Marrakech Marathon & Half 2025
If you have questions regarding Marathon Tours & Travel’s Marrakech Packages please: EMAIL OUR TRIP DESIGNER or CALL 617-242-7845
If you are looking for a marathon or half-marathon with the authentic Moroccan culture, sights and sounds then the Marrakech race events are for you! Marrakech has much to offer with its marketplaces, its superb Moroccan trees with olive trees, date palms and orange trees. Winters in Morocco are mild so you will find the ideal weather conditions for your race.
We offer a four-night package with a guaranteed entry at our lovely five star hotel located only 10 minutes’ walk from the race start/finish, shopping and the city sights. Our itinerary includes guided sightseeing, local cuisine and a traditional folklore show (charging horsemen, acrobats, fire-eating, belly dancing), pre-race dinner and post-race celebrations.
Marathon Tours & Travel provides the support and guidance so you can be assured of a stress-free trip. There are opportunities and inclusions to make the most of your visit and meet fellow runners to share the experience!
Meals Included
Daily breakfasts and 2 evening meals.
Guide
Support and guidance from our team during your trip
Transfers
Arrival and departure airport transfers
Trip Extension
Trip extensions available to the desert or extend your stay in Marrakech
Accommodation
Perfectly located 5* hotel in Marrakech
Entry
Guaranteed Marrakech Marathon or Half-Marathon entry available (in addition to package price)
Celebration Party
Post-race celebration
Excursions
Half day sightseeing tour included, plus the option to add on another half day tour
A Helping Hand
Race pack delivery to your hotel
Travel Package Information
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Itinerary
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Thursday, January 23
Arrival Day
Make your way to Marrakech. At the airport you will be met by your driver and taken to your hotel. Usually, hotel rooms are ready to check in after 3 pm. If you arrive earlier, you can leave your luggage with the hotel and explore your surroundings or relax.
Early this evening we invite you to meet with the Marathon Tours & Travel host in the hotel lobby before leaving for an optional shake-out run in the local area. It will acquaint you with the local area and shake-out any travel tiredness. The run will be easy and at a pace comfortable for all fitness levels. It also offers a perfect opportunity to ask questions and get to know fellow runners.
Friday, January 24
Half Day Sightseeing & Moroccan Dinner with Folklore Show
After breakfast we leave the hotel with a local guide to experience the palaces and monuments of Marrakech and learn the history of Morocco’s “Red City.” Our experienced local guide will show you the must see places with stops expected to include: the Bahia Palace, Saadien Tombs, Koutoubia Mosque and explore the souks of Marrakech’s old medina. We will be return to the hotel around midday, where the rest of your day is at your leisure.
This evening we leave the hotel to experience a Moroccan extravaganza of traditional dress, songs, food, fantasy and entertainment. Starting with a welcome ceremony, a delicious dinner of several courses and finishing with the grand finale. Charging horsemen, acrobats, fire-eating and belly dancers all contribute to the atmosphere of this unforgettable evening.
(Breakfast & Dinner included)
Saturday, January 25
Leisure Day & Dinner
After breakfast, relax and enjoy Marrakech at your own pace. The Marathon Tours & Travel host will be happy to suggest some sightseeing or activity tours or have fun in the winter sun at the hotel with its many restaurants, swimming pools, spa and beautiful gardens.
If you have booked the Optional: Half Day Menara Secret Gardens Tour and Camel Ride with us, this will take place this afternoon. You will be picked up from the hotel around 2 pm.
If you booked your race entry with us, we will collect your race pack (includes t-shirt & race bib) and hand it to you at the hotel today. If you obtained your own race entry you will be required to make your own way to the Expo to collect your race pack.
This evening please join us for a buffet meal, served in the hotel restaurant.
(Breakfast and dinner included)
Sunday, January 26
Race Day and celebrations!
After breakfast, get ready to run and then make your way to the race start which is at the end of the road. On arrival at the start please follow the instructions of the race officials, run, and have fun!
Marrakech Marathon and Half 2025 start and finish area is only 10 minutes’ walk from our hotel. A perfect position for race day and for spectators to cheer on the runners.
After the race make your way back to the hotel, perhaps soak up some winter sun with a cool drink and your feet up in the hotel gardens or by the swimming pool! Celebrate…you deserve it!
This evening, please join your Marathon Tours & Travel host in the hotel bar for a post-race celebration and drink!
(Breakfast included)
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Extensions
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Post-Race Extension to Merzouga Desert | Three-Night Package: January 27-30, 2025
Experience the Moroccan Sahara Desert on a 3-night tour from Marrakech to Merzouga. Spend the night at a Bedouin camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes. Ride a camel to watch the sunset and sunrise. See the Kasbah of Ouarzazate, and much more.
