Villa Al Haouz

Villa Al Haouz enjoys a wonderful countryside location twenty minutes to the south-west of Marrakech’s Medina. It sits near the main irrigation canal of Marrakech on the way to the Ourika Valley. It is a blissful location which offers all the options you could wish for. You can be in the bustling main square quickly and out to the Valley of Ourika in minutes too.
 
The Valley of Ourika sits half an hour from the buzz and energy of Marrakech. It is absolutely gorgeous and very popular with tourists wanting to escape from the city centre and see another side of Morocco. The area is very scenic, with groups of waterfalls tucked behind the village of Setti Fatma, colourful restaurants by the river and friendly Berber tribes wanting to show you around their villages and homes. The Berbers have lived in North Africa for five thousand years. During the Arab invasion in the 7th century, the Berbers took refuge high in the Atlas Mountains. Today, most Berbers are Muslims but have retained the Berber languages in the villages. Barbary macaques are found in the Western High Atlas, an endangered primate. It is a wonderful area for hiking where paths are shaded by trees, and every waterfall looks even more beautiful than the last. In August each year, there is a vibrant four-day market and fair in Setti Fatma.
 
Marrakech is a bustling, intoxicating, colourful city of wonders that offers an inexhaustible source of surprises. It is Africa’s Capital of Culture, where everything is on the move. Finding out all of its secrets would take forever, but you can visit a handful of attractions in a few days to get a taste of its noble past and its frenetic present. Colourful spices, glistening lamps, colourful carpets and leather in every shade imaginable are combined with rich, ancient architecture to capture your heart and soul. Its souks are loud, thrilling and frenzied. You can shop for sweets, clothing, leather, spices, soap, perfume, rugs, lighting, musical instruments and much more. All prices are negotiable, and bargaining is a social art. You will discover snake charmers, storytellers and potion sellers. Its dizzying array of sights, smells, and tastes with provide a sensory overload. Dining in the Medina is an adventure and will set your tastebuds tingling as Marrakech offers one of the world’s tastiest cuisines. Smoke rises from barbecues which are enjoyed along with Gnawa musicians, acrobats and fortune tellers. The souks are lined with rows of sweet oranges, plump dates and an enormous variety of olives, while the air is infused with intensely fragrant spices. You will discover the delicious shakshuka and spongy Moroccan pancakes for breakfast and delicious tagines and Tanja, succulent lamb slow-cooked in a clay pot for hours, for dinner. Sfenj are yummy fried doughnuts drizzled with floral honey. Mint tea is served as a sign of welcome at the end of purchase or to unwind in the afternoon. Many of the riads boast exquisite restaurants for fine dining experiences where you will enjoy creative, spice-laced modern Moroccan menus, many of which are on rooftops with fabulous views. Your friendly staff at the riad can recommend and book tables for you. The wonderful Riad Yima Tea Room is the home and personal gallery of Hassan Hajjaj, the Andy Warhol of Marrakech and is filled with upcycled pop art. It is fun and a great place to grab a classic cup of mint tea. The Medina’s labyrinth of winding lanes and alleyways is best explored with a willingness to get lost and a sense of adventure. In 1985 the Medina was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Hammams were introduced to the city by the Romans and adapted to fit Islamic ablution rituals. Visitors enjoy wonderful hammam experiences at Hammam de la Rose, the Farnatchi Spa, the deluxe Royal Mansour and many other spas.
 
Marrakech boasts a fabulous collection of interesting museums, including the Musee Tiskiwin, where you can learn about the history of Marrakech and the region in general. The Dar Si Said Museum is an exhibition of historic and contemporary Moroccan art, full of intricate Byzantine designs and colours. The Music Museum is located in the Saadian quarter, built in the 16th and 17th centuries. The reception of the museum is a jewel of Arab-Andalusian architecture.
 
Also giving you an insight into the city’s history are the magnificent 16th-century Saadian Tombs. Sultan al-Mansour spared no expense in decorating his opulent mausoleum with imported Italian Carrara marble and a gilded honeycomb muqarnas ceiling. The once magnificent Bali Palace is now a monumental ruin with giant reflecting pools and breathtaking views of the city. The stunning Bahia Palace is amazing and offers the mesmerising quarters of Bou Ahmed’s favourite concubine, Lalla Zineb.
 
The area around the city is sprinkled with beautiful gardens. Le Jardin Secret is one of Medina’s largest and most important gardens, with a Persian garden full of tufty grasses and olive, pomegranate, fig and date trees and a second smaller garden offering exotic plants. An elaborate irrigation system weaves its way through the gardens, part of an ancient network that once distributed water from artesian wells and fed by the mountains. When fashion icon Yves St Laurent arrived in the city in 1964, he was overwhelmed by the city and its vivacity. He lived in the Jardin Majorelle with his partner, a lush garden painted with an intense shade of ultramarine blue. It is sprinkled with giant cacti, palms and bamboo groves. The Berber Museum is filled with Yves St Laurent’s personal jewellery and fashion collection, and the Musee Yves St Laurent offers a stunning choreography presentation of the clothes in a dramatic black hall.
 
Visitors to Marrakech also enjoy heading to the quiet cool of the surrounding mountain valleys. The Valley of Ourika is one magical spot, but there are plenty of others. It is the perfect contrast to the thrillingly frantic energy of the Medina and the buzz of its museums, palaces and gardens. After a delicious Moroccan feast around Djemaa El Fna, you can trek up Northern Africa’s highest peak, Mount Toubkal or enjoy a surprising experience of North African skiing at Oukaimeden. The Atlas Mountains are sprinkled with pretty villages, beautiful waterfalls and dramatic viewpoints. Imlil is a popular hub to start exploring, and the Bureau des Guides d’Imlil can arrange guides. You will enjoy unforgettable day trips, visit traditional villages, taste delicious food, and enjoy the fabulous scenery and a mesmerising mix of Berber, Arabian and European cultural influences.

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