Any number of day trips can be taken from Marrakesh. They are easiest to do with a personal or rental car, but public transportation is available for a reasonable price. Below are our favorites!
Essaouira:
This is our top recommendation!
Essaouira is an easy 2½ to 3-hour trip. Take Avenue Hassan II past the train station and head straight out of town on the road to Agadir. Upon reaching Chichaoua, stay to the right and continue on to Essaouira. (Alternatively, heading left will take you to Agadir.)
Upon reaching Essaouira drive straight ahead until you reach the coastal road. Follow the coastal road (beside the beach) until you reach the parking lot next to the port entrance.
The best lunch is available right at the port where tables are set up to accommodate diners and you can choose the fish you want to have grilled. Be sure to negotiate the price before you sit down.
Depending on the seafood you choose, you can get an excellent lunch for 50-120 DH that will also include salads, bread and a soft drink. If you're not a seafood fan, try the cheap and delicious take-out sandwich shops on the right side of the main square facing the port!
After lunch, you can cruise the souks to check out local handicrafts. We highly recommend that you visit the spice, jewelry and wood souks. In the wood souk below the ramparts, you can still see artisans at work.
Before heading back to Marrakech, take some photos from atop the ramparts and sip some mint tea in the main square.
Ourika Valley:
The valley stretches along a vast area from Souk T'nin Ourika to Setti Fatima. Souk T'nin Ourika is an easy 35-minute trip from Marrakech and has a large Monday souk (regional market). Continuing on to Setti Fatima will require an additional 20-30 minutes. We recommend driving though town and parking in the lot to your right (near the end of the road).
At Setti Fatima you can easily hike up to the first of seven waterfalls without a guide and enjoy a soft drink and/or lunch at the cafes next to the falls. Alternatively, you can negotiate a price and arrange to have lunch awaiting you at any number of cafes in town or along the path back from the falls. Make sure to look for the Barbary apes in the cliffs on your right during your hike down.
Jbel Oukaimden:
This is the best and only local skiing available!! There is usually snow cover from late January to mid-March. Whether or not you choose to ski, you can take the ski lift up to an altitude of over 3700 meters and enjoy the view overlooking the Lalla Takerkouste Dam and the plains surrounding Marrakech.
Day ski passes are very cheap by European and American standards, and will allow you unlimited rides on the lift and the numerous t-bars. Ski rentals are available at a shop leading to the mountain or on the mountain itself.
We recommend that you take your own water, food and medicines, as the resort is not well equipped. To reach Jbel Oukaimden, take the road to Ourika Valley. When the road splits and you see the sign for Oukaimden, stay to the right. Follow the winding road up until it dead ends. There is an entrance fee of 10 DH per car (current as of January 2011).
Day Hiking:
Numerous possibilities exist for great day hiking in the region. We recommend that you always go with a guide. The hotel is pleased to offer this service for a fee of 200 DH/person. We are able to accommodate groups of up to 6 people on day hikes.
Hikers are responsible for providing and/or carrying any necessary equipment and supplies (e.g., hiking boots, walking poles, sunscreen, water, snacks, lunch, etc.), and the hotel will provide transportation and guide services.
Plan to leave the hotel around 8 a.m. and return by 4 p.m. Count on 4-5 hours of hiking, plus time for lunch break and travel.
For further information, please contact our receptionist.
Jet Ski, Quad and Bike Rental:
Jet ski and quad rentals are available at the Lalla Takerkouste Dam (25 km from Marrakech). To get to the dam, take the road to Amizmiz and veer right at Cherifia.
Quads are also available at a number of locations in Marrakech. Please inquire at the front desk for further information.
Bikes are available for rental in many locations near the hotel. Rates range around: Whole Day (80 DH), Half Day (50 DH) and Per Hour (20 DH). There are a number of good biking routes within the city.
Bus fares from Airport to Hotel Toulousain:
Bus number 19 from the airport to Hotel Toulousain (bus stops one block from the hotel). Price per person is 30 dirhams one-way or 50 dirhams round-trip (valid for 2 weeks). The bus working hours are 6:15 till 21:15. Taxis are also available but more expensive.
Bus departures to airport are scheduled each hour from 6:25am until 00:25am from stop number 12 near the hotel.