Just a stone’s throw from Europe, across the straights of Gibraltar, lies Morocco—a country distinguished by its Berber, Arabian, and European cultural influences. Morocco is every traveller’s dream, with a rich blend of cultural, historical, and natural attractions. From Marrakech’s Medina, a mazelike medieval quarter, to the luxurious beach destination of Agadir, you can experience what this country offers by visiting these two nearby cities.
While Morocco isn’t known as the most wheelchair-friendly country in the world, you can take advantage of the trip of a lifetime. Both Marrakech and Agadir offer a variety of destinations and experiences that are wheelchair-accessible.
Where you need extra assistance, you can ensure your trip goes smoothly by hiring mobility equipment in Morocco from Strive Mobility. Read on to discover the choices available on a Moroccan trip of a lifetime.
Getting around Marrakech
In Marrakech, the CTM bus company has a fleet of buses that are wheelchair-accessible that are available from the airport and at various locations around the city. Fitted with ramps and lifts they allow wheelchair users to board and disembark easily. The buses also have designated spaces for wheelchair users. Remember, you can now hire wheelchairs in Marrakech.
A few taxi and van companies in Marrakech also offer wheelchair-accessible transport. These taxis are equipped with ramps and lifts, and the drivers are trained to assist wheelchair users. All these options will help you get to your desired location and enjoy what the city offers.
Please keep in mind that the availability and specific services of wheelchair-friendly public transport and taxi options may vary in Marrakech and other Moroccan destinations. To obtain the most accurate and up-to-date information, you are strongly advised to contact the service providers directly. This will allow you to inquire about their accessibility features, availability, and booking procedures.
Remember to communicate your specific needs and requirements to ensure a smooth and accommodating travel experience.
See below, our 10 wheelchair friendly places to visit in Marrakech and Agadir.
1. Visit Jardin Majorelle, Marrakech
Image by eatswords via Flickr – Creative Commons License
Originally developed as a botanical garden by French painter Jacques Majorelle, Jardin Majorelle is a beautiful piece of land in Marrakech. However, it first became popular under Yves de Saint Laurent in 1980.
The garden is home to various plants and flowers, as well as museums showcasing the works of the French painter Jacques Majorelle, Yves de Saint Laurent, and traditional Berber culture and art. You’ll also find a cosy shaded cafe to enjoy refreshments and escape the warm weather most of the year.
It offers a wheelchair-friendly and tranquil escape from the bustling city. The garden paths are wide and paved, making them easy to navigate with a wheelchair. There are also benches and shaded areas throughout the garden where visitors can rest. It is a tourist’s favourite and can get very busy during peak times, but not to be missed. Moreover, you can buy beautiful souvenirs from the shop selling locally made goods.
2. Enjoy Bahia Palace, Marrakech
Image by Susana Herreros via Flickr – Creative Commons License
Bahia Palace is a stunning building in Marrakech built in the late 19th century. The palace features beautiful architecture and intricate tilework. Visitors can explore the palace’s many rooms and courtyards, including the grand reception hall and the harem quarters, and learn about its history and significance. You can explore the grounds for hours, marvelling at the stucco-carved walls with Arabic inscriptions, geometric patterns, arabesques, muqarnas, and the floors paved with marble and zellij tiles.
Most of the site is wheelchair-friendly, with accessible ramps and wide doorways. There is even an elevator available to access the upper floors. However, you will have to navigate the odd steps here and there.
It is located in the heart of Marrakech’s Medina, which is not the easiest area to navigate in a wheelchair, but you can take transportation to the site. The palace is also conveniently located near other popular tourist sites in Marrakech, making planning a full day of sightseeing easy.
3. The awe inspiring Koutoubia Mosque, Marrakech
Image by Bex Walton via Flickr – Creative Commons License
Koutoubia Mosque is a landmark mosque in Marrakech known for its beautiful minaret reaching 77m high. It’s the largest mosque in the city and has a rich history, founded in 1147. Its name translates to Bookseller’s Mosque, and it was so-named for the then-honoured practice of selling books in the nearby Jemaa El Fna souq (market).
