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By: Donna HeiderstadtMarrakesh, Morocco
Within minutes of arriving in this palm-tree-ringed red city on the outer fringes of the Sahara, your taste buds will begin to work overtime, sampling rose water and almond milk, juicy dates and exuberant spices, tender lamb and fluffy couscous — all paired with excellent local wines and served in settings so memorable even the French have been seduced. Shoppers love the fabled souk, a labyrinthine market overflowing with handcrafted goods. An authentic Moroccan spa experience awaits at a beautifully tiled hammam (traditional steam bath), while adventure calls just outside Marrakesh in the snow-capped Atlas Mountains or on a camel trek through the desert’s endless sands.
An inner courtyard at La Maison Arabe (photo courtesy of La Maison Arabe)
By day: Temperatures range from 100 degrees and higher in summer to the comfortable mid-60s in winter, so get your sightseeing done early with a guided morning tour of the medina (old city): the 12th-century Koutoubia Mosque, bustling Djemaa el Fna square and the colorful Jardin Majorelle (a botanical garden once owned by Yves St. Laurent). Then have your guide lead you through the souk, where you can shop for everything from elaborate hammered tin or brass lanterns and lamps and mosaic-framed mirrors to colorful ottomans and carpets. Escape the late afternoon heat by enjoying a famed black soap scrub in the hammam. Outside the city, tour rustic villages and venture into the scenic Atlas Mountains, where hiking is the main activity.
At night: Begin your evening by sipping a refreshing Moroccan rosé as the sun sets and the melodic call to prayer rises. The medina, especially Djemaa el Fna square, pulses with vibrancy after dark, making it an intriguing spot for a stroll among the food vendors and snake charmers.
Where to stay: To be in the center of it all — and have it all (dining, spa, recreation) at your fingertips — stay at La Mamounia, the city’s legendary enclave that dates to 1923. Its 210 rooms and suites feature seductive archways and intricately carved doors (room rates start at $659 a night; mamounia.com). On a smaller scale, 26-room La Maison Arabe offers elegant modern Moroccan decor, plus a pool, cooking school and a nearby country club with a golf course (room rates start at $275 a night; lamaisonarabe.com). If you’re seeking a quiet vibe and want to enjoy some hiking, book into Kasbah Tamadot, a 27-room luxury hideaway (the Berber Tent suites are especially romantic) located in the Atlas Mountains about an hour from the city (room rates start at $540 a night; kasbahtamadot.virgin.com).
The sun setting over Marrakesh (photo courtesy of Anson Smart)
Where to eat: For a savory traditional cuisine, reserve a table at La Morocaine, La Mamounia’s exceptional Moroccan restaurant, or Le Restaurant at La Maison Arabe, where the house specialties are accompanied by music.
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