- Sample Itineraries
Points of Interest
- Fès
- Meknès and Volubilis
- Marrakech
- Rabat and Casablanca
- Tanger and the North
- High Atlas
- Sahara Desert
- Taroudant
Travel to Marrakech with Heritage Tours Private Travel
Marrakech
The rose-hued city of Marrakech is a city of the senses—one is beckoned by the alluring scents and brilliant colors of the spice markets, the entrancing sounds of the musicians, the rich folds of carpets, delectable foods, the motions of the acrobats, intertwining geometries of the zellij tile, its perfumed gardens shimmering in the still waters of reflecting pools.
Morocco is the gateway to the High Atlas, whose snow-capped peaks are visible year-round, and the southernmost of the four Imperial Cities, once the capital of the Saadien dynasty.
This unique city is perhaps the most fascinating in Morocco. It is the point where the Arab culture of the cities meets the Berber culture of the mountain villages; where the weary sub-Saharan traders (carrying gold, salt and slaves) would ply their wares to the merchants who would then bring them to Europe.
Marrakech is perhaps the most heavily-touristed city in Morocco (and has been since the days of Winston Churchill and Edith Wharton).
The heartbeat of Marrakech is the Djemaa el Fnaa—a square unlike any other in the world. Originally a traders’ square, it functions as the public face of this city.
It especially comes alive in the evening. In addition to dozens of food and juice stalls, the square becomes populated with story tellers surrounded by enraptured listeners, snake charmers, sellers of herbal medicinal potions, musicians, acrobats, you-name-it all in a riot of entertainment. Also within the square can be found scribes, to pen letters for those who cannot write, barbers and tooth-pullers.
Among the delights of Marrakech are its plentiful and outstanding restaurants. Most famous among them is Yacout—known for its exquisite design and atmosphere as well as its legendary Moroccan cuisine.
Our clients receive lists of the other outstanding restaurants - including some lovely French restaurants. You will not go hungry in Marrakech.
The monuments of Marrakech range from the well-known, such as the Koutoubia Minaret—famous throughout the world as one of the world’s great minarets and as the "sister" to the Giralda in Seville; to the less-known tropical gardens of French painter Jacques Majorelle (now owned by Yves St. Laurent) to private museums.
And, even if you are not a shopper, the temptation of the lavish souks is too much for most people to bear.
Marrakech’s proximity to the High Atlas makes it an ideal base for excursions into the mountains and to the Sahara desert beyond.
We offer a full range of excursions into the Atlas, including trekking, skiing, horseback riding and camping.
We also fascinating excursions into the Sahara.
Marrakech is also the starting point of the most spectacular drive in Morocco—the drive through the Tizn Test of the High Atlas.
Essaouira
Essaouira is a charming, laid-back artists’ colony with cobblestoned streets, whitewashed walls and massive stone ramparts along the Atlantic ocean.
A former Portuguese trading colony built in the 18th century (laid out by a French architect held captive), this port town (formerly known as Mogador) once held large populations of British and Jews. Although no longer a trading center, it is still a fishermen’s town. Its pretty harbor is filled with tiny, colorful boats which go out early every morning for the day’s catch.
Its resident guests, seduced by its charms, included such diverse figures as Orson Welles, who made it the setting for his 1952 Othello (in which Welles himself played the Moor), and Jimmy Hendrix, who spent much time here in the 1960’s.
Essaouira’s romantic ambiance, plentiful shops and intriguing art galleries make this little town a particularly pleasant place to unwind and relax for a few days.
It enjoys a growing reputation for its unique art—which is only now becoming available in limited venues in the U.S. and Europe. Essaouira is even more famous for its burled thuya wood—delicately formed and inlaid in tiny shops built into the thick walls of the Portuguese ramparts. The scent from the oils used to polish this richly-colored wood permeates the air.
Two of the most memorable places to stay in Morocco are found in Essaouira. Both are converted from 19th century Andalusian houses and have great atmosphere. The first, Villa Maroc, was the subject of a nine-page feature in Architectural Digest. The second is the Riad al Medina, just renovated in 1996.
Although only two and a half hours from Marrakech, Essaouira has thankfully not yet been discovered by the large groups of mass-market package tours that have had such a negative impact on nearby Marrakech. Its charm awaits those who have the time and inclination to see a little of the real Morocco.
< Return to the Morocco home page
