Marrakech with activities 5 days

After your breakfast at you hotel, your guide will meet you for full day guided tour of Marrakech. Marrakech was founded in 1062 by one of the chieftains of the Almoravid king Youssuf Ibn Tashfin. The Almoravids were desert warriors, very much attached to their Islamic religion; the original garrison developed very quickly into a city where numerous mosques and madrasas (Koranic schools) were built. Andalousian craftsmen built and decorated several palaces, merging their style with the Saharan and African traditions, which gave the city a distinctive architectural flavour. Nowadays, Marrakech is a vibrant city which exhibits a curious blend of the ancient and the modern, allowing travellers the chance to experience the genuine medieval atmosphere of the old medina, and visit the trendiest bars, art galleries and restaurants in the French Quarter, Guéliz, built at the beginning of the 20th Century, all in one day. Highlights of your visit will include: Majorelle Gardens Small haven of peace located in the heart of the city of Marrakech. The Majorelle Garden is a tourist botanical garden that has about 3000 species on nearly 1 hectare, an art deco villa labeled House of Illustres, and a museum of the history of Berbers. It is one of the most visited places in Morocco. In the shaded alleys of the Majorelle Garden, you wander among trees and exotic plants whose origin is dreaming. One is soothed and bewitched by the harmony of this luxuriant and alive picture where the senses are delicately solicited to offer a magic walk, out of the city so animated yet so close, in the enclosure protected by the high walls of ground, out of time. It dazzles with its frank colors and lush greenery completely cut off from the outside world. El Bahia Palace Built in the late 19th Century, and decorated by the best artisans of Morocco at the time, this palace – intended to be the most magnificent of its age – features an exquisite blend of Andalousian and Moorish styles. Specially interesting are the harem apartments, the trapezoidal garden, and a huge tiled courtyard with fountains. The Koranic School Medersa Ben Youssef Theological college founded by the Merenid Sultan Abu Hassan in the 14th century, and restored in 1564 by the Saadians who made it the largest theological college in the Maghreb and a rival to the important Medersa Bou Inania in Fés. The Koutoubia Mosque Built by the Almohads in the late years of 12th Century, the Koutoubia Mosque, and specially its minaret, is the most important landmark of Marrakech, and a symbol of the city itself. The minaret served as model for the Giralda in Sevilla and the unfinished Tour Hassan in Rabat, all three being designed by the same architect. Koutoubia means ‘booksellers’, as the trade of books was concentrated in the neighbourhood during the Middle Ages. The minaret of the Koutoubia, 77 meters high, is visible from almost any point of the city – an old ordinance, still in force, forbids any building of Marrakech to surpass the Koutoubia minaret in height. Djemaa El Fna, the Square Nobody knows for certain of the origin of this square, whose name evokes, in Arabic, the contradictory notions of assembly or gathering, and that of absence. Probably as old as the city itself, it was a place for public executions during the day, and the meeting point of musicians, mystics, food sellers, pickpockets, acrobats, snake charmers, storytellers, dancers, fortune tellers and other exotic characters at night (happily enough, nowadays it only retains its more playful aspect). Watching sunset from one of its terraces when the call to prayer from the Koutoubia minaret fills the air is one of these ‘zen’ moments that Morocco offers – do not miss it! Despite its lack of significant monuments, Djemaa el Fna became an UNESCO Heritage Site in 1985, as one of the last places in the world where old oral narratives are still enacted. The Souks Filling the alleys north of Djmaa el Fna is the souk, or traditional market – the largest one in Morocco. It is, in turn, subdivided in some 18 souks, each one of them devoted to a specific trade or craftsmanship – from spices or ironwork, to the ingredients necessary for casting magic spells. The number of shops – often not much bigger in size than a closet - is overwhelming, and in them Moroccans can indulge in one of the activities that they enjoy most: bargaining. Cunning, patience, sense of humour, and strategy are needed for the game. Try your skills at it! • Overnight at hotel in Marrakech

