Marrakech is Morocco’s Red City. It gets its name from the red ochre walls that surround it. The city is located in a large valley. The High Atlas Mountains in the distance offer a stunning backdrop. They are snow-capped in fall, winter, and spring. You can the peaks from many places around the city.

Marrakech is the Gateway to the South of Morocco. Many valleys and villages can be reached in a short drive from Marrakech. For those who desire to spend most of their time in the Marrakech area, a day’s tour outside the city is certainly a breath of fresh air. Many people have had enough of Marrakech proper after one full day. While it is a wonderful city, and not to be missed, it is quite touristy. We encourage people to get outside the city as much as possible. The rural areas are where much of the magic happens.

Don’t fall for references to the “Marrakech Desert.” The real desert is a good eight hours from Marrakech. Agafay is not actually the desert. It’s really just some hills with dust on them. “The Marrakech Desert” is a slick marketing ploy used to capture people’s interest. A tour to the actual Sahara Desert can start from Marrakech, but will take longer than 90 minutes. But it is well worth every minute and something never forgotten.

Interested in learning more about how people live in Morocco? A day trip from Marrakech, may be right up your alley. You can easily spend the day in the High Atlas Mountains. Throw in a meal with a Berber family while you’re at it. Moroccan hospitality is unmatched.