If you only take one excursion on this cruise, most of our guests say make it this one. Marrakech — the Pink City, once the capital of an empire stretching from Senegal to Toledo — is a full day from the port, and worth every hour of the drive.
Highlights
- Private, licensed English-speaking guide for the full 14-hour day
- The Koutoubia Mosque and the Majorelle Gardens
- The Saâdien Tombs and the Dar el Bahia Palace
- A light lunch with a folklore show
- The Ben Youssef Medersa, the Almoravid Koubba, and Djemaa el Fnaa Square
Your Day in Marrakech
It’s about three hours from the port across the arid Ben Guerir plain to Marrakech, where the drive brings you past the city’s ramparts to the Koutoubia Mosque — the tallest structure in the city, its 12th-century minaret once the model for the Giralda in Seville. From there it’s a quick stop at the Majorelle Gardens, the cobalt-blue former estate of Yves Saint Laurent, before heading to the Kasbah to see the 16th-century Saâdien Tombs, with their carved marble columns and stuccowork ceilings.
Next is the Dar el Bahia Palace, a 19th-century Grand Vizier’s residence of intimate rooms, zellige-tiled courtyards, and gardens built around the private apartments of the sultan’s household. A light lunch with a folklore show follows in a good Moroccan restaurant, then it’s on foot into the medina: the 14th-century Ben Youssef Medersa, once an Islamic college for 800 students and one of the most beautiful buildings in the city, and the Almoravid Koubba, the oldest structure standing in Marrakech.
The day ends at Djemaa el Fnaa Square, Marrakech’s famous open-air theatre of musicians, storytellers, and food stalls, with free time to wander the covered souks with your guide before the drive back to your ship.
This is a long day with a lot of walking — expect around 3 hours on foot, some of it over uneven ground in busy, crowded souks. It’s worth it.
What’s Included
- Private round-trip transport in an air-conditioned vehicle, port to port
- Medical and accident insurance
- Guided sightseeing with entrance fees as listed
- A light lunch and folklore show
- An English-speaking licensed national guide
- Bottled or gaseous water en route
Not Included
- Gratuities
- Personal expenses
What to Bring
- Good trainers
- A pullover (seasonal)
- A day pack
- Hygienic wipes
- Camera, with a Ziploc bag to protect the lens
- A hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen
Book This Excursion
Send us your ship and port call time and we’ll confirm your private Marrakech excursion. Reach us on WhatsApp, give us a call, or fill out the quick form below and a local Morocco specialist will get back to you with a quote.