A city of multi-coloured souks, a maze of bustling alleys, fragrant tagines and glamorous riads hidden behind unassuming doorways. Marrakech is an exciting adventure for any traveller but it doesn't always get the best rep... If, a solo female traveller like myself, you've been put off by all the tales of constant hassle and leering men, rest assured you'll be alright! Like any new place, if you are both respectful and street savvy there is no reason for you to avoid this richly colourful destination.
Having been there done that and bought the whole souk, i've put together a list of handy tips to make sure your Moroccan escapades are nothing but enjoyable.
1. Download Mapsme
For any solo travels i'd recommend downloading the app Mapsme. Unless you've got a superhuman sense of direction and photographic memory, without a map on your side love, you're gonna get lost. The old Medina of Marrakech (where a lot of the sights are) is a maze of narrow alleys that in some parts all look the same. So before you set off use Mapsme to download the whole city's map so you can use it offline when navigating your way around the city – without the hefty data bill. You can even pinpoint and colour code personal points of interest from Morroccan tea joints to instagrammable architecture.
2. Suss it out in sunlight
The same goes for this one. With any new destination I'd always recommend, where poss, arriving in daylight. This gives you the opportunity to wander off and get our bearings, so that when night falls you can walk with purpose and know more or less how to get from A to B.
3. Social media sensitive
If like many single girls these days you have a dating app or two – turn them OFF. I had Instagram connected to mine and got inundated with the creepier side of man DM-ing me and offering to take me out and one of my personal favourites 'you give a good image to your MOM because she put a pretty creature you on the planet'. Imma swipe no to this one.
4. Say it with a smile
You're exotic, you're exciting so yes people are going to want to talk to you. Don't go straight to the defensive when approached, I had a lot of very interesting and funny conversations by being curious, friendly and responsive to the locals, one guy even taught me how to make a belt. And when you've decided enough is enough be firm and move on.
5. Save the booty shorts for the beach
An obvious one given Morroco's culture, dress respectfully particularly if you don't want any unnecessary gawping. When walking around in the summer, wear loose long clothing and cover your chest and shoulders when going in to religious buildings. As for Winter, you'll need to wrap up more snug anyway.
6. Squadgoals
If you're up for venturing to the Sahara Desert, Ouzoud falls or the Atlas mountains why not join up with others on a tour. Most hotels and hostels are there to help you chose the right one and it's a lot cheaper to book when you get there as opposed to online. Just do a little research and see if it's the right one for you, before you go.
7. Hostel vs. Riad
Being a slightly more mature traveller of 26, I like to mix it up when it comes to accommodation. If you're a little apprehensive about flying solo at first, stay a few nights in a hostel, meet some fellow explorers and check out what Marrakech has to offer together. Earth hostel was super homey and perfectly located. I'd also recommend spending at least one night in a Riad, a real slice of Morrocan luxury and incredible hospitality for a really reasonable price. Check out insta-heaven Riad Yasmine or Riad Tamarrakecht for the kindest host, awesome brekkie and rooftop to catch that vivid sunset.
8. Stick to the path well trodden
This was a tricky one for me. Often nicknamed space cadet, I'm a big fan of stepping out the door and walking for hours just seeing where my feet take me. When I began to do this in Marrakech and ended up god knows where with few people in sight, I decided this wasn't the place for aimless wandering and i'd be better off sticking to the busier paths.
Got any other tips or questions on travelling solo in Marrakech? Comment below or hit me up on email.