7 Exciting Day Trips from Marrakech to See More of Morocco
Marrakech, located in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains, is one of the most popular places to visit in Morocco. This former imperial city is known for its high energy, frenetic souk, and beautiful architecture, from the Koutoubia Mosque to the Bahia Palace to the Jardin Majorelle.
People go to Marrakech for the maze of narrow alleyways lined with shops and historic sites in the medina, and to see the Jemaa el-Fnaa main square, especially after dark when it turns into a colorful and chaotic night market.
And although you can easily spend several days exploring Marrakech, you might also want to use the city as a base for taking day trips around Morocco!
Marrakech offers proximity to the Agafay Desert, the Atlas Mountains, and the Mediterranean coast – all very different landscapes! Many of the day trips from Marrakech involve several hours of driving each way, but this is par for the course when traveling in Morocco, especially if you want to visit more remote destinations.
Since Morocco can be a little difficult to navigate on your own (both logistically and culturally), our recommendation is to book guided tours rather than renting a car and attempting these day trips on your own. The good news is that guided group tours from Marrakech are very affordable, and even private tours won’t break the bank.
Also read: How to Plan Better Day Trips: Insanely Helpful Tips to Maximize Travel Time
The Best Day Trips from Marrakech
Here’s a look at the best day trips from Marrakech to discover more of Morocco’s natural beauty and cultural treasures:
1. Agafay Desert
One of the best day trips from Marrakech is to the Agafay Desert. When you think of deserts in Morocco, the Sahara is probably what comes to mind first. But the Sahara Desert is half a day’s drive from Marrakech, so it’s not possible to visit on a day trip. (You can book multi-day tours to the Sahara from Marrakech though.)
Luckily, the Agafay Desert is less than an hour from Marrakech so it is doable for a day trip. This smaller desert is still impressive, with rolling sand dunes, camels, and desert camps.
If you want to get a taste of the desert, a day trip to the Agafay is the perfect way to do so. For an extra-special experience, book an evening tour that allows you to watch the sunset over the sand dunes before enjoying dinner around a campfire.
Agafay Desert day trips from Marrakech:
- Agafay Desert Package, Quad Bike, Camel Ride, and Dinner Show
- Atlas Mountains, Three Valleys, and Agafay Desert from Marrakech
- Agafay Desert Sunset, Camel Ride, and Dinner from Marrakech
2. Atlas Mountains
The Atlas Mountains are another popular day trip from Marrakech. You can escape the hustle and bustle of the city and discover a slower-paced way of life in the mountains.
Located less than two hours from Marrakech, the best way to visit the Atlas Mountains in a day is on a tour that includes multiple stops. You’ll be able to eat lunch in a local Berber village in one of the valleys and enjoy activities like hiking in the mountains.
And, since both destinations aren’t far from Marrakech, you can even combine a trip to the Atlas Mountains with some time in the Agafay Desert if you want to experience two very different landscapes in one day.
Atlas Mountains day trips from Marrakech:
- Atlas Mountains and Five Valleys Tour from Marrakech
- Atlas Mountains, Three Valleys, and Agafay Desert from Marrakech
- Atlas Mountains Full-Day Hiking Trip
- Marrakesh: Atlas Mountains, Ourika Valley, Waterfall
3. Ouzoud Waterfalls
The Ouzoud Waterfalls are a spectacular destination in the Atlas Mountains that make for a great day trip from Marrakech. This is some of the most beautiful scenery you’ll see in the Atlas Mountains, making it the ideal place to go if you want to immerse yourself in nature.
From Marrakech, it’s a 2.5-hour drive to the Ouzoud Waterfalls. But even though it’s a fairly long journey, it’s well worth it to see the multiple cascades.
On a day trip to the Ouzoud Waterfalls, you can spend some time hiking and taking in the views before enjoying a boat ride at the base of the falls.
Ouzoud Waterfalls day trips from Marrakech:
- Ouzoud Waterfalls Guided Hike and Boat Trip from Marrakech
- Full Day Trip to Ouzoud Waterfalls From Marrakech and Boat Tour
4. Essaouira
If you want to escape the commotion of Marrakech for a day and enjoy the beach, head to Essaouira, a laidback coastal city that is 2 hours and 45 minutes away. This is the closest beach to Marrakech, making it perfect for a day trip.
