Live like a King in Marrakech

With so many fine tailor made holidays to Morocco available, you will have a wealth of options to choose from if you plan to visit. By making the right choices you will experience some of the very finest places and activities in North Africa or, indeed, the world. To make sure your journey really is one fit for a King make sure to include the following in your itinerary;

The Old Souk & the Djemaa el Fna

Marrakech is home to the largest Souk, or traditional market, in Morocco and it is here that you will find the choicest and most intriguing cultural items for sale. There seem to be an almost limitless diversity of curios to browse, and the Souk itself is large enough to warrant hours of wandering between the brightly coloured stalls. If something takes your fancy in this wondrous bazaar (as it inevitably will), remember that the quoted price will be wildy optimistic on the part of the salesman and, far from being an insult, is an invitation to enjoy the art of haggling. Stepping out of the Souk, you will come upon the festive Djemaa el Fna, the central square of Marrakech and filled with all forms of entertainment, from story-tellers to dancing-boys to snake charmers. No luxury holidays are complete without an evening spent enjoying the diversions of this famous place.

Real Moroccan Cuisine

Marrakech the perfect place to try real Moroccan cuisine. For those with an adventurous palate the real treats include the delectable pastille, or sweet pigeon pie, filled with a succulent vegetable purée and the particularly flavoursome dessert of strawberries wrapped in wafer-thin pastry and rolled in ground almonds. If you don’t have time to make it to one of the city’s many restaurants, do still make sure to try as many local dishes as you can. You will often not have far to go as many of the luxury hotels have excellent restaurants on site.

Royal Golf de Marrakech

At the foot of the Atlas mountains lies the famed Royal golf course of Marrakech. Fringed by cypress, eucalyptus, palm, olive, orange and apricot trees, these links are as respected for their beauty as their design. With a Caddy being a mandatory requirement and even tailor made holidays available based solely around the course, the Royal Golf has established itself as an exclusive experience that touches the very heights of luxury.

Jardin Majorelle

Also built in the grand days of the 1920’s are the delicate Majorelle Gardens. Tinged with verdant greens and ceramics of cobalt blue there are few finer examples of North African horticulture. Open to the public since 1947, one does not have to be a king to feel like one in this ornate and teeming place.

5-Star Treatment

Marrakech is home to some of the finest luxury hotels in the world. Boasting a cultured mélange of styles, Morocco incorporates the generosity of Arab hospitality with the very pinnacle of local cuisine and, of course, international facilities. The most luxurious of the choices provide a level of service unrivalled anywhere in the world and spa facilities that have rightfully earned a grand reputation.

By: Jane Wilkinson

Marrakech for Your Senses

Marrakech for Your Senses By George Giurickovic

We would like to suggest you a trip to Marrakech, Morocco for the simple reason that we help a convention there and we did find it a very interesting place to visit if you’re up for some ’emotional inputs’ overdose. The ‘Great Imperial City’ is surely a great mix of sleepy infusions of meant tea, tasty spices and incenses tha spice up the air and of course great tasting food of the best moroccan gastronomy. The city of Marrakech is a assault to the senses in the middle of incredible old buildings that seem made out of colorful silk in a frame of sand of the ‘old good times’ of the imperial ‘belle epoque’.

If you do choose to go there, the first place that you’ll visit will be most probable the big square ‘Jeema-el-Fna’ that has inspired many many movies, including the well known Casablanca (that -yes- was not filmed in Casablanca but in Marrakech, the real cultural exotic capital of Morocco). Jeema-el-Fna is just a short stroll south of the main ‘suk’ (traditional, labyrinth style market); the square seems to come directly out of a painting and it is full of visual experiences that hardly could be found anywhere else in the world, including snake trainers, silver merchants and much much more. We would suggest to use Jeema-el-Fna as a starting point to explore the fascinating city center of Marrakech and in particular the main ‘suk’. The everchanging main suk is a melting pot of different misterious sounds, chants and also lovely odours and incredible colors that we’ve never seen around in the US (apart of paint stores).

You will find that in the main suk haggling is in fact art and you will soon have fun in the process + you will grab incredible deals on high quality goods. In the main market textiles hanging down from the ceiling of small rustic shops to dry might seem quite odd, but surely are goodlooking. The Medina of Marrakech (the old walled city center) is the oldest and the most big of Morocco and sometimes looks like a colorful maze ready to be explored for new enchanting experiences to be discovered and tasted. Old buildings are so elaborate and detailed that it looks like they’re made of carved wood.

In the Medina itself more than 300.000 people live and work making it a crowded but peaceful place where to observe life ‘flow’. A visit to Marrakech is not complete without a visit to the Koutoubia tower and the gardens of Agdal.

If you’ve got some time on your side we would like to suggest that you visit (tours or cars are easy to find) the nearby Atlas Mountains and of course the beginning of the Sahara desert, in fact Marrakech is the perfect base if you wish to explore one of the most interesting and beautiful area of Morocco and still be able to take advantage of modern comforts and high standards in Marrakech hotels.

If you want to read the full guide of Morocco and Marrakech by Rough Guides Ltd. for free please go to http://www.travelton.com/destinationguides.htm Thanks for reading.

http://www.travelton.com Hotel Reservations – Hotel Deals, lowest rates guaranteed, flights, car rental, activities, free destination guides, resources, tools and more.

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Marrakech Morocco – The pearl of the south!

When you hear people talking about traveling to Morocco, you are going to hear a lot of people talking about traveling to Marrakech. This is an area in Morocco that is sometimes called the Red City or Pearl of Morocco. . Possible origins of this cities name are thought to come from the Tamazight word mur akuch, which means the Land of God. The area is populated by more than a million people, and once you get there you will see why. This area is stunning and one of the most visited places in all of Morocco.

