Lonely Planet Experiences: Medina, Palaces & Tombs
Marrakech, Morocco
From USD 63.53
Office phone number: +212 611 186 188
Lonely Planet Experiences: Medina, Palaces & Tombs
Marrakech, Morocco
Culture shock rating
Worried we’re going to shock your senses? Relax! We believe part of the fun of travel is immersing yourself in the destination and its culture, meeting the people, and learning what makes the place tick. We’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The cultural shock rating ranks how different the experience is from most Western cultures. But no matter the level, don’t worry, you’ll have a local, in-the-know guide with you every step of the way.
Low
Consider these tours your 101 intro to a place. Transportation might be private or a very comfortable public option, and the activities are usually visits to iconic sites and locations that are familiar to most Western cultures – but that will still give you fantastic insight into a destination.
Medium
Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether that’s on a packed public bus or in a local market off the tourist trail. There might be a few language barriers or unfamiliar cultural customs, and you’ll get an experience different from what you're used to at home.
High
You're out there in the global community! We’re going to take you down streets you’d rarely explore on your own, introduce you to local customs and languages, and take you for a ride in whatever transport is available. Get ready to take it as it comes, whatever comes. There might be a shock, but oh man, it’s worth it.
Physical rating
Worried our tours are too tough? Relax! From leisurely strolls to muscle-burning treks, we’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The physical grading gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour.
Low
Slow and steady is all you need here. These tours have very limited physical activity, such as walking relatively flat streets, sites, or markets, and climbing in and out of the transport provided.
Medium
Not too hard, not too soft, these tours are just right! You can expect a bit of physical activity, but nothing overly challenging – perhaps walking up and down hills, riding a bike for up to 30 kilometers along mostly flat terrain, or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.
High
Get ready for a workout! These tours are our most challenging and involve intense walking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, or bike riding. You could be making steep climbs by foot or pedal, or working your core in the water. We recommend you have a good level of fitness to join this tour.
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Tour snapshot
With alleys within alleys, and lane ways that lead nowhere, navigating Marrakech's medina alone is a one-way ticket to Planet Frustration. Join this Marrakech tour to see it all, minus the sweaty confusion and language fails!
Experience the best travel stories for yourself. Join a local expert and uncover hidden gems on this city adventure hand-picked by the world's leading travel publisher. Lonely Planet Experiences powered by Urban Adventures bring stories to life in the best-loved cities around the globe.
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Highlights
- Explore the labyrinth-like Marrakech medina, with a local to guide you
- Savour the scent and taste of freshly baked bread at a local bakery and see how tanjia is prepared at a traditional hammam
- Listen to the stories of sultans and slaves in a decadent palace
- Discover photographs of Marrakech from over 100 years ago
- Visit Djemaa El-Fna, an iconic Marrakech treasure
- Each Lonely Planet Experience comes with six-months free access to Lonely Planet’s Guides App which includes over 8,000 destinations guides and unbeatable discounts to Lonely Planet Guidebooks
Local Impact: How you will help the local community by joining this tour:
- All the stops you make on this tour are 100% local, which means the local community directly benefits from the tour.
- You visit the culturally important Jemaa el-Fna Square, listed by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
- Your tour includes entrence fees to Palais De Bahia and the Photography Museum, which helps to maintain the sites and preserve local cultural heritage.
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Schedule details
- Duration: 4 hours
- Meeting point:
Outside Café France in Djemaa El-Fna. As you walk into Djemaa El-Fna through the main entrance this is a 3-storey café on the right side of the square. Look for the guide holding an Urban Adventures sign or badge.
- Find the exact meeting point with what3words:
- Starting time: 9.00 AM
- Ending point:
Djemma El Fna Square.
Language: English
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, sample of freshly baked bread, entrance fees to Palais De Bahia and the Photography Museum.
Exclusions: Tips / gratuities for your guide, items of a personal nature.
There is no other place in this Moroccan city that screams authentic Marrakech than the bustling medina. Diving into this chaotic city centre is a must-do for any visitor, but trying to navigate this labyrinth alone is like trying to find your way out of a rabbit hole. Luckily, on this Marrakech medina tour with a local, you don’t have to be a master navigator to get the full experience!
Your first stop is the Palais de Bahia. This palace and its gardens are one of the most beautiful areas in Marrakech, and signify the epitome of decadence in the city’s history. This haven of shady courtyards and mosaics was once home to the high and mighty of Marrakech, a place where rich men and their various wives and concubines would leisurely glide around, relaxing in their luxurious surroundings. Here you can stroll through the many, many rooms, whilst your guide tells you all the local stories about slaves and sultans.
After the palace, we’ll take a walk inside the Medina and stop at one of the local bakeries. Here, we’ll get to see how locals in the Medina prepare their bread then bring it here to be baked. We’ll even get a taste! Not far from here, we’ll make another food stop at a local neighbourhood hammam to see how the traditional Moroccan dish tanjia is prepared.
Your final stop on this Marrakech tour will show you a vision of the city in pictures, with a visit to the Photography Museum. Here you can browse the rotating selection of 4,500 photos, and get as close as you possibly can to glancing into the world of Marrakech 100 years ago. With portraits of the locals, vintage village scenes, and even photos of the Berber tribes of the Atlas Mountains, a visit to the Photography Museum is one of the essential things to do in Marrakech to really understand its history and culture.
Your tour will finish up back in Djemaa El-Fna, where your local guide will either be able to give you directions back to your accommodation, or you can continue your own Marrakech adventure in the souks and medina.
Note: All through Djemaa El-Fna there are fake guides who will try to convince you to do a tour with them. Please make sure you find the official guide, who will be holding an Urban Adventures sign or badge and will be waiting for you in front of the café.
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Additional information
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, sample of freshly baked bread, entrance fees to Palais De Bahia and the Photography Museum.
Exclusions: Tips / gratuities for your guide, items of a personal nature.
Dress standard: Morocco is considered by many to be a liberal Muslim country. Many Moroccan women do not wear headscarves, for example, but you may find that Morocco is very conservative compared to what you’re used to at home, so you should dress accordingly. As a general guideline your shoulders, chest, and knees should be covered at all times. Wearing shorts (men or women), low-cut tops, and showing midriff is not recommended as it will restrict your entry into buildings of a religious nature and family homes. Covering these parts of your body will be considered as respectful amongst the locals. Lightweight sleeved shirts, trousers and skirts are respectful, cover your body, and keep you cool in the heat.
Your Trip: Maximum group size is 12.
Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We'll see you at the start point. Get in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher.
Child Policy: This is a child-friendly tour. Children between the ages of 6 and 11 inclusively are permitted on this tour at the rate listed above. Please select ‘child’ above when booking. Children under the age of 6 are permitted to join this tour free of charge. Please inform us at the time of booking if you’ll be bringing a child under the age of 6. You can do so in the special request box on the checkout page.
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Local contact
Office phone number: +212 611 186 188
Email address: info@marrakechurbanadventures.com
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