Day 1: January 27, 2025 – Marrakech to Ouarzazate
- Departure from Marrakech at ~ 7:30am
- Travel through the High Atlas Mountains with photo stops and scenic views
- Visit Kasbah Ait Benhaddou
- Visit Kasbah Taourirt
- Visit Atlas Studios
- 1 night stay in a hotel in Ouarzazate
- Dinner included
- Approx. 4 hours travelling, stops throughout
Day 2: January 28, 2025 – Ouarzazate to Merzouga
- Departure at ~ 9am
- Visit Kelaat M’gouna
- Camel ride to the camp or 4×4 vehicle
- 1 night stay in a private luxury tent in Merzouga
- Breakfast and Dinner included
- Approx. 5 hours travelling, stops throughout
Day 3: January 29, 2025 – Merzouga to Todra Gorges to Dades
- Departure at ~ 9am
- Visit Gorge Dades
- Visit Boumalne Dades
- 1 night stay in Kasbah in Dades
- Breakfast and Dinner included
- Approx. 5 hours travelling, stops throughout
Day 4: January 30, 2025 – Dades to Marrakech
- Departure at ~ 9am
- Drive back to Marrakech with a stop for lunch (cost of lunch not included)
- Return to Marrakech ~ 6pm
- Breakfast included
- Approx. 5 hours travelling, stops throughout
Trip includes all transport as well as the following:
- 1 x night stay in a hotel in Ouarzazate
- 1 x night stay in a private luxury tent in Merzouga
- 1 x night in a Kasbah-style hotel in Dades
- Entry to Kasbah Taourirt, Atlas Studios, Kelaat M’gouna, Todra Gorge and Gorge Dades
- Camel ride / 4×4 vehicle to camp
- Breakfast and Dinner (as outlined above)
- English speaking guide with group throughout
Although there is a lot of travel time involved each day on the extension, our guests and staff who have previously taken part in the desert trip have advised the route is scenic and the locations visited and experiences shared are well worth the distance travelled.
If you wish to add this extension, we would highly recommend adding an extra night stay at the Kenzi Rose Garden Hotel on January 30, as you will not return to the hotel in Marrakech until around 6pm.
*If you do wish to fly home on the 30th, please ensure your flight is not before 8:30pm.*
Optional Tours
Half Day Menara Secret Gardens with Camel Ride | January 25, 2025
Estimated departure time on Saturday 25 January – 2pm, returning at 5:30pm.
Following pick up from your hotel, journey through UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Marrakech and discover a fragrant oasis in the heart of the city of Marrakech. Head next to the Menara Gardens, with the peaks of the Atlas Mountains in the background. Learn about the unique irrigation system designed to provide water to the surrounding area via underground channels from the artificial lake. Discover the secret garden, which is an outstanding example of Islamic art and architecture. It’s part of the great tradition of stately Arab-Andalusian and Moroccan palaces. End your journey by going to the Palmeraie area and enjoy a 1-hour camel ride before returning to your hotel.
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Packages & Rates
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Marrakech Marathon Four-Night Package | January 23 – 27, 2025
Features:
- Five-star accommodation in Marrakech for four (4) nights
- Daily breakfast, except on arrival day
- Hotel taxes
- Return airport transfers
- Welcome meet up (Thursday)
- Optional shake-out run (Thursday)
- Race pack delivery to hotel (if you book your entry with us)
- Half-day Marrakech Tour (Friday)
- Moroccan Extravaganza with dinner and traditional folklore show (Friday)
- Pre-race dinner (Saturday)
- Post race celebration (Sunday)
- Services of Marathon Tours & Travel Staff
Post-Race Extension – Merzouga Desert Tour | Three-Night Package: January 27-30, 2025 – SOLD OUT
Features:
- One night stay in a hotel in Ouarzazate
- One night stay in a private luxury tent in Merzouga
- One night in a Kasbah-style hotel in Dades
- Entry to Kasbah Taourirt, Atlas Studios, Kelaat M’gouna, Todra Gorge and Gorge Dades
- Camel ride / 4×4 vehicle to camp
- Breakfast and Dinner (as outlined above)
- English speaking guide with group throughout
Not Included
- Race Entry Fees
- All activities listed as optional
- Gratuities and tips unless noted above
- Incidentals
- Travel Insurance
- Roundtrip International Airfare
Rates (all prices per person and in US dollars)
Additional nights available upon request
Marrakech Four-Night Package Double Occupancy Single Occupancy Kenzi Rose Garden Superior Room $950 per person $1295 Kenzi Rose Garden Deluxe Room - SOLD OUT $1020 per person $1420 Kenzi Rose Garden Jr. Suite - SOLD OUT $1315 per person $2015 Optional Add-OnsOptional Rates Marathon Race Entry $95 per entry Half-Marathon Race Entry $65 per entry Half Day Tour to Menura Secret Gardens w/Camel Ride (January 25) $65 per person Three-Night Desert Extension - SOLD OUT $450 per person
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Hotels
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The Kenzi Rose Garden Hotel is a top hotel in a perfect location, in the heart of the popular Hivernage district. Decorated with style and comfort you will find many facilities to enjoy. These include sports/tennis court, swimming pools, spa with hamman and fitness centre, multiple bars and lounges, 24/7 room service and concierge and a beautiful palm tree and flower filled 7,000m squared garden.