Marrakech is such a beautiful place to stay when you are in Morocco, because it’s near the foothills of the Atlas Mountains. However, another reason why people come to Marrakech is to check out their market. In fact, this area has one of the busiest market squares in all of Africa, and it’s called Djemaa el Fna. While you and your family tour this market place, you are going to see things like story tellers and acrobats. Another thing that is found all over this market place is water sellers, which is a big thing in Africa.

While you are there you are going to notice that Marrakech is comprised of two different cities. The old fortified city, as well as a newer modern city that sits just adjacent to the old one. Both of these areas are great to visit. However, most people tend to stay in the newer city, because of the upgraded hotels. Keep in mind that while you are there, you will want to go check out the old city as well. Here you are going to learn things about Marrakech that you never knew. In the newer city, you will find the Menara International Airport.

Most of the tourists that come to this area usually head from Marrakech to the valley of the Ourika River in the Atlas Mountains. This is an amazing site to see, and a must do for all first timers. Another very popular place would be the Draa River in the south near the Sahara desert. This is a well known place, and people tend to like to go there. However, a must see would be the Waterfalls of Beni Mellal. This is a site that tons of people forget to check out, but you will not want to miss it. This is something that your whole family is going to want to see. It’s not everyday you get to go see a waterfall in Africa. So while you are there, you might as well make the most out of it.

Marrakech is a great area in Morocco and a must see. It’s the perfect spot to rent a hotel, because you can get to other attractions very easily from Marrakech. So the next time you are looking for a place to stay in Morocco, you might as well go to Marrakech .With more food and fun than you can possibly see and sample in one trip, you are going to want to come back to do it all again. This is a city that is fun for people of all ages.

By: Morocco Tour Writer

The Essence of Marrakech, Morocco

Only a few hours from Europe is a place where you will marvel at the sights and sounds of a distant land. Boasting a rich history, exotic adventures, open-air bazaars, and an incredible mix of cultures, Marrakech will inevitably seduce each of your senses in a very poignant way. Along with the spectacular scenery, discerning travelers will be instantly lured by the magic of Marrakech.

For centuries, the land of Morocco has been attracting travelers in search of adventure and exotic opportunities. The city of Marrakech lies in the foothills of the snow-capped Atlas Mountains only an hour away, and excursions are adventurous and in traditional Moroccan style: luxury camping in Bedouin tents, a camel journey lead by a nomad guide through the dunes, horseback riding through the Atlas foothills where ancient caravans traversed, or cycling through crumbling 16th century desert kasbahs (ancient parts of a city).

You can visit a traditional Berber village, take a day hike, or trek Mount Toubkal, the highest mountain in North Africa. Hot air ballooning allows you to take in the sites of a diverse landscapes – a beautiful mountain ranges with cliff-hanging villages, emerald tinted lakes, and high altitude pastures.

There are plenty of opportunities to shop the souks (marketplaces) and explore the alleyways of this genuinely romantic city. An ancient capital, Marrakech offers the largest traditional market in Morocco and the busiest square in all of Africa. Explorations must be done on foot, bicycle or horse-drawn carriages in the labyrinthine backstreets of ancient medinas, where exotic spices waft through crowded narrow storefronts tempting you to do some serious bargain shopping.

Souks display colorful pottery and carpets and customary creations of apothecary goods, cosmetics, herbs, jewelry, leather, perfumes, and slippers, all traditional commodities in this Arabic country. Snake charmers, musicians, dancers and jugglers line the souks to entertain and awe tourists and locals alike.

In a land full of wonderful surprises, there are many top luxury hotels in Marrakech, diverse as the landscape in Morocco.

The Hivernage Hotel & Spa, set in the heart of Marrakech, is a magnificent hotel surrounded by lush gardens and stunning views of the Atlas Mountains. High ceilings, marble columns and extravagant fabrics give this hotel its character.

Amanjena Resort, which translates to “peaceful paradise” was built in 2000, and is the first of the Aman Resort on the African continent. Known for offering exclusivity and privacy, this resort is set within an oasis of palms and mature olive trees.

Hotel La Mamounia has quite a reputation, in years past, for conducting stately dinners for which men dressed in top hats and tails and women, adorned with jewels, wore long evening gowns. Currently closed through 2007 for extensive renovations, this hotel is set amid tranquil gardens almost three hundred years old, and is known as one of the world’s grandest and most exquisite hotels.

Marrakech is known as the Red City, or in Arabic as Al Medina al-Hamra, because of its rose tinted building. With the old city (medina) and the modern metropolis, population is estimated to be around two million. Riads (urban houses) are situated around a courtyard and garden, and represent a traditional dwelling place where residents can find peace from the clamor of the city.

The locals are friendly, and their demanding way of life a constant source of amazement. Men shuffle around in hooded cloaks and begin each day with an exhilarating call to prayer at the local mosque. Becoming part of this culture is inevitable. It is an honor to join a family to dine within a private riad to eat delicious, slow-cooked tajines of lamb and flat Moroccan bread. The drinking of mint tea is customary, as is the exotic art of belly dancing. Eating couscous, socializing and simply soaking up the hospitality is part of a typical Moroccan day.

Come and see what this magical country has to offer, from cultural exchanges to adventurous expeditions, and amazing sunsets that display a kaleidoscope of colors. From the snow-capped Atlas Mountains to the endless desert sands, experience a country of dramatic contrasts and a genuine hospitality. The rich history and traditions of this ancient land offer something for every taste. For sheer diversity, it would be hard to imagine a more perfect destination than Marrakech.