More Heights, Adrenaline Junkies & Culture - Day Three in Marrakesh
- Jun 10
- 4 min read
By day three, one thing had become very clear - this trip wasn't going to see anyone sitting around doing nothing!
Today our group split into two smaller teams. Three people shared another wonderful breakfast at the riad before heading off for a quad biking adventure whilst the rest of us adrenaline junkies set off for a hot air balloon ride.
The hot air balloon crew left Marrakesh early and travelled outside the city. The sky was littered with hot air balloons as we got further out of town and it was a strange site seeing them all together. Whilst we waited for our turn, we had pastries and coffee before heading off to find which balloon would be ours.
The weather was a little overcast, but it certainly didn't spoil the experience. We were surprised at the sheer size of the balloon and watching it being inflated was fascinating. What looked enormous from a distance somehow became even bigger as it filled with air. The basket was huge too, far larger than anyone had imagined.
After clambering aboard, it was finally time for take-off and the clouds started to depart allowing the sun to finally join us. What surprised everyone the most was how incredibly smooth the journey felt. We had expected something a little rocky or wobbly, but instead it was eerily calm. There was no sensation of flying or floating, just a strange feeling of quietly rising into the sky.
As the burner roared above us, we could feel waves of warmth from the flames while the landscape slowly unfolded beneath our feet. Fields, villages and mountain views stretched out into the distance as we climbed to around 3,500 feet. For someone who isn't particularly fond of heights, it was really enjoyable; if a little surreal.
The landing, however, was a completely different story. And by different, I mean absolutely hilarious. As instructed, everyone assumed the landing position, crouching down low inside the basket. Meaning we couldn't actually see what was happening. There was a bump as we hit the ground and then suddenly faces started appearing at the sides of the basket as the ground crew jumped on to help slow us down.
And then the basket tipped sideways. If you haven't already checked out the landing video on our page, please do as it is hilarious! The next few minutes involved a lot of laughter and squeals as we all tried desperately not to squash each other when the basket tipped on its side. It was chaotic, unexpected and without doubt one of the funniest moments of the entire trip.
After the balloon adventure, we headed off to the next activity – quad biking. Helmets on, a quick lesson and off we went. Within minutes we were racing across dusty tracks and desert terrain, kicking up enormous clouds of dust behind us. It was bumpy, exhilarating and ridiculously fun.
By the end, we were absolutely covered in dust from head to toe. In fact, before leaving we had to be blasted clean with air hoses to remove half the desert we'd apparently decided to bring home with us (check out our Earth song video on our page to see this in action!).
After returning to the riad for a quick refresh and recharge, we changed into our Marrakesh group T-shirts and headed back into the city for an afternoon of sightseeing. This time we joined a guided walking tour. Our guide Ali was fantastic – knowledgeable, funny and clearly passionate about sharing the history of his city. He led us through the winding streets and hidden corners of Marrakesh, bringing the city's rich history to life along the way. We visited the stunning Ben Youssef Madrasa, wandered through the beautiful Secret Garden and explored the famous souks.
The souks were every bit as busy and colourful as we had imagined. Narrow alleyways twisted in every direction, lined with stalls selling everything from spices and lanterns to leather bags, ceramics and handmade jewellery. We had expected to be hassled when shopping but we weren't at all and we found quite a few bargain souvenirs thanks to the hagglers in the group.
After plenty of shopping, wandering and getting wonderfully lost, we found a lovely spot for dinner where we could sit, relax and reflect on another incredible day.
As evening fell, we made our way to the famous main square where Marrakesh seemed to transform once again. The atmosphere was electric, with musicians, food stalls and crowds filling every corner. But with tired feet and aching legs, we didn't stay too long in the main tourist section and instead made our way back through the maze of streets towards the riad.
By the time we finally crawled into bed that night, we were absolutely knackered. But after hot air balloons, quad bikes, camels, souks, shopping and sightseeing, I think we'd earned it.
And somehow, we still had more adventures waiting for us tomorrow.
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