TRAVEL TIPS
Best Things to Do in Morocco
From camel treks in the Sahara to hammams in Marrakech and mountain villages in the Atlas — the experiences that make a Morocco trip genuinely memorable, not just another checklist.
Sahara Desert Experiences
A night in the Sahara Desert is, for most travelers, the single most memorable thing to do in Morocco. A camel trek into the Erg Chebbi dunes near Merzouga, dinner under the stars at a Berber-style camp, and a sunrise climb up a dune are the classic version, covered in full in our Sahara Desert travel guide. For travelers who want to go further, our multi-day desert walking expedition spends 4 to 7 days walking alongside a camel caravan, camping in a different remote location each night.
Cultural Experiences
A traditional hammam (steam bath and scrub) is one of the most authentic things to do in any Moroccan city, and genuinely relaxing after a day of medina walking. Watching, or better, joining a Moroccan cooking class is another highlight, usually starting with a souk visit to buy ingredients before hands-on tagine and bread preparation. Bargaining in the souks, once you get the hang of it, becomes an enjoyable part of the trip rather than a stressful one, and a genuine window into daily commerce. Visiting a working madrasa or mosque exterior (most are closed to non-Muslims inside, with a few notable exceptions) offers a look at some of the country’s finest historic architecture.
Nature & Adventure
The High Atlas Mountains offer genuinely excellent trekking, from a half-day village walk near Imlil to multi-day treks toward Toubkal, North Africa’s highest peak. Hot air ballooning over the Marrakech countryside at sunrise is a increasingly popular, genuinely spectacular way to see the Atlas foothills and palm groves from above. Surfing and windsurfing along the Atlantic coast near Essaouira and Taghazout draw a dedicated following thanks to reliable, consistent swell. For a slower pace, the Ourika Valley offers waterfalls and Berber villages within easy reach of Marrakech.
City Highlights
Getting purposefully lost in Marrakech’s souks, watching Jemaa el-Fnaa square transform from market to evening food-stall spectacle, and touring the tilework of Fes’s historic madrasas are among the best city experiences in the country. The blue-washed streets of Chefchaouen offer some of the most photogenic wandering in Morocco, while Essaouira’s working fishing port and sea-facing ramparts provide a completely different, breezier city experience.
Food Experiences
Eating street food at Jemaa el-Fnaa’s evening stalls, trying tanjia (Marrakech’s slow-cooked specialty) or pastilla (Fes’s signature sweet-savory pie), and simply drinking mint tea with locals are all essential, low-cost, high-value things to do. A souk spice tour, even an informal one with your guide, is a good way to understand the ingredients behind Moroccan cooking before a cooking class or simply ordering with more confidence for the rest of your trip.
The Ourika Valley, an easy escape into the Atlas foothills from Marrakech.
Unique & Off-the-Beaten-Path Experiences
Beyond the classic checklist, Morocco rewards travelers willing to go further. Birdwatching across the country’s wetlands, Atlantic coast, and desert oases, covered in our birdwatching and photography guide, is a genuinely under-the-radar way to see Morocco’s ecological diversity. Spending time with a nomadic family on the desert fringe near Merzouga, tracking Barbary macaques in the Middle Atlas cedar forests, and stargazing from a dune camp timed around the new moon are all experiences most visitors never discover, but that leave a deeper impression than another souvenir shop stop.
Good to Know
- Most of these experiences are best done privately with a guide rather than joined as a large group activity
- Spring and autumn offer the most comfortable conditions for outdoor experiences like trekking and ballooning
- Many of the best experiences (cooking classes, hammams, desert camps) can be woven into a wider itinerary rather than booked separately
- Book in advance for hot air ballooning and multi-day treks, since availability is limited in peak season
Frequently Asked Questions
A night in the Sahara Desert is consistently rated the highlight of a Morocco trip by our travelers, combining a camel trek, a desert camp, and stargazing in one experience.
Cooking classes, hammams, mountain trekking, hot air ballooning, surfing on the Atlantic coast, and birdwatching all offer a more active or immersive alternative to standard sightseeing.
Yes, from Atlas Mountains trekking to desert camel expeditions and Atlantic surfing, Morocco offers a genuinely wide range of adventure activities within a compact area.
Most first-time visitors build their trip around Marrakech, the Atlas Mountains, and a Sahara Desert night, the combination that captures the widest range of experiences in a single trip.
Yes, this is exactly how we build most of our multi-day tours, weaving several of these experiences into one private route.
PLAN YOUR TRIP
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