Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip

From Marrakech to Essaouira
Moroccan Art and Historical Medinas

Morocco - Marrakech - Essaouira

FROM MARRAKECH'S MEDINA TO THE SEA

Starting from between £2,135 to £3,405 per person for 8 days depending on the time of year, type of accomodation and activities

Itinerary Highlights

  • Marrakech's unique atmosphere and Essaouira's oceanfront tranquillity


  • The refinement of your accommodation in the heart of the city, two riads dedicated to well-being


  • A spotlight on Marrakech's art, your tickets to the Yyes Saint Laurent Museum and the Jardin Majorelle and the Essaouira medina in private: this is all included


  • Private transfers, local Concierge and good accommodation: all reasons to travel with us
First chapter of this journey: Marrakech and its extraordinary energy. This Berber city has long captured the hearts of aesthetic travellers, gourmands and passionate bargain hunters. The hidden gardens and caravanserais of the medina tell the story of the city's past, while colourful fabrics and spicy aromas gently bring us back to the present. A private transfer then takes you right to the pier at Essaouira, which is buffeted by the trade winds. The contrast with Marrakech is striking. Although the harbour is lively when the fishing boats return, time seems to stand still on the streets and cafe terraces at other times of the day. The fortified city still bears witness to the different civilisations which have passed through - the Phoenicians, Romans and Portuguese were here by turns until the late 18th century. Its UNESCO World Heritage-listed medina is full of handicraft shops, while offshore Mogador Island protects the city and its inhabitants. This two-part journey will reveal some of Morocco's most beautiful treasures - it's a trip which works just as well summer or winter when temperatures remain mild and the tourists have left.



YOUR TRIP



So you're right at the heart of things, we have chosen two charming hotels that will open the doors to a secret Morocco. These riads are located in the heart of the city, in the historic medinas. Traditional interiors combine more contemporary influences with everything you need to relax - a sauna, steam room, treatments and a swimming pool. Your itinerary is punctuated by activities we've already booked for you, so you get the inside story of every city - then everyone can take the trip at their own pace. In Marrakech you can visit the Museum of Contemporary Art, the House of Photography with a guide, you have tickets to the Jardin Majorelle and the new museum dedicated to Yves Saint-Laurent. In Essaouira, you will explore the medina with a private guide. And throughout the trip our local Concierge is on-hand to help in the case of unforeseen circumstances, or to satisfy any last-minute whims.
Essaouira - Morocco © htomas/Getty Images/iStockphoto
Essaouira - Morocco © htomas/Getty Images/iStockphoto
Essaouira - Morocco © luaeva/Getty Images/iStockphoto
Essaouira - Morocco © luaeva/Getty Images/iStockphoto
Essaouira - Morocco © Chalffy/Getty Images/iStockphoto
Essaouira - Morocco © Chalffy/Getty Images/iStockphoto
Essaouira - Morocco © Zdenek Kajzr/Getty Images/iStockphoto
Essaouira - Morocco © Zdenek Kajzr/Getty Images/iStockphoto
Essaouira - Morocco © Oleh_Slobodeniuk/Getty Images/E+
Essaouira - Morocco © Oleh_Slobodeniuk/Getty Images/E+
El Badi Palace - Marrakech - Morocco © Alan Lagadu/Getty Images/iStockphoto
El Badi Palace - Marrakech - Morocco © Alan Lagadu/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Itinerary

100% customisable for you

Private transfer and accommodation for three nights in the heart of the medina, in a beautiful colonial-style house. The riad combines elegance and nature: tree-lined patios, terraces and lounges bathed in light. It has only a handful of rooms, decorated with ancient photos, engravings, furniture and shabby-chic objects from all over the world.

Included in the itinerary - A walk through the city's museums. Accompanied by a private guide, you first go to the Museum of Art and Culture, created by a passionate collector, Nabil El Mallouki. The collection of works of art here is constantly being enriched by the discovery and acquisition of rare pieces: Moroccan crafts, paintings, furniture, jewellery, ceramics and pottery. Next up is the Museum of Photography, located in an old caravanserai (travellers' inn) in the medina. Here you'll find the private collections of Patrick Manac'h and Hamid Megani which bring together numerous black and white photographs, a way of highlighting the history and faces that shaped the country.

