Marrakech offers more than you would think

Do you fancy going to a country where you can stay in a buzzing and exotic city, go to the beach, go on eco trips to the mountains, ride a camel in the desert, do soft adventure excursions or even where skiing is possible? Do you want to experience all of this without having to fly half way around the world? Do you fancy visiting another continent that is just over three hours away from the UK? Then a holiday to Morocco would really be a great choice for you.

I was lucky enough to be invited to visit Marrakech in Morocco as part of a travel agent inspection visit by the Moroccan Tourist Board. We flew from Gatwick and spent three days in Marrakech to learn all about this amazing destination. You can fly with low cost airlines to Marrakech - EasyJet fly from Gatwick, Bristol or Manchester.

Ryanair fly from Liverpool, Luton or Stansted. Or you can fly from Gatwick with British Airways on a scheduled flight if you prefer.

After just over three hours, you arrive and immediately are struck by the fact that you are in a different continent with its unique African atmosphere. Entry to Morocco is easy with a simple entry form to fill out on arrival and Marrakech Airport has a welcoming arrivals hall. Transfers to the hotels usually take just 15 minutes as the airport is close to the city.

When in Marrakech a visit to the Jemaa el-Fna Square is a must. This is the main square in Marrakech and has a multitude of entertainers with contortionists, snake charmers and musicians galore. Explore the alleyways of the Souk with tradesmen selling everything you can imagine. The Souk is large and it is easy to lose your sense of direction but I urge you to dive in and explore it as it offers an exotic and exciting atmosphere. It is worth buying a drink at one of the café’s that overlook the square as the view from their rooftop seating areas is the best view possible.

You can venture out of Marrakech to the desert or the mountains. I opted for a day trip to the Terres D’Amanar estate in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains as it was just 45 minutes from Marrakech. The estate offers mountain biking, electric mountain biking (the motor increases your pedal power by up to 300 times making it easy to go up the steep hills), horse riding, zip wires with wire suspension bridges, archery and a variety of team building activities. I would suggest staying here for a couple of days as there is so much to do. There is a variety of accommodation including eco-lodges built in traditional Berber-style and glamping in earth buildings with canvas roofs. The standard of the accommodation is surprisingly luxurious and the food is truly Moroccan and of a high standard.

This was my first visit to Marrakech and I now cannot wait to go back. I enjoy the buzz of an exciting city but also would enjoy relaxing at the beach or going into the mountains and desert for a sense of adventure. A holiday to Morocco allows you to do them all in one trip! If this is your idea of a good holiday then Marrakech would be a great choice for you.

If my blog was of interest to you then please do contact me. Please also look for my blog on where you can stay in Marrakech.