About Marrakesh

Marrakesh, also known as the red city, is a major city of the Kingdom of Morocco. It is the fourth largest city in the country, after Casablanca, Fez and Tangier. It is Located to the north of the foothills of the snow-topped Atlas Mountains, Marrakesh is situated 580 km (360 mi) southwest of Tangier, 327 km (203 mi) southwest of the Moroccan capital of Rabat, 239 km (149 mi) south of Casablanca, and 246 km (153 mi) northeast of Agadir.

Since independence from France in 1956, Marrakesh has thrived as a tourist destination. In the 1960s and early 1970s the city became a trendy "hippie mecca". It attracted numerous western rock stars and musicians, artists, film directors and actors, models, and fashion divas,leading tourism revenues to double in Morocco between 1965 and 1970. Yves Saint Laurent, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Jean-Paul Getty all spent significant time in the city; Laurent bought a property here and renovated the Majorelle Gardens.

The city is popular with the French, and many French celebrities have bought property in the city, including fashion moguls Yves St Laurent and Jean-Paul Gaultier. In the 1990s very few foreigners lived in the city, but real estate developments have dramatically increased in the last 15 years; by 2005 over 3,000 foreigners had purchased properties in the city, lured by its culture, climate, scenic landscapes and the relatively cheap house prices.It has been cited in French weekly magazine Le Point as the second St Tropez.

Facts And Useful Tips

The Marrakesh-Menara Airport (RAK) is approximately 8 km (5 mi) southwest of the city centre and is only 20 minutes drive
Currency: The Dirham is the Moroccan Curency. 1 British Pound or Euro is equivalent to 12 Dirhams. A US dollar is equivalent to 10 Dirhams. There are cash machines and exchange offices all over the city. In some shops, Euros and US Dollar is accepted though no change will be given.
The climate in Marrakesh is hot semi-arid. The Average temperatures range from 12 ³C (54 ³F) in the winter to 32-45 ³C (90-113 ³F) in the summer. Sun protection and hats are recommended day time namely between july and september
Marrakech, unlike many other countries in North Africa, is quite liberal and semi-westernised. The majority of locals are tolerant to other cultures and beliefs, However keep in mind that it is still a Muslim country though moderate and open one.
No visa is required for UK or European citizens. Only a valid passport is required. French and Moroccan Arabic are widely used. knowledge of a few basic Moroccan expressions such as shukran (thank you) or salamu alaykum (Hello) is quite useful
Photos and Directions come with a price tag: If you snap a picture of a snake charmer, monkey, or street dancer or entertainer in Marrakech, You are expected to pay for them and may be hassled you if you don't.
Transport: Taxis are everywhere and rather cheap (under 20-Dirham per trip, around £2.00) and drivers rarely use the meter. However, it is advisable to negotiate the taxi fare before boarding any petit taxi or you may be shocked by the price. Remember to bargain everywhere!!

Hotels

There are plenty of Hotels that suits all budgets in Marrakech. You'll find all kinds of accommodation, from discount pads to luxury hotels in Marrakech - so whether you're saving your spending money for the buzzing Souk markets or looking to splurge, you'll be catered for here. Even the more boutique hotels tend to have a swimming pool and bar, perfect for freshening up in the heat, and you'll find free WiFi in the public spaces of most hotels. You can also enjoy a complimentary breakfast on a rooftop terrace as the sun bathes the city in its morning warmth. You can view or view Hotels here

Top Hotels: Royal Mansour is one of the best hotels in Marrackech, located in the heart of the city and Offering an outdoor and indoor pool. The hotel is 1.2 miles from Bahia Palace and a 5-minute walk from the famous Djemaa El Fna square. Guests can enjoy local and international dishes at one of the 4 onsite restaurants. A range of drinks is provided at the 3 bars. You will find a spa and wellness centre. Other facilities offered include meeting facilities and luggage storage. The property offers free parking on site. The hotel is 1.2 miles from Conference Palace and from Majorelle Gardens. Marrakech-Menara Airport is a 15-minute drive away. If you have extra cash to spare and want quality accommodation, this is definitely the Hotel to choose

