An honest verdict on Marrakech's 40-minute 'stone desert': a rocky, lunar plateau with great sunsets, camel rides, quads and tented camps — but no sand dunes. When it's worth it, what to do, costs and seasons, and when to make the long trip to the real Sahara instead.
Six pieces we send to almost every guest before they land.
What should you not miss on a first trip to Morocco?
How long in Marrakech, and which day trips are worth it?
Aït Ben Haddou: the ksar that keeps starring in filmsMerzouga vs Zagora: which Sahara should you choose?
How to haggle in the souks (without getting it wrong)
Driving in Morocco: should you self-drive or hire a driver?We re-read each one every season. If something has changed, we say so at the top of the piece.
34 pieces
Are the Ouzoud Falls worth a day trip from Marrakech?Morocco's tallest waterfall (around 110 m) is a long but rewarding day out — 150 km and 2.5–3 hours each way, with boats, wild monkeys and a green gorge. The real drive time, what to do, best season, costs, and how it stacks up against the closer Ourika Valley.
What are the common scams in Marrakech, and how do you avoid them?The honest, non-alarmist version: almost everything called a 'scam' here is pushy salesmanship and small overcharging, not crime. The recurring patterns — faux guides, the 'this way is closed' redirection, the Jemaa el-Fna henna and animal-photo ambushes, taxi overcharging and souk pressure — and the calm golden rules that defeat each one.
Do you need to book Marrakech attraction tickets in advance?Jardin Majorelle and the YSL Museum: book a timed slot online ahead — they sell out and the queues are long. The state-run monuments (Bahia Palace, Saadian Tombs, Ben Youssef) you can usually pay at the gate; Koutoubia and Jemaa el-Fna are free. How the slots work, where to buy officially, how far ahead, and how to dodge the crowds.
Is Marrakech safe for solo female travellers?The honest, balanced version: many women travel Marrakech solo and love it, while being ready for persistent souk attention that's tiring, not dangerous. What the medina hassle is really like, what to wear, taxis, riads, scams — and when a private guide takes out the friction.
Planning a Marrakech trip for the 2030 World CupAn early, honest plan: what's actually confirmed (Morocco co-hosting; Marrakech a host city), what isn't yet (schedule, dates, venue, prices, rail), when to start booking — and how to spend your days in the city and on Atlas, Agafay, Ourika and Essaouira trips.
Money in Marrakech: dirhams, ATMs, cards and exchangeMarrakech runs mostly on cash. The plain-English guide to the local currency, ATM fees, where cards actually work, exchanging money safely, how much to carry — and the four small set-ups to sidestep.
How to get from Marrakech to Ouarzazate: over the Tichka passThere's no train south of the Atlas — everyone drives. The honest comparison of the three real ways over the Tizi n'Tichka pass: direct Supratours/CTM bus (~4–5h), shared grand taxi, and a private car (200 km, ~4h), with honest journey times.
Sahara desert camps explained: Erg Chebbi vs Erg ChigagaMerzouga or Zagora? Standard or luxury? We map the trade-offs in distance, dunes, silence and price — and what a night under canvas actually includes — with the camps we still send guests to.
Moroccan food beyond the tagineBessara at dawn, mechoui, seven-vegetable couscous on a Friday, the street-food stalls worth queuing for — what to order, where, and how to eat well whatever your diet.
An Essaouira weekend: ramparts, wind and gnaouaThree hours from Marrakech, the Atlantic's most likeable town — fortified ramparts, a working fishing port, kitesurf wind and a music soul. How to spend a perfect 48 hours.
Is Morocco safe in 2026? An honest answerThe honest, current picture — solo and women travellers, the common souk set-ups, which areas to know about, health and the road. What we actually tell our own guests.
What to pack for Morocco, by season and regionNo 'breathable convertible trousers'. A real packing list that changes with the month and the route — medina, mountains, coast and desert all ask for different things.
Morocco on a budget: what it really costsDaily spend, where the money goes and the honest ways to save without missing the point of the trip — with sample budgets for shoestring, mid-range and comfortable travel.
