Marrakech is the natural hub of Morocco desert tourism — the city from which the majority of desert tours depart, the destination that most international visitors see first, and the place that sets the tone for the entire Morocco travel experience. Understanding what Marrakech offers, and how to use it as a base for desert exploration, is the essential starting point for planning any Morocco journey.
Top Sights in Marrakech
Djemaa el-Fna Square
The most famous public square in Africa changes character throughout the day. Morning brings juice sellers and street barbers. Afternoon introduces snake charmers, henna artists, and Berber storytellers. Evening transforms the square into a vast open-air restaurant with dozens of food stalls, accompanied by musicians, acrobats, and fortune tellers. A UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage site, the square is never the same twice and rewards multiple visits at different hours.
The Medina Souks
Marrakech’s medina souks are organised by trade — the dyers’ district, the leather workers, the metalwork quarter, the spice market, and the carpet merchants each occupy distinct neighbourhoods within the dense medina network. Navigating the souks without a guide is deliberately disorienting, and deliberate getting-lost is one of the more enjoyable aspects of the experience.
Bahia Palace and Saadian Tombs
The nineteenth-century Bahia Palace and the sixteenth-century Saadian Tombs represent Marrakech’s architectural heritage at its most refined. The Saadian Tombs were sealed for centuries — discovered only in 1917 behind a wall — and contain mausolea with carved plaster and zellij work of extraordinary quality. The UNESCO designation for the Medina of Marrakech is documented at UNESCO World Heritage — Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou.
Using Marrakech as a Desert Tour Base
All our most popular desert tours depart from Marrakech. Our One Day Tours Morocco is the ideal starting point for first-time Morocco visitors, while our 4-Day Marrakech to Fes Desert Tour provides the complete Marrakech-to-Fes experience. Browse our complete tours from Marrakech category, visit our FAQ page for practical planning questions, and see TripAdvisor — Merzouga Desert for further Marrakech travel research.
