Holidaying In Marrakech

By Author: Bonny Kominek
Total Articles: 230
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Although Marrakech is in fact made up of the old city and a more modern area, to fully throw yourself into Moroccan customs and traditions you''re best off in the medina. Head for the lively square of the Jemaa el Fna and the labyrinthine souks that spiral out from it. The souks are legendary with locals and travelers alike, and are a fantastic place to get lost for ages, perusing the market stalls and bartering with vendors for the perfect Moroccan craft items. At the Jemaa el Fna itself, you can gape at the numerous acrobats, henna tattoo artists, storytellers, belly dancers, musicians, snake charmers and potion sellers that make it their home during the day. At nightfall, there is a changeover of stalls and about 100 makeshift restaurants appear, prepped for the dinner hordes.

If you weary of the hectic buzz of the square and its environs, there are many quiet spots around the city where you can unwind. Take, for instance, the Majorelle Garden and Museum of Islamic Art. Donated by Yves Saint Laurent as a gift to Marrakech, the botanical garden was created in the 1920s by French artists and is home to perfectly manicured ...
... gardens, pools, giant cacti, bamboo, coconut and banana trees. The garden is a vision of bright-blue, green and yellow which covers the villa and garden walls, doors and plant beds. The Museum inside contains Yves Saint Laurent''s collection of local arts and antiques, and is well worth a look for culture enthusiasts.

There are also plenty of day trips that can be done whilst staying in Marrakech, one of the most popular being a trip out to the magnificent waterfalls at Ouzoud ? 110m high, the cascades of water fall into a beautiful valley which is home to a large number of olive trees, not to mention a large population of monkeys. Visitors can admire the view from the summit or take a small raft out at the foot of the falls ? whichever way you choose to experience them, you''ll be awed by their beauty and sheer size.

There''s so much to do in Marrakech that the best thing is to just get out there and explore it all for yourself, but do remember to get in before the floods of SATC2 fans! You can find cheap deals on Marrakech hotels from companies like Octopus Travel, and once you arrive you''ll be pleasantly surprised by the reasonable cost of living. Make Marrakech your next holiday destination ? you won''t regret it! Bonny Kominek is a professional writer providing information on travel and lodgings, at Octopustravel.com you can book into Marrakech hotels.