While non-Muslims are not allowed to enter the mosque, visitors can admire the architecture and take photos from the outside. If you’re allowed to enter, the interior grounds of the mosque are wheelchair-accessible, with paved paths and ramps, making it easy to navigate.
Getting to Koutoubia Mosque from the airport, located right on the edge of the Medina, is not too challenging. It’s also centrally located among many other sites, so it will be hard to miss as you explore the city.
4. Luxury at Jardins de la Koutoubia, Marrakech
Image Source: lesjardinsdelakoutoubia.com
The Jardins de la Koutoubia is a 5-star luxury hotel located next to the Koutoubia Mosque in Marrakech. The hotel is styled to resemble the cultural heart of Marrakech, the Median, with beautiful Berber architecture adorned with hanging gardens.
The hotel is well-kitted for disabled guests with facilities such as lower bathroom sinks, higher-level toilets, and wheelchair-accessible ramps, walkways, and elevators.
Its facilities include two swimming pools, a spa and wellness centre, an airport shuttle, a restaurant, and a bar. Traditional entertainment is provided some nights, and the expansive courtyard will provide a much-needed breath of fresh air. From just the right angle, you’ll even be able to spot the imposing sight of the Koutoubia Mosque just a few hundred meters away.
Due to its location, it is close to many of the most prominent tourist sites located in and around the Medina, making it a convenient hub to see the city.
5. Be One With Nature at Le Jardin Secret, Marrakech
Image by Mike Finn via Flickr – Creative Commons License
Le Jardin Secret is a peaceful garden in the heart of Marrakech that features fountains, plants, and a historic palace. The complex dates back to the Saadian Dynasty (over 400 years ago) and was rebuilt in the mid-Nineteenth century. Some of Morocco and Marrakech’s most important political figures used it as a home during this time.
The palace has been restored and features a museum with exhibits on Moroccan culture and history.
Like Jardin Majorelle, it offers a peaceful escape from the hectic city streets with the opportunity to take in some beautiful varietals, architecture, and water features and learn more about the city’s history. Other facilities include a shop and restaurant.
The garden is wheelchair-accessible with paved paths and ramps, and there are benches and shaded areas throughout where visitors can rest. Like many other attractions, it’s located right in the centre of the Medina, so we recommend using transportation to get as close as possible.
6. Steeped in History, the Saadian Tombs, Marrakech
Image by Frank Douwes via Flickr – Creative Commons License
The Saadian Tombs are a historical cemetery housing the remains of Muhammad al-Shaykh, Lalla Mas’uda (a wife of al-Shaykh and mother of Ahmad al-Mansur), al-Ghalib himself, and possibly also Sultan Abd al-Malik, as well as those of several later rulers. It was built in the late 16th century and restored in 1917. It’s located near the Kasbah Mosque and the Kasbah of Marrakesh, near the city centre.
It’s a lavish and architecturally stunning tomb that gives a fascinating insight into the Saadian dynasty and Moroccan history. It consists of various chambers and mausoleums, some of which have unique and distinct styles being built centuries apart.
Most of the tomb can easily be navigated in a wheelchair, with few exceptions. There is one large step to enter the mausoleum’s viewing area, but this can easily be overcome with a portable wheelchair ramp. Being able to experience this great site firsthand is well worth the trouble.
Getting around Agadir
In Agadir, the Supratours bus and Alsa bus companies provide wheelchair-accessible travel. Like those in Marrakech, they have ramps and lifts allowing wheelchair users to board and disembark without fuss. Wheelchair users will also find that designated spaces are available to them.
There are a few taxi companies in Agadir that offer wheelchair-accessible transportation. Like the buses, some are equipped with ramps and lifts, and the drivers will happily assist wheelchair users.
Please note: The availability and specific services may vary. You should contact the service providers directly to inquire about their accessibility features, availability, and booking procedures.
