Menara
Set slightly out of town the Menara gardens offers not only a pleasant escape from bustling Marrakech, but also has one of the most photographed settings of Morocco, which is most enjoyed in the last hour before the gates close. At this time of the day the place is also cleared of the crowds. It is designed as a summer escape from the incredible heat of Marrakech. It is adorned with both orchards and olive groves. The pavilion and the basin existed from earlier times, but the present structure was built in the middle of the 19th century at the command of Sultan Abu ar-Rahman.

Agdal
The name “Agdal” comes from the Berber language and means “meadow on the banks of a wadi enclosed with a stone wall”. The Almoravids laid out an orchard garden in the 12th century. Water was brought from the Ourika Valley by a network of underground channels and ditches. Agdal comprises several linked gardens with one leading on to the next, including an orange grove and an olive plantation.

El Bahia Palace
The stucco and stonework in the Bahia Palace is truly amazing. Mosaics cover the floors, while the wooded ceilings are just as intricately decorated. The entrance to Bahia Palace is near to the Place des Ferblantiers and some 150 individual rooms await inside. However, only a limited number of these extravagant rooms are actually open to the public.

The Koutoubia Mosque
One of the most recognisable Marrakech landmarks, the Koutoubia Mosque features an imposing minaret that towers above the rest of the city. Hemmed in by well tended gardens and beautifully lit at night, the mosque harks back to the 12th century but is unfortunately off limits to non-Muslims. However you can still walk around the gardens.

Saadian Tombs
These tombs were not discovered until the beginning of the 20th century. They have been preserved unchanged since the glory days of the Saadian rulers. Unlike the El Badi Palace they were not destroyed, probably for superstitious reasons. The entrance was blocked so they remained untouched for hundreds of years.

Seen from Marrakech, the vast, imposing mass of the snow-capped mountains seems unreal and distant. The splendour, other-worldliness and imposing might of the constant changing Atlas landscape are only 20 kilometres away. Just head out South East of Marrakech through the friendly Berber villages of Aghmat and Dar Caid Ouriki in the Atlas Mountains. Follow the road bordered with terraced gardens along Wadi Ourika until you reach Arhbalou. From there on the choice is simply limitless. The Ouzoud Falls of the Atlas are an amazing sight not to be missed.

Rugged peaks rise to over 4,000m and are usually snow or ice-covered from November to April although, in recent warmer winters, they have often had little more than a dusting. With their myriad of remote and friendly Berber villages tucked high up on the plateau and the network of mule paths that link them, this region is a walker’s haven, particularly in spring. When the winter snows have melted day time temperatures are pleasant, wild flowers abound and emerald green terraces contrast dramatically.

What can i say about Djemaa el Fna, is wild, loud, and in your face, the world famous square and market place in the ancient wall of the Marrakech’s medina quarter. Ranked #2 of 110 things to do in Marrakesh by Lonely Planet travellers, the origin of it’s name remains unknown, it means ‘assembly of the dead’ in Arabic, but as the word djemaa also means mosque in Arabic, it could also mean place of the vanished mosque, in reference to a destroyed Almoravid mosque.

The square is the highlight of any visit to Marrakech, used equally by locals and tourists. During the day it is mostly occupied by orange juice stalls, youths with chained Barbary apes, water sellers in colourful costumes with traditional leather water-bags and brass cups, and snake charmers who will pose for photographs for tourists. Musicians, dancers, and story tellers pack the square at the heart of the medina, filling it with a cacophony of drum beats and excited shouts. As the day progresses the entertainment on offer change. The snake charmers depart and in the afternoon and evening the square becomes more crowded with Chleuh dancing boys and storytellers telling their tales in Berber or Arabic to an audience of appreciative locals. There are also magicians and peddlers of traditional medicines. As dark descends the square fills with dozens of food-stalls and the crowds are at their height.

The Koutoubia Mosque right beside Djemaa El Fna is named after the bookseller’s market that used to be located there. At night the mosque is beautifully lit.

The souks or markets of Marrakech just adjacent to Djemaa El Fna are where you can buy almost anything, from spices to shoes, jalabas to kaftans, tea pots to tagines often over glass after glass of what might be considered the national very sweet drink–hot mint tea.

‘Souks’ are traditional North African markets and Marrakech is awash with them. At the city’s lively souks you can pick up anything from fine leather goods to hammocks, spices to shoes, jalabas to kaftans, tea pots to tagines, souvenirs to food and much, much more.

The market next to Djemaa El Fna is one of the best in Morocco. The attractions and excited locals found within the souks are not to be missed. The souks of Marrakech are like a labyrinth where you soon lose direction. Maps in guide books turn out to be of limited help and only when you stick to one of the few wide alleyways.

