Romantic Getaways in Morocco

Marrakech

Riads, rooftops and gardensRiads with plunge pools and roof terraces looking towards the Atlas, couples hammams, the Jardin Majorelle and Le Jardin Secret, and hot air balloon flights at dawn. Best for first-time visitors.

Essaouira

Atlantic coast, slower paceWalk the ramparts above the ocean, eat fresh fish at the harbour, ride horses on the beach and browse the galleries of a relaxed medina, with Gnawa music in the evenings. Best for beach lovers.

Fes

The old medinaRiads with carved plaster, cedar and painted ceilings, quiet medieval lanes, madrasa tilework, cooking classes and rooftop restaurants above the medina. Best for culture lovers.

Chefchaouen

The blue town in the RifBlue-washed lanes, terrace cafés, the walk up to the Spanish Mosque at sunset, local goat cheese, and day trips to the Akchour waterfalls. Best for slow travellers and photographers.

Boutique riads

A few rooms around a courtyardEach room decorated differently, often with a roof terrace and sometimes a plunge pool. Many can arrange dinners and hammam sessions for couples. Examples: Riad Yasmine (Marrakech), Riad Fes (Fes), Lina Ryad (Chefchaouen).

Luxury hotels

Spas, gardens and suitesLarge properties with spas, several restaurants and gardens, mixing Moroccan architecture with international service. Examples: La Mamounia and Royal Mansour (Marrakech), Palais Faraj (Fes), Sofitel (Agadir).

Desert camps

Tents in the dunes or the AgafayLuxury tented camps with proper beds and private bathrooms, dinner at the camp and a camel ride at sunset. Erg Chebbi near Merzouga has the big dunes; the stony Agafay desert is close to Marrakech. Agafay examples: Scarabeo Camp, Inara Camp.

Kasbah retreats

Restored fortress hotelsThick-walled kasbahs on hilltops, in palm oases and along river valleys, with roof terraces and gardens. Examples: Dar Ahlam (Skoura), Kasbah Tamadot (Atlas), Kasbah Bab Ourika, Kasbah du Toubkal.

1. 1

   Couples hammam and spa

   Steam, a black-soap scrub (gommage), a ghassoul clay mask and an argan oil massage, in a private hammam suite for two. Marrakech, Fes and Essaouira. Allow two to three hours.
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   Sunset camel ride

   Ride side by side into the dunes at Merzouga or across the Agafay desert as the light goes gold, ending with mint tea at camp.
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   Hot air balloon at sunrise

   Fly at dawn over the countryside outside Marrakech with views of the Atlas. Allow a half day including the hotel transfer.
4. 4

   Cooking class

   Shop for spices and vegetables at a market, then cook tagine, couscous and salads with a local cook, and eat what you made on the terrace. Marrakech, Fes and Essaouira.
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   Rooftop dinner

   A private table on a riad roof with lanterns and a view over the medina. Some riads add live Gnawa or Andalusian music.
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   Beach horse riding at sunset

   Ride along the long beaches near Essaouira and Agadir. Stables take beginners.

Le Jardin, Marrakech

Garden restaurant in the medinaTables under trees and climbing plants in a medina courtyard, with seasonal Moroccan and Mediterranean cooking.

Café Clock, Fes

Modern Moroccan, cultural eveningsA restored townhouse with a roof terrace over the medina, known for its camel burger, with storytelling and music evenings.

Taros, Essaouira

Rooftop by the harbourA roof terrace above the port and the ocean, with seafood and Moroccan dishes, and a good spot for sunset.

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   Sunset in the dunes

   A camel trek across the Erg Chebbi dunes as the sun goes down.
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   A night at camp

   Proper beds, private bathrooms in the better camps, and dinner served at camp.
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   Stars

   Little light pollution far from the towns, so the night sky is full of stars on clear nights.
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   Sunrise

   Climb a dune before breakfast to watch the sun come up.
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   Music by the fire

   Many camps end the evening with drumming and songs around a fire.

Essaouira

Coast and cultureRamparts, long sandy beaches, horse riding and an easy-going medina: beach walks, riding and seafood.

Agadir

Resort beachA modern resort with a long beach, a seafront promenade and resort hotels, with day trips into the Anti-Atlas and Paradise Valley.

Dakhla

Remote lagoonA lagoon in the far south with eco-lodges, kitesurfing and few crowds, for couples who want somewhere off the usual route.

Spring (March - May)

Best seasonGardens in bloom, wildflowers in the Atlas and comfortable temperatures, good for the desert too. The rose harvest in May fills the Dades Valley with fragrance.

Autumn (September - November)

ExcellentWarm evenings for rooftop dinners, soft light for photographs, and comfortable desert temperatures again.

Winter (December - February)

Good for citiesMild days in the cities, fewer visitors and lower riad prices, fireplace evenings, clear desert skies and snow on the Atlas.

Summer (June - August)

Coast onlyMarrakech and Fes can pass 40°C, which makes outdoor plans hard. Essaouira stays cool with the Atlantic wind, and Agadir is good beach weather.

A weekend in Marrakech

1. 1

   Day 1, Marrakech: the medina and your riad

   Check in to a riad with a private courtyard. Visit the Jardin Majorelle and Le Jardin Secret, take a couples hammam in the afternoon and have dinner on the roof.
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   Day 2, Marrakech: souks and sunset

   An optional sunrise balloon flight, the souks for keepsakes, lunch in a garden restaurant and sunset from a rooftop terrace.

A week: city, mountains, desert and coast

1. 1

   Day 1, Marrakech: arrival

   Transfer to your riad, an afternoon by the pool and dinner on the roof terrace.
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   Day 2, Marrakech: the city

   A guided medina and souk walk, the Jardin Majorelle and the Bahia Palace, a couples hammam, and dinner at Le Jardin.
3. 3

   Day 3, Atlas Mountains

   A day trip to the Ourika Valley or Imlil, lunch in a Berber village and a walk to a waterfall, back for sunset drinks.
4. 4

   Day 4, the desert

   Drive to the Agafay desert or start a Sahara trip, check in to a desert camp, ride camels at sunset and eat under the stars.
5. 5

   Day 5, Essaouira: the coast

   Transfer to the Atlantic, walk the ramparts and the medina, eat seafood at the harbour and ride horses on the beach at sunset.
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   Day 6, Essaouira: a slow day

   A morning at the beach or the riad pool, galleries in the medina, a cooking class, and a farewell dinner at Taros.
7. 7

   Day 7, departure

   Breakfast on the terrace, last souvenirs, and the transfer to Marrakech or Essaouira airport.

Budget

Guesthouses and local foodSmall guesthouses or simple riads, local restaurants and street food, buses and shared taxis, a shared desert tour, and free pleasures like sunset walks and the souks.

Mid-range

Boutique riads, private transfersRiads with pools and roof terraces, good restaurants, private transfers or a rental car, and the key experiences: a desert camp, a couples hammam, a cooking class.

Luxury

Five-star stays, private guidesLuxury riads, hotels and desert camps, fine dining, a private driver and guide, spa treatments and balloon flights.