Morocco is a wonderful country that you could easily spend a few weeks exploring and still fail to fit everything in, so how is it best to plan a short break to the nation? The key thing is to see both sides of Morocco – its amazing culture and outstanding natural beauty.

Of course, if you’re short on time you will necessarily have to narrow down where you visit and what you see, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have an incredibly rich and fulfilling experience.

Firstly, if you’re on a tight time frame then you need to plan properly to make sure you fit everything in. A good way to ensure your holiday to Morocco covers a range of attractions is to go on an organised tour. Short itineraries will usually give you a taste of city life before whisking you away to the High Atlas Mountains to experience their rugged beauty.

Secondly, don’t try to fill your days with too many activities – you won’t end up enjoying the things you see and do if you have to rush from one place to the next. Slow down, take your time and plan to come back if there’s a lot more you want to see.

Here’s just one suggestion of how to spend your time in Morocco if you only have a few days.

Explore Marrakech

Marrakech is one of the most popular Moroccan cities for tourists to visit and with good reason. It’s packed to bursting with cultural and historical sites, all mixed in with excellent restaurants, lovely hotels and plenty of shopping opportunities.

You can’t say you’ve experienced Marrakech until you’ve spent some time in the bustling Djemma El Fna square. This is the hub of the old city and is a chaotic blend of street performers putting on lively shows, food vendors selling meals that smell and taste delicious and typical cafes where you can escape from the melee and enjoy a cup of mint tea.

Wander away from the main square and you’ll enter Marrakech’s maze of fantastic souks selling everything from spices to clothing. Simply soaking up the sights and sounds is the best thing to do on a visit here. After you’ve had your fill of the hustle and bustle, move on to explore a couple of the city’s other main landmarks, the Saadian Tombs, Koutoubia Mosque and Bahia Palace are all worthy of your attention.

Trek in the High Atlas Mountains

To fully appreciate Morocco’s rugged and beautiful scenery, you need to get out of the city. If you’ve started out in Marrakech one of the easiest – and most picturesque – places to get to is the High Atlas Mountains. This range is the home of Mount Toubkal and the trek to its summit is a challenge many hikers take on every year.

If you’re feeling energetic, this is one of your options, as you can complete the Toubkal climb in around three days. The views of the surrounding mountains and valleys from this vantage point are stunning and en route you’ll visit traditional Berber villages where you can learn about this aspect of Morocco’s heritage.

Climbing Mount Toubkal isn’t your only option if you’d like to do some walking, though, as there are numerous trails in the foothills of the High Atlas Mountains where you can stretch your legs and enjoy the scenery. It’s wonderful to experience the contrast between city life and Morocco’s natural charms.