The Ourika Valley is a picturesque region stretching along the Ourika River in the heart of the High Atlas Mountains, approximately 30 kilometers from Marrakech. Renowned for its cooler climate and fertile landscapes, the valley is dotted with terraced fields, walnut and olive groves, and authentic Berber villages clinging to the mountainsides. As the river winds through the valley, it creates a peaceful atmosphere ideal for nature lovers and photographers. Highlights include visits to traditional weekly souks, Berber homes, and the scenic hike to the Setti Fatma waterfalls, where cascading streams and mountain views reward visitors. Combining natural beauty, rural life, and cultural discovery, the Ourika Valley offers an enriching contrast to the bustle of Marrakech. • Overnight at hotel in Marrakech

Day at leisure to enjoy the beauty of the city by your own or enjoy some optional activities: 1st Option: Early morning departure for Hot Air balloon See the breathtaking Atlas plains spreading out under your feet as you ascend into the sky and see the sun creeping above the horizon, casting beautiful colors over the desert below. The cool, serene morning ambiance adds to your experience as you appreciate the incredible views as only birds can. Rising early for a sunrise flight means you get incredible pnoramic views as you watch the sun wake for the day and float along the air currents to wherever they take you. On your hour-long journey, soar high above oases and secluded Berber villages, as well as the terraced, irrigated fields of the Al Haouz Plain. Marvel at the incredible mountain range in the background and keep your eyes peeled for caravans of dromedary camels going about their daily business. Back on solid ground, enjoy a delicious Moroccan breakfast with the Atlas Mountains as your backdrop. 2nd Option: Camel Ride and Quad Biking in Palm Grove Enjoy camel ride through the beautiful Palmeraie of Marrakech, just a few minutes’ drive from Marrakech. Camels, known as the ‘ships of the desert’ are remarkable animals and offer a relaxing way to enjoy the peace and quiet of the Palmeraie in the palm groves of Marrakech. Once you have found your balance and got used to the very rhythmic motion a camel makes, you will enjoy a break for mint tea. There will be plenty of time for some fun photos and a chance to get to know your camel well. You can also have quad biking tour which lets you marvel at the Marrakesh area's most beautiful scenery from several of the region's adventurous trails. Take on the rugged landscape of the Jbilet desert, winding your way through lush palm groves and rocky riverbeds. Steer your quad bike across the sweeping desert landscape, marveling at sights of palm-dotted plains and jagged mountains in the distance. Cruise across the barren terrain, passing villages populated by friendly locals and taking in sweeping views for as far as the eye can see. Stop for optional lunch in a traditional Berber home and enjoy tagine, an African stew-like dish cooked in a clay pot. Your experience ends with convenient transportation back to your hotel. 3rd Option: Hamam and well-being: Afternoon enjoy Hammam & well-being: The Moroccan Hammam Collection is rooted in thousands of years of Moroccan history and ancient traditions. The hammam is a traditional Moroccan steam room where women and men go for a sensual, ritual-based body treatment that includes aromatherapy, detoxification, steam, massage, and relaxation. To destress and detox, there is no better way than to visit a traditional Moroccan steam bath and have a deeply relaxing treatment. The hammam is traditionally a public bath, separated for both men and women, with stylish Moorish surroundings, offering a host traditional and oriental treatments to revitalise body, mind and soul. You can indulge yourself relaxing and de-stressing, using a combination of traditional treatments: Hammam (steam bath), «gommage» (body scrub), massages with perfumed essential oils are all designed to induce lasting well-being. Many of the products used are handmade and derived from local plants and mineralsDinner and overnight at hotel in Marrakech 4th Option: Cooking class Moroccan cuisine is rich, both in terms of the spectrum of ingredients as well as its history. Learn all about local spices and ingredients from an expert cooking teacher. Who knows, by the time you’re done experimenting with the mouth-watering local ingredients. You might pick up a few secrets from the skilled chef to take back home and brag a little! Optional dinner at Fantasia Chez Ali, feel the vibrant colors, tastes, and music as you enjoy a serenade of traditional folklore with dazzling dancers dressed in Moroccan attire accompanied by Arabian and Berber music. After dinner, the magical Fantasia show takes over. Marvel at belly dancers, magicians, Arab stallions, and riders dressed for battle and blasting their rifles in the air. · Overnight at hotel in Marrakech

After your breakfast at hotel, daparture transfer to Menara airport. End of our services, Have nice trip back home!