The roofs are essential, during the summer season temperatures pass 40C for months. The roofs and the coolness of the stone houses make the souks an ideal place to hide from the sun. Numerous shops specialise in everything from gourmet dates to exotic spices. Buying natural products can be highly rewarding as well as great fun. Many have kilo prices clearly marked for tourists, with haggling fatigue this is a relief and few of these vendors allow you to walk away with the wrong product and openly invite you to taste or smell before you buy.

You won’t have to walk far before the first great offers on carpets come your way. Moroccan carpets come in several different styles, indigenous patterns and techniques while others are designed to foreign tastes. Persian-like rugs are generally a poor buy in Morocco, they are far more expensive than the so-called Berber carpets and once brought home to your country have little value.

After spending as much time as you can bear in the steam room you proceed to a cooler room for a scrub with a coarse glove and black soap before being manipulated by a masseur or masseuse. Then it’s time for some quiet contemplation in the “salle de repos” (rest room). Be advised that at hammams males and females are strictly segregated and in female sections women usually go naked, but you can bring along a swimming costume if you prefer not to. Nudity in the male world is taboo, so men keep their trunks on! All Moroccan towns have hammams as do many hotels and auberges.

The best Hammam in Marrakech are:

Hamman Hilton (A gorgeous marble Turkish bath)
Targa Rd
Admission Dh30

Hammam el-Bacha (Traditional hammam in the Medina)
Rue Fatima Zohra
Admission & massage Dh30

http://www.lesjardinsdines.com

Les Jardins d’Inès, a luxury boutique hotel, is situated in the heart of the Palmeraie of Marrakech, an oasis of coolness, a charming place to stay in this dream city, ideally situated just 4 minutes from the celebrated Palmeraie Golf Course (18 holes) designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., 10 minutes from the city centre and 15 minutes from the Marrakech International Airport (Menara).

A swimming pool, a Spa dedicated to relaxation of the body and the wellbeing of the mind, brings you serenity and tranquillity. For the more sportive, the 18-hole golf course and club house of the Palmeraie Golf Palace is nearby.

This prestigious place has exceptional décor. An authentic 5-star Boutique Hotel and Spa, where everything is just a fusion of the senses, designed for lovers of rare and exclusive hotels. Composed of 26 luxury suites, of which there are 2 Junior suites, 10 Diplomatic Suites, 8 Ambassadors’ Suites and 6 Royal Suites sparingly and subtly decorated, unifying beauty, luxury and refinement.

A superb International and Moroccan restaurant plus a Lounge Bar and reading room, is provided, as is 24-hour Room Service.

Have a look the selection of Marrakech videos below

Upon reaching Essaouira drive straight ahead until you reach the coastal road. Follow the coastal road (beside the beach) until you reach the parking lot next to the port entrance.

The best lunch is available right at the port where tables are set up to accommodate diners and you can choose the fish you want to have grilled. Be sure to negotiate the price before you sit down.

Depending on the seafood you choose, you can get an excellent lunch for 50-120 DH that will also include salads, bread and a soft drink. If you’re not a seafood fan, try the cheap and delicious take-out sandwich shops on the right side of the main square facing the port!

After lunch, you can cruise the souks to check out local handicrafts. We highly recommend that you visit the spice, jewelry and wood souks. In the wood souk below the ramparts, you can still see artisans at work.

Before heading back to Marrakech, take some photos from atop the ramparts and sip some mint tea in the main square.

Ourika Valley
The valley stretches along a vast area from Souk T’nin Ourika to Setti Fatima. Souk T’nin Ourika is an easy 35-minute trip from Marrakech and has a large Monday souk (regional market). Continuing on to Setti Fatima will require an additional 20-30 minutes. We recommend driving though town and parking in the lot to your right (near the end of the road).

At Setti Fatima you can easily hike up to the first of seven waterfalls without a guide and enjoy a soft drink and/or lunch at the café next to the falls. Alternatively, you can negotiate a price and arrange to have lunch awaiting you at any number of cafes in town or along the path back from the falls. Make sure to look for the Barbary apes in the cliffs on your right during your hike down.

Jbel Oukaimden
This is the best and only local skiing available!! There is usually snow cover from late January to mid-March. Whether or not you choose to ski, you can take the ski lift up to an altitude of over 3700 meters and enjoy the view overlooking the Lalla Takerkouste Dam and the plains surrounding Marrakech.

Day ski passes are very cheap by European and American standards, and will allow you unlimited rides on the lift and the numerous t-bars. Ski rentals are available at a shop leading to the mountain or on the mountain itself.

We recommend that you take your own water, food and medicines, as the resort is not well equipped. To reach Jbel Oukaimden, take the road to Ourika Valley. When the road splits and you see the sign for Oukaimden, stay to the right. Follow the winding road up until it dead ends. There is an entrance fee of 10 DH per car (current as of February 2006).