Top 5 favorite places to find ultimate peace in and (just) outside Marrakesh, Morocco
Every now and then we invite an expert to tell us about his or her favorite places. Because well, a connoisseur is just a connoisseur. But one with taste, please! Like dreamy trip planner Yusra Idrissi from Moroccan Must Haves. Because we are the insider in all the coolest and newest spots in Morocco, her second home.
Who better to ask for a list? top 5 favorite places to find ultimate peace in Marrakech to make? Precisely. Nobody. Yusra speaking:
As much as I love the hustle and bustle, the smells and the sounds of Marrakech, I always like to retreat for at least a day or two. In those unique, quieter places just outside the city. As with the Agafay Desert Camel Ride & Lunch. The Agafay Desert is less than 50 minutes from Marrakech city. In contrast to the Sahara desert with 'soft red' sand, here you will find beautiful mountains in different cream shades all around you. In addition to a delicious Moroccan lunch, dinner and a beautiful view of the Atlas Mountains, you can go on camel rides, horse riding, quad biking or relax in the swimming pool. You can make a combination booking lunch & camel ride here. And if you prefer sunsets, then book here the dinner & camel ride.
After a day of shopping, are you ready for a relaxing and swimming day, surrounded by palm trees, free-roaming peacocks and whistling birds – in short: the (Moroccan) Paradise? Then definitely spend a day there all time favorite boutique hotel Palais Aziza & Spa. It's nice to know that they do a lot of sustainability and recycling. For example, all glass cups in the hotel are made from recycled Heineken bottles. Book a traditional hammam or massage in advance and feel reborn! You can book a day at the pool including lunch here.
About 40 minutes from Marrakech city lies a secret, magical garden! Especially if you like art, this is a must-see. The garden has around 250 different plant species that are presented in combination with works of art by Pablo Picasso, Keith Haring and more. After a walk through the garden you can have a drink or some lunch on the roof. The view over the Atlas Mountains is phenomenal! You can book a visit to this garden here.
Looking for a little more height? Then go to Domaine de La Roseraie in Ouirgane in the Atlas Mountains. After about an hour and a half in the car you enter a different world. This beautiful location is not called 'La Roseraie' for nothing – wild roses grow everywhere you look, while you are surrounded by the immense mountains. You can have lunch here and have a spa day, but you can also stay there for a few nights. There is little to no coverage - perfect place for a super detox!
Of course, you don't always have to take the car to get some rest. You can find peace and quiet in various places, even in the medina of Marrakech. Visit the centuries-old museum Dar el Bacha – in addition to the peace and quiet, you will also find beautiful Islamic mosaic walls, exhibitions and stories about history. You can also enjoy the tastiest coffee here at Bacha Coffee in-town with a choice of more than 200 different types of freshly ground coffee from 33 countries.
