A holiday in Marrakech tends to mean long meals, a lot of walking in the medina and not much free time. Staying fit does not require a gym. A bedroom, a courtyard or a roof terrace and twenty minutes will keep your habits ticking over. Here is how to do it alone, and when it is worth having a trainer come to you.
What to ask your riad or hotel
Three questions, ideally before you book or as soon as you arrive:
- Is there somewhere to exercise, such as a courtyard, terrace, garden or gym? At what times?
- Can an outside coach come in? You will generally need reception's permission, so tell them before the first session.
- Is there a mat or any equipment? A thick towel often does the job.
Many riads have an inner courtyard and a terrace, but you share those with other guests. Early morning is the quietest time and also the coolest. Hotel gyms can be very small, so ask for a photo if it matters to you.
A quiet 20-minute hotel room workout
Riad floors and rooms carry sound, so skip the jumping early in the morning. This circuit stays silent. Work for 40 seconds, rest for 20, and repeat for three or four rounds depending on your fitness. Warm up first for two or three minutes with shoulder and hip circles and a few slow knee bends.
- Body-weight squat, or sit-to-stand from the edge of the bed if you need it.
- Push-ups, with your hands on the bed or a ledge to make them easier.
- Reverse lunges, alternating legs at a controlled pace.
- Bent-over row with a lightly loaded backpack, keeping your back straight.
- Forearm plank, or on your knees to begin with.
- Glute bridge on the floor, with a short pause at the top.
If a movement hurts, drop it. This is a general template that knows nothing about your medical history. If you are pregnant or taking medication, ask your doctor first.
If you can only do one thing a day, walk. A morning in the medina already adds up to a fair amount of moderate activity, and it goes towards the WHO's weekly total. Add two short strength sessions during the week and you have covered the basics.
The right time of day for the season
Between June and September, keep outdoor exercise to before 8 am or after 7 pm, and use your air-conditioned room for the rest. If you have just arrived from somewhere cooler, allow one to two weeks to adapt, start gently and drink regularly. Our article on summer training and heat illness lists the warning signs that mean stop.
From November to February the mornings are cool, with average highs around 20 °C in December and January. Being outdoors is very pleasant in the daytime, and a sunny roof terrace works well for a mid-morning session.
When to bring in a trainer
A coached session pays off in three situations: you want to keep an existing programme going, you finally have the time to learn a movement or a discipline, or you are travelling as a couple and a paired session will get you both moving.
The logistics are simple. Options run from a single session to a pack of five to ten sessions over one to three weeks. The coach travels to your riad, hotel or apartment, provided the property agrees and there are about four square metres of space. On price, the indicative ranges on our page for booking a private coach during your Marrakech stay are 250 to 650 MAD per session at home, depending on the district and the journey. The exact rate is agreed with the coach beforehand, and you pay them directly.
Give your location, since coaches do not all cover the same areas. Abdelouahed Taoufiq, who brings bands, kettlebells, straps and a mat, also lists the Route de l'Ourika on his profile alongside central districts, while Anas El Jazouli, a contact karate champion, works in the Medina and Palmeraie among others. All the city's coaches and their areas are on one page. The profiles list French and Arabic as working languages, so if you need a session in English, check before you book.
What to send the coach
- Your exact dates and the address of your accommodation.
- Your goal for the trip: maintenance, trying boxing, mobility, a paired session.
- The times that suit you around your plans.
- Any injuries, operations or current medication.
- The space available, with a photo if you can.
With that, a coach can quickly tell you whether they are free and what they will bring. If you enjoy the session, ask for a routine to take home, then carry on by following one of our programmes over video once you are back. And if you are thinking of moving to Marrakech for longer, our piece on choosing between a membership and a coach will help you compare.
