Marrakech is a very famous city to the west, thanks greatly to a song by Crosby, Stills and Nash which immortalized it in the 1960s, however there is much more to the city than just a song.

The city, with a population of 1,036,000, translates its name into Land of God and has many areas to appeal to the intrepid traveler who happens to come to the city gates.

 

Like many cities in Northern Africa, it is divided into two parts, the old city, or “Medina” and the new city, which is made up of two districts; Guéliz and Hivernage.

Marrakech also boasts the largest traditional market in all of Morocco, and the busiest square on the entire continent of Africa.

Places to See

Djemaa El Fna is a hot attraction on any Marrakech night, with musicians, dancers and story tellers packing the square in the heart of the medina. The sound of drum beats and excited hollers from the visitors to the square can be heard nearly every night. Several stalls in this section of the medina will often sell a wide array of Moroccan traditional food. A must see for sure!

The Koutoubia mosque, which is adjacent to Djemaa El Fna, shows off an impressive minaret, which is called the Eiffel Tower of Marrakech. It is visible from the Guéliz district.

In Guéliz, be sure to check out the Majorelle Gardens, which provides a wonderful respite from the hustle and bustle of the city streets. The park has plants from all over the world, including every cactus species on the planet. Inside the garden is also a must-see attraction in the form of the Museum of Islamic Art.

What to do

It is one thing to see Marrakech from the ground but it is a completely different scenario to see it from the air in a hot air balloon. With a hot air balloon ride you will be able to fly over the deserts around Marrakech, and see the small local villages around it. It is a wonderful activity for anyone with an interest in the amazing culture that Morocco, and Marrakech, has to offer.

Yoga is a very popular activity in Marrakech and many visitors will come to the city to have the opportunity to practice yoga in Morocco’s yoga centre.

Tours are an integral part of any journey into a Moroccan city, and Marrakech is no different. One of the best is the Tour Marrakesh, which provides a day-long tour of Marrakech. During the tour, you will visit the Bahia Palace and enter the Saadian Tombs. As well, you will have the opportunity to see the Koutoubia Mosque that dominates the medina, as we have already mentioned. You will get to wind your way through the 1,000 year old medina to see shops of Berber carpets, kilims and caftans, leather goods, silver jewelry, copperware, antiques, dresses and medicinal herbs. Once night falls, you will see the Djemaa el-Fna, which hums during the day and becomes a square of mystery, magic and possibility at night. Tour guides are fluent in French, Japanese and English, and all guides are government certified.

Of course, since we are talking tours, what would a trip to Marrakech, or Morocco for that matter be without visiting the Sahara Desert.

Thankfully, there is a tour called Desert Discovery which offers just that, a tour of the Sahara Desert and the nomadic villages that dot the landscape of the vast sandy sea.

The tour begins in Marrakech with a private escort of the city, followed be a departure the next day, over the Atlas Mountains, to Ait ben Haddou. The next seven days consist of stops in villages, ruins and many natural wonders that the area has to offer, before returning to Marrakech for two nights.

Guides are government certified and they speak Japanese, French and English. Included in the Desert Discovery tour is lodging at a beautiful hotel, all transportation in an air conditioned minivan, as well as breakfast and dinner daily.

Where to stay

If you are looking for a place to stay in Marrakech, you cannot get much better than the Amanjena, a stunning resort with 32 private pavilions, eight of which have swimming pools, and all with wood-burning sunken fireplaces. The entire resort is faithful to the ethos of Morocco, with exotic local materials used to take a visitor back in time to the Morocco of past years. From the resort you will be able to see the Atlas Mountains, authentic Berber villages and the amazing Medina of Marrakech. The health and beauty centre of Marrakech offers hammams, or steam rooms, along with a beautiful whirlpool. A gym, tennis courts and hiking trips to the mountains are also available for the traveler who simply cannot stay put, but for those who want nothing but to be in the lap of luxury during their stay, the Amanjena is the place to be.

If a resort is not what are you are looking for then give the La Maison Arabe a try. This charming hotel started in the 1940s as a restaurant by two French women. The hotel is located in the Marrakech medina, basking in the shadow of the Bab Doukkala mosque.

The hotel offers 17 rooms and suites, with two restaurants, a pool, spa and cooking school. A traditional Moroccan steam bath is offered, as well as massages, facials and mud baths with products handmade at La Maison Arabe.

Summary

If you visit Morocco, then you need to put Marrakech on the list of places to visit because no trip to the country would be complete without it. The city is an amazing array of history, culture and excitement that must be experienced to be fully enjoyed on the deepest level. Whether it is ballooning over the city, walking through the Medina or venturing out into the Sahara Desert, Marrakech is the place you want to be. Don’t miss out on a truly amazing life experience in the Land of God.