Things to See

If you're planning a visit to Marrakech, then in addition to wandering the bustling, winding alleys of the Medina and its Souks, taking a walk through the vibrant crowds that gather in the vast open space of the Djemaa El-Fna is an absolute must. Whether it's in the glittering lights of an orange soaked sunset, when performers, musicians and storytellers gather to bathe the surrounding area in music and song, or during the warm afternoons where a cacophony of trader's voices fill the air, it's a truly unique experience. After the bustle and energy of the Souks, a visit to the pale white pillars of the Museum of Marrakech can be a welcome counter point. The Museum itself is something of an attraction, being a converted 18th century palace, in addition to the traditional Moroccan cultural artefacts housed there. The gently shimmering waters of Menara Gardens, makes the perfect spot for a peaceful stroll away from the crowd

Visit the Jardin Majorelle, originally created in 1924 and stroll round this Moroccan-style garden which includes cooling streams, lily ponds and soaring palms as well as a handsome Art Deco villa housing a collection of Berber Art. Take a guided tour on a camel to explore the rolling dunes just outside the city, with a dramatic backdrop of the towering Atlas Mountains. Quad bike and hot air balloon trips are also available. Sample the relaxing delights of a leisurely Moroccan steam bath at the Hammam Dar el-Bacha.

The Atlas Mountains

One adventure not to miss is a day trip to the Atlas Mountains. You can leave the hustle bustle of Marrackech behind you and embark on a refreshing day trip to the Atlas Mountains and embrace nature and get closer to understanding and experiencing the ancient Berber way of life.

You can book a Day trip with any tour operator. The Day trip is an 8-hour tour adventure during which you will visit lush, green valleys in the Atlas Mountains, see waterfalls and experience Berber living with a home visit.

During the trip, an accredited official Guide will guide you through the landscape as the red city walls give way to plains, green valleys, gorges, rivers, and waterfalls. Just an hour ride from the city, the Atlas mountains are like a different world with the cool, fresh mountain air. You will have a chance to stop for a visit of an original Berber house and learn about their ancient traditions . The Berber family will make a welcoming tea and show you how to make traditional Moroccan mint tea. Continue up to reach the last village where you will take a short guided walk along some of the pretty trails to reach the spectacular waterfall. Feast on a delicious Berber lunch full of flavor with your feet in the water in a local restaurant.

Hot Air Balloon Ride

Enjoy bird's-eye views of Morocco's deserts and the foothills of the Atlas Mountains on a sunrise hot-air balloon ride from Marrakech. A must for Marrakech visitors to experience. Touch down for a freshly prepared Berber breakfast followed by a camel ride through the palm-scattered desert, and then return to Marrakech by 4x4 vehicle. A flight certificate is included as a souvenir of your experience.

Start your experience with an early morning pickup by 4x4 vehicle from your Marrakech hotel and travel to the launch spot for your sunrise hot air balloon ride. Enjoy refreshments including pastries, coffee and tea as you watch your expert crew inflate the hot air balloon. Then, step into the basket and take to the skies! Each basket holds a maximum of 16 people and there's plenty of room for you to sightsee comfortably as you soar up and away. Soak up the serene desert landscape as your pilot takes you over the foothills of the High Atlas Mountains on a 40-50 minute flight (depending on wind and weather conditions). After touching down at the base camp, head inside a tent with a view of the mountains to enjoy a freshly prepared Berber breakfast, including pancakes, corn bread, fruit, olives and mint tea. Follow your breakfast with a guided camel ride through the Palmeraie desert village surrounding the camp.Before leaving, you'll be presented with a flight certificate to commemorate your Marrakech hot air balloon experience. Then, travel by 4x4 vehicle back to your hotel in the late morning, allowing you to enjoy the rest of the day in Marrakech. .

