Marrakech was a city that constantly surprised me. Around every corner was something new to discover – one minute you can feel hot, flustered and quite overwhelmed by the hum and bustle of the souk and then the next, you’ll feel calm and cool as you step into the air-conditioned mini havens of a riad or a restaurant.
I honestly think it’s one of the best options for a 3-4 day trip; a perfect mix of culture, history, inspiration and relaxation. Liv and I wanted a blend of having time to relax as well as being able to explore, so we fit in a reasonable amount into the 4 days we were exploring the city – enjoying camel rides and local dinners, as well as poolside relaxation and trips to the souks to soak up all of the local culture and flavours. See below for our photo diary from Marrakech and some key places I’d recommend if you’re looking to book a trip…
Explore the souks. We had a gorgeous couple of mornings walking through them and getting lost, but I would definitely recommend getting there early if you don’t want to feel overwhelmed; by the time we were in search of a midday lunch, it was starting to get VERY busy with tourists so do early morning or late afternoon to avoid crowding. The sounds, smells and colours are even more intoxicating than I’d been told about or had imagined and you really have to see it for yourselves to understand the sensory overload of these little corners of one of the most famous markets in the world. One word of advice is to be on your guard while hunting in the maze that is the souks; on our first time, we got approached by a friendly enough guy asking to be our ‘guide’ – even though we told him ‘we were fine, thank you’ he followed us the whole way and demanded money at the end. So definitely be wary of this!
Book in a dinner and cocktails at Comptoir Dharna. It’s a fabulous initiation into Moroccan cuisine – you can start your evening with a delicious cocktail in their pretty fairy-lit terrace out the back and then it’s back inside for a wonderfully authentic evening of traditional food, music and entertainment. It’s not cheap but it’s great fun – perfect for a date night or also to go in a large group.
Try Quad biking or a camel ride in the Palm Grove. We drove out to this dedicated area, just a short 20 mins outside the old town, to experience a camel ride. I’d done some research into ensuring the animals were properly looked after and the camels seemed happy enough trotting along for the hour-long ride, with plenty of food and water. I think next time I’d choose quad biking to be honest though, as it can get very hot and uncomfortable up on the camels.
Lunch at Nomad for truly delicious food and views of the rug-filled rooftops of the medina, or enjoy sunset mocktails at Cafe Des Epices – both of these beautiful spots are opposite each other, so easy to enjoy both.
Try El Fenn – another stunning riad – for rooftop cocktails.
YSL Museum and Marjorelle Gardens. As a huge fan of Yves Saint Laurent, I was really excited about this museum of the fashion designer’s former home and gardens. However, maybe it was just the crowds or the increasing heat of the day, but it felt a little underwhelming to be honest. Luckily, we hadn’t had to queue for hours (as the best tip I was given before heading to Marrakech was to go to the queue for the gardens and get a joint ticket – this gets you into the museum as well, but means you can skip the longgggg queue; ideal!). The museum itself is rather small, but it does have a beautiful selection of his creations over the years and a wonderful print gallery. If you’re a fashion fan, it’s worth adding onto your itinerary.
A real highlight from our trip was a day well spent at the Beldi Country Club. This stunning, sprawling hotel a short drive from the old town is designed as a mix of Moroccan tradition and French country chic and is an absolute must if you’re visiting Marrakech. If you’re not staying there, you can easily book a pool day pass to use all of the facilities and explore the incredible grounds, which are made up of rose gardens overlooking the atlas mountains, numerous pool areas, shops, botanical conservatories and event spaces (this would make one hell of a wedding venue!). We had a lovely long lazy lunch nattering away over G&T’s before heading back to the airport for our later flight – I would love to come back and actually stay at the hotel too – it would be a great place to spend Christmas and New Year’s one year; one for the wishlist! You can explore more about the hotel here…
Why not then end your trip with a treat by booking dinner and drinks at the impeccable and legendary La Mamounia palace hotel.
Just moments away from Jemaa el-Fnaa Square in Marrakesh, La Mamounia offers the sophisticated luxury and comfort of a five-star palace hotel, all the while boasting incredible views of the gardens, the Atlas Mountains and the Koutoubia Mosque. Liv and I decided to spend an evening here to enjoy sunset drinks in the grounds of the hotel, followed by dinner at the Italian restaurant of the hotel. We dined outside under the stars, with the most delicious food and wine and attentive service – what better way to spend an evening while on holiday?!
Until next time Marrakech…you were wonderful.
LMNH x
