By Amber Gibson
Although still off the beaten path, Morocco is one of the fastest growing vacation destinations for American travelers, beguiling for its beautiful architecture, desert landscape, great shopping and distinct North African culture. The country’s long, rich history reflects Berber, Arabic, Roman, Moorish and French influences in cuisine, clothing, language and art.
Zyne
It may only be Morocco’s fourth largest city, but Marrakech has become the country’s capital of luxury travel and most popular tourist destination for Americans. Its excellent central location is a great base to explore the Atlas Mountains, Agafy desert and Essaouira’s seaside. People’s reigning ‘Sexiest Man Alive’ Idris Elba got married in Marrakech earlier this year and Madonna celebrated her 60th birthday here last year.
Mandarin Pool Villa
MANDARIN ORIENTAL MARRAKECH
Turkish Airlines just launched flights between Istanbul and Marrakech, so it’s easier than ever to get here with just one stop from nine US gateway cities and a more comfortable journey than flying Royal Air Maroc. The new Istanbul Airport is now fully operational and poised to become the busiest airport in the world with a capacity for 200 million passengers per year. Turkish Airlines also has a very generous stopover program so you can make the most of your time in Istanbul with complimentary city tours, Bosphorus River cruises and even hotel accommodations depending on the length of your stay.
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Ben Youssef Madrasa
MANDARIN ORIENTAL MARRAKECH
STAY
Mandarin Oriental Marrakech
MANDARIN ORIENTAL MARRAKECH
Among the many five-star accommodations in Marrakech, Mandarin Oriental, Marrakech stands out as a paragon of the resort experience. With 54 private villas among lushly landscaped gardens and nine suites in the main building, the level of privacy here is unmatched. The design is a blend of Berber and Andalusian-Arabic, with villas resembling intimate riads. It’s hard to pull yourself away from the peaceful pool, Jacuzzi and spacious courtyard, with a kitchenette, outdoor shower and lounge chairs for sunbathing. Berber motifs etched above the bed and handwoven wool rugs imbue a sense of place from the moment you awaken. Locally made grapefruit and rosemary bath amenities by Nectarome not only smell great, but feel so nice on your skin that you’ll want to stash them in your suitcase. More local brands are available in the lobby boutique, including intricately embroidered babouche Moroccan slippers by Zyne.
Zyne Obee Slippers
ZYNE
The spa combines elements of Moorish cathedrals and Arabic mosques, constructed with Marrakech’s famous red bricks. Treatments here include hammam experiences and massages with argan oil, a Moroccan beauty secret for generations that’s more recently been co-opted by American and European beauty brands like Moroccanoil. Antique Berber pottery from the owner’s own collection decorates the relaxation lounge, although you won’t spend much time there as each treatment room is a full spa suite complete with a private garden.
Mandarin Oriental Marrakech Hammam Spa
MANDARIN ORIENTAL MARRAKECH
The kid’s club is equally impressive, with fun cultural activities teaching Moroccan pottery, Arabic calligraphy and Berber carpet weaving. Although the resort is very secluded and romantic (even at full occupancy it doesn’t feel crowded) the Mandarin Oriental team are experts at planning family activities too. They’ve started hosting more weddings as well, although this requires a full resort buyout.
Mandarin Oriental Marrakech Pool
MANDARIN ORIENTAL MARRAKECH
EXPLORE
Marrakech Insiders
FELIX MATHIVET
Zipping through the medina in a sidecar with Marrakech Insiders is the best way to see, smell and feel the heartbeat of Marrakech beyond touristic landmarks. The walls surrounding the medina were originally built in the 12th century as protection against invaders. The western section with colorful souks and hotels like La Mamounia and Royal Mansour is a tourist magnet, but our guides with Marrakech Insiders brought us on a tour of the more residential eastern medina an hour before sunset during Ramadan, a particularly hectic time to visit as locals prepared for ftour or iftar, the feast to break the day’s fast. Pungent odors from the neighborhood tanneries mingled with meat barbecuing on the grill as we wove in and out of the thick crowds through a few of the 20 different gates by which you can enter the medina.
Dar El Sadaka
AMBER GIBSON
This was a side of Marrakech I wouldn’t have found on my own. Marrakech Insiders lives up to their name; their connections allow for true insider experiences that aren’t available to the public, including a visit to the whimsical world of sculptor and animal lover Jean-Francois Fourtou at Dar El Sadaka. The upside down house here might not have anything to do with Moroccan history or culture, but it’s an Instagrammer’s paradise.
Ciel d’Afrique Hot Air Balloons at Sunrise
AMBER GIBSON
If you want to get an aerial lay of the land, an early morning hot air balloon ride with Ciel d’Afrique is worth waking up at 3 a.m. for. You’ll catch the sun just as it’s rising over the Atlas Mountains and casting golden rays over the plains below. It can get chilly up in the air, but they offer blankets to guests, and the hour long ride is wonderfully serene. Once you’ve softly landed safely back on the ground, fresh-squeezed orange juice, Moroccan pancakes and mint tea are offered as refreshments.
Hot Air Balloon Ciel d’Afrique
CIEL D’AFRIQUE
EAT
Mandarin Pool Villa Breakfast
MANDARIN ORIENTAL MARRAKECH
Start your day with sweet and savory Moroccan pancakes – m’semen are spiced savory crepes reminiscent of Chinese scallion pancakes, but stuffed with minced meat. The sweet semolina pancakes are more crumbly, like cornbread, and especially good slathered with amlou, the almond, argan oil and honey spread that’s Morocco’s answer to Nutella.
Tabbouleh Salad
MANDARIN ORIENTAL, MARRAKECH
Couscous and tagines are staple dishes here, and you can learn to make them yourself at Mandarin Oriental’s new cooking school. Chef Mohamed Chqiri teaches guests how to fluff couscous with the right balance of olive oil and water, a painstaking process that must be repeated three times to achieve just the right texture. The tagines come in so many varieties, from symmetrically arranged vegetarian versions loaded with preserved lemon, tumeric, ginger, cumin and paprika to lamb brain with chermoula or kefta meatballs in creamy tomato sauce.
Berber Picnic
AMBER GIBSON
There’s also harira soup, a hearty tomato-based soup with chickpeas, lentils, broken angel hair pasta and meat that is traditionally consumed along with dates and chebakia fried sesame rosettes to break the Ramadan fast at sunset.
Finish your meal with Moroccan pastries like the almond paste-filled cornes de gazelle, perhaps flavored with a touch of saffron.