Desert Quad Biking

Explore the rugged desert, wild palm groves and rural Berber villages outside Marrakech on this tour by 4WD quad bike. Meet your guide, master the controls of your bike and head out for a desert adventure through sprawling palm groves, dry riverbeds and ancient volcanic landscapes. Stop for a cup of Moroccan tea with a local family along the way.Numbers are limited to five on this small-group morning or afternoon tour, ensuring you'll receive personalized attention from your guide.
Hop in a minibus at your Marrakech hotel and travel out of the city to the surrounding desert. Arriving at the base camp, meet your expert guide and learn how to master the controls of your personal quad bike (also known as an ATV). Then set off into the wide-open wilderness!The desert landscape outside Marrakech is crisscrossed with tracks and dusty roads, and your guide knows the best routes. Ride across rocky terrain, through wild palm groves and over dry rivers, and pass through a desert of jbilets ö volcanic rock landscapes formed naturally over millions of years.

Midway through your tour, stop for a cup of Moroccan tea and a snack with a local family. With your guide as translator, perhaps talk to them about their experiences as you share a moment together. Enjoy the silence and serenity of the desert surroundings before hopping back on your quad bike and continuing your rugged desert ride. Conclude your tour back at the base camp, and then relax on the drive to your Marrakech hotel.

Jardin Majorelle

Other guests brought flowers, but Yves Saint Laurent gifted the Jardin Majorelle to Marrakesh, the city that adopted him in 1966. Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre BergÅ bought the electric-blue villa and its garden to preserve the vision of its original owner, landscape painter Jacques Majorelle, and keep it open to the public. The garden began cultivating in 1924 and thanks to Marrakshi ethnobotanist Abderrazak BenchaÀbane, the psychedelic desert mirage of 300 plant species from five continents continues to be preserved.

Even if you're not that into plants, come here to visit Majorelle's art deco studio, home to the MusÅe BerbÉre, which showcases the rich panorama of Morocco's indigenous inhabitants through displays of some 600 artefacts.

By far one of the country's most beautifully curated museums, the collection includes wood, leather and metalwork, textiles, musical instruments, religious trappings, and a display of the various regional traditional dress. Best of all is the mirrored, midnight-black octagonal chamber displaying a sumptuous collection of chiselled, filigreed and enamelled jewellery that reflect into infinity beneath a starry desert sky.

From the museum you exit into the boutique with its handsome coffee-table books and pricey souvenirs: Majorelle blue slippers, perfume and pillows embroidered with YSL.

Day Trip To Ouarzazate

This full day trip from Marrakech to Ouarzazate & Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou is ideal for those of you who cannot spare more than one day to get a sneak of Morocco Sahara desert. Take this round trip of 400 km across the Atlas mountain range via the Tizin'nTichka pass at an altitude of 2269 meters above sea level. Marvel at the brilliant landscape views dotted with Berber villages. Visit Ait Benhaddou village (where Star Wars were filmed). UNESCO as one of the world's cultural treasures has classified the fortified village of Ait Benhaddou. It is studded with crenelated towers and its buildings decorated with geometrical motifs and are considered to be one of the most beautiful villages of this kind in Morocco. A program of restoration work is currently under way to encourage the population of the village, which is at present inhabited by just five families.

From here, continue to Ouarzazate, which marks the beginning of the Sahara desert. Visit Taourirt Kasbah. This former Glaoui residence, situated on the edge of the town, on the road to Morocco Sahara desert, is considered to be one of the most beautiful kasbahs of Morocco. It consists of a maze of luxury apartments, simple clay houses and crenelated towers, which are lavishly decorated with geometric motifs. Part of the fortified village is open to the public. After some time at leisure for a cup of mint tea or coffee, drive back to Marrakech later in the afternoon while crossing the High Atlas Mountains.

Your Full day trip from Marrakech to Ouarzazate and Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou will end late in the afternoon by a drop off at your hotel or in the city center.

Video of the Top Hotel in Marrackech