10 things to do in Marrakech in March

Traveling to Marrakech in March? You are in luck, spring temperatures will welcome you to enjoy it without the crowds that arrive two months later. In addition, March is a month that shows that Marrakech is the cultural city par excellence of Morocco, as there are many festivals and events that will fill your calendar during the trip.

For all audiences, from the youngest to the most sporty, March is full of entertaining, magical and cultural activities to visit all the charms of Marrakech with all the senses.

Fancy enjoying a spectacle of nature? In March, with spring just begun, but without the crowds of visiting Marrakech in summer, the Ouzoud Waterfalls, the highest in Morocco, are at their most beautiful, waiting for your visit.

Why March? Because that is when the waterfalls have more water, which means more power in their fall and also more greenery around them. During the rest of the year they are still a beautiful landscape, but if you are in Marrakech in March, I recommend you to take a day trip to Ouzoud not to miss them.

The good thing about organized excursions is that they pick you up at your hotel and, in about 2 hours, take you to the Waterfalls, located in the High Atlas, to delight you with one of the best spectacles of nature that you will see. In addition, during the visit I recommend that you take one of the trails that lead to the top of the waterfalls to contemplate their fall from above.

As cliché as it may be, riding on the back of a camel through the deserts around Marrakech is an activity you can not miss. Doing it in March you can also avoid the sweltering heat of the summer months, sandstorms and also a desert full of tourists.

Although the Sahara is the best known desert, closer to Marrakech there are other deserts equally interesting, including the famous Marrakech Palm Grove, where the green of the palm trees blends with the gold of the sand. Depending on the time you have and the days you want to spend crossing the desert, you will have to choose among the many excursions available.

The great advantage of going by camel is that you can easily approach the Berber villages that will appear as you pass through the desert, plus you will live a unique experience typical of the area, since this animal has always been the traditional means of transport. Are you going to miss it? My advice is to leave early in the morning, take advantage of all the daylight hours (in March there are approximately eleven) and stay to watch the sunset and how the sun hides behind the dunes.

Do you want to go into a Berber village and learn first hand about their way of life? Then don't forget to take a trip to the Ourika valley. Although there are many places to visit, my advice is that as soon as you arrive you go to see its waterfalls, which during the month of March fall with more power and if you feel like it and the water is not too cold, take the opportunity to take a dip in the river!

The greater amount of water and the imminent arrival of spring make the valley full of green, so I recommend that you stop to admire it and relax with the sounds of waterfalls and nature.

After seeing the waterfalls, go to one of the Berber houses, where they will welcome you and teach you a little of their culture and traditions. You can also visit a traditional market in Ourika, which is usually held on Mondays, and take the opportunity to buy some spices or taste the typical dishes of the region.

How are you at bargaining? I can assure you that when you return from Marrakech you will have gained all the experience you are missing, as it is a city where prices are never fixed and depend on your bargaining skills. When you arrive at any souk, vendors will start selling you their wares and so much encouragement can be overwhelming, but in a month like March, when the number of tourists is lower, it is a good time to indulge in the art of haggling.

Although it can be confusing to try to price the goods you want to buy, remember that haggling is part of the culture of Marrakech. In fact, the merchants themselves are willing to bargain with you and don't want you to accept the first price they give you without a little discussion first! My advice is to ask for the prices of several products, even if you are not interested in all of them, and make the seller believe that you find them too expensive. Little by little you will arrive at a price that convinces you both.

If when you were a child you used to read stories like those of The Thousand and One Nights, it is possible that as soon as you arrive in Morocco you feel like you are teleporting to one of the scenarios where those stories took place: the colors, the architecture, the objects... In short, Marrakech becomes a place with a lot of charm and magic, but especially so in March, when the International Festival of Magic is held, an event that has been held since 2001 on the initiative of King Mohammed VI.

In your walks through the Jemaâ el-Fna Square, the most central and famous of Marrakech, you will have already been impressed by the snake charmers, illusionists and fortune tellers who try to expose their magical arts before you, but when the International Festival of Magic begins, everyone will gather around an event where nothing seems impossible.

The Marrakech Festival is attended by dozens of magicians from different countries, many of whom have international recognition. Without a doubt, I highly recommend you to go to one of the performances, especially if you are traveling with children to Morocco; I promise you will leave with a smile on your face. If you are still hungry for more magic, I remind you that you just have to look for it in the streets of Marrakech: you will find it in every corner!

Does the decoration and architecture of Marrakech leave you open-mouthed? Then you're going to love what I have to tell you: in March there is the Riad Art Expo, an exhibition on Moroccan lifestyle, design, homes and culture that is organized every March in Marrakech. In this exhibition you can see up close decorative elements so typical of Moroccan homes such as carpets or pottery pieces.

