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Marrakech to Sahara: Exploring Morocco’s Design and Culture
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Morocco is a land where contrasts define the experience. Vibrant medinas pulse with the chaos of markets and the chants of prayer calls, while desert dunes roll endlessly beneath star-filled skies. It is a country that bridges past and present, where Berber villages preserve age-old traditions and cosmopolitan cities embrace design and global culture.
Rows of handcrafted Moroccan tagines and pottery.
My journey carried me from the terracotta walls of Marrakech’s medina through the Atlas Mountains and onward to the sweeping Sahara. Along the way, I met artisans shaping clay into tajines, women cooperatives pressing argan oil by hand, and families who still live inside historic kasbahs. From navigating souks that feel like a labyrinth to stargazing in the silence of Erg Chebbi dunes, Morocco unfolded as a cultural storybook written in mosaics, spices, and sand.
Marrakech: The Red City’s Cultural Hear
Flying into Marrakech Menara Airport was my first immersion into Moroccan design. The terminal itself is a sculptural statement, a blend of modern engineering and Islamic artistry where geometric latticework creates dramatic shadows across whitewashed walls.
My private driver from Saharies Morocco, a local tour company, greeted me at arrivals. Hiring private guides and drivers gave me both security and insight, essential for navigating the cultural nuances and chaotic streets of this North African country.
The courtyard at Riad Pachavana offers a peaceful retreat with a pool and palm trees.
As we drove toward the old city, Marrakech revealed why it is called The Red City. The ancient medina is encircled by red clay walls that glow with warmth under the sun. Inside, alleyways narrow until cars can no longer pass. I walked the final stretch to my accommodations, Riad Pachavana, a traditional Moroccan guesthouse.
A bright guestroom at Riad Pachavana combining Moroccan design and comfort.
Inside, Moorish architecture surrounded me: carved arches, hand-cut mosaic tilework, and a courtyard garden framed by balconies. My room overlooked this serene heart of the riad, a peaceful counterpoint to the bustling medina just steps away. The rooftop terrace became my morning ritual spot, where mint tea and sunrise views introduced each day.
The lively Jemaa el-Fnaa square at sunset, filled with vendors, food stalls, and visitors.
Navigating Marrakech’s streets felt like stepping into a maze. Alleys twist and double back, scooters roar past pedestrians, and young men often offer unsolicited “directions” with the expectation of a tip. It is both intimidating and invigorating, the first lesson in Morocco’s blend of hospitality and hustle.
Jemaa el-Fnaa and the Souks
At the heart of the medina lies Jemaa el-Fnaa, a UNESCO-recognized square where culture feels like theater.
A traditional snake charmer performing with cobras in Marrakech’s main square.
Snake charmers coax cobras with piercing flute notes, fortune tellers beckon tourists, henna artists display patterns, and vendors sell everything from jewelry to fresh-squeezed orange juice.
Karen close encounter with a cobra during a snake charmer show in Marrakech.
Branching off from the square are the souks, a sprawling network of covered markets organized by craft. To navigate the labyrinth, I joined a local guide from Saharies Morocco.
“Now we are going to walk through the alleyways of the medina, keeping to the right side for our safety, because the road is a territory of scooters, motorbikes, and donkeys,” my guide explained as we hugged the wall while a motorbike whizzed by.
Lanterns light up the Marrakech souk, creating a golden glow in the market streets.
Each section specialized in a trade: zellij tile artisans chiseling colorful mosaics, metalsmiths hammering brass lanterns, woodcarvers shaping cedar, and weavers at their looms.
Stacks of raw leather, the first step in Morocco’s centuries-old tanning process.
The leather souk was particularly memorable, with hides curing in the sun and workshops where artisans stitched shoes, belts, and bags.
A skilled artisan hand-cutting leather in the souks of Marrakech.
I purchased a Moroccan pouf, a goat-leather laptop bag, and a travel satchel, functional pieces that carried both craftsmanship and cultural memory. Bargaining was expected, a performance as much as a transaction, and paying in Moroccan dirhams was essential since most vendors accepted nothing else.
Jewish Quarter, Palaces, and Mosques
Beyond the souks, I explored the Mellah, Marrakech’s historic Jewish quarter, once home to a thriving community of merchants and craftsmen. Its distinct architecture and narrow lanes told another layer of the city’s cultural story.
Karen visiting the Koutoubia Mosque, Marrakech’s most iconic landmark with its tall minaret.
Nearby stood the Koutoubia Mosque, Marrakech’s largest and most iconic, with a sandstone minaret towering above the city. Five times a day, the call to prayer echoed across the medina, grounding the rhythm of daily life.
At the Bahia Palace, I wandered through courtyards and gardens framed by intricate stucco, cedar ceilings, and colorful zellij tilework.
he Bahia Palace showcases Moroccan craftsmanship with intricate tilework and design.
Built in the 19th century for a grand vizier, the palace was designed to be one of the most beautiful residences of its time. Earthquakes have caused damage over the years, yet its grandeur remains intact.
