1. Have a Taste of the High Atlas in the Ourika Valley
About 77 kilometers from Marrakesh, the mountain valley villages of the Ourika Valley are one of the most popular things to do outside the city.
The little villages and towns, surrounded by lush orchards and fields, are a welcome escape from the city heat and provide a quick snapshot of typical Moroccan rural life.
If you plan a trip for Monday, don’t miss the weekly market held in the village of Tnine which is full of the bustle and color of local life.
2. Enjoy a Seaside Break in Essaouira
A lovely seaside side trip from Marrakesh’s labyrinthine medina, Essaouira, 184 kilometers away, has much more than fresh sea breezes to offer.
Snug on the seafront, the medina area is the major point of interest for visitors, with its well-preserved fortified walls and ramparts that date from the 18th century.
Walking along the walls is a wonderful way to soak up the seaside vistas and Essaouira’s fishing harbor, full of colorful, bobbing boats.
Inside the ramparts, the old town is a meandering squiggle of narrow streets that are made to get lost in. Here, you’ll find the Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdullah Museum, with a well-curated ethnological collection of costumes, textiles, photography, and musical instruments in a restored riad (traditional Moroccan mansion house).
There are plenty of guided trips and group tours offered to Essaouira by Marrakesh tour companies. The Essaouira Day Trip from Marrakesh offers round-trip transportation, a one-hour tour of Essaouira’s medina, and plenty of free time to explore by yourself making this a good option for independently minded day-trippers.
