Last week I visited Marrakech, land of the loud and the colorful. In my head, I was prepared for things to be different. I was prepared in case I needed to defend myself from being harassed. I wasn’t prepared to have some of the best times in my life.
If you don’t know anything about Marrakech, here are the basics: Marrakech is a city in Morocco, which is a country in North Africa. It is a cultural hub and tourist destination. If you haven’t made the trip, I highly recommend it, and if you have, I’m sure you will agree that it is a wonderful place worth visiting. Since it is so easy to get caught up and lost in what the tour books say, I have created a list of 5 things absolutely not to miss on your trip to Marrakech. I’ll throw in some hints and tips as I go.
1. Hamam
Hamam is a cultural tradition in Morocco, which includes being bathed and scrubbed down with a special black scrub made from various spices. What is absolutely wonderful about it is that it often includes a massage, and who doesn’t love that new baby skin feel after a solid skin scrub? Best of all, you don’t have to do the work yourself, someone does it for you! For my Hamam I went to the Moroccan equivalent of a Glen Ivy, and my experience included time in a steam room, the scrub, a massage with argon oil and a robe to relax in afterwards in a beautiful room with mint tea.
Tips/Hints:
-The mint tea in all of Morocco is incredible, and is offered almost everywhere you go. If you are lucky, you will get a handful of mint leaves in your cup as well! Drinking the mint tea after the Hamam will allow your body to relax even more.
-My Hamam cost a total of 270 duram, which is equal to approximately twenty-seven dollars.
- I did the Hamam tradicional. There is also a touristic option for cheaper, which I believe does not include a massage.
-You will be naked and being scrubbed down by someone else. Heads up.
2. The Souk
The Souk is a marketplace somewhat similar to what would happen if a swap meet on steroids had a baby with the market at the state fair. It is intense, colorful and loud. If you need anything, you can find it here. It is full of all sorts of handmade goods, and the best part (depending on your perspective) is that it is a bartering game at its finest. No one here pays the same price for anything, it all depends on your skills of negotiation. It is also a sight to see if you don’t feel like engaging in the activity. Just walking through the Souk will make you feel like you are in a different world.
Tips/Hints:
-Decide on a price that you want to pay for something ahead of time, and stick to your guns. Be willing to walk away. The shopkeepers are skilled professionals, and if you show any sign of weakness they will get the better end of the bargain. I ended up buying a wonderful handcrafted leather fanny pack for ten Euro, and it has been what I have been wandering around Europe with recently.
-If you stand your ground and get your way, chances are high that it will be very awkward afterward as you walk away. It’s okay, you’ll survive. This happened to me so many times. You start to get used to it.
-Take photos! The shopkeepers encourage you to take photos of their shops because it gets you closer to potentially purchasing something from them.
-Learn how to say “no” and how to ignore people if you don’t want to talk or stop.
3. Fresh Squeezed Juice
Seriously, in the big center square there are rows and rows of stands where people are squeezing fresh juice for approximately one dollar, and it will put your home juicer to shame. They sell orange juice, watermelon juice, mango juice, a mixture of a few juices that is a national delicacy, and the list goes on. I made friends with one of the people working the juice stand and I got the opportunity to learn how to make the juices myself, even serving a few people who came to the stand while I was there.
Tips/Hints:
-If you are dehydrated, buy some water and drink that first before you order your juice. It is incredibly hot in Marrakech, and so it is easy to gulp down your juice without thinking about it before you can savor the flavor.
-Make friends with whoever is working the booth: often they make a little extra and will give it to you if there are no other customers.
4. The Sahara [camels!]
Everyone who I talked to said that this was the number one activity to do while in Marrakech. There are guides who will take you on trips that you can sign up for all over the city. The best trip to do is a three day, two night trip, because it takes about twelve hours to drive out there in the first place. You will get to ride a camel, hang out with the BurBur mountain people and have the experience of a lifetime.
Tips/Hints:
-Camels love taking selfies.
-It is an awesome experience that not many people can say that they have had.
-You have to buy/bring a scarf, loose t-shirt and comfortable pants in order to properly protect yourself from the sand and being uncomfortable on the camel.
-There is a two day one night trip offered, but going for that short of time will not give you the full experience.
-Many hostels will hold your bag while on your trip.
5. Ouzoud Falls
This was by far, the highlight of my trip. Ouzoud Falls is the second largest waterfall in Africa, and taking a tour of it is nothing short of delightful. It is a one-day trip, you will drive out, hike down by the water, get to jump off small waterfalls, swim in natural pools and even take a boat under the base of the large waterfall itself. The kicker: after seeing the falls, there is a small area where monkeys hang out that you can feed and take pictures with!
Tips/Hints:
-If you tip the monkey caretaker, he will let the monkey sit on your shoulders or head.
-Take a photo or two, but spend most of the time in the moment: you won’t regret it. The pictures don’t encapsulate the true beauty of the falls, and being there is such an incredible experience, take a few minutes and just breathe.
Marrakech surprised me. I ended up having the time of my life even though I was scared of traveling around Morocco alone. I highly recommend that you take the time to visit as well.
