Exploring Marrakech, Essaouira & The Atlas Mountains with Riviera Travel
Exploring Marrakech, Essaouira & The Atlas Mountains with Riviera Travel
Think Morocco is just busy markets and desert landscapes? This escorted tour with Riviera Travel completely changed my perspective. From rooftop sunsets in Marrakech to the relaxed coastal charm of Essaouira and the lush Atlas Mountains, here’s why Morocco surprised me at every turn.
Morocco has always been one of those destinations that intrigued me. The colours, the chaos, the culture, the food and the landscapes all felt completely different to anywhere else I had travelled before.
This trip also gave me my first experience of an escorted tour with Riviera Travel, travelling with a group of 25 people and spending four full days exploring Marrakech, Essaouira and the Atlas Mountains.
Led by Riviera Travel tour manager Paul O’Connor alongside our local Moroccan guide Mohammed, the trip combined history, culture, food, local life and some genuinely beautiful scenery.
Arrival in Marrakech
On arrival into Marrakech we were met by Paul, who was very easy to spot holding his Riviera Travel sign in arrivals. Those of us arriving on the same flight joined the transfer coach for the short 15-minute journey into the city.
We stayed at the Grand Plaza Hotel, a comfortable four-star property located in the French Quarter of Marrakech. After checking in and freshening up, we headed down for dinner and our first chance to meet the rest of the group.
One thing that quickly becomes clear in Morocco is that it is very much a tipping culture, similar in many ways to America, so having local currency is important. We exchanged some pounds at a bureau de change where £100 gave us roughly the equivalent of £98 in Moroccan dirham.
Tip of the trip: always ask for some smaller notes when exchanging money as they are much more useful for tips and smaller purchases.
Exploring the Medina & Souks
The following morning after breakfast, we met at 8:40am where everyone was provided with hearing devices so we could clearly hear both Paul and Mohammed during the guided tours. Riviera also offer versions compatible with hearing aids, which is worth mentioning when booking.
Our first stop was the Saadian Tombs before heading into the souks and main square.
The Medina itself is home to around 80,000 people and contains more than 4,000 bazaars spread through the maze of alleyways and small streets.
Friday turned out to be a great day to explore as many of the shops were closed, making the Medina much quieter and easier to wander through.
Marrakech is one of those places where you have to walk and explore. A tiny door tucked away down a side street could easily open into a beautiful riad or hidden palace. The riads themselves are traditional Moroccan homes, many of which have now been converted into boutique hotels.
The main square, Jemaa el-Fnaa, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and feels like the beating heart of the city.
After exploring the souks, we stopped for mint tea where we learned more about Moroccan teas, lotions and oils, including the famous Moroccan oil products.
One thing that surprised me about Marrakech was how green it felt. This is largely due to its proximity to the Atlas Mountains and the water flowing down from them. This year had also seen unusually high rainfall, making everything even greener than normal.
Marrakech can regularly reach temperatures of 45 degrees during the summer months and there is definitely a much more relaxed pace of life. As Mohammed joked, in Marrakech nothing is urgent.
Later in the afternoon we stopped at Argana Restaurant overlooking the main square. It was the perfect place to sit, rest the feet and simply watch Moroccan life go by.
A Traditional Morocan Evening
That evening we joined the organised Moroccan night. We first walked through the Medina to Dar Si Aissa, a traditional Moroccan house with a rooftop terrace where we enjoyed drinks and nibbles while watching the sunset over the rooftops of Marrakech.
Sadly it was too hazy to see the Atlas Mountains, but sitting listening to the call to prayer echo across the city was incredibly calming and atmospheric.
We then headed to Dar Essallam for a traditional Moroccan evening with dancers, music and local cuisine. We enjoyed Moroccan bread with dips followed by lamb and vegetable couscous while chatting with fellow travellers and sharing stories from our travels.
By the end of Day 1, we had completed around 13,000 steps and were definitely ready for bed.
INSERT GALLERY HERE – Rooftop sunset, Moroccan dancers, traditional dinner and evening atmosphere
Majorelle Garden & Bahia Palace
Day 2 started with an early 8:15am departure for the Majorelle Garden, formerly owned by Yves Saint Laurent.