Gardens of Marrakech
In a city that can overwhelm the senses, Marrakech offers tranquil escapes in its gardens. At the Majorelle Garden, cobalt-blue walls contrasted with lush greenery. French painter Jacques Majorelle designed this botanical sanctuary in the 1920s, and it was later restored by Yves Saint Laurent, whose museum now sits adjacent to the garden.
Majorelle Garden’s iconic cobalt blue villa surrounded by palms and cacti in Marrakech.
Another gem, Le Jardin Secret, opened to the public in 2016. This restored 19th-century riad garden is a showcase of Islamic artistry, featuring fountains, geometric pathways, and an elevated tower with panoramic medina views.
Palmeraie and Modern Marrakech
On the city’s outskirts, I rode through the Palmeraie, a palm oasis where luxury resorts and camel rides coexist with reminders of traditional life. In central Marrakech, modern neighborhoods revealed cosmopolitan cafes and shops, where alcohol was more accessible compared to rural Morocco, though always with cultural nuances.
Riad Life and Rooftop Mornings
Back at Riad Pachavana, mornings began with mint tea on the rooftop, watching the medina stir to life. These peaceful rituals offered balance after days immersed in sensory storms of sound, color, and commerce.
Ourika Valley: Berber Traditions in the Atlas Mountains
An hour outside Marrakech, the Ourika Valley introduced me to the Berber culture of the Atlas foothills.
Pottery in Tafza Village
A local artisan hand-carves stone figurines and masks in a traditional shop in Tafza, a village known for its rich Berber artistry.
In Tafza, artisans shaped clay dug from the mountains into tajines, bowls, and plates. Using foot-powered wheels, they spun the vessels before firing them in outdoor kilns. The process took days, each piece reflecting both function and artistry.
Inside a Berber Home and Hammam
We stopped at a Berber home that also housed a women’s cooperative. Here, women cracked argan nuts by hand, their rhythm echoing across the courtyard. Inside, I toured a traditional hammam, or steam bath, fueled by argan shells. This weekly ritual before Friday prayers was both cleansing and communal.
Karen joins local women at Dar Zite to experience the traditional process of making argan oil in Sti Fadma, Ourika Valley.
Dar Zite Women’s Cooperative
At Dar Zite Cooperative in Setti Fatma village, fifty women supported their families by producing argan oil. Some batches were roasted for cooking while others remained raw for cosmetics.
“We have argan oil with rose for the face with dark circles, wrinkles and also for acne. Do you want to try some on your hand?” one woman asked, guiding me through jars of creams, oils, and lipsticks.
Karen shops local at Dar Zite, where each purchase supports women-led sustainability efforts in Ourika Valley.
I sampled the products, leaving with purchases that directly supported the women and their families.
Hiking to Setti Fatma Waterfalls
A Berber guide led me on a hike to the Setti Fatma Waterfalls, one of seven cascades above the village. Along the trail, artisans displayed handwoven carpets rich with symbols of fertility, family, and femininity.
Hiking to Setti Fatma Waterfalls in the Atlas Mountains.
At the base of the falls, I sat at a riverside café, savoring chicken tajine with preserved lemon and a plate of couscous.
Karen enjoying a riverside lunch in Setti Fatma, a peaceful spot in Morocco’s Ourika Valley.
Dining barefoot on cushions beside the rushing river was a reminder that Morocco’s hospitality is often rooted in its landscapes.
Crossing the Atlas Mountains and Aït Benhaddou
From Marrakech, I began the long drive toward Merzouga. The road traversed the High Atlas Mountains, where ridges of green and red clay unfolded like painted scenery.
Sunset in the Atlas Mountains
Fire Painting
On a roadside stop, I discovered fire painting, a Berber art form where pigments from saffron, indigo, and green tea are mixed with sugar to create invisible images that appear when heated over a flame. The effect was like watching a secret world revealed.
Aït Benhaddou: The Ksar of Stories
Arriving at Aït Benhaddou, I crossed the shallow river by stepping stones and entered the ksar with a local guide.
Exploring the historic ksar of Aït Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
“We have three parts. The first part has kasbahs, which are big houses for rich families. The poor families and Jewish people lived in the middle part. The last part had a bank, but it was broken in the earthquake,” he explained.
Only five families remain today, living without electricity or running water. Flooding from the river can cut them off for days.
Inside the traditional passageways of Aït Benhaddou.
Aït Benhaddou has also become a global star, appearing in Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator, and Game of Thrones.
“When Game of Thrones was filmed here, all of the local people worked as extras. We saw famous actors, and that was a beautiful experience,” my guide recalled.
Inside a Berber household, I found goats and chickens living alongside adobe ovens, powered only by solar panels. Climbing to the summit, I reached the ruins of the old bank, cracked from the 2023 earthquake.
Scenic overlook across the valley at Aït Benhaddou.
“In this village no one died, but in Marrakech many did because the earthquake was strong there,” my guide said.
From the top, the view stretched endlessly across terraced homes and desert plains, a panorama of resilience.
Valley of Roses, Dades, and Todra Gorges
In Kalaat M’Gouna, the Valley of Roses, pink taxis and rosewater cooperatives carried the fragrance of centuries-old traditions. Even out of season, the scent lingered in oils, perfumes, and dried petals used for digestion.
