13 Unmissable Experiences in Marrakech

Everything you ever wanted to know about Moroccan cooking can be found in this three-hour extravaganza. You’ll cook a four-course feast inside a 14th-century Riad using a small clay oven for starters. Also, if you want to learn where your ingredients come from, there’s an optional trip through the Moroccan bazaar with mint tea and sumptuous snacks to follow.

A little off the beaten path, this cooking class and trip explores the intricacies of Berber cuisine. This is a true farm-to-table experience as you’ll hit the weekly Berber market for ingredients, explore the stunning Ourika Valley, and then join a Berber family in their home where you’ll learn the traditional techniques of Berber cooking. This is a full-day excursion, so plan accordingly.

While many cultural dinner-and-a-show experiences can run on the cheesy side, this particular one is anything but. Taking place at Le Narwama restaurant, guests will be treated to a three-course feast of Moroccan cuisine, while authentic belly dancers twirl around the room to live music. Hookahs are set up tableside in case you want to light up during the entertainment.

Marrakech is known for its unique pottery, and this workshop gives you insight into how it’s all done. First, you’ll tour a traditional workshop nearby, learn about the craftsman, the history, and the artistry of pottery making, and then get a chance to try your own hand at the pottery wheel. This is a great family adventure as you get your hands dirty shaping and molding clay into works of pottery art.

Arabic lettering is incredibly intricate. In this class, you will learn the majestic art of Arabic calligraphy alongside an experienced artist who has been writing for 40 years. Throughout this four-hour workshop, you’ll become a quick expert using traditional ink and a nib to make your own lettering art. Tea and pastries are of course included along the way.

How much Arabic can you learn in an hour and a half? Quite a lot actually. There’s nothing more frustrating than not being able to understand a menu, barter for a better price, or simply ask for directions to the bathroom. This 90-minute experience will help you get more comfortable navigating the basics and hopefully help you score the best price on that Moroccan carpet in the Medina.

Prepare yourself mentally, a Turkish bath gets a little rough (don’t worry, it’s worth it). For three hours, this spa and hammam experience will treat you to a full-force body scrub, an argan oil massage, and many, many moments to relax. The cup of mint tea at the end is an especially nice touch.

Surfing might not be the first thing that comes to mind when visiting Morocco, but let us disabuse you of that idea. This all-day excursion takes you to the city of Essaouira, a walled 18th-century fortified port town where you’ll receive a two-hour surf lesson and get a chance to explore the local market and fishing harbour. All the equipment is provided, so all you need is your sense of adventure and desire for an adrenaline rush.

Skiing in Morocco? Yes, skiing in Morocco. Venture out to Oukaïmeden, the highest ski resort in Africa atop the Atlas Mountains where a guide will give you one-on-one ski lessons and then set you loose over the slopes. This journey is an all-day trip, just make sure you bring cold-weather clothes.

Marrakech Go-Kart racing experience provides a hair-raising adrenaline rush. Flash around a FIA-homologated track (official certification for track safety) that’s filled with hair-pin turns and long straightaways to truly let the kart rip. One of the best ways to experience the track is to race at night. Conveniently located, the track is only five minutes from the city centre.

It’s hard to be bored in Marrakech, but if your family is looking for a little more adventure, check out this three-hour paintball experience. The center is about 20km outside the city and you’ll be picked up at your hotel and driven out to experience paintball-based combat. All participants are given battle packs that include 100 shots, your gun, anti-fog lenses, and camouflage with neck guards. Challenge your friends, challenge your family, and most importantly, have fun.

If you want a real rush, check out Morocco’s first cable park where you can wakeboard, water-ski, or kneeboard on a lake below the Atlas Mountains. Don’t worry, there’s hands-on instruction to make sure you’re comfortable, but once you’re ready, you’ll be flying in the air, doing tricks and wishing there were more hours in the day.