Artisans, designers, interior designers and even hoteliers from different parts of the country, such as Casablanca or Tangier, meet in Marrakech in March to exhibit their creations and bring the warmth and style of Moroccan homes. But that's not all, because during this event, which is largely organized by the prestigious interior design magazine Couleurs Maroc, there are also parties and even an awards ceremony.

No doubt, this exhibition is all you need to return from your trip to Morocco with inspiration and desire to redecorate your home, as this event helps to establish what will be the trends for the next season but also to revalue the traditional lifestyle of the country.

I don't think you have a sports car manufactured between the years 1930 and 1983, but if you are content to see it and not to participate in it, during your visit to Morocco you can't miss the Maroc Classic Rallye Maroc of Marrakech, a route in which every March priceless vintage cars drive through the streets and deserts of the city.

Divided into approximately six stages, the itinerary followed by the cars goes through some unknown places in the area, but that represent real treasures. I recommend that, if you want to get to know these places well, keep an eye on the Rally route and, if you feel like it, come and cheer on the drivers and their curious vehicles.

The route ends in Marrakech itself, but first it goes through other cities such as Agadir, Ait Benhaddou and Bin El Ouidane. Why not take the opportunity to take an excursion from Marrakech and follow the Rallye Maroc Classic?

Many art lovers travel to Marrakech in March to enjoy the Printemps de la Poésie. The Printemps de la Poésie is usually held in mid-March, just as spring begins, and revolves around poetry. However, don't think of poetry as writing in verse, as there are many forms it takes during its Spring: performance, video, exhibitions... Marrakech is filled with poetry and you can be part of it.

Le Printemps de la Poésie is not held in one place, but you can attend its many activities in different locations, such as Jemaâ el-Fna Square, the University of Letters and the Dar Charifa cultural center. The variety of shows is such that even the little ones can enjoy, so if you travel to Marrakech with children you can not miss it.

What is your fitness level? I ask you because if it is really good, you might want to sign up for the Transmarocaine, a race for great athletes that runs through the mountains and deserts of Marrakech. Taking advantage of the fact that temperatures are still mild and the chances of rain are minimal, March is always the month chosen to launch this multisport race.

The Transmarocaine is very intense and, in fact, lasts about three days in which athletes must combine trail, mountain biking, canoeing and running. Beyond its sporting value, this race is important for its solidarity and respect for the environment in which it takes place. Maybe you already imagined it, but all the obstacles encountered by the runners are natural. A perfect opportunity to get to know Marrakech and its surroundings while supporting disadvantaged populations.

I'm thinking that maybe embarking on this adventure is too much, as it is only suitable for great athletes, but remember that the desert of Marrakech is a must during your visit, so do not miss the opportunity to make an excursion in the desert.

Surely you have heard that Marrakech is a bustling city, and it is, but if during your trip you need to get out of the center and enjoy nature, I recommend you to go trekking. March is a perfect month for this, as many of the routes run through the Atlas Mountains and in the pure winter months in Marrakech the ice can make the trek difficult. In summer in Marrakech, on the other hand, the heat can be just as dangerous.

One of the great advantages of hiking in Marrakech is that you will not only learn about the flora and fauna of the area, but also the history of the Berber villages that spread across the High Atlas such as Imlil, Ait Mizan or Targa. My advice is to book an excursion or a mountain guide, as the itineraries are not always signposted and run through areas where getting lost is easy, so go well equipped (don't forget a fleece liner in case it cools down) and follow the guide's safety advice.

If you are going to Marrakech in March you are in luck, because the weather is perfect for a comfortable trip in which you will neither be cold nor hot. Being the month that marks the end of winter, but also the beginning of spring, temperatures in March are mild, between 10ºC and 23ºC on average, and with a very low probability of rain.

I recommend you to bring light clothes, because during the day it will be warmer, but do not forget to pack some warm clothes in your suitcase, because at night the temperature drops very fast; you will want to be ready for it!

Marrakech is a city to enjoy the outdoors, getting lost in the souks or walking through the desert, but it is clear that sometimes the heat prevents us from enjoying as we would like. During the last days of March temperatures can exceed 25ºC and the heat is noticeable. If you add to this possibility the arid and dry climate of the city, you may need alternative plans to avoid melting under the sun.

I propose two options:

• Visit the Majorelle Garden not only because of the thousands of plant species it hosts, which dazzle with their beauty and colors, but also because this garden creates a microclimate that will bring some coolness to the hottest days of March.
• Escape for a day to the beach of Essaouira: on the coast the climate is somewhat more humid and the waves bring a light breeze that makes the heat more bearable. As if that were not enough, Essaouira is about three hours from Marrakech, making it a perfect destination to enjoy the tranquility (and fish) of this pretty fishing village.

Have you finished organizing your trip to Marrakech? Don't forget to visit the post of everything you can visit and do in Marrakech, as well as take out your calendar and write down all the important events so you don't miss any of them and experience Marrakech from its heart.