Marrakesh or Marrakech was founded in 1062 under the reign of the Almoravid king Yusuf ibn Tashfin. Quickly many mosques and madrassas were built and the city became a major center for traffic between the western Maghreb and sub-Saharan Africa.
Many palaces were built using Andalusian craftsmen from Córdoba and Seville, who brought the Umayyad style characterized by carved and lobed arched domes. In 1122 the city was fortified by walls by the son of Youssef Ibn Tachfine Ali Ben Youssef. In 1147 the Almoravid lost the city to the Almohad and almost all the monuments and palaces were destroyed by the Almohads as they considered the Almoravid to be heretics. In 1184 they built the impressive Koutoubia Mosque on the ruins of an Almoravid Palace.
In the sixteenth century, Marrakesh became the capital of the Saadian Empire and the city was embellished and restored during the reign of Ahmed Al-Mansur Ad Dhahbi (‘the golden’ in Arabic) who brought more than half a ton of gold from Timbuktu (Mali). This gold was partly used to build the sumptuous El Badi Palace.
After the end of the Saadi Dynasty in 1659, the Alaouite dynasty took control over Morocco and Meknes became the new capital of the Empire.
Your Accommodation / Airport, Train-Bus Station or wherever you want
30 Minutes Before Departure
Upon your arrival at MENARA airport in MARRAKECH where you will be welcomed by a member of our team, and then you will be transferred to your accommodation. The driver will provide a short review of your tour. Dinner & night at the hotel.
After having breakfast at the Riad, you will find a locale guide waiting for you, to start your tour inside the old city of Marrakech. The morning begins with a visit to the magnificent Koutoubia Mosque the landmark of Marrakech which has inspired other buildings such as the Giralda of Seville and the Hassan Tower of Rabat.
Your next stop is the Bahia Palace and the Saadian Tombs. The Saadian tombs in Marrakech date back to the time of Sultan Ahmad al-Mansur. The graves were discovered in 1917 and were restored by the Beaux-arts service. The mausoleum comprises the interments of about sixty members of the Saadian Dynasty that originated from the valley of the Draa River.
After the lunch break, You Continue to the world-famous Jemaa el Fna Square, which houses an array of food, snake charmers, local musicians, and fortune-tellers. There’s nowhere like the Jemaa el Fna, the square at the heart of old Marrakesh. You will also walk through the souks and view hundreds of handicrafts. A night with breakfast at the Riad.
Departure starts from Marrakech south up to Asni weekly market every Saturday then to Imlil (1740m), set in the top-level foothills of the High Atlas mountains, the main trailhead with paths branching out in all directions. Upon arrival, we leave the car with a welcome glass of mint tea in the village where you meet a local guide prior to setting out for a walking tour.
The tour starts south to the Berber village of Aroumd passing the jagged Western High Atlas peaks of the Toubkal Massif overlooking ancient irrigated terraced fields of barley, corn, and vegetables and always surrounded by almond and walnut trees. We thence carry on for another Half an Hour to get to our lunch which will be served among a Berber family in the village of Achayn prior to setting off back down the other side of the valley back to Imlil for the night with dinner in a typical Berber family house.
Starting afresh day enjoy the magical sunshine on the flourished valleys & the marvelous typical Berber villages, You leave Imlil for a real discovery of the surroundings of Berber villages and local people meeting. After a few hours of hiking, stop for our field picnic lunch under walnut groves and relax near the river. The walking tour goes further with a spectacular view over Imlil Valley & Toubkal Summit. Dinner and night at the typical luxury Kasbah Hotel.
Start Our journey from Atlas to Essaouira. On-Road, you will see many Argan trees, important to the region both economically and ecologically. You may also see local goats perched in the trees feeding on the fruit and leaves. At the Women’s Cooperative of Argan Oil, there will be an opportunity to learn about the wide-ranging applications of the oil from cosmetics to medicines.
After several stops to take photographs, you will continue your travel to Essaouira. You’ll visit the Skala Fortress, the port, the souks, and see Thuya wood carved by artisans, walking through the alleys of the medina and past the hundreds of handicrafts. Today you will have lunch in a Moroccan way, bought fish ‘cooked to order. The afternoon is free to walk and explore by yourself. Overnight accommodation with dinner and breakfast at Hotel.
Starting our day to explore the medina with a locale guide. You will have the opportunity to see the Mellah, the former Jewish quarter, and The Medina as a UNESCO World Heritage Site with beautiful arts and crafts to be found, including objects carved out of local Thuya wood. You will enjoy a mint tea in one of the local cafés and explore the Atlantic-facing sandy beach. A night with breakfast at Hotel
Departure from Essaouira to Marrakech you have the choice either to enjoy the morning in this charming whitewashed town on the Atlantic coast and a popular beach destination. If not you drive back to Marrakech as the starting point of your Morocco holiday.
The afternoon is at leisure to make your way to bustling Jemaa el-Fnaa to observe the people of Marrakech and explore the magical circus that fortune tellers, henna artists, fire eaters, snake charmers, dancing monkeys, storytellers, medicine men, Gnawas, acrobats call home. A night with breakfast at the hotel.
After having a great time and enjoying different roads and places in Morocco with us, Your driver will take you from your accommodation to Menara Airport depending on your flight time, hoping to see you soon