Bedrooms are air conditioned and feature a private bathroom, tv, free Wi-Fi, and in-room safe. Upgrades to pool view, deluxe, or junior suite is possible, subject to availability and upon payment of a supplement. For more details and extra costs please contact us.
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Event Information
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Race Date: Sunday, January 26, 2025
Race Time: from 8.30am (42K), from 9.45am (21K)
Course: This is definitely a race to tick off your bucket list. The course is mostly flat and runs through local neighborhoods by the famous city walls and along areas with stunning palm trees, orange trees and olive trees. The early part of the marathon is a gradual incline, mostly flat until the last 10km which are then mainly downhill. It’s a great route for setting a PB or if you want to make the most of the mild weather, generous maximum finish time and provides opportunities to interact with the musicians and locals along the route, meaning it ticks all the boxes. Although you cannot compare crowd support with an Abbott World Marathon Major, you can feel the enthusiasm and you will be immersed in this very special atmosphere that will brighten up your race and pull you through to the finish line.
Eligibility: 17 years or older (42K), 15 years or older (21K)
Minimum Pace/Cut-off Time Policy: 5 hours 30 minutes (42K), 3 hours (21K)
Number Pickup: Marathon Tours & Travel will collect your race pack and deliver it to you at our hotel.
Temperature: Average temperatures on race day are between 40 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
Awards: Every finisher receives a medal.
Difficulty: Easy
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Registration & Booking
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Rates: Land Prices may change due to currency fluctuations.
Reservations and Payments: A completed tour application together with a deposit of $400 per person must be received before confirming your reservations. Final payment must be received before December 1, 2024.
Cancellations: All payments, including your deposit, are non-refundable and non-transferrable. Non-transferrable includes applying your balance to another person, another year or another trip. Should you cancel for any reason, you will forfeit your trip investment. Therefore, travel insurance for every trip is highly recommended. All cancellations must be received in writing. Race entry fees are nonrefundable.
Not included in price: All items not specifically listed under tour features. All runners must enter online until online race registration is closed. Thereafter, Marathon Tours & Travel will provide a special late registration form.
Insurance: For your protection, trip cancellation, baggage, health and accident insurance is highly recommended for all participants. However, no representation or description of the insurance made by our staff constitutes a binding assurance or promise about the insurance.
Travel Insurance for U.S. Residents
Travel Insurance for Canadian ResidentsSecurity Policy: Marathon Tours & Travel’s security policy requires that anyone staying in our room block must be registered as part of our package. If a registered client attempts to house a non-registered guest and /or invite them to attend any of our scheduled activities, the registered guest’s tour package will be forfeited, and parties may be denied access to future tours. Please note that no exceptions will be made as this policy will be strictly enforced.
Responsibility: These tours are operated by Marathon Tours, Inc. of Chelsea, MA who acts only as an agent for the passenger to the companies offering such services and assumes no liability for injury, damage, loss, accident, delay or irregularity caused by any reason whatsoever by any party offering such services. All terms and conditions offered are governed by the laws of Massachusetts. The right is reserved to cancel the tour prior to departure with a refund, less applicable credit card and processing fees, made as full settlement to the passenger. The right is reserved by Marathon Tours, Inc. to deny acceptance of a booking application by any person. Marathon Tours, Inc. may make any changes or alterations in the itinerary as it deems necessary for the proper handling of the tour. The sole responsibility of any airline used is limited to that set out in the passenger contract evidenced by the ticket. The airlines concerned are not to be held responsible for any act, omission or event during the time that the passengers are not on board their aircraft.
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Testimonials
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2023 Marathon Tours Marrakech Marathon & Half Trip
Many thanks for organising the event! One can add my experience for feedback!
I booked this trip as I wish to run another marathon in Africa as I had previously travelled with Marathon Tours and Travel (Cape Town Marathon!) I think it was a great weekend holiday as the flight was only around 3.30 hours from Heathrow and transport from airport and hotel was all sorted out! Arriving in Marrakech I felt totally stress free especially BIB already been delivered to the hotel! Breakfast and dinner were included! The hotel was well within walking distance from the start and finishing line. The marathon itself is a loop to loop marathon with a gradual incline in the early part of the race! One can run a decent time as when one goes up, it have to come down! The weather is also well suited for running! The last 10 km was mainly downhill! Although one cannot compare crowd support with a marathon majors but one can feel the enthusiasm especially from passing pedestrians and small pockets of support throughout the course. No surprise I had improved my finishing time when compare when I last ran in Africa! There is enough time for me to do some sightseeing after the race! I would recommend any runners interested in running a marathon in each continent to pick this package for their Africa leg! Also a big Thankyou to Marie the trip organiser who is always so helpful and organised throughout this trip!2023 Marathon Tours Marrakech Marathon & Half TripThank you so much. What a lovely run! Thoroughly enjoyed it. I was very glad of the support offered by the company and it was lovely to walk over together in the morning.
2023 Marathon Tours Marrakech Marathon & Half TripMarrakech was a beautiful experience and your services were really very good.
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