Recently back from Marrakech with much to report for the adventure traveler. Different from other areas in Africa, Marrakech is emerging with style and offers an exotic atmosphere mixed with history, romance and a very modern vibe.
Marrakech’s old city known as the Medina is a market place like no other I have seen. The square is surrounding by a centuries old souk with twisted passages where you can find everything from aromatic oils and spices to quality leather goods, textiles and artesian silver. You can spend hours walking however beware it is crowded and the souk owners will work you hard for a sale.
What truly makes it this market place so unique is the evening tradition within theMedina square it can best be described as a scene out of an Indiana Jones movie. When the sun begins to set suddenly people flock to the square you will hear the sound of exotic drums begin to roll, smoke billows in the air from the cooking meat, veiled women with infants on their backs, live cobra snakes & monkeys. Everybody is engaged horse and donkey carriages storm through the square as the locals and tourists alike join to enjoythis traditional community gathering. I would not suggest having the experience when jet lagged you truly need to be alert!
Beyond the souk experience there is much to see and do in Marrakech. I would not come here to shop while there are some beautiful shops they are spread out and it is not over the top shopping except maybe one shop I really loved Moorwww.akbardelights.com and I enjoyed Eve Branson’s coop shop at Kasbah Tamadot you can read about her amazing foundationwww.kasbahtamadot.virgin.com/en/kasbah_tamadot/about_us/helping_others
The Yves St Laurent Gardens were magnificent as well as the lovely historical Palaces and museums the city has to offer such as; The Bahia Palace, The Saadian Tombs and the Ben Youssef Madrassa.
You will never lack for a great dining experience in Marrakech. It is a late night city offering an array of chic bars and restaurants. I particularly enjoyed a wonderful dinner at the chic Dar Moha www.darmoha.ma . It offers a set menu but a comprehensive authentic dining experience and very cool ambience. I also enjoyed dining at Dar Rhizlane a lovely palace guest house with stunning décor and gardenswww.dar-rhizlane.com Everything is romantically presented and expertly cooked amongst its sumptuously Moorish interiors.
Where to stay:
The stunning new Four Seasons offers the Marrakech visitor a luxury relaxed resortatmosphere in a very urban location. It has more of a contemporary Moroccan feel then its competitors and you can count on the Four Seasons hospitality and service. After a long day in the hustle and bustle of Marrakech, I enjoyed coming back to the relaxedambience of the Four Seasons not to mention their amazing spa.
Just one hour South of Marrakech and what seems a world away is Sir Richard Branson’sLimited Edition, Kasbah Tamadot. Nestled in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains with small Bedouin villages surrounding, this is high luxury that offers an authentic appreciation of the area and its surrounding Berber communities. There are plenty of activities and most anything you fancy can be arranged, it is an experience worth tacking on for a couple of days per or post a city trip.
If your pockets are not that deep however, I would also recommend, Le Pause a very unique eco resort in the Marrakchi desert. A 45 minute drive from Marrakech this unique tent camp offers a desert 9 hole golf experience (I really cannot call it a course), 4 wheel driving, camel riding and farm to table dining under the stars. The property offers just a handful of rooms with magnificent views and each with their own living area in & out, wood burning fireplaces and chic French/Moroccan décor.
While in the Atlas Mountains I would recommend joining a Berber Family for tea in their home. Nothing gets better then the cultural experience of sitting in a villager’s home and exchanging world views!
There is a little something for everybody in Marrakech. I found the people to be inviting and interested in making your experience there a good one.
