10 things to do in Marrakech in March

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

For everyone, from the youngest to the most sporty, March is packed with entertaining, magical and cultural activities to visit all the charms of Marrakech with all your 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 waterfalls in Morocco, are at their most beautiful, waiting for your visit.

Why March? Because this 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 sight, but if you are in Marrakech in March, I recommend you take a day trip to Ouzoud so you don't miss them.

The great thing about organised excursions is that they pick you up from your hotel and, in about 2 hours, take you to the waterfalls, located in the High Atlas, so you can enjoy one of the best spectacles of nature you'll ever see. During your visit, I recommend that you take one of the trails that lead to the top of the waterfalls to watch them fall from above.

As clichéd as it may be, riding a camel across the deserts around Marrakech is an activity you can't afford to miss. By doing it in March you can also avoid the sweltering heat of the summer months, the sandstorms and a desert full of tourists.

Although the Sahara is the best known desert, closer to Marrakech there are other deserts of equal interest, 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 number of 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 get close to the Berber villages that will appear as you pass through the desert, as well as having a unique experience typical of the area, as 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 (approximately eleven in March) and stay to watch the sunset and the sun go down behind the dunes.

Do you want to go into a Berber village and experience their way of life first hand? 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 should go and see the waterfalls, which are at their most powerful during the month of March, 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 mean that the valley is full of green, so I recommend that you stop to admire it and relax with the sounds of the waterfalls and nature.

After seeing the waterfalls, go to one of the Berber houses, where they will welcome you and teach you a little about 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 try some of the region's typical dishes.

How are you at haggling? I can assure you that when you return from Marrakech you will have gained all the experience you lack, 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 all this encouragement can be overwhelming, but in a month like March, when the number of tourists is lower, it's a good time to indulge in the art of haggling.

Although it can be confusing to try to put a price on the goods you want to buy, remember that haggling is part of the culture of Marrakesh. In fact, the shopkeepers 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 think they are too expensive. Gradually you will reach a price that suits you both.

If when you were a child you used to read stories like those in The Thousand and One Nights, it is possible that as soon as you arrive in Morocco you will feel like you are being teleported to one of the settings where those stories took place: the colours, the architecture, the objects... In short, Marrakesh becomes a place of great 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.

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

The Marrakech Festival is attended by dozens of magicians from different countries, many of whom are internationally renowned. I highly recommend you go to any of the performances, especially if you are travelling to Morocco with children; I promise you will leave with a smile on your face. If you're still hungry for more magic, just look for it in the streets of Marrakech - you'll find it everywhere!

Does the décor and architecture of Marrakech leave you open-mouthed? Then you'll love what I have to tell you: in March, the Riad Art Expo, an exhibition on Moroccan lifestyle, design, homes and culture, is held every March in Marrakech. At this exhibition you can get a close-up look at decorative elements typical of Moroccan homes, such as carpets and pottery.

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

Without a doubt, this exhibition is all you need to return from your trip to Morocco with inspiration and the desire to redecorate your home, as this event helps to establish what the trends will be for the coming season but also to revalue the country's traditional lifestyle.

I don't think you own a sports car built between 1930 and 1983, but if you're content to just watch it and not take part, during your visit to Morocco you can't miss the Marrakech Maroc Classic Rallye, a route where priceless vintage cars take to the streets and deserts of the city every March.

Divided into approximately six stages, the route followed by the cars passes through some unknown places in the area, but which represent real treasures. If you want to get to know these places well, I recommend that you 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 before that it passes through other cities such as Agadir, Ait Benhaddou and Bin El Ouidane. Why not take the opportunity to take a trip from Marrakech and follow the Maroc Classic Rallye?

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 it takes many forms 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 centre. The variety of shows is such that even the little ones can enjoy themselves, so if you're travelling to Marrakech with children you can't miss it.

What is your fitness level? I'm asking because if it's really good, you might want to sign up for the Transmarocaine, a race for great sportsmen and women through the mountains and deserts of Marrakech. Taking advantage of the fact that the temperatures are still mild and the chances of rain are minimal, March is always the month to launch this multi-sport race.

The Transmarocaine is very intense and lasts about three days, during which athletes have to combine trail running, mountain biking, canoeing and running. In addition to its sporting value, this race is important for its solidarity and respect for the environment in which it takes place. You may have 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 underprivileged 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 don't miss the opportunity to go on a desert excursion.

You've probably heard that Marrakech is a bustling city, and it is, but if you need to get out of the centre and enjoy nature during your trip, I recommend you go trekking. March is the perfect month for this, as many of the routes run through the Atlas Mountains, and in the pure winter months in Marrakech, 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'll not only learn about the flora and fauna of the area, but also the history of the Berber villages that dot the High Atlas Mountains such as Imlil, Ait Mizan and Targa. My advice is to book a hike or mountain guide, as the routes are not always signposted and run through areas where it's easy to get lost, so be well equipped (don't forget a fleece in case it cools down) and follow the guide's safety advice.

If you're going to Marrakesh in March you're in luck, because the weather is perfect for a comfortable trip in which you won't get too hot or too cold. 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 bring light clothes, because during the day it will be warmer, although don't forget to pack some warm clothes in your suitcase, as the temperature drops very quickly at night; you'll want to be ready for that!

Marrakech is a city to be enjoyed outdoors, getting lost in its souks or wandering through the desert, but it is clear that sometimes the heat prevents us from enjoying it as much as we would like. During the last days of March, temperatures can rise above 25ºC and the heat is noticeable. Add to this the arid and dry climate of the city, and you may need alternative plans to keep you from melting in the sun.

Here are two options:

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

Have you finished organising your trip to Marrakech? Don't forget to check out our post on all the things to see and do in Marrakech, and make sure you get out your calendar and note down all the important events so you don't miss out on anything and experience Marrakech from the heart.