Getting Active in Morocco
Great ideas for some energetic pursuits in Morocco
Morocco offers many opportunities to get active with some truly thrilling experiences! Whether it's mountain climbing, trekking through the desert on a camel, sandboarding in the dunes, go karting or water sports, Morocco has you covered. Here's our rundown of ways to burn some energy in this fascinating country...
| Camel Trekking |
These are some of the top places you can experience travel on a 'ship of the desert'.
Menara Gardens - A short 10 minute taxi ride west from Jemaa El Fna square is Menera Gardens, just outside the gardens you will find camels and donkeys available for a 10 minute ride, ideal for the children or to tick the 'I rode a camel in Morocco' box.
La Palmeraie (Palm Grove) - A 15 minute taxi ride north of Jemaa El Fna Square the Palm Grove of several thousand trees, you can take a longer camel trek (1-2 hours) amongst the trees.
Agafay Desert - This arid rocky desert is about 30 minute taxi ride from the city, longer camel treks are available (1-3 hours) and can include tea/lunch in a Berber tent.
| Sandboarding at Erg Chebbi |
Sandboarding or 'dune surfing' n Morocco has been a popular pastime for local children for many years.
Erg Chebbi is widely considered to be the best spot for this activity for its longest stretch of unbroken sand dunes up to 150m high. Remember that to surf down the dune, you have to climb up it! Be prepared to expend a lot of energy!
Sandboarding can be done all year round, but is particulary good after it has rained as this can compact the sand and make it better to slide down on. The sand also gets hot, so it is best as a morning or evening activity.
Sandboarding at Erg Chebbi can
usually be encorporated into one of the desert tours from
Marrakech. Mergouza is around 10 hours drive from
Marrakech so the tour is best done over 4 day/3 night side
excursion.
| Karting |
Marrakech Kart Racing track is located on the outskirts of the city, a 10 minute taxi ride from Jemaa El Fna square.
Choose to join an open session or if you have enough people book the track for a Grand Prix session.
Karting Marrakech operate 270cc single as well as two-seater karts.
Price: A session start from around 250MAD/20GBP
Address: Circuit Automobile Moulay El Hassan, Tourist Area Agdal, Route de l'Ourika, Marrakech
Email: y.moumane@marrakechgrandprix.com
Website: www.marrakechgrandprix.com/marrakech-kart-racing/
| Oasiria Aqua Park |
Oasiria is an aquapark located in Marrakech, with various waterslides, lazy river and swimming pools set within 10 acres of gardens, it provides the perfect place for the whole family to cool off.
Located a 10 minute drive from Jemaa El Fna square and easily reached by taxi or alternatively there is a free shuttle bus service. The bus is blue with the Oasiria logo, and it picks up from just behind the Koutoubia Mosque.
Price: Adults 250MAD/20GBP & Child under 1.5m 150MAD/12GBP
Address: Km 4, route d'Amizmiz, Chrifia - Marrakech
Email: info@oasiria.com | Website: www.oasiria.com/
| Trekking in the Atlas Mountains |
Jebel Toubkal is the highest peak in the Atlas Mountains, Morocco and North Africa, with a summit of 4,167m. To trek to the summit, a 2.5 day excursion will be required
The starting point for this hike is the village of Imlil and you will need to spend one night there before beginning your ascent to allow time for acclimatisation to reduce the chance of altitude sickness. There are many places to stay in Imlil, together with guides and hiking shops.
Early the next day you will spend 3-5 hours hiking up to your overnight stay at one of the refuges below the summit. These refuges are at a height of 3000m and will allow you to again acclimatise before setting off the following day at sunrise for the 3-4 hour scramble to the summit. You can either spend a further night at a refuge or head back down to Imlil and on to Marrakech.
It is also possible to do shorter treks in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains. Please do ask us for further information.
| Windsurfing and Kitesurfing |
Around 2,500kms of Atlantic coastline boasting 70-80% year round wind reliability makes Morocco a superb destination for excellent windsurfing and kitesurfing opportunities.
The winds are at their strongest in the months of July and August so this is the best time to visit if your holiday will be revolving around any type of surfing.
Popular locations for surfing include Essaouira (known as the windy city), Agadir and Dakhla.
| Desert trekking adventures |
Erg Chebbi and Erg Chegaga provide the quintessential desert experience with rolling sand dunes as far as the eye can see, and where better to ride a camel than through this mystical land?
Owing to their remote locations, you would need a 3/4 day excursion from Marrakech to fully immerse yourself in this experience with nights spent under the stars eating traditional food, drinking Moroccan tea and listening to berber music and stories.
| Horse riding on the beach |
La Sultana Hotel Oualidia, ride along the endless beaches and stunning country side, the trails lead either to the beach "Les Tomates" passing through Oualidia's village or further down the lagoon to reach the land in between the lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean. Apart from passing sheep herds, the beautiful country side is free from civilization.
Get an overview of the region's stunning landscape and sunsets by spending an unforgettable few hours in tune with nature and horses. The horse ride will be kept at a walking pace with the possibility for experienced riders to trot or canter on the beach.
Riding experience is not essential as horses are allocated according to your skills; however, you need to bear in mind that horse riding is considered an extreme sport and horses all have their own personalities.
| Adrenaline activities of the Agafay Desert |
A 30 minute drive south of Marrakech brings you to the Agafay Desert, a rocky and barren landscape which provides a playground for those visiting Marrakech who are seeking some adrenaline-activities. You can try camel trekking, horse riding, quad biking and off-road karting.
At Lake Takerkoust (reservoir) you can sail, canoe or jet ski, or you could try wake boarding or fly boarding.
| Trekking Dades Valley - Monkey's Fingers Canyon |
This picturesque mountain offers many trekking routes lasting from 1 day to week long hikes. The monkey fingers canyon is a part of the Dades Gorge. It's formed of eroded sand stone formations named moneys fingers from their finger like shapes. The walls curve inwards making a narrow space to trek through, at some points you may even have to crawl under and around the boulders.
These mountains are located approximately 315 km from Marrakech. You can either drive yourself or take a bus from Marrakech. The route is full of scenic views and takes you through the Atlas Mountains, slowly descending into the stone desert. The bus stops at a small town called Boulmalne Dades, from there you can take a taxi to the village Tamellalt around 15 km away.
