12 unmissable things to do in Marrakech, ranked by what travelers book most

Marrakech, a city that can never be summed up in a single visit

Marrakech, city of a thousand and one nights, can never be summed up in a single visit. Between the buzzing souks, the Atlas Mountains keeping watch over the city, the desert beginning just a few dozen kilometres away, and the Atlantic coast within reach for a day trip, there is always one more reason to come back.

After more than 10 years living in the Médina, I've built up my own classics — the ones the vast majority of travellers ask me about, without exception — as well as a few more under-the-radar gems I love sharing with those who have a little more time.

Here, then, is my real top 12 of unmissable things to do in Marrakech, ranked according to what travellers search for and book most, a mix of great classics and a few wonderful surprises. All of these experiences are handpicked and organised directly by Just Marrakech.

1. A sunrise hot air balloon ride above the Atlas

The Palmeraie from the sky, between silence and golden light

Nothing replaces the feeling of taking off before dawn and watching the first rays of light illuminate the Atlas Mountains from a basket. It's, unsurprisingly, the most requested experience among our travellers. The hot air balloon flight in Marrakech starts very early (between 4:30 and 6:00 depending on the season), with a private transfer from your riad or hotel to the take-off site in the Palmeraie.

You then float in silence above the palm trees and Berber villages, before landing for a traditional Berber breakfast. Three options are available: Classic (shared 40-minute flight), Private (1 hour, just for you), or VIP (breakfast served on board — perfect for a marriage proposal or a birthday).

This is one of the rare activities I've tried myself, keeping my flight certificate as a souvenir: the most powerful moment isn't the flight itself, but the inflation of the balloon just before take-off.

Vol en Montgolfière à Marrakech — from €145/person, 4 hours including transport, 40 to 60-minute flight.

2. A thrill-filled escape into the Agafay desert

Quad, camel and a dinner show under the stars

About thirty minutes from Marrakech, the Agafay desert looks like a lunar landscape — rocky hills, raking light, a horizon stretching as far as the eye can see. It's the perfect playground for a quad or buggy outing, followed by a camel ride at sunset.

For a full evening, the formula that comes up most often in the itineraries I put together combines 1 hour of quad biking, 30 minutes on camelback, swimming pool access, and a traditional dinner show at a luxury camp, shared transport included.

Agafay Dîner Spectacle, Quad et Dromadaire — €90/person, 7.5 hours, ages 18 and over.

3. Ouarzazate and Aït Ben Haddou, the gateway to the desert

Crossing the High Atlas to the set of "Gladiator" and "Game of Thrones"

Heading south this time, for a full day out. The Ouarzazate excursion from Marrakech crosses the Tizi n'Tichka pass, the road's highest point at 2,260 metres altitude, before reaching the ksar of Aït Ben Haddou — a UNESCO-listed site and famous film location — and then Ouarzazate itself, nicknamed the film capital of Africa.

On a private excursion, you leave at 7:00 with a dedicated driver-guide, at your own pace, with a sliding-scale price depending on the number of participants.

Excursion Ouarzazate – Aït Ben Haddou — from €35/person, 10 hours, 1 to 14 people.

4. The Ouzoud waterfalls, a nature escape in the Middle Atlas

110 metres of cascading water and wild Barbary macaques

About 160 km north-east of Marrakech, the Ouzoud waterfalls are among the most impressive in North Africa. The vegetation is lush, Barbary macaques roam freely through the trees, and it's possible to swim in the pools below.

On a private excursion, the journey is made in an air-conditioned vehicle with a dedicated driver, departing and returning from your hotel or riad — a wonderful way to step away from the city's bustle for a day.

Excursion Cascades d'Ouzoud — from €30/person, 10 hours, 1 to 14 people.

5. Essaouira, the blue-and-white city facing the Atlantic

Ramparts, fishing port and salt-tinged breeze

A complete change of scenery, about 170 km to the west: Essaouira is a UNESCO-listed fortified city perched above the ocean. Peaceful alleyways, ramparts battered by the waves, a lively fishing port, a vast beach for surf lovers — it's the perfect excursion for those who want to breathe after a few days in the Médina.

It works as a day trip or over two days (with one night there), always privately, with return transport included.

Excursion Essaouira – 1 or 2 days — from €35/person, 10 hours, 1 to 14 people.

6. Oualidia, Morocco's oyster capital

A turquoise lagoon that almost no one thinks to visit from Marrakech

Less well known than Essaouira, Oualidia more than deserves its place on this list — it's actually one of the experiences I most love introducing people to. About 190 km to the west, this turquoise lagoon sheltered by a sandbar is renowned throughout Morocco for its oyster beds, well away from the classic tourist circuit.

A private day trip includes a boat ride on the lagoon, a seafood lunch in the Médina, and some beach time before heading back. Very few agencies still offer it — all the more reason to add it to your itinerary before everyone rushes there.

