By interest
Unique & Unusual Things to Do in Marrakech
Seen the palaces and the souks and want something that isn't in every guidebook? Marrakech has a deep bench of the offbeat — spectacles, crafts and corners of the desert most visitors never reach. Here's the shortlist for travellers who like their trips a little different.
Spectacle and craft
Start with living theatre: after dark, Jemaa el-Fnaa fills with storytellers, gnaoua drummers, gymnasts and snake charmers — a nightly spectacle unlike anything at home, and completely free to wander. For something hands-on and quiet, an artisan craft workshops tour puts you at the bench learning a centuries-old trade from a master.
Both get you past the standard sightseeing into something you'll actually remember — one loud and communal, the other intimate and skilful.
Desert oddities and adrenaline
The Agafay desert is where the unusual lives. Try dune boarding down the sand, or go tandem paragliding off an Atlas ridge for a view no photo does justice. For a night you won't forget, a private overnight desert camp gives you a tented suite under a sky thick with stars.
These are the experiences people come home talking about — the ones that turn a city break into a proper adventure.
Go where few go
For genuine off-the-map, the Telouet Kasbah — a crumbling, once-mighty palace off the main tourist road — is a haunting, half-forgotten day out, and the Ounila Valley beyond it is one of the most beautiful drives in the country.
Browse the full desert-tours, activities and day-trips pillars for more, and tell us how far off the beaten track you want to go — we'll find the unusual to match.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most unusual things to do in Marrakech?
A Fantasia dinner spectacle with charging horsemen, dune boarding and tandem paragliding, a hands-on artisan craft immersion, a private luxury desert night, and off-the-map day trips to the crumbling Telouet Kasbah and the beautiful Ounila Valley.
Where can I escape the tourist crowds?
Head off the main routes: the Telouet Kasbah and Ounila Valley south of the Atlas see a fraction of the visitors of Aït Ben Haddou, and the deep-desert dunes of Erg Chigaga are far wilder than the popular spots. A private guide can build a deliberately quiet itinerary.
What's a good offbeat experience for a couple?
A private luxury desert night in Agafay is unique and intimate, and an artisan craft immersion is a memorable, hands-on shared morning. Both take you well beyond standard sightseeing into something you'll still be talking about later.
Is the Fantasia show touristy?
It's unashamedly a show for visitors — but a spectacular, well-produced one, with horsemen, gunpowder, music and a big Moroccan feast. If you go in for the theatre of it rather than authenticity, it's a genuinely fun and unusual night, especially for groups.
How do I find experiences that aren't in the guidebooks?
Tell us what you're into and how adventurous you are, and we'll pull from the full range of experiences, activities and remote day trips to build something offbeat. Local operators know corners of the region that never make the standard lists.