8-day Morocco honeymoon tour from Casablanca to Marrakech

Today will be an eventful private guided tour of Marrakech, and the Red City has a lot of monuments and charming places.  So apart from focusing on the charm of the city only, we will dive in its history and culture as well for a harmony of perfection.

Start your day by exploring Majorelle Garden, the most prestigious and popular garden in Morocco and perhaps in North Africa. Historically, the garden took its name from French artist, Jacques Majorelle, who toiled 40 years to fully create and open the garden in 1924. In its modern form, the garden is Marrakech’s little paradise which contains a psychedelic desert mirage of 300 plant species from five continents.

Within the garden, is found the Berber Museum which presents a panorama of the extraordinary creativity of the Berbers that are locally referred to as “Amazigh”, the most ancient people of North Africa. The museum contains more than 600 objects, collected from the Rif Mountains and the Moroccan Sahara. Here, you will see and learn about the Berber costumes, Berber silver jewelry, artifacts and Moroccan ceramics, textiles and embroidery. This is a must see piece of Marrakech for all visitors of Marrakech.

Our next stop after the garden is the iconic site of Koutoubia Mosque and its gardens. Koutoubia Mosque was built during the 12th century by the Almohad dynasty. Today, at 70 meters high, the minaret remains the highest structure down the years counting all dynasties that ruled Morocco. The mosque on the other hand is considered the largest mosque in Marrakech. Local laws restrict any new building projects from exceeding the height of the minaret, providing a focal point for all to enjoy.

Later, we will visit El Bahia Palace. This sprawling palace was built between 1866 and 1867. It is set over two acres in the middle of the Marrakech medina and features 150 rooms, including a harem section located just off the sun-filled Court of Honor. The palace is perhaps one of the best-preserved historical sites and certainly most interesting in Marrakech.

Another important site on today’s private guided tour of Marrakech is the Saadian tombs. Marrakech is home to many historic attractions and interesting museums. As a matter of fact, Marrakesh was the capital during both Almoravid and Saadian eras, and legacies from each dynasty can be observed around the city. The Saadian tombs date back from the time of the sultan Ahmad al-Mansur (1578-1603). The tombs were discovered only recently in 1917 and were brilliantly restored. The tombs have been a major attraction for visitors of Marrakech thanks to the beauty of their decoration. The mausoleum comprises the corpses of about sixty members of the Saadi Dynasty that originated in the valley of the Draa River.

Marrakech has always been a symbol of harmony between Abrahamic religions, especially Islam and Judaism. The perfect example for that is the Jewish mellah that was founded in the mid-15th century. The mellah was established especially to host Jews who were escaping the ruthless misery practiced upon both Muslims and Jews by the Spanish Catholic monarch Fernando and Isabella upon the Spanish Inquisition of Andalusia.

Interestingly enough, like all other Moroccan mellahs, Marrakech’s Jewish neighborhood is walled and typically located adjacent to the kasbah, which functioned as the royal palace. Historically speaking, the sheltered area provided the Jewish community with protection. This containment might be seen as punitive, but in reality, Jews sustained their culture in a relatively autonomous community within. In fact, Jews were free to have other activities outside the mellah’s walls, but they were not allowed to have more properties further outside of there. Note that visiting the mellah is optional, but it is a good and an interesting opportunity for everyone to learn about the Jewish community in Morocco.

The last stop on today’s private tour of Marrakech will be the Rahba Kedima spice market. This colorful and historical market is filled with a wide array of spices such as cumin, cinnamon, saffron, dried pepper and more. It makes a perfect shopping opportunity for those who admire the Moroccan tastes and style of cooking.

Finally, we will take you back to your riad to relax or, if you prefer, your private driver can take you to enjoy the evening at Djamaa El Fnaa square.