We only spent a 6 day period in Marrakech and focused on Medina and Essaouira (on the West coast).

 Marrakech is the 4th largest City in the Kingdom of Morroco and it is located slightly west of the foothills of the Atlas Mountains. We soon appreciated the vibrancy, colour and diversity that this city had to offer.

Medina is as we suspected, all about the tourist and the income that can be generated from us. We do not have a problem with this as it’s obviously a very lucrative industry and local business and employment generator for the local area.

Medina is very vibrant and colourful, it’s also, in the main, very clean and tidy. The Souks draw you in like a magnet with the invites from the traders along with the exciting throb of a busy Market, it is worth bearing in mind that they are there to try and convert your money from yours to theirs and every trick in the book is used to do this, they are very good at what they do, but remember, if you don’t want anything / something …. just walk away.

Beware of motorbikes flying around you wherever you go, this can get a bit frustrating sometimes as whenever you walk somewhere you are forever stepping into a doorway or flattenning yourself up against a wall as they fly through the very narrow streets, yes, they even travel inside the Souks in order to feed and replenishing the stock of the stalls. The rule is to keep to the RIGHT, although this doesn’t seem to work all the time.

As you walk you will be constantly told by total strangers that “you are going the wrong way”. Assumptions are made by locals that you are either looking for the Tannery or the Medina square, if you engage with these Guys you will be guided down the tight little streets and ally ways, psat the shops and stalls that their family or friends run in order that you buy from them  (walking a lot further than was recquired) and then when / if you finally arrive at your destination they will ask for payment for their services, advice, if you are following a map and you know where you are going, ignore them and carry on walking. IF (you probably will) you do get lost, ask a stall holder / Cafe for directions.

We stayed in a traditional Riad in Marrakech.

The lanes and alleys leading to the older part of the Medina where our Riad was located were hectic and full of the local Moroccans going about their business. Access only by foot or moped/motorbike really an option here.

Marrakech is the 4th largest City in the Kingdom of Morroco and it is located slightly west of the foothills of the Atlas Mountains. We soon appreciated the vibrancy, colour and diversity that this city had to offer but also the fact that you had to be aware of locals wanting to escort you to places of interest for money, that you really should try and always walk on the right hand side of all alleys to avoid the chaotic mopeds and that you should try and haggle on absolutely every purchase.

We would be quick to recommend a stay in a Riad so that you can appreciate what they have to offer –  a unique and traditional shared accommodation built typically around an indoor courtyard but with an outdoor feel – superb!