Walking through the dramatic cliffs of Dades Gorge.
The road into the Dades Gorge revealed dramatic cliffs and winding switchbacks. At Riad Sahara Stars Dades, I arrived to a glowing courtyard lit by lanterns and firepits. Sunrise the next morning painted the ridges in gold.
Further along, the Todra Gorge opened into a limestone canyon where cliffs towered over a narrow river.
“My family also is Bedouin,” one local told me. “I learned English, Spanish, and French with the tourist people, but I do not write, only speak. We live with animals.”
Walking along the river path inside Dades Gorge.
The gorge was both a natural wonder and a cultural meeting point where Berber and Bedouin traditions merged.
Berber Weaving in Tinerhir
In Tinerhir, I visited a Berber household where women spun wool into threads and men unfurled carpets woven with symbolic motifs.
A Berber woman weaves a traditional rug by hand, an art passed down through generations in the Ourika Valley.
“Snakes talk about fertility, pyramids talk about family, and diamonds talk about femininity,” the weaver explained.
Inside a Berber workshop learning the art of traditional handwoven Moroccan rugs.
Some carpets take up to two years to complete. Sitting with the family over mint tea, I admired how this artistry was both heritage and livelihood, sustained by sales to travelers.
Entering the Sahara: Merzouga and Erg Chebbi
At last, I reached Merzouga, the gateway to the Sahara Desert. At Riad Kasbah Aiour Desert Camp, luxury tents combined comfort with tradition, offering spa-like bathrooms and designer decor on the edge of the dunes.
Golden sands of the Sahara Desert with a Berber guide at sunset.Camel ride into the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi.
A camel ride carried me into Erg Chebbi, dunes rising nearly 500 feet. The sand felt like silk, smoothed by wind over millennia. As the sun set, the desert glowed in pink and orange.
“It almost does not look real. It feels like something out of a painting or story,” I thought, standing at the crest of a dune.
Stargazing under the desert night sky in the Sahara.
Night brought a canopy of stars. With no light pollution, constellations burned brilliantly above. Around a firepit, Berber musicians played drums and taught us shuffle dances with rising and falling hand gestures. Ryan, our filmmaker, and I joined them on drums, our rhythms merging with theirs in an ancient cadence.
The Journey’s Meaning: Morocco’s Living Story
Traveling from Marrakech to the Sahara revealed Morocco not as a collection of destinations but as a living story, written across landscapes, homes, and traditions. In the medina, I felt the pulse of commerce and craft, where every souk stall was a chapter of history still unfolding. In the Ourika Valley, Berber families welcomed me into kitchens, hammams, and cooperatives where ancestral ways continue to sustain communities.
Crossing the Atlas Mountains, I witnessed art drawn from fire and pigment, kasbahs rising like fortresses of memory, and the resilience of people adapting after earthquakes. The Valley of Roses perfumed the air with centuries of cultivation, while the gorges carved by time became both livelihood and challenge for those who live there.
Sunset over the dunes of Erg Chebbi in the Sahara Desert.
In the Sahara, silence replaced the noise of the city. Stars illuminated stories older than nations. Music by the fire connected past and present in rhythm, and the sunrise reminded me of the continuity of life across the desert’s endless horizon.
This journey was made possible with Saharies Morocco, whose guidance opened doors to authentic encounters I could not have arranged on my own. Having a trusted guide and driver not only ensured safe passage but also allowed me to experience Moroccoin ways that felt personal, immersive, and true to its living culture.
Morocco’s essence is contrast: ancient and modern, resilient and fragile, local and global. To journey here is to experience not just architecture, cuisine, or landscapes, but the heartbeat of a culture that carries its past proudly into the present. For me, this was not only travel, it was immersion. It was a reminder that design, craft, and tradition live strongest in places where people never stopped creating, adapting, and sharing.
Watch the full Morocco episode here:
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Karen LeBlanc is a freelance writer living in Orlando, Florida with many published bylines in magazines, newspapers, and multimedia sites. As a professional lifestyle writer, Karen specializes in art, architecture, design, home interiors and personality profiles.
Karen is the writer, producer and host of the streaming series, The Design Tourist (www.TheDesignTourist.com) that brings viewers a global dose of design inspiration with episodes featuring the latest looks and trends from the world’s premiere design events and shows. She also publishes a quarterly magazine on design travel that you can read by clicking the link: https://thedesigntourist.com/the-magazine/
Her journalism background includes seven years on-air experience as a TV news reporter and anchor covering a range of issues from education to politics. Her educational credentials include a Master of Arts in Mass Communications from Northeast Louisiana University and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Louisiana State University.
Throughout her career, Karen has written and produced dozens of documentaries and videos for educational, commercial, corporate, and governmental clients and appeared in many TV and video productions as a professional host.
Karen LeBlanc is an award-winning travel journalist and storyteller, honored with two Telly Awards and four North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA) awards for The Design Tourist travel show. As the show’s host, producer, and writer, Karen takes viewers beyond the guidebooks to explore the culture, craft, cuisine, and creativity that define the world’s most fascinating destinations.
