Riads to dunes: see more of Morocco

Morocco has long earned its place on the travel map, drawing visitors with its medinas, mountains, deserts and coastline. With riad rooftops, Atlas trails, desert camps and beachside boltholes all within reach, why choose just one backdrop? Here's how to see more of Morocco in one trip.

SOUQS, SUMMITS & SEA: WELCOME TO MOROCCO

Morocco, a cultural crossroads shaped by its North African roots and its Atlantic and Mediterranean shores, has serious bucket-list credentials. Ancient cities, mountain villages, desert camps, surf towns and vineyards can all slot into the same trip, with surprisingly short hops between them.

Marrakech is the gateway most people know best, and it’s full throttle from the off. Scooters buzz past tiled courtyards, spices rise in bright pyramids, smoke curls from street-food grills and rooftop terraces serve mint tea above the medina muddle. Get your bearings on a Highlights of the Medina walking tour, then bed down at Riad La Clé D’Or, tucked deep in the maze, for a bona fide old-city experience.

Marrakech makes a brilliant city break, but the road out is just as tempting. A short transfer can take you to the pine-scented foothills of the Atlas Mountains, on to Agafay’s lunar landscapes for stargazing or west to blue-shuttered ports and wave-heavy beaches. Further north, Fes, Rabat and Casablanca bring their own city energy, with old quarters, grand avenues and galleries side by side. That’s the joy of a holiday here – you can dial the pace up or down as you go.

And the food? Amazigh, Arab and Mediterranean flavours all get a seat at the table. Have a tagine served beneath the orange trees of a riad courtyard, tuck into pastilla under the palms and save room for honey-soaked pastries fresh from the bakery. By the coast, seafood comes straight off the boats and Oualidia is oyster country. And a wildcard? Wine. Around 60% of Morocco’s wine is produced in the Meknes region, including vin gris, a pale, dry rosé that’s something of a local signature.

Hungry for more? Our local’s guide to what to eat in Morocco covers everything from Marrakech mechoui and Fassi pastilla to Friday couscous and fish fresh from the Atlantic.

You notice the warmth in the people too, from a riad host pressing another helping on you to someone steering you through the tangle of old-city lanes. And yes, absolutely make time for a hammam. After a day of souqs, sightseeing and sensory overload, steam, black soap and a vigorous scrub hit the reset button nicely.

Want to see just how much you can fit into one Morocco trip? Here are the stops we can work into a multi-centre.

MAKE YOUR HOLIDAY

Marrakech twin-centre: Two tempos, one city

Kick off with a few nights in the heart of the medina, right in the middle of Marrakech’s movie-set magic.

Next, make for an oasis-style resort outside the city, with gardens, long blue pools and the Atlas Mountains on the horizon.

It’s Marrakech in two very different moods: high-energy first, hideaway second.

Starting in the Red City? Our Marrakech for first-timers guide has just-back tips on what to see, where to eat and how to make the most of a few days here.

ATLAS BOUND

The answer to Marrakech’s heat? Up you go. Within a couple of hours, the High Atlas opens up into terraced slopes, green valleys and small Amazigh villages, with the peaks looming ahead.

Ourika Valley is one of the easiest ways in. The valley is a green ribbon of orchards, streams and terraced hills, with red-earth paths winding between them. Follow the paths towards Setti Fatma and its seven waterfalls, or spend time with local communities. It’s close enough to visit for the day, but staying overnight is where the magic really starts.

Walking is a big part of the Atlas experience, so lace up and take your pick: easy village paths, valley hikes or full-on mountain trekking. Venture towards Imlil and Toubkal National Park, where Mount Toubkal climbs to 4,167 metres, the highest peak in North Africa.

Kasbahs are another reason to spend a night or two here. Once built as fortified homes, these mountain hideaways now make spectacular bases for exploring the Atlas. Kasbah Bab Ourika sits high above the valley with gardens supplying the kitchen and a Beldi spa. Kasbah Tamadot is the big-name showstopper. with Berber tents, hammam treatments, local experiences and three MICHELIN Keys.

And after a morning on the trails, you’ll have earned lunch. Kasbah Angour has a knockout pool and a restaurant making the most of its mountain setting, with seasonal produce grown in its gardens, including figs and pomegranates.

When you’ve had enough of the trails, switch things up. Follow your nose to a saffron farm or see traditional Amazigh crafts including handwoven rugs, pottery and jewellery being made.

MAKE YOUR HOLIDAY

Marrakech & Atlas Mountains: heat to highlands

- Begin in Marrakech, then head into the Atlas for hikes, village visits and days out in the foothills.

- Make the hotel part of the adventure with a stay in a characterful kasbah, where you can step from breakfast into the gardens and straight onto the trails.

- Keep going to the coast for the Morocco hat-trick: city, mountains and sea.

COASTAL MOROCCO

If sea air is part of your holiday maths, look west. Oualidia centres on a glassy lagoon, fringed by oyster beds and shallows busy with birdlife. La Sultana Oualidia makes a lovely base, with wine-and-oyster tastings, salt-marsh bike rides and golden-hour cruises.

Further south, Essaouira has bohemian charm in spades: blue fishing boats bob in the harbour, white-and-blue buildings fill the walled old town and the Atlantic breeze sets the scene for surfing and kitesurfing. Climb the ramparts where Game of Thrones fans will recognise Astapor, then drop down to the fishing port for sardines or squid hot off the grill.

