At the end of September, I was lucky enough to be invited for a long weekend in Marrakech staying at the beautiful Ksar Char Bagh and my sister was lucky enough to be the chosen person to accompany me!

An incredibly easy 3-hour flight, with a choice of scheduled or ‘no frills’ airlines, will introduce you to a whole other world and culture. Marrakech oozes atmosphere and excitement and is just perfect for those seeking culture, adventure, mountains, shopping, great food and a diverse range of accommodation from traditional riads and converted palaces to mountain top retreats.

Ksar Char Bagh is a member of the Relais & Chateaux group and is owned and run by a delightful French family who bought a plot of land in the Palmeraie area on the outskirts of the city and proceeded to build a beautiful hotel combining North African & Moorish styles. Just 10 minutes drive from the city centre, with drivers on hand to take you at a moments notice you can profit from the best of both worlds.

With utter peace and relaxation around the heated outdoor pool, in the traditional hammam or on the rooftop terrace jacuzzi looking towards the peaks of the Atlas Mountains. Or on a more energetic day, you can head into the souq for a day of bartering and people watching or just an hour away head into the Atlas Mountains to explore Berber villages and maybe embark on a mountain trek.

We spent 2 days being thoroughly spoilt including breakfast in our private garden next to our private pool, a massage for my sister, a picnic amidst remote olive groves, numerous lengths in the pool and a Moroccan cookery lesson with the hotel’s charming chef. We then proceeded to eat our efforts under the shade of the palm trees (delicious Moroccan chicken followed by a wonderful pastry & almond delight!).

Market Square at Dusk, Marrakesh, Morocco
Market Square, Marrakech, Morocco

As we waved goodbye to our hosts we headed into the medina for a night in the midst of things. Sunday night in Marrakech is when many of the locals gather with friends and families so we left the calm of our sumptuous riad and headed into the heat of the Moroccan evening to walk to Djemaa-el-Fna square and the bustling souqs. 3 hours later, laden with a leather poof, numerous scarves and a backgammon set we retreated back to the cool of our hotel roof terrace for a mezze of dips, bread and wine – how they make their aubergine dips taste so wonderful we shall never know!

For more information about my long weekend to Morocco, or for further advice on planning your holiday to Morrocco, please contact our Morrocco specialists.

Thanks for reading

Author: Steppes Travel