Marrakech in winter

If you've booked a flight in December, January or February, you've made the right choice. The city is much quieter at this time of year, as tourists tend to visit in spring or autumn. Winter in Marrakech is generally warmer than on the mainland and if not, you can always warm up in a traditional hammam.

If you thought Morocco was just the land of sun and deserts, you'll be surprised to discover that it's also famous for its ski resorts. There are two ski resorts in the country:

• In Mishliffen, in the province of Fez.
• In Oukaïmeden, the most important ski resort in Morocco and on the entire African continent. It is located in the Toubkal, a massif in the High Atlas Mountains at an altitude of 4,164m.

While Oukaïmeden's facilities are not of the same quality as Europe's, much of its charm derives from the exoticism of the place: it's not uncommon to see donkeys and hawkers near the slopes, as well as makeshift skiers and people who take to the slopes with homemade sledges.

And if it doesn't snow, you can still visit the mountains by taking a trip to the Atlas Mountains from Marrakech. You won't be left indifferent.

In the Gueliz neighbourhood lies a green area popular with tourists and locals alike. We are talking about the Majorelle Gardens, a botanical garden that is home to palm trees, coconut trees, cactus and other species that make up a true Eden.

Visiting in winter is ideal because you won't find the hustle and bustle and crowds of other times of the year.

And if you book a tour of the Majorelle Gardens, the experience is complete because you can take a camel ride and drink a delicious tea in a traditional dwelling.

When the temperatures drop, there's nothing better than a steam bath. You can find them everywhere, from the souk to the trendiest neighbourhoods, but the ritual usually follows a few precise steps:

• First, you'll enter a room where you'll find two buckets, one with cold water and the other with hot water. This is the prelude to the hammam and serves to get used to the warmth of the place.
• After a superficial cleansing, you will move on to the second room: the steam room, whose purpose is to expel impurities from the skin.
• When you can't stand the heat any longer, you must return to the first room where the real ritual begins. Once the pores are open, it's time to scrub with beldi soap, a dark detergent made with black olive oil, caustic soda and olive paste.
• After cleansing and purifying the skin, you can conclude the experience with an argan oil massage and an invigorating shower.

Booking a hammam experience in Marrakech has many benefits:

• Stimulates the nervous system.
• It eliminates toxins and impurities.
• It has a beneficial expectorant effect.
• It is very useful to counteract colds and fight sinusitis.
• It is exceptional for the complexion.
• Contributes to relaxation.

Marrakech may not be the first place that springs to mind as a winter holiday destination. However, the Red City is perfect for a different kind of holiday. Being a country of Muslim faith, you won't find many decorations in the streets and squares, but that's a different matter when it comes to hotels.

If you're travelling just before Christmas, you can buy your last gifts in the souk. This way you'll return home with some original gifts. Among the most sought-after items are leather goods, textiles, spices and Moroccan ceramics. If you have enough space in your suitcase, you can buy a colourful Arabic lamp.

Before you buy anything, remember to always negotiate the price. To explore the area, take note of our tips on what to see and do in the Medina of Marrakech.

Matteo's advice

During your first visit to the souks, it is advisable to go through the shops without buying anything. For this first "foray", just ask for prices so that you can get an idea of the market value of the products you are interested in.

Marrakech is a dynamic and captivating city. Its streets and squares teem with life, yet it can be a little chaotic at times. If you don't feel like greeting the New Year in the city's hotels, you can opt for a different and relaxing activity: a trip to the desert of Marrakech

Its towering golden dunes make for a stirring landscape and are the ideal setting for activities such as a camel ride or quad bike race. After dark, enjoy a typical dinner and shows with jugglers, fire eaters and belly dancers.

The main attraction, however, is the sky sprinkled with thousands of stars. It is not for nothing that Morocco is one of the top destinations for stargazers.

The Marrakech International Marathon is a sporting event organised by the Association Le Grand Atlas (AGA). The first edition was held in 1987 and, year after year, it has become an important event in the Red City. The race usually starts and finishes on Avenue de la Menara (near the Hotel La Mamounia) and has a total length of 44 km.

Every 5km, you'll find refreshment stands with water and orange slices. The Marrakech International Marathon takes place in January and is a must for those who want to prepare for other sporting events such as the Tokyo Marathon. You can collect your race bibs at Place du 16 novembre (Gueliz district). Remember to bring your passport with you.

Winter is the best time to travel to the desert. If you fancy the idea, you can opt for a two-day trip to the Marrakech desert where you will spend the night camping in a Berber settlement.

The tents (tents of Arab origin) have all kinds of luxuries: private bathrooms, hot water, heating, towels and refined decorative elements. In addition, the camps usually include a chill-out area where you can relax with a cup of tea or gaze at the stars.

Activities such as sandboarding or a more traditional camel ride are often included.

The Menara Gardens cover a large expanse of land in the south-west of Marrakesh. Cypresses, olive trees, palm trees and orange trees thrive in the gardens, which are fed by water from the Atlas Mountains. Thanks to a system of underground tunnels, the precious liquid flows some 30 km to the pond in the middle of this green area.

The place is certainly captivating and worth a stroll to enjoy the contrast between the fruit trees and the snow-capped peaks of the Atlas.

The Menara gardens are open daily from 8am to 5pm.

Marrakech has a semi-desert subtropical climate, with mild winters and hot summers.

The cold season starts in December and ends at the end of February; in these three months, minimum temperatures are around 5ºC and maximum temperatures reach 20ºC.

As you might expect, there's a big difference between day and night, especially if you're going on a desert excursion.

Although rare, rain does occur in the form of downpours. February is one of the most affected months, but even so, you shouldn't worry too much. According to statistics, this month sees an average of 40 mm of rainfall.

If the day promises to be stormy, the best thing to do is to take shelter in a museum or an indoor attraction. For example, you could visit:

• The Saadid Tombs, the tombs of the dynasty of Sultan Ahmad al-Mansur.
• The Dar Si Said Museum, the museum of Moroccan art.
• The Ben Youssef Madrasa, a Koranic school near the mosque of the same name.
• The Yves Saint Laurent Museum.