Marrakech & surroundings

The Magic of Marrakech
About two hours from the coast lies the seductive city of Marrakech, surrounded by tens of thousands of palm trees. The red-walled Imperial city lies in a green environment with the contours of the Atlas Mountains in the background. The strategically located city was founded by the Almoravids in 1602 and the climate, with the exception of the hot summer months, is excellent. It is a fascinating city full of colours, scents, romance, magic and full of contradictions. There is much to see such as the Koutoubia Mosque, beautiful historic Palaces and beautiful colourful gardens. In the medina, where the souks are classified by crafts, it seems as if time has stood still. But there are also fantastic restaurants and a vibrant nightlife, where the fairy-tale atmosphere of 1001 night is omnipresent. At the end of the day, the setting sun turns the city deep red, and a special event takes place every day: the show starts on the town square of Jmaa el Fnaa starting with acrobats, snake charmers, future predictors and fairy- tale storytellers. The surroundings of Marrakech offer good opportunities for day-trips to colourful markets and the impressive Atlas Mountains.

La Medina: the historic heart of Marrakech
The historic walled medina offers visitors a breath-taking medieval street scene. In a maze of narrow alleys are the shops of the various guilds, including tanners, brass makers, woodworkers, jewellers and shoemakers. Traders with their packed mules, honking petit taxis, mopeds and cyclists make their way through the crowd. Most of the sights, such as beautiful palaces and museums, can also be found in the Medina.

The Riads of Marrakech in the medina are small-scale hotels, housed in historic houses and often only accessible on foot. These special riads are particularly suitable for travellers who are looking for authentic Morocco. Riads are built around patios and decorated with beautiful mosaics and carvings. Most houses have a roof-top terrace with views of the city, and some also have a small swimming pool. In some cases it is possible to rent the house exclusively for a small group and organise catering. We have personally visited and selected the riads in our collection. They are all very atmospheric and welcoming, but vary in price due to the degree of comfort and the available facilities.

Our carefully selected accommodations in the Medina:
Riad AzzarRiad SlitineRiad Al JaziraLa Maison ArabeLa Mamounia, La SultanaLes Jardins de la KoutoubiaLes Jardins de la MedinaRiad EnijaRiad Les Yeux BleusRiad SiwanVilla des Orangers.

Gueliz & Hivernage:
Modern Marrakech is most evident in the residential areas of Gueliz and Hivernage. They are adjacent to the Medina and were built in the first half of the 20th century during the French protectorate. They are also called Ville Nouvelle and characteristic of this neighbourhood are the wide boulevards with terraces, the beautiful fashion shops and the excellent restaurants. Our carefully selected accommodations in Gueliz & Hivernage:
Dar Rhizlane, Sofitel Marrakech

Palmeraie & surroundings
Marrakech is surrounded by agricultural areas and the palm oasis “La Palmeraie” withmore that three golf courses. You can choose from the following carefully selected accommodations in Le Palmeraie and Agafay:
Amanjena,  Beldi Country ClubJnane Tamsna, Les Deux Tours
Glamping in Scarabeo Camp

The Atlas Mountains
The Berber women of the Atlas Mountains wear colourful clothing and live in traditional farming villages far away from the modern world, and where the blood relationship is still decisive. Entire Berber families with numerous family members live in simple adobe-coloured houses that lie spectacularly on steep mountain slopes with green agricultural terraces. The Middle Atlas with the spectacular waterfalls of Ouzoud is about a 2.5-hour drive north-east of Marrakech. The High Atlas with Jbel Toubkal, at 4167m, is the highest mountain in Morocco and a 1-hour drive south of Marrakech. Both regions form fantastic walking area for private day trips but multi-day treks are offered for enthusiasts. Donkeys can be arranged for families with the children, so that it is also an attractive activity for the smaller visitors. In addition, there are opportunities for skiing in Oukaimeden in months January and February.
You can choose from the following carefully selected accommodations in the Atlas Mountains:
Kasbah du Toubkal, Kasbah Bab Ouirka, Kasbah Tamadot

Valerius Reizen is a sponsor of an educational project for girls in the Atlas Mountains. We provide financial support to Ikram who otherwise would not have had the opportunity to go to school. Especially for these girls, a dormitory has been built next to the school in the village of Asni where girls can live and study. Are you interested or do you also want to adopt a schoolgirl? Then visit the website of the Education for All Foundation.

 

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