Excursion Oualidia — from €65/person, 12 hours, 1 to 7 people.

7. A Moroccan cooking class, to take a real skill back home

Tagine, pastilla and zaalouk made with your own hands

For food lovers, learning to cook Moroccan food is one of the best souvenirs you can bring home. The Moroccan cooking class I recommend takes place at the Musée des Arts Culinaires Marocains, an 18th-century palace in the heart of the Médina: guided by a Dada (a traditional Moroccan female chef), you prepare a full 3-course menu — aubergine zaalouk, chicken tagine with preserved lemon, pastilla au lait — before sitting down to enjoy it all together.

I took this class myself: the Dada who runs it is passionate and wonderfully patient as a teacher, and you come away finally knowing how to balance your spices properly.

Cours de Cuisine Marocaine au Musée des Arts Culinaires — from €58/person, 3 hours, sessions at 10:00, 13:00 or 16:00.

8. The hammam ritual, for a true moment of rest

Steam, black soap and a natural oil massage

The hammam is not just a treatment — it's a Moroccan ritual passed down from generation to generation. In Guéliz, the hammam beldi offers the authentic local experience: gentle heat, a black soap and kessa mitt scrub, a rhassoul wrap, then an approximately one-hour relaxing massage with natural oils, followed by mint tea.

This is a privatised session, designed for a minimum of two people — perfect for couples, friends, or families.

Hammam & Massage à Guéliz — €55/person, 1.5 hours, minimum 2 people.

9. A private souk tour, away from the crowds

Secret alleyways, authentic craftspeople and the art of bargaining

The Médina of Marrakech is a labyrinth of alleyways hiding the souks — true treasures of Moroccan craftsmanship: Berber rugs, leather, jewellery, spices, dyes. With a licensed local guide and an itinerary tailored to your interests, you reach the corners you would never find on your own: the communal bread oven, small workshops tucked away at the end of dead-end lanes, craftspeople still working entirely by hand.

This is one of the activities I include most often in the bespoke itineraries I put together, and I love ending the visit with a mint tea in a riad I know.

Visite Privée des Souks de Marrakech — from €40/person, 3 hours, minimum 2 people (option with 2 commented monuments available at €50/person).

10. An interactive Médina tour, entirely at your own pace

The Médina your way, guided by a smartphone

For those who prefer to explore at their own rhythm — as a family, with friends, or simply to keep some flexibility in the schedule — the interactive Médina tour offers an immersive digital guide directly on your smartphone. You follow the route at your own pace, with no set timetable, discovering the souks, UNESCO-listed heritage sites and a few hidden corners.

It's an excellent budget-friendly alternative to a classic guided tour, and very popular with families with children and groups who want to explore together without being tied to a fixed schedule.

Visite Interactive de la Médina de Marrakech — from €39 for the whole group (up to 10 people), approximately 3 hours.

11. A treasure hunt in the Médina, with friends or as a group

Riddles, secret codes and encounters with craftspeople

For a more playful way to discover the Médina, the treasure hunt "Les Secrets de Moulay Hassan" turns exploring the alleyways into a real investigation game: riddles to solve, secret codes to crack, and encounters with craftspeople along the way. It's one of the activities that goes down best with groups of friends, families with teenagers, and hen parties looking for something different from a standard guided tour.

Open to ages 16 and over, for small or large groups.

Chasse au Trésor : Les Secrets de Moulay Hassan — from €65/person, 3 hours, ages 16 and over, 4 to 20 participants.

12. A night under the stars in the desert

Merzouga, Erg Chebbi and the absolute silence of the dunes

To finish on a high note, nothing replaces a night in a camp at the heart of the desert. Whether as part of a multi-day organised circuit via Ouarzazate, the Dadès valley and Merzouga, or a fully tailor-made stay, sleeping under a sky with no light pollution, listening to Berber stories around the fire, and waking up facing the dunes of Erg Chebbi remains one of the most memorable experiences you can have in Morocco.

Just Marrakech offers 5-day/4-night desert circuits departing from Marrakech to Merzouga, with 4x4 exploration, encounters with nomads and a night in a bivouac camp.

To build your desert circuit (dates, budget, comfort level), the easiest thing is to discuss it directly with me on WhatsApp or via the Tailor-Made page — our desert circuits start at around €620/person depending on the option and the season.

And if you want to go even further

If these 12 experiences aren't enough to satisfy your curiosity, Marrakech still has plenty of gems in store: a private vintage sidecar ride through the Médina and the Palmeraie, an oriental dance class for a girls' outing, or simply a peaceful afternoon by a pool outside the city.

All of these activities are personally selected, tested and verified before appearing on the site — that is the whole promise of Just Marrakech.

Are you planning your stay in Marrakech? Contact me directly on WhatsApp at +212 714 173 661 or by email at contact@justmarrakech.fr to organise your activities, your excursions or a 100% tailor-made trip. Find all our experiences at justmarrakech.com.