Already included in the itinerary - Tickets to the Jardin Majorelle and the Yves Saint-Laurent Museum. The Jardin Majorelle is an emblem for Marrakech's green spaces. It came into being in the 1920s and, as its creator, orientalist painter Jacques Majorelle, intended, the rarest species coexist in this world dominated by cobalt blue. In the middle of the garden, in the painter's former studio, is a Berber museum displaying part of Pierre Berge and Yves Saint-Laurent's personal collection. This exhibition is centred around sets of jewellery, ceremonial costumes and utensils which are part of Berber cultural heritage. Then it's on to the brand new Yves Saint-Laurent Museum. Behind a brick and terracotta facade, the designer's many creations are on show - clothing, accessories and drawings - for which Marrakech was a real inspiration.

Private transfer to Essaouira (around three hours) and four nights' accommodation in a riad in the medina, right next to the sea. Its few rooms combine traditional style and contemporary design. The dining room brings guests together for simple and fresh meals, where seafood - a must - is served. Tea is served in the coolness of the courtyard or on the rooftop terrace near the pool. Wellness comes in the form of a steam room, sauna and a range of treatments - all pretexts for some 'me-time'.

Included in the itinerary - A private visit to the medina. Proudly dominating the Atlantic Ocean, Essaouira is a perfect combination of Portuguese and Moroccan culture. Along with your private guide, you can stroll through its medina, the historic centre of the city designed by French architect Theodore Cornut. This tour takes you from the fishing harbour to the Sqala and the Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdallah Museum, which is named after the city's founder and tells his story.
Do it, live it - Learn about watersports: it's as much about surfing, windsurfing and kitesurfing here as about the sun lounger - go from craft shops to cafe terraces - experience the hustle and bustle of the harbour and then taste the fish of the day in a tucked away little restaurant - see every shade of blue against the white of the houses - go for a camel ride on the beach - marvel at the kindness of the locals - in the evening, have tea watching the sunset...

Private transfer to the airport and catch your flight home.

Suggestions

Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included

Located

45 minutes from Marrakech, close to the village of Talet, Kasbah Beldi is a 37-acre restaurant and garden with large terraces under olive trees, designed for chic picnics in a nomad style (carpets, cushions and ice cubes always within easy reach), two pools between the lake and mountain, a vegetable garden where you can pick fruit and vegetables yourself and old-fashioned craft shops where you can meet women working for a charitable association. Expect a warm welcome, smiles and natural warmth from these mountain dwellers.

Optional



NATURE INLAND FROM ESSAOUIRA

Your local hiking guide has used his training as a forest guide to come up with nature discovery hikes: argan trees, dunes, thuja forests... Based on your requirements and fitness, he will offer village, beach or countryside trails. Among our favourites: the camel walk from the beach and forest at Essaouira through acacias, dunes and palm trees (an opportunity to discuss the vegetation of the dunes) and a day in Tifaouine, where the route crosses through an argan forest, a beach walk, a visit to an argan oil cooperative as well as a trip to the Sidi M'Bark waterfalls and its terraced gardens. This tour also includes lunch with a Berber family or at a women's cooperative.

Optional

Why visit Morocco with Original Travel ?

Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.

ENQUIRE NOW

A few of the benefits of travelling with us to Morocco

  • Our local Concierges
  • The Original Travel app
  • Airport lounge access
  • Wi-Fi router and e-Sim
  • Destination Dossier
  • 24-hour helpline
  • Expert guides
  • 100% carbon absorption

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A rough idea of the price

Depending on the time of year, type of accommodation and activities

The estimated cost for this trip starts from £2,135 to £3,405 per person. The final cost of the trip depends on the way we tailor it especially for you. The final cost will vary according to several factors, including the level of service, length of trip and advance booking time. The exact price will be provided on your personalised quote. The average cost for this trip is £2,725 per person.
Included in this suggestion

  • International flights with a scheduled airline


  • Airline taxes and fuel surcharge


  • Priority clearance through immigration at Marrakech airport


  • Private transfers as shown in the itinerary


  • Three-night stay in Marrakech in a double room with breakfast


  • Three-night stay in Essaouira in a double room with breakfast


  • A Marrakech art walk, with a private guide


  • Tickets to the Majorelle Garden and the Yves Saint-Laurent Museum in Marrakech


  • Tour of the Essaouira medina, with a private guide


  • Our local Concierge service




  • A GPS navigation service accessible from our app, which is loaded with your itinerary, hotel details and places to visit

100% tailor-made holidays

Understanding Your Needs

Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday

Personalisation

We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities

Our Services

All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from fast-tracking you through airport check-in and security to our network of local Concierges