7. Agadir Beach, Agadir
Image by Andrzej Wójtowicz via Flickr – Creative Commons License
Located along Morocco’s southern Atlantic coast near the foot of the Atlas Mountains, Agadir Beach is a beautiful stretch of golden sand that offers stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean. Agadir is a resort destination with golf courses, luxury accommodations, health and beauty spas, and a seaside promenade with cafes, restaurants, and bars.
It’s the ultimate destination to sit back and relax after the hustle and bustle of the capital, Marrakech. As a more affluent part of Morocco, accessible and disability-friendly transportation measures are more widely available.
There are accessible walkways, ramps leading down to the beach, and wheelchair-accessible restrooms and showers. Visitors can relax on the beach or participate in water sports and activities.
8. IBEROSTAR Founty Beach Hotel, Agadir
Image source iberostar.com
And, if you’re looking for wheelchair-accessible accommodation to take full advantage of the beach life in Agadir, look no further than the Iberostar Founty Beach Hotel. It’s located on the beachfront of Plage d’Agadir, the most popular beach in Agadir. You’ll enjoy stunning sunsets over the Atlantic Ocean from its pool area or room-attached balconies.
This surprisingly affordable 4-star hotel offers four accessible double side sea view rooms available that provide:
- Wheel in Shower
- Grab rails at the toilet
- Grab rails in the shower
It also has all the facilities you can hope for in a relaxing beach getaway destination. It has a great outdoor pool area, umbrellas and lounge chairs, various spas, a massage centre, a restaurant, and more.
With few exceptions, its interior and exterior spaces are wide open with few steps to contend with. It’s hard to think of a better place to use as a base to explore the rest Agadir has to offer.
9. Day Trip to Taroudant
Image by UncleBucko via Flickr – Creative Commons License
Taroudant is a hidden gem of a town in southern Morocco, often overlooked in favour of more popular tourist destinations. Known as the “Grandmother of Marrakech,” this ancient city is surrounded by impressive red walls and boasts a rich history and culture, and was the 16th-century capital of the Saadian Empire.
Visitors can explore the narrow streets and alleyways of the old Medina, visit the bustling souks, and admire the stunning architecture of the city’s many mosques and palaces. Taroudant is also a great base for exploring the surrounding countryside, with beautiful mountain landscapes and picturesque villages just a short drive away, including the Kasbah of Tiout, nestled in an oasis of 2,500 palm trees.
There are many wheelchair-accessible van day trips that you can book from Agadir to Taroudant.
10. 4×4 Desert Exploration
Image by Martina Rathgens via Flickr – Creative Commons License
One of the unique experiences one can have in Morocco is going on a 4×4 desert exploration adventure. You’ll scale dramatic dunes quickly and experience the unique Morrocan countryside, including rural life and deserted villages. It’s also not just an endless expanse of desert sands on all sides, as you’ll start to run into greeneries and farmlands as you near the feet of the Atlas mountains.
You can find many professional tour services online that offer specially-modified vehicles for customers who use wheelchairs. Private tours will pick you up from your hotel and drop you back at your destination. Day trips typically include lunch and traditional tea.
You can book wheelchair-accessible 4×4 excursions from either Agadir or Marrakech. Tours will typically pick you up from your accommodation and return you at the end of the trip. Some local operators may even be able to arrange a disability-friendly camel ride!
Visit Morocco for a Stunning and Accessible Holiday
Morocco is a stunning country with a unique culture and history that you won’t find elsewhere. While it hasn’t always had the greatest reputation as a disability-friendly destination, that’s quickly changing as its infrastructure matures and it invests in accessibility in its cities and rural areas.
You’ll find plenty of high-quality, wheelchair-accessible accommodation and private tours equipped to serve the needs of mobility-impaired customers in cities like Marrakech and Agadir. By planning ahead and ensuring you hire the necessary accessibility equipment in Morocco, you’ll have a comfortable once-in-a-lifetime experience. Whether you need to hire a wheelchair in Marrakech, rent a mobility scooter in Agadir or you need a hospital bed installed at your villa, contact Strive Mobility
Please note, this information was gathered through online research, including blogger reviews and the attraction’s websites, but we haven’t physically visited each venue.
Written on behalf of Strive Mobility