Marrakech Magic: All inclusive escape with souks, desert nights & camel rides!
Marrakech is a city that wraps you in colour, scent and sound the moment you arrive. With its rose tinted walls, palm fringed avenues and maze like medina, it feels wonderfully exotic yet still easy to explore on a short break. Marrakech had been on my bucket list for years and years and it truly lived up to my hopes of what it would be.
You can choose to stay in a traditional ‘Riad’ within the city walls for a truly Moroccan experience or outside of the city in the Palmeraie in a larger all inclusive hotel.
We stayed at the all inclusive at the Valeria Dar Atlas Resort in the Palmeraie as we wanted a more relaxing base just outside the city but with the buzz of the main square, souks and desert experiences all within easy reach. Even though we were in a larger all inclusive hotel we really did still feel like we were in Morocco.
It had a massive main pool and a quieter pool, a lovely restaurant, with indoor and outdoor dining, serving traditional Moroccan dishes from tagines. It had great evening entertainment with Moroccan shows and a foam party in the pool once a week! There is a spa with an indoor pool where we had a massage and a little market once or twice a week.
This hotel shares a waterpark with the Valeria Madina Club Resort next door.
Into the Heart of the City: Jemaa el‑Fna and the Souks: From the Palmeraie, it is a short transfer into the old city, where Marrakech really comes alive. The main square, Jemaa el‑Fna, is the beating heart of the medina: a huge open space framed by cafés and stalls, rooftop bars and snake charmers, that constantly shifts from day to night. Just off the square lie the souks: a labyrinth of narrow lanes lined with tiny shops and workshops. Here you can browse colourful ceramics, leather bags, lanterns, rugs and spices, pausing to haggle gently and soak up the atmosphere. It is a sensory overload in the best possible way: vibrant, busy and full of life, with glimpses of everyday Marrakech tucked between the stalls.
We had a day looking around the square and souks with a guide which I would recommend as we learnt so much more from him than we would have if we had gone on our own.
Dinner in the Desert and a Camel Ride: To see a completely different side of Marrakech, we booked a dinner in the desert. After we travelled into the desert we started our evening with a camel ride across the desert as the sun set.
We then made our way to the desert camp. It was magical, lit by lanterns with carpets with low tables and cushions where we sat to eat a Moroccan meal from tagines and sweet pastries.
We then watched a fire show and danced with the Moroccan musicians. This camp had a beautiful swimming pool and you could stay here over night in Berber-style tents which I would love to do one day!
The Perfect Marrakech Short Break: Combining an all‑inclusive stay in the Palmeraie with time in Marrakech’s main square and souks, plus a desert dinner and camel ride, gives you a holiday rich in variety. You can relax with easy days by the pool with everything taken care of immersive moments in the heart of the medina, from Jemaa el‑Fna to the hidden souks and have a magical desert evening that you will remember long after you return home. There is so much to do in Marrakech. The weather is gorgeous and the people are so friendly.
We did plan to take a sunrise hot air balloon ride but we didn’t get to do it on this holiday …. Maybe next time?
Just a couple of things to bear in mind if you do look to visit Marrakech …. In the summer months it is very hot! Also if you do go into the city there are modern areas but within the souks and square do be ready for a bit of a culture shock. I thought Marrakech would have all over become more westernised but it hasn’t …. Which is wonderful …. but very different (and quite chaotic!).
If you would like more information on a holiday in Marrakech just let me know.