Taghazout turns the volume back up. This former fishing village is now one of Morocco’s best-known surf spots, with breaks including Anchor Point and Killer Point, plus seven kilometres of beach backed by argan forests. Surf by day, yoga when you’re done, then swap the board for a lounger at Fairmont Taghazout Bay, with the ocean on the doorstep and plenty of space to switch off.

Agadir is Morocco’s classic beach-resort pick – and there’s a reason it’s been a favourite for decades. A long sweep of golden sand fronts the city, while El Had souk packs in more than 6,000 shops. Take the cable car up to Agadir Oufella, the old kasbah above the bay, then come back down for warm bread dunked into amlou by the water. The View Agadir puts you right by the beach, with pools, spa time and the city within easy reach.

Most of these coastal spots are only a few hours from Marrakech, making a city-and-sea twin-centre an easy combo. Our Luxury Marrakech and Coast holiday puts the contrast front and centre, pairing two distinct La Sultana addresses.

MAKE YOUR HOLIDAY

Luxury Marrakech & Coast: Red city, blue coast

- Pair a Marrakech riad-style stay with La Sultana Oualidia on the lagoon.

- See more of the country in between, with a Highlights of the Medina walking tour and a luxury Atlas day topped off with a gourmet lunch.

- Go behind the scenes in Oualidia, with a sustainability tour of the bay and a peek at the hotel’s own green credentials.

DESERT NIGHTS

Forget the long trek to the Sahara. Just 30–45 minutes from Marrakech, Agafay opens out into sun-baked hills and desert camps, and suddenly the city feels very far away. The real reason to make a night of it? After dark, the low light pollution is a stargazer’s dream.

There’s plenty to do before the sun goes down. Hike through the desert hills or get stuck into a Moroccan cooking class before settling in for sunset and a night beneath Agafay’s star-filled skies.

Then there’s the best bit: waking up here. Émeraude Luxury Camp puts you in Bedouin-style tents with private bathrooms and terraces, where you can watch the sunrise spread across Agafay before breakfast. The camp serves delicious Moroccan food, with dishes such as beef tagine with almonds and prunes among the specialities.

Émeraude is the smaller-scale stay; The White Camel goes all-in on razzle-dazzle, with private lodges, some with their own pools, plus spa time and fine dining. Yoga, hiking and stargazing are all on the menu too, if you can tear yourself away from an argan oil massage or steam hammam.

Want a few more ideas for filling your days? Local expert Ruben shares his favourite things to do in Morocco, including High Atlas road trips, meeting Marrakech’s makers and staying in Agafay after dark.

MAKE YOUR HOLIDAY

Marrakech, desert & beach: Spice stalls to stargazing

- Start in Marrakech, weaving through Djemaa el-Fna, bargaining in the souqs and cooling off among the cobalt walls and palms of Jardin Majorelle.

- Spend a night in Agafay, with dinner at camp, stars overhead and breakfast with the desert outside your tent.

- Finish on the coast north of Agadir, moving from desert camp life to golden sand and beach days.

CITY CONTRASTS

The further north you go, the more Morocco’s cityscape shifts. Casablanca, Fes and Rabat make a brilliant three-city contrast: centuries-old quarters, cliffside kasbahs, Art Deco façades, Roman ruins and the odd glass of vin gris along the way.

Casablanca has a more metropolitan swagger. Art Deco façades line broad boulevards, the Corniche traces the edge of the city and the Hassan II Mosque is the architectural heavyweight, complete with a retractable roof. Its old quarter is smaller and easier to navigate than Fes or Marrakech. At Marché Central, choose your seafood from the stalls and have one of the surrounding restaurants cook it to order.

Fes gets under your skin fast. Its ancient heart is a maze of tiled madrasas, workshops and narrow lanes where losing your bearings is half the fun. Follow a guide through Fes el-Bali, stop at the famous tanneries, where a sprig of mint helps with the smell, then retreat to Palais Amani, a 21-room riad in a former family home, with a courtyard garden and rooftop views across the old city. Beyond Fes itself, day trips take you to Meknes, the Roman ruins of Volubilis and nearby vineyards.

Rabat, Morocco’s capital, feels noticeably more laid-back. Wander through the cobalt-painted Kasbah of the Oudayas and stop for tea before heading to Hassan Tower and the Mohammed V Mausoleum. See more of the capital on our electric tricycle tour, then check into The View Rabat in smart Hay Riad for rooftop drinks, spa time and Italian small plates at Cicchetti.

Our Cities & Medinas of Morocco holiday is our city-hopping route through Casablanca, Fes and Rabat, with guided old-city tours, vineyard stops and a Rabat food tour thrown in.

Still deciding which stops belong on your route? Our local’s guide to the best places to visit in Morocco digs deeper into the cities, coast and mountains.

BEST TIME TO VISIT MOROCCO

Spring and autumn are the sweet spots for most of Morocco, with comfortable temperatures for city exploring, Atlas hikes and days out in Agafay.

If you’re chasing winter warmth, the coast is your best bet. Agadir and Taghazout stay sunny and mild, while Essaouira is a good shoulder-season pick too. Surfers should aim for Taghazout between October and April, when the bigger swells roll in.

Summer shifts the focus. Marrakech and Agafay really heat up, so desert trips tend to move later in the day, while Oualidia and Agadir are in peak holiday mode. One Fes tip: Fridays are quiet in the old city, with many places closed.

The information is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication.