Who doesn’t like travelling? After dedicating ourselves to 9-5 job for weeks and months, people are often craving time off to enjoy life and explore new places. Unfortunately, as an Indonesian, we need to deal with the fact that we have limited option to find the destination for our holiday. One main reason, of course, because we need to apply for visa to get our passport unlock more travel opportunities. It can be a time-consuming to prepare our documents to apply the visa. But worry no more, now you can explore Africa without needing a visa!
Marrakesh is a city in North African country of Morocco that allows Indonesian citizen to travel visa-free for stays of fewer than 90 days. The ‘Red City’ of Marrakesh offer abundance of tourist activity, from cultural to historical destinations. Now, Let’s find out what you need to prepare before your trip to Marrakesh!
Flight Ticket
Yep. First thing first, book your flight! Here is a website recommendation to search for flight that suits your needs. Don’t forget to consider the layover time and the connecting flight, in some cases you might need a transit visa. By using skyscanner, you can explore numerous options, compare the prices, and filter the result based on your preference.
Accommodation
Once all set with the flight itinerary, you will need a place to stay in Marrakesh. There are plenty of options available such as hotel, apartment, etc. However, to truly immerse yourself in Marrakesh experience, consider staying in Riad.
Riad is a traditional house or palace with an indoor garden and courtyard. By staying there, you will get the experience of Marrakesh’s rich culture and history as well as its incredible architect and atmosphere. To book a Riad, you can explore some various options through booking.com.
Experience
Now it’s time to plan the trip itinerary! There are some options of the activities to enjoy in Marrakesh. If you got some extra times, you can consider taking a 3-day trip to the stunning Sahara Desert. But if you are short on time, there is also a desert not far from Marrakesh which is also worth a visit; Agafay Desert. You can customize your itinerary based on your preferences but the experience typically includes camel riding, sunset quad biking, dinner with a belly dance show, and visiting the famous local argan oil factory.
Additionally, other than enjoying Marrakesh’s wonderful nature, visiting some gardens is also popular. Gardens of Marrakesh are like an oasis in its dry landscape.
YSL Jardin Majorelle is a must-visit garden. The garden—that was designed in 1920s by a France designer—offers an amazing Moroccan architecture and also has luxuriant plant selection. Another option is the botanical garden, Le Jardin Secret. The ambience is serene, suitable for those seeking a quiet place, some people spend hours staying there to read books with all the trees and secret plants around, you’d be feeling a sense of peace. Last but not least, Cactus Thiemann should also be added to your travel list in Marrakesh, especially if you are cactus enthusiast. This place is the largest cactus farm in North Africa, consisting of over 120 varieties of cactus, it allows you to admire all of them while walking around and getting some explanation from the tour guide.