The Moroccan City of Marrakech provides a very civilized taste of the East with its Arabic culture, language, religion and lifestyle. However it welcomes tourists who will be enchanted by the labyrinth of passages around the old city medina, the snake charmers and acrobats who perform for tips and the money lenders and lawyers doing business on the street. Marrakech is nicknamed the "Red City" due to its pink sandstone buildings. It is in the northwest of the African continent but feels more like the Middle East than Africa.

Marrakech still retains its old city walls. The main sights are the Koutoubia Mosque, the Majorelle Gardens and the City Gate. The central square, the Djemaa el Fna, is always a hive of local activity. The souk is the place to head for shopping and handmade rugs, leather goods, metalwork, pottery and other items which can all be haggled for. The traders can be persistent at times and will often court customers with a ritual of mint tea while you browse. A local guide is useful to help with directions and language and will keep pestering salesmen at bay.

Marrakech has to be explored on foot. Sometimes even the hotels cannot be accessed by taxi along the donkey-wide streets and the hotel porters will transport your luggage by wheelbarrow from the taxi drop-off point! The old homes are called riads and have thick window-less walls onto the street but open out into beautiful courtyards with fountains at the rear. A hammam or steam room is a cultural means of bathing and is fun to experience.

There are many cafés and restaurants in Marrakech serving excellent cuisine along with a pot of mint tea, although alcohol and beer is usually also available. Wailing music and harem-style dancers may also entertain during the meal at a traditional restaurant but there are more westernized restaurants and clubs as well.

Marrakech is at the foot of the snow-capped Atlas Mountains which are ideal for trekking, 4x4 tours, caving, climbing and other activities. The city enjoys plenty of year-round sunshine with temperatures ranging from 38C (100F) in July to 18C (64F) in January with cold nights. Light showers are most likely in the winter.