“This city taught me color.”
Yves Saint Laurent
A three-hour flight from London, Paris, and a plethora of major European cities will transport you to the sandy, camel spotted landscapes of the Saharan desert you’ve only dreamt of visiting. The city that has gifted artistic inspiration and cultured relaxation to names from Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt to Rhianna and Cristiano Ronaldo. Marrakech is the fourth largest city in Morrocco sitting west of the jaw-dropping, snow-capped Atlas Mountains and only one hundred miles from the beloved beach city of Essaouira. Home to a red-walled labyrinth of streets full of traditional souks, exotic smells and sights, the city truly needs to be seen, heard, tasted, felt, and touched to be appreciated in all its glory. So wherever the narrow winding roads of Marrakech take you, make sure they make pit stops for Moroccan Mint Tea, a hop in a hammam, and dinner involving a Tagine. Here are a few things the VWT team wouldn’t miss and where we would wind down in luxury after an adventure to the “Red City”!
What we would do:
Jemaa el-Fnaa:
At some point in your trip, it’s destined you’ll find yourself in the open-air marketplace located in Marrakech’s medina quarter. UNESCO declared Jemaa el-Fnaa a Masterpiece of World Heritage in 2001 and a walk through in the glow of the evening will show you why. Snake charmers, street food, spice and carpet vendors tell the legendary stories of Marrakech that keep on living.
Bahia Palace:
Within walking distance of Jemaa el-Fnaa, Badi Palace, and the Saafian Tombs, sits a nineteenth century palace representative of the luxurious lifestyle of the Moroccan elite. The Palace was once home to Moroccan royals and is now open for history and architecture lovers to see the beauty for themselves.
Private tour to the Atlas Mountains:
The journey to the Atlas Mountains is just as wonderous as the destination itself. Ride a camel passing through the Agafay desert, sip tea with locals in Berber villages, and hike to waterfalls for a glimpse into the beauty of North Africa.
Where we would stay:
Royal Mansour Marrakech
Royal Mansour Marrakech was born out of the desire to share the authentic Moroccan lifestyle with its guests through unmatched excellence and luxury – the locals call it the “best hotel in Marrakech.” Steps away from the famous Jemma el-Fnaa square, protected in the city walls, the hotel grasps the unique concept of having a medina within a medina giving guests the ability to seamlessly roam through its intricate rooms, gardens, pools, and four restaurants with an abundance of sensory delights. The hotel prides itself on being one of the only in the world to have replaced its rooms and suites with fifty-three independent and luxurious riads, each uniquely decorated with its own enchanting and uniquely Moroccan style.
The property shared above is a part of our Valerie Wilson Travel Suite Access™ portfolio. Learn more about VWT’s Suite Access program here.
La Mamounia
Located in the heart of Marrakech, La Mamounia is a long-standing icon of one of the finest hotels in the world incarnating the opulence of the Moroccan lifestyle. Among many visits to one of his most beloved cities, Winston Churchill was quoted in 1943 regarding the hotel saying, “This is a wonderful place, and the hotel one of the best I have ever used.” The palace hotel is home to 209 luxurious rooms, suites, and riads each combining Moroccan craftsmanship with contemporary design. There are four restaurants and four bars on the property as well as two traditional tea rooms for an indulgent break after exploring the medina.