Essaouira is a port city with an impressive walled medina right on the waterfront. Aside from exploring the medina and all its history, there are also some good Atlantic beaches in Essaouira where you can relax and swim on a sunny day.
This coastal destination is also popular with surfers, and you can squeeze in a surfing lesson on your day trip if you want to learn how to surf (or brush up on your skills!).
Essaouira day trips from Marrakech:
5. Casablanca
Located on Morocco’s northern coast, Casablanca is the largest city in the country with a population of over four million people.
As the economic and business center of Morocco, Casablanca is a more modern city, and many tourists often skip it. However, this bustling city 2.5 hours from Marrakech is still worth a visit, and a day trip is the perfect way to see it.
Like Marrakech, Casablanca has a historic medina, although it’s smaller. The city also has good beaches and is home to the Hassan II Mosque, the largest mosque in Morocco and among the largest in the world. The Hassan II Mosque is the only mosque in Morocco that non-Muslims are permitted to visit, and might be worth a visit on its own (it’s stunning!).
Casablanca day trips from Marrakech:
6. Ouarzazate + Ait Benhaddou
Ouarzazate is nicknamed the “Hollywood of Morocco” because of how many movies and TV shows have been filmed nearby. There’s a large presence of film studios in the city, which is known for the striking Taourirt Kasbah, a historic palace made of mud bricks.
Nearby, the fortified village of Ait Benhaddou has also been the backdrop for many movies and TV shows, including Gladiator, The Mummy, Lawrence of Arabia, and Game of Thrones. With its dramatic earthen clay architecture, it truly does look like something straight off the big screen.
This is definitely a longer day trip from Marrakech — it takes about 3.5 hours of driving to reach Ouarzazate. If you don’t mind spending a lot of your day driving, though, it’s worth the journey to see both of these spots.
Ouarzazate day trips from Marrakech:
7. Hot Air Balloon Ride
The final entry on this list is not so much a destination as it is a bucket list activity. Taking a hot air balloon ride is a popular excursion from Marrakech, and it’s the perfect way to celebrate a special moment or cap off your trip.
This is the perfect destination for a hot air balloon ride because you can enjoy the spectacular scenery of the desert with the Atlas Mountains rising up in the distance.
Hot air balloon rides are a notoriously pricey activity, but it’s considerably cheaper to take a hot air balloon ride in Morocco than in other parts of the world.
Hot air balloon day trips from Marrakech:
- Hot Air Balloon Flight over Marrakech with Traditional Breakfast
- Marrakesh: Early Morning 40-Minute Balloon Flight
- Marrakech: Balloon Flight, Berber Breakfast, and Camel Ride
What about the Sahara Desert?
If you came to this post looking for info on taking a day trip to the Sahara Desert from Marrakech, we have bad news for you: it’s not a place you can visit in just one day!
Like we said earlier in this post, while there ARE tours from Marrakech to the Sahara (like this one and this one), they are all usually 2 nights minimum so you can actually spend time in the desert. It’s not a trip you can do in just one day.
Where to Stay in Marrakech
Since this post assumes you’ll be staying in Marrakech as a base and taking day trips from there, here are our top picks for Marrakech hotels:
Budget-friendly: Riad Dar Yema – Riads are traditional Moroccan guesthouses, typically featuring a few rooms situated around a courtyard. Riad Dar Yema is a beautiful and affordable riad in the medina in Marrakech.
Mid-range: Riad Sakkan – Another great place to stay in the medina is Riad Sakkan. This chic, design-focused riad offers beautiful, comfortable rooms and has a fabulous swimming pool.
Luxury: Royal Mansour Marrakech – If you’re looking for a splurge-worthy place to stay in Marrakech, look no further than the opulent Royal Mansour. This five-star hotel is a tranquil oasis in the heart of Marrakech, just a short walk from the medina.
More resources for your day trips from Marrakech
- Looking to stay overnight somewhere? Find great places to stay at any of these destinations here on Booking.com. (Hotels.com and Expedia are worth checking too.)
- Tours & activities: Check out the best local options here on Viator and Get Your Guide.
Like this post? Have questions about taking day trips from Marrakech? Let us know in the comments below. Have fun in Morocco!
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