Gardens of Marrakech & the Atlas Mountains

Day 1 London to Marrakech, Morocco.

Fly to Marrakech and on arrival transfer to Hotel Les Jardins de la Koutoubia, our base for the next three nights. Dinner will be at the hotel this evening. (D)

Day 2 Marrakech.

After breakfast set out to explore the historic city of Marrakech and its vast array of gardens. Start at the Koutoubia, a 250-foot minaret that has been standing guard over the city since the 12th century and is today one of Marrakech’s most famous landmarks. The Minaret and adjoining mosque have their own peaceful garden providing an oasis from the busy streets of the city. Continue to the Arsat Moulay Abdeslam Garden, built in the 18th century and once a private royal orchard and garden belonging to Moulay Abdesalam, a member of the Moroccan Royal family. Today it is a public park that combines tradition with modernity, and we will wander the park’s paths taking in the vibrant flowers, fragrant orange trees and soothing fountains. From here we will head into the famous Medina of Marrakech. With our local guide we will explore the maze-like souks taking in the sounds and smells and see the array of local goods on sale from carpets to leather, still made in the traditional ways, pottery and piled high spices. Lunch will be at La Terrasse des Epices which overlooks the Cherifa Souk and afterwards we will visit Le Jardin Secret, a private garden located in the heart of the Medina. The original garden dates back over four hundred years and was rebuilt in the mid-19th century. Before returning to the hotel for an evening at leisure there will be time to visit the famous Jamaa El Fna Square. (B, L)

Day 3 Marrakech.

Today we will explore some of the more famous gardens in Marrakech. We will start with the iconic Majorelle Gardens, a vibrant and enchanting garden created by French painter Jacques Majorelle in the 1920s and 30s and then purchased by Pierre Berge and Yves Saint Laurent in the 1980s to save it from developers. The garden spans over two and a half acres and is divided into different sections, each offering a different experience. Afterwards there will be a visit to the Yves Saint Laurent Museum, a small but beautiful example of contemporary architecture in Marrakech. Lunch today will be at Café Arabe which offers traditional Moroccan dishes in a relaxed atmosphere away from the hustle and bustle outside. This afternoon we will visit the Bahia Palace which, built in the 19th century showcases the opulence and grandeur of Moroccan craftsmanship. Explore the intricate tile work, decorative ceilings and of course the beautifully landscaped gardens. Continuing on we visit some of the Caravanserais or Fondouks, historic buildings located inside the Medina and once used to store goods and accommodate merchants. They served as key points along the caravan routes between Saharan Africa and Southern Morocco but over time have become private houses, museums and art galleries. Return to the hotel in the late afternoon for an evening at leisure. (B, L)

Day 4 Marrakech, Ourika Valley & Atlas Mountains.

This morning we leave the city behind and head to the Atlas Mountains. The first stop of the day will be in Ourika Valley, a short drive outside of Marrakech. This beautiful valley is known for its pine and cedar forests and is home to Berber villages and even some Barbary apes. We will stop at the Anima Gardens created by the Austrian artist Andre Heller. This garden of more than three hectares is a smorgasbord of sculptures by artists such as Pablo Picasso, Rodin and Alexander Calder enthroned in a richly wooded park filled with hundreds of types of plants. From here we continue to the Bio Aromatic Gardens, a blissful herb garden and a wonderful example of the rich botany of Morocco and the region. We will walk around the garden with one of the site’s gardeners and learn about the medicinal plants. After lunch at the garden we continue into the Atlas Mountains to our hotel, Kasbah Angour. After checking in for our two night stay there will be a short orientation tour of the kasbah and its beautiful gardens. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure to relax or further explore the gardens before dinner at the kasbah this evening. (B, L, D)

Day 5 Atlas Mountains.

After a leisurely morning we will head to the Berber village of Imlil where there will be a short walking tour of the village and we will learn about the Berber people and their way of life. Lunch will be a traditional Berber meal served at a local house. Following lunch we will learn about ‘Moroccan Whiskey’, Moroccan mint tea. There will be some free time to explore the village and surrounding area before returning to our kasbah. Dinner this evening will be at the kasbah. (B, L, D)

Day 6 Atlas Mountains to Marrakech.

After breakfast we depart the Kasbah Angour and begin the journey back to Marrakech. We will stop at the Kasbah Beldi and explore its lovely gardens where there will be time for refreshments on the terrace overlooking the olive groves. The drive back to Marrakech will take us through the Agafay Stone Desert, the white sand dunes offer a similar but smaller landscape to that of the Sahara dunes. Within the desert there are still some Berber villages that exist in this austere but sublime environment. Lunch will be served at a Bedouin desert camp and en-route back to Marrakech we will stop at the Beldi Country Club for refreshments and an exploration of their lovely and extensive gardens which have 18 gardeners working on them year-round. Return to Hotel Les Jardins de la Koutoubia for our final two nights and enjoy dinner in the hotel this evening. (B, L, D)

Day 7 Marrakech.

This morning after breakfast we will visit the Thiemann Cactus Garden, a stunning botanical oasis famous for its diverse collection of cacti and succulents, some of which are incredibly rare. Heading back into the centre of Marrakech, enjoy the afternoon at leisure to explore at your own pace or return to the hotel and relax before the farewell dinner this evening at Dar Zellij, a restaurant located in a 17th century riad. (B, D)

Day 8 Marrakech to London.

After a leisurely morning and lunch at the hotel, we will transfer to the airport for the scheduled flight to London. (B, L)