How to choose a riad in MarrakechWhat a riad actually is, which neighbourhoods suit which travellers, and what to look for before you book — so you get the courtyard, the calm and the location right.
A 7-day Morocco itinerary that actually worksThe classic one-week loop, day by day — Marrakech, the High Atlas, Aït Ben Haddou, the Dades, the Merzouga dunes and Fes — with honest drive times and what to skip.Hidden gems in Marrakech: 12 quiet places most visitors missDar el Bacha, the painted douiria of Mouassine, Le Jardin Secret, the Mellah, old caravan fondouks and the Agdal Gardens: the calmer side of the medina and how to see it.
The Moroccan mint tea ritual, explainedWhy it's poured from a height, what 'Berber whisky' means, how it's brewed and the etiquette of accepting a glass — the small ceremony at the heart of Moroccan hospitality.Shopping the Marrakech souks: what to buy and howRugs, leather, lanterns, ceramics and argan — where to find the real thing in the medina, how to bargain without stress, and how to get it all home.
Morocco with kids: an honest family guideWhere to go, how to pace it, the riads that work for families, camel rides and food kids will actually eat — the practical things we tell parents before they come.
Morocco's best photography spotsFrom the blue lanes of Chefchaouen to the dunes of Merzouga and the kasbahs of the south — where to shoot, when the light is right, and the etiquette of the lens.
What a night in a desert camp is actually likeCamel arrival, the tents, dinner under the stars, the cold nights, the sunrise on the dunes — and the difference between a standard and a luxury Sahara camp.Getting Around Marrakech — Taxis, the Medina, Calèches & TransfersHow to get around Marrakech: walking the medina maze, petits taxis and the meter, calèches, city buses, the airport transfer and day-trip transport — with honest tips on fares, scams and safety.
How Many Days in Marrakech? A Trip-Length Planning GuideHow many days do you need in Marrakech? An honest trip-length guide — what one day, two days, three days and four-plus days each get you, plus how day trips and the desert change the maths.Marrakech on a Budget — Free Things to Do & Money-Saving TipsHow to enjoy Marrakech on a budget: the free highlights (Jemaa el-Fna at night, the souks, Koutoubia, the Mellah, Cyber Parc, the ramparts), cheap eats and transport, budget stays and honest money-saving tips.Things to Know Before Visiting Marrakech — Tips, Etiquette & Common SurprisesAn honest, welcoming guide to what to know before visiting Marrakech: the sensory medina and faux-guide hustle, haggling in the souks, cash, modest dress, Jemaa el-Fna at night, the heat, tipping, hammam etiquette and staying aware — no fear-mongering.Where to Stay in Marrakech — A Neighbourhood GuideMedina, Guéliz, Hivernage, the Palmeraie or the Kasbah? An honest neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood guide to where to stay in Marrakech, with riad-vs-hotel pros and cons and who each area suits.
Marrakech for Couples — A Romantic Break GuideHow to shape a romantic Marrakech for two: candlelit riads, rooftop dinners over the medina, a shared hammam, a sunset desert dinner in Agafay, the gardens and how to pace an unhurried short break.Marrakech in Summer — How to Beat the HeatAn honest hot-season guide: how hot July and August really get, why a pool is essential, when to sightsee, staying hydrated and safe, and cooler escapes to breezy Essaouira and the High Atlas.
Marrakech in Winter — Sunny Days, Snowy AtlasAn honest cold-season guide: mild, mostly sunny days roughly high-teens to 20°C, genuinely cold nights to pack a warm jacket for, why to check your riad has heating, and the snow-capped Atlas with ski day trips to Oukaïmeden.
Is Marrakech Overwhelming? An Honest GuideHonestly, for a day or two — yes. What actually overwhelms people in the medina and souks, why the hassle is overstated, why it fades within 48 hours, and how to handle the maze, the heat and the noise with confidence.We answer every enquiry with a written plan and a quote within 24 hours, from people who live here.
Photographs from our own trips in Morocco. Where we have no photo of a place yet, we print its name instead of a picture of somewhere else. Photo credits