The early start was very welcome as temperatures were already reaching 31 degrees and it was lovely to explore while things were still relatively cool.
Marrakech is often known as the Red City or the City of Palm Trees, but the Majorelle Garden offered a completely different side to the city.
We spent around an hour wandering through the gardens surrounded by beautiful cactuses, exotic plants and the famous Majorelle blue buildings. Despite being located right in the centre of a busy city, it felt incredibly peaceful and tranquil.
I would not normally call myself a garden lover, but this turned out to be one of my highlights of the trip.
INSERT GALLERY HERE – Majorelle Garden, cactus gardens and Majorelle blue details
Next we visited the Bahia Palace, which was quite busy but still impressive to explore. During our visit there was a temporary exhibition dedicated to traditional Moroccan doors. Parts of the palace are still being restored following damage caused by the earthquake a few years ago.
After a quick coffee stop in one of the smaller squares enjoying more people watching, seven of us headed to La Maison Arabe Marrakech for a Moroccan cooking experience.
INSERT GALLERY HERE – Bahia Palace interiors, Moroccan doors and Marrakech street scenes
A Moroccan Cooking Experience
In total there were around 20 people on the course from a variety of countries including Australia, the UK, America and Canada.
We started with an introduction from our chef Hassna who talked us through Moroccan cuisine and the spices commonly used.
One interesting thing we learned was that tagine actually refers to two things:
• The clay cooking pot itself
• The dish cooked inside it
That afternoon we cooked chicken tagine with lemon and olives accompanied by zaalouk and taktouka.
We also learned that couscous is traditionally eaten on Fridays as a family dish and that each neighbourhood has its own community oven where families take homemade bread to be baked.
Another surprise was discovering that the decorative tagine pots sold in the markets are mainly for display, while the simple plain clay pots are the ones used for actual cooking.
Once a tagine pot has been used for fish, it is generally only used for fish afterwards as the clay absorbs the flavour.
Before cooking we experienced the traditional Moroccan tea ritual. Tea is used to welcome guests into the home and pouring from a height helps oxygenate the tea and improve the flavour.
Interestingly, Moroccans often drink hot tea during the hottest days as it is believed to help cool the body.
We then moved upstairs into a fantastic kitchen with around 20 individual cooking stations and met our chef Hayat.
For the afternoon I became “Dedda Denise”, with Dedda meaning chef.
I will be honest, my cooking skills do not normally stretch much beyond spaghetti bolognese, but I absolutely loved the experience. It was sociable, fun and surprisingly easy to follow.
After around 45 minutes our tagines were ready and we even had a small graduation ceremony where we received certificates before sitting together in the riad to enjoy what we had created.
I would definitely recommend a cooking experience to anyone visiting Marrakech. Even if you are not particularly interested in cooking, it is a fantastic way to better understand local life and culture.Essaouira & The Atlantic Coast
Today we left Marrakech behind and headed towards Essaouira on the Atlantic Coast, around a three-hour drive away.
Essaouira is known for its breeze and cooler temperatures and is a popular getaway destination for many people living in Marrakech.
During the drive Mohammed shared more about everyday life in Morocco, including schooling, the economy and future developments within the country.
One of the biggest surprises was the landscape. Rather than dusty and dry, everything was incredibly green and fertile following the wettest winter in seven years.
We also learned more about Morocco preparing to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal. Casablanca will have a huge stadium with a capacity of 115,000 and the country is investing heavily in improved rail infrastructure ahead of the tournament.
Morocco currently has a population of around 36 million people.
The Argan Oil Cooperative
About 30 minutes before reaching Essaouira we stopped at an argan oil cooperative run entirely by women.
The cooperative was set up as part of a government initiative to help support women financially through employment and operates as a not-for-profit organisation.
We were shown the entire production process from cracking the nuts through to producing the oil, all completed by hand.
Nothing goes to waste in the process.
The area between Essaouira and Agadir is famous for argan oil, which is widely used for cooking as well as skin and hair products.
Mohammed also explained how different regions in Morocco are known for different products and crafts. Marrakech is famous for tagines while Fes is particularly known for ceramics.
