite good in Morocco so I would suggest waiting until you get there for spending money. I stayed for 3 full days and changed approx. £230 which works out about 2900 MAD more than enough for a short break.
- Haggling seems to be a big part of the Moroccan experience, be prepared to barter especially in the souks and markets. It may seem a little annoying at first but it's all part of the fun in Morocco.
TRANSPORT
- Overall taxi's are fairly cheap but I do recommend agreeing on a price before getting in the cab as the locals tend to up the prices as soon as they realise you're a tourist. We soon realised we got bumped when we first arrived and ended up paying double the price!
- The medina's skinny maze of souks and alleys can only be explored on foot so it's a great time to explore and get some exercise in!
Top Tip: Never ask for directions from locals 9/10 they will ask you for money. I suggest downloading and using an offline map or even ask your hotel staff for assistance.
Adventurous quad biking tour, a whole lot of dust & dirt but amazing views.
Definitely consider quad biking and camel riding in the desert. This can be organised by your hotel on your arrival so you don't necessarily have to pre-book before
Known for freshly squeezed orange juice these market stalls were EVERYWHERE! Literally identical and would have you feeling like you were in a maze.
The incredible Majorelle Garden is a two and half acre botanical garden and artist's landscape garden. Costs 100 MAD which is around £7
Amazing camel ride in the Palmeraie for an hour. It was lovely escaping the hustle and bustle of the city’s souks.
Oh hey bestfriend!
The narrow alleyways of the souks! Believe it or not motorbikes go up and down these tiny roads so stay alert whilst wondering around
Be prepared to have endless amounts of fresh mint tea + some pastries. (I was slightly obsessed with their crepes)
You will notice stall after stall of the most brilliantly coloured baskets of spices and beautiful handmade pieces.
3 comments
Looks like you had a great time in Marrakesh!!
ReplyDeleteIt was lovely! Have you ever been?
DeleteYes I have and it was awesome!
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