Gardens of Marrakech

Departing: April 2027 - October 2027

The timeless city of Marrakech has an enduring appeal, with its low-rise pink and red buildings set against the snow-capped Atlas Mountains. Its beating heart is the square of Jemaa El Fna, where musicians and storytellers and snake-charmers act out compelling scenes which have changed little over the centuries, with visitors irresistibly drawn here. Highlights include the serene courtyards of El Bahia Palace, the dramatic ruins of El Badi, the Menara gardens and the vibrant Majorelle Garden. We also escape to the peaceful Ourika Valley in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains to round off this tour.

Included

Four nights at the Kenzi Rose Hotel (or similar) with breakfast
Three dinners & one lunch
Visits as outlined in the itinerary
Private air-conditioned coach travel
Services of an expert Tour Manager

Highlights

Faded glory at El Badi Palace
Contemporary style at Le Jardin Secret
Bright colours and international glamour at the Majorelle
Delightful flavours and aromas in the Ourika Valley

Julia Corden

Julia has led tours for over 25 years, from tropical rainforests to high alpine meadows. Trained in Horticulture at RHS Wisley and the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh, she is now a Horticultural Consultant and Botanical and Garden Tour Guide.

Trevor Edwards

A horticulturist, garden designer and consultant with almost 50 years’ experience. He has led garden tours worldwide and lectured internationally on the Gardens of Ireland. A former garden centre owner, he is a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Gardeners and Freeman of the City of London.

Tour Itinerary

Either join our arrival transfer at Marrakech airport or meet your Tour Manager and fellow travellers at the Kenzi Rose Hotel for dinner.

Meals: Dinner

Accommodation: Kensington Rose Hotel, Marrakech

This morning, we begin our exploration of Marrakech with a visit to El Bahia Palace, which was built in the late 19th century by the great vizier Sidi Moussa and intended to be the greatest palace of its time, capturing the essence of the nation’s style, both Moroccan and Islamic. There is a two-acre garden with rooms opening onto wonderfully fragrant courtyards, providing sheltered and private spaces.

From here, we walk to El Badi Palace, also built by Ahmad al-Mansur over a period of 25 years in the late 16th century. The original building is thought to have consisted of 360 rooms, richly decorated with marble and gold. It also has a small, underground, tunnel-like jail with about four cells where the king kept his prisoners. Unfortunately, the palace was torn apart by the Sultan Mawlay Ismail but there is still a lingering sense of grandeur and some interesting nooks and crannies to explore.

We end our morning at the famous garden of La Majorelle, which was created in the 1920s by the French painter Jacques Majorelle, with marble pools, raised pathways, banana trees, groves of bamboo, coconut palms and bougainvillaea. Unsurprisingly, the garden is composed and coloured like a painting, with many of the solid features painted in a rich blue ('Majorelle Blue') which works very well with the soil, climate and plants. Water is a prominent feature of the garden, with channels, lily-filled ponds and fountains, and there is a wide range of plants, for Majorelle was an avid collector. After years of neglect, the garden was taken over and restored by the fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent and today presents an extraordinary and at times surreal combination of colour, form and light.

In the afternoon we stroll to the Yves Saint Laurent Art and Design for a brief visit before driving to the expansive gardens of M. Ben Chaabane, who is a renowned Garden Designer, botanist, perfume maker and publisher. M Chaabane was approached in 1998 by Yves Saint Laurent to restore the Majorelle Gardens and develop a perfume that represented them. He also encouraged him to create his own perfumes, which are now commercially available throughout the country. Within this garden property, we admire a stimulating collection of contemporary paintings by local and foreign artists. Nearby is the cactus garden, an excellent example of a dry garden of the semi-arid zones.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation: Kensington Rose Hotel, Marrakech

Our exploration of Marrakech continues today with a visit to to visit the tranquil Menara Garden, which has its origins in a 12th-century orchard of palm, olive and fruit trees. An orchard, pools and pavilions are the primary components of Islamic gardens and Menara is a classic example, with a formal pool overlooked by a pavilion previously used by the sultan and his family. The present pavilion dates from the 19th century but is believed to be on the site of a 16th-century Saadian structure. The image of the trees and surrounding mountains reflected in the shimmering pool provides perfect photo opportunities.

We continue with a walk in Arset Moulay Abdessalam within the city walls, which was a space for the artisans of the souks to organise their parties. Then we continue to Jnane Harti, known for its cactus and other exotic plants.

After an opportunity for lunch at your leisure this afternoon, we visit one of the most sumptuous palaces of Marrakech, Dar el Basha, built for the famous dignitary El Glaoui more than a century ago.

Later, we continue to Le Jardin Secret, a garden that has been the home of some important political figures. Designed by Chelsea Gold Medal winner Tom Stuart-Smith, this is an outstanding example of the art and architecture of an Islamic garden and is a part of the great tradition of stately Arab-Andalusian and Moroccan palaces.

From here, we continue to the artisan quarter to visit the workshops of dyers, tinsmiths, leather makers and wood painters, with the opportunity to take many rewarding photos of this colourful, bustling market.

At the end of the afternoon, we enjoy a guided walk on the square of Jemaa El Fna, which teems with acrobats, jugglers, snake-charmers and storytellers, providing a colourful taste of Moroccan life and culture.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation: Kensington Rose Hotel, Marrakech

After breakfast, we drive into the Atlas Mountains to visit the organic and aromatic gardens nestled in the lush green valley of Ourika. As we reach the first foothills, we visit a Saffron Plantation and learn all about this ancient, expensive and almost mythical spice, its cultivation and its culinary and therapeutic properties.

We enjoy a cup of delicious Moroccan saffron tea before we head to Nectarome, an aromatic garden located deep in the valley. On arrival, we enjoy a guided tour of the property to discover the secrets and benefits of local plants as well as the Moroccan natural cosmetic products optimised by modern science. We are then treated to a delicious lunch, carefully prepared with organic vegetables and aromatic plants from the garden and served in its beautiful pergola.

After lunch, we visit the contemporary gardens of Anima, created by an Austrian artist who skilfully combines plants and indigenous African art.
We then return to the hotel where the evening is free – a great chance to enjoy dinner in a local restaurant.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Kensington Rose Hotel, Marrakech

After breakfast, we visit the magnificent El Bahia Palace and the atmospheric El Badi Palace, two of Marrakech's most impressive historic landmarks. As we explore their elegant courtyards, tranquil fountains and beautifully planted gardens, discover how traditional Moroccan architecture was ingeniously designed to cope with the hot climate, using water features, shaded courtyards and trees to create cool, peaceful spaces. The former was built in the late 19th century by the great vizier Sidi Moussa and intended to be the greatest palace of its time, capturing the essence of the nation’s style, both Moroccan and Islamic. The tours ends at the airport in the early afternoon.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Jaal Riad Resort

Accommodation

Availability & Booking

2027

19th April from $2,545

Call to Book

4th October from $2,695

Call to Book

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