On arrival into Essaouira the atmosphere instantly felt completely different to Marrakech
There was a much more relaxed, bohemian feel to the town and the pace of life was noticeably slower. Unlike Marrakech, you could wander through the shops and browse without feeling under pressure.
We enjoyed lunch at a seafood restaurant recommended by Paul before spending time walking along the beach where locals were swimming, playing football and even taking camels into the water.
It offered a completely different perspective on Morocco and was well worth the journey from Marrakech.
The Atlas Mountains & Ourika Valley
Our final full day took us out towards the Atlas Mountains and the Ourika Valley, around an hour from Marrakech.
Normally the mountains can be seen from the city itself, but the haze during our stay meant this was our first proper opportunity to get close to them.
The Ourika Valley is one of the most famous valleys in Morocco and incredibly fertile due to the water flowing down from the mountains.
The Atlas Mountains also help protect the rest of Morocco from the Sahara Desert.
The scenery here was stunning. The air felt noticeably fresher and the valley was lush and green with beautiful mountain views.
The area is also famous for pottery as the clay is sourced from the river, meaning many traditional tagine pots originate from this region.
One interesting insight we learned was that many Moroccans believe food tastes better when eaten with your hands rather than using a knife and fork.
At this time of year the river was running particularly fast due to the heavy winter rainfall.
We stopped several times along the route for photographs before visiting a traditional Berber family home.
Inside we saw:
• A traditional water mill used to make flour and couscous
• A small hammam designed for two people
• A kitchen with three clay ovens
• The family living areas including bedrooms and lounge spaces
The house itself was surprisingly cool despite the heat outside.
One of the funniest moments involved seeing how many Brits could squeeze into a small storage cupboard while learning how milk is produced.
We also stopped by the river where a number of cafés and restaurants sit directly beside the water. At weekends locals relax here sitting with their feet in the river while eating and spending time together.
Our final lunch stop was at a lovely restaurant overlooking the valley while nearby local children enjoyed the pool and simply enjoyed being kids.
Back in Marrakech
Later that evening we returned to the main square in Marrakech one final time.
At night the square comes alive with performers, snake charmers, musicians and food stalls. It is busy, chaotic and full of energy, but definitely something everyone should experience at least once.
INSERT GALLERY HERE – Jemaa el-Fnaa at night, performers and evening food stalls
Final Thoughts
On our final day we had a short 15-minute transfer back to the airport accompanied by Paul, who was also flying home with us.
This is one of the real benefits of escorted touring, particularly for travellers who may find airports stressful or complicated to navigate.
Having support throughout the entire journey makes the whole experience feel seamless and well organised from beginning to end.
A special mention has to go to our Riviera Travel tour manager, Paul O’Connor.
He was brilliant throughout the trip, really organised and added a great sense of humour which made the whole experience even more enjoyable.
Paul regularly leads tours in destinations such as India, Turkey and Morocco and his experience really showed throughout the week.
Combined with Mohammed’s local knowledge, it created a fantastic balance between organisation, insight and entertainment.
Who This Trip Suits
This style of escorted tour is ideal for travellers who enjoy a relaxed pace and a well-organised itinerary.
With a group size of around 25 and an average age of around 70, it creates a friendly and sociable atmosphere where everything is taken care of for you.
It is particularly suited to:
• Travellers who prefer structured itineraries
• People wanting to see a lot without the stress of planning
• Those interested in learning about the destination through local guides
• Couples or solo travellers looking for a social experience
The pace is comfortable with enough free time built in to properly enjoy each destination without constantly rushing from place to place.
I thoroughly enjoyed my first escorted tour and it gave me a great insight into both the escorted touring experience and what Riviera Travel offer.
Morocco is a beautiful and diverse country with so much to offer, whether you are looking for a short city break, time by the coast or a much longer and deeper exploration of the country.
It is clearly a country that is developing quickly while still holding on to its traditions, culture and identity.
Riviera Travel are also launching a new Grand Tour of Morocco next year, a 14-night itinerary designed to explore even more of the country in depth.
I will definitely be returning.
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