This tour offers a complete visit to the essential Marrakech.
Dating from the ninth century, Marrakech has been a gateway to the Sahara desert and a major stop on the caravan route where traders and travellers from different parts of the world would meet. Marrakesh's identity has been polished by a rich and complex history and an ancient tradition of hospitality which, for centuries, has fascinated and welcomed visitors.
We start our discovery tour of Marrakech from the 12th century archaeological site of the Koutoubia mosque which stands on the spot where the history of Marrakesh started.
We go through the Bab Agnaou gate and visit the historical 16th century Saadian Tombs. Afterwards we walk through the 12th century Kasbah with its food market, bakeries and narrow alleyways.
We visit the remains of the El Badi palace built in the 16th century and admire the marvellous Minbar made in 1137 in Cordoba and sent to the King to be used as a pulpit in the big mosque of Marrakech.
We will invite you to enter the l9th century Bahia palace and marvel at the intricate work done by local artisans which decorates this splendid home built by a powerful prime minister of that time.
We end our morning tour with a stroll inside the Jewish quarter to visit the historical synagogue (if open) built in 1492 by Sephardic Jews who were expelled from Spain. After an optional break for lunch, our guide will help us to navigate through the maze of colourful streets to discover a multitude of traditional crafts that are made in Marrakech and the surrounding area. These crafts are displayed in different areas depending on their trades. Stop every now and then at your leisure and haggle, if you wish, over the price of different items. Visit one of the many herbalist stores in the Souks and learn about Moroccan spices, medicinal herbs and essential oils.
We will end our stroll at the UNESCO world heritage site, Jemaa El Fna where you will discover some of the local folklore traditions such as musicians, dancers, acrobats and snake charmers. It might feel like being on the set of a movie but actually this has been everyday life in Marrakesh for over a thousand years.
The Lawrence of Morocco map displays the locations of the destinations and accommodation that we have selected and visited; for each item, hovering over or clicking the marker will display a short summary and photo of that place or hotel, and hotel pricing. Follow the links in the info box to the full page listing which has much more information.
Note that the online map offers both a satellite view (click satellite in the top right) and, for some locations, a street level view (Drag the person in the top left onto the map). These let you explore the country; and when you wish to explore in person, or if you have any questions about the places you see, give our staff a call, or request a quote. Our staff regularly visit the places and accommodation that we feature.
When you book a holiday with us we will provide full driving instructions for reaching your accommodation, where necessary; these can be used by yourself, or you could enjoy the luxury of a driver. Alternatively we will arrange private (car rather than coach) transfers for you; helicopter transfers are also possible for some destinations.
We really know Morocco and have had the pleasure of making many people's dream trips become reality over the years. It has been our privilege to be asked to manage holidays, weddings and productions for so many fantastic and discerning clients. We remain small and dedicated to providing excellent honest advice to enable you to sit back, relax and enjoy the fun bits without having to manage the unpredictability of this fascinating country.
If you want it done right, look no further!
