It really is a feast for the senses!
The Kingdom of Morocco sits on the Atlantic Coast where it joins the Mediterranean. It is a country with a long and fascinating history as well as a great pride in a rich tradition of art and culture. Morocco, unlike many North African countries, also manages to combine its own cultural heritage with a contemporary approach too. It is a forward thinking country that seeks to protect its heritage but not to the exclusion of providing a top quality holiday experience. Perhaps that is part of its appeal.
The locations we offer:
Marrakech
Marrakech has so many contrasts! The modern city has wide palm lined boulevards with a great sense of space and calm, whilst within the old city walls a world of history comes alive.
Behind its twelve kilometres of red ochre walls, Marrakech has a thousand year old history. Its mosques, fountains, palaces and legendary Djemma El Fna square make it a fascinating and vibrant city. There are various bustling souks where countless trades are plied, each souk has a speciality; wool and spice markets, the former corn market now has apothecary stalls that include beauty products such as kohl and henna, there is the carpet souk, the copper souk with amazing copper and brass pieces, the Sebbaghine is where the dyer’s hang large skeins of multi-coloured wool to dry, the potter’s souk with beautiful tajines, the jewellery souk and the Jeld souk is for leather goods. These are colourful and exciting places to visit, and yes you will be approached to buy, after all that is what they are there for, but a polite but firm no if you are not interested will always suffice. But if you are tempted don’t be afraid to barter, it is all part of the experience and expected. Decide what you want to pay for the item (be realistic) and then enjoy the game! It is often quite a social event and you may be offered mint tea, it is advisable to accept if you are going barter for your purchase. If you would prefer, a guide can be arranged to accompany you and ensure you see the best these atmospheric markets have to offer. You can watch traditional craftsmen working gold, silver, copper and brass, so even if you don’t want to buy anything they are well worth visiting.
Marrakech also has many beautiful gardens open to the public, we give more information on our What to do page. The eclectic charm of this Imperial City has appealed to many creative people over the years, musicians, artists, actors and writers and it is not hard to see why, it is very inspiring.
We offer beautiful Riads and elegant hotels here, there is sure to be something to suit your taste. We also have the most superb representatives here who are so knowledgeable and courteous that many of our guests write to us specifically about them and they are qualified tour guides.
What do to in Marrakech?
There are a lot of cultural things to see and do in Marrakech and we mention more about these on our What to do page above. But don’t miss Djemma el Fna square, in the heart of traditional Marrakech, you will see street entertainment at its best – Berber musicians and dancers, fire-eaters, snake-charmers, acrobats and story-tellers. Around the edges of the square are stalls selling food, henna tattooists, travel dentists and more. Choose a stall with the hottest coals if you try food here, or there are plenty of cafes in the vicinity some with roof top terraces to view the activity.
The Koutoubia Mosque dates from the 12th Century and the El Badi Palace from the late 16th Century, again not to be missed! Horse-drawn carriages can be used to take you to points of interest and there is an excellent range of restaurants to choose from too.
Agadir
Agadir, on the Atlantic coast, is famed for its enormous sandy beach some 9 kilometres long and boasts over 300 sunny days a year. As a modern resort it offers an excellent range of entertainments including bars, restaurants, (try the port for superb seafood), discos and folklore. Many sports are available including tennis, water sports, fishing, golf and horse riding. Currently we are only showing the beautiful Raid des Golf, 10 minutes outside Agadir, but we can book your favourite hotel here if you have one. Agadir is an ideal resort to visit for a day at the beach from Riads des Golf or even from Taroudant, 45 minutes away.
What to do in the Agadir area
Whether you like water sports like surfing, jet-ski or just the simple joys of swimming, there are plenty of opportunities here, especially as Agadir offers ideal weather conditions year round. It has the perfect climate to play golf, on one of the areas three courses (see our What to do page), or simply to relax and enjoy the sea side location.
Taroudant
Also spelt, Taroundannt, is about 45 minutes from Agadir and is a walled city surrounded by olive groves, citrus orchards and agriculture and is in the fertile plains of the Souss Valley. Most of the town is within the city walls, its fortifications are still in good repair and are one of its most striking attractions. It is a colourful town, literally and historically, for the trade caravans of the past it linked the Sahara with the port of Agadir. Its rich warm colours of Ochre and Indigo have charmed and appealed to painters and photographers for generations.
The two major features of the town are: The great wall, which is 7kms long and a lined in parts with gardens and palms. For nearly a 1000 years these imposing ramparts have protect the medina of Taroudant, one of the oldest in the country. Magnificently maintained, the walls display a colour that becomes more intense as the sun as the sun goes down. Locals suggest walk around the ramparts at dusk, that’s when the trees project their shadows over the fire-coloured ochre, very attractive.
The other main feature is the Kasbah located a little away from the town centre in the heart of a palm grove it is a testament to a forgotten time. Its’ size and many towers are imposing, but inside there is a warm welcome with lovely gardens and a medieval history. The 19th century palace here is now the Palais Salaam, one of the hotels we offer in this area, the other is outside the city walls and is the tranquil and famous La Gazelle D’Or.
|