YOUR ITINERARY

• Morning departure from your riad or hotel.
• Marrakesh is known as the Red City, or Al Hamra, southwestern Morocco within the foothills of the Atlas Mountains. Marrakesh is the second largest city in Morocco and the administrative center. The heart of the Marrakesh, Djemaa El Fna Square, offers an exciting Moroccan travel experience with souks, gardens, palaces, snake charmers, outdoor food stalls, and fabulous shopping for Moroccan goods.
• The Imperial city of Marrakesh was founded in 1062 by Sultan Youssef ben Tachifine (Yusuf ibn Tashfin). Tachifine was from the Almoravides dynasty, a Berber dynasty.
• Tachfine built the walls that surround the Marrakesh medina and its monumental gates. At this time Marrakesh was an ideal capital for an empire given it stretched from Algiers to the Atlantic and from the Mediterranean to Senegal.
• Tachifine was a natural leader and a deciples of Ibn Yasin. His tomb can be visited in Sidi Mimoun area of the Marrakesh Medina.
• Your introduction to Marrakesh will begin in the Nouvelle Ville, we will navigate our way to French, Gueliz and head to the Majorelle Gardens, a magical and lush garden estate designed by Jacque Majorelle and maintained by Yves Saint Laurent. The Majorelle Garden is filled with colorful walkways, ponds, cacti, and plants as well as a beautiful shop with hand-made goods.
• The Majorelle Gardens, previously the Jardin Bou Saf, bears its name from its original creator, Jacques Majorelle, the French expatriate artist who was born in Nancy, France in 1886. Jacques Majorelle was the son of the celebrated Art Nouveau furniture designer Louis Majorelle. In 1947 he opened his gardens to the public and during this time also painted a magnificent ceiling space at La Mamounia, a five-star hotel with gardens. Jacques Majorelle studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Nancy in 1901 and later, in 1919, he went to Marrakesh to recover from heart problems. He built the garden during those years using a special color of blue extensively in the garden that is now named after him, Majorelle Blue. Jacques Majorelle returned to France in 1962 after a car accident and died later that year of complications from his injuries. As a collector of unique plants from five continents Jacque Majorelle left Yves Saint Laurent one of the more unique collections of flora and fauna of this era, as well as a place of inspiration and contemplation. Even though Morocco is no longer under the French protectorate, this originally French creation is one of the most beloved areas in Morocco.
• After your visit on our way to the old medina, we will pass by the La Mamounia Hotel and Garden.
• Next we will visit Koutoubia Mosque and Gardens, the largest mosque in Marrakesh, Morocco. The minaret was completed under the reign of the Almohad Caliph Yaqub al-Mansur (1184-1199) and was used as the model for the Giralda of Seville and for the Hassan Tower of Rabat. The name is derived from the Arabic al- Koutoubiyyin for librarian, since it used to be surrounded by sellers of manuscripts. It is considered the ultimate structure of its kind. The tower is 69 m (221 ft) tall with a lateral length of 12.8 m (41 ft).
On to El Bahia Palace. The El Bahia Palace in Marrakesh is a beautiful building and an excellent example of Eastern Architecture from the 19th century that represents the trends and standards of the wealthy at that time. It was built for Ahmed Ibn Moussa, or Ba Ahmed, between 1894 and 1900 in the Alawi style popular at that time. Craftsmen were brought from Fes to work on this monumental task which took approximately fifteen years to complete. It is said that the palace was built as a home for Ba Ahmed’s official concubines, and it has also been said that the importance or favor of each concubine increased along with the size of their bedroom. The name ‘Bahia’ means ‘palace of the beautiful.” There are 160 different rooms in the palace which are sprawled out in an open, rambling fashion. Decorations take the form of subtle stucco panels, zellij decorations, tiled floors, smooth arches, carved-cedar ceilings, shiny marble tadlak finishes, and zouak painted ceilings. The palace is surrounded by an eight hectare garden.
• Next, visit the 16th century Saadian Tombs, the ruins of the 16th century El Badhi Palace, and the old Jewish quarter.
• Visit the Saadian Tombs. The Saadian tombs in Marrakesh date from the time of the sultan Ahmad al-Mansur. The tombs were only recently discovered in 1917 and were restored by the Beaux-Arts service. The mausoleum comprises the tombs of about sixty members of the Saadi Dynasty that originated in the the Draa Valley.
• Your guide will lead you through the labyrinth streets and alleys of the Djemaa. Enjoy aromatic smells, taste fresh squeezed orange juice, and venture into the souks specializing in Berber carpets, silver jewelry, artisan workshops, handmade shoes, and tanneries.
• Enjoy a three-course lunch consisting of fresh salad, tajine, and fruit at one of Marrakesh’s most delectable restaurants.
• Visit the Marrakesh Jewish Mellah. Founded in 1558 by Moulay Abdallah, the Mellah district was designated as the Jewish quarter in Marrakesh. At the time of the Spanish religious wars, Jewish refugees escaped the country and were offered this little piece of security by the Sultan.
• The Old Spice Market, Rahba Kedima, is a colorful market filled with a wide array of spices such as cumin, cinnamon, saffron, dried pepper, and more.
• Visit the contemporary Moroccan Art Museum, or Tiskiwin, a private museum in Marrakesh dedicated to popular arts & crafts.

Enjoy a night of revelry with a decadent three course dinner accompanied by traditional music followed by the majestic demonstration of Moroccan horsemanship called a Fantasia. A Fantasia involves feats of skill and synchronization by men upon horseback that is a performance and an art form.

Chez Ali – Fantasia Show – Marrakesh Palmeraie
Evenings: (8:00pm – 11:30pm)

• Equestrian & Moroccan Music Show at the Palmeraie.
• Chez Ali is located in the Palmeraie and features a one of a kind equestrian and Moroccan music show and feast.
• A three course meal is served that includes Moroccan harira soup, roast lamb couscous, followed by fresh pastries and mint tea for desert.
• Chez Ali offers a once in a life time opportunity to see a traditional Fantasia, a Moroccan equestrian horse and acrobatic show.

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