Whilst studying in Germany, I was lucky to have had almost all of February, March, and April off, with no university commitments. Albeit grateful for the extended break, the grey clouds of Britain as it clung onto the remnants of Winter was uninspiring for me and my friends. Which is why, after a quick look at SkyScanner’s most affordable flights, we booked a holiday to somewhere new for all of us: Marrakesh, Morocco.
Somewhat unsurprisingly, our holiday began in London Gatwick’s Wetherspoons at 3am. Whilst the cheap, 6:30 flight was a good idea in theory, we were significantly less excited as we picked at our cooked breakfasts, eyes half closed. But this didn’t last long. When landed in Marrakesh, after a sleep on the flight and the sight of sunshine outside, the mood picked up.
Stepping off the plane, I felt like Vitamin D was being absorbed into my system for the first time in months. We discovered our accommodation, a beautiful 3-bed riad, on AirBNB. There was 4 of us, and 5 nights for roughly £120 each included airport transfers, a housekeeper and a daily breakfast. If you are considering visiting, I do recommend finding an AirBNB that has a housekeeper you can contact for advice.
The riad was beautiful. Three floors high, each storey seemed more like a balcony, where you could see the intricately tiled dining table below. When on the roof, which you accessed through the sky light, you could step into the pool and take in a breath-taking view of the city. No matter the time of day, the Moroccan sky was a delight. Each corner of this riad was decorated with fine tiles and ornaments, as though the building was an art piece itself. Really, none of us could believe this was our home for the week.
Outside our home, the city was powerful too. The red brick is one of its most attractive features; everywhere you turn, burnt, smooth stone shapes each building. From afar, the markets are a landscape of colour and energy. They can be a little hectic, but if you take your time and have the confidence to say if you do or don’t want to buy something, you can find some gems of jewellery, artwork and crockery.
Honestly, I was not sure what to expect from the food, but it delivered. Most of our eats were great, but one restaurant took the top spot: Cafe Restaurant Dar L’hssira. We tried a variety of different dishes, such as tagine, falafel, and briouates. All entirely affordable, the table was as colourful as the city. And despite our bloated bellies, we felt it would be a disservice to not finish off with a fruit smoothie from the square: Jemaa El-Fnaa. 
Marrakesh isn’t short of tourist destinations too. The Bahia Palace was beautiful, and we spent all day taking pictures there (in hindsight, I think we had convinced ourselves we were the royals themselves, much to the dismay of other tourists). And the Yves Saint Laurent museum is equally as dazzling, with that distinct blue paint backdropping the gardens.
We ended our trip with an excursion to Imlil, a small village in the Atlas Mountains. On AirBnB, we found a family-run business who conduct these trips. Our guide, Ibrahim, spoke to us about Berber culture and life in Imlil before we departed for a hike. The route was stunning – we were surrounded by vibrant moss and clear, running streams before finishing at a dazzling waterfall. Surprisingly, it was similar landscape to New Zealand – whilst I have never been to New Zealand, my several viewings of The Hobbit meant this hike made me feel like I was walking through the Shire. If you come to Marrakesh, you have to spend some time in Morocco’s natural landscape, and the guided tours are a great way to do so. You are supporting and learning from locals, expanding your knowledge on the place you are visiting, whilst also seeing the best spots in the deserts and mountains.
I would recommend Marrakesh in a heartbeat, but after spending that day in the mountains, I wish I could have seen more of the country. But, with no resistance from me, this just means I must return. So next time Britain’s grey clouds weigh heavy on my shoulders, Morocco might just be my destination of choice.
Featured Image by: Amy Gaffney