The Mystical Gnawa Of marrakech

The Gnawa are on of the pillars of Jemaa El Fna, their frentic rhythms and dynamic movements guide tourists to this magical place. Onlookers and tourists gather for this incredible show steeped in history.

The Gnawa are not confined to a single genre, this brotherhood has cultivated a world of combining body language, folk music and spirituality. 

Live Like A king in Marrakech

Whether you're strolling through lush boutique gardens or dining at the most highly esteemed restaurants in the city it is easy to feel like royalty when enjoying one of Morocco's finest luxury holidays. Let the following recommendations guide you on your trip to North Africa and make sure to deny yourself nothing... 

Marrakech OASIS FESTIVAL 2016

When you think of Morocco, the first things that will spring up are probably the classic and romantic connotations from popular fiction like Casablanca and Lawrence Of Arabia (not set in Morocco but you get where I’m going at). What nobody expects in this Northern-African, is a quality dance music festival in a luxurious surrounding with reigning artists like Dixon, The Black Madonna & Tale of Us.

So there, in the middle of the desert, just south of the state’s capital of Marrakech, laid Oasis Festival. The festival’s second edition had a change of location and was moved to “The Source”, a luxury resort consisting of picturesque Berber-like buildings functioning as hotel rooms. The idea behind Oasis Festival was to organize an event with international as well as settled local DJ’s to show the potential of a now rapidly growing Moroccan scene. This year alone, two new dance festivals popped up in the wake of Oasis succesful debut edition in 2015, in the form of Atlasand Moga Festival. Other than that, people like the internationally booked Moroccan DJ Amine K are influential spokespeople for their home country when traveling to dance music hubs like Amsterdam, Berlin or Ibiza.

He's over the hump! David Beckham enjoys a camel ride with his children during lavish 40th birthday celebrations in Marrakech

He celebrated his 40th birthday in style on Saturday night with a lavish bash attended by a host of A-list stars.

But David Beckham started his day making memories with his children as they were spotted enjoying a camel ride near the luxurious Amanjena resort.

Making the most of their time in Marrakech, Morocco, the retired footballer certainly didn’t have the hump about reaching his age milestone as he rode around with his kids ahead of the night’s festivities.

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Birthday boy: David Beckham started his day making memories with his children as they were spotted enjoying a camel ride near the luxurious Amanjena resort

Where To Stay In Marrakech

Anyone who’s been back to Marrakech after a several year absence would have difficulty recognizing the place. The winding alleyways of the medina are still there, with atmospheric riads hidden behind nondescript doors and stall after stall of silks, slippers, brass on sale. And in the center of it all, Jemaa el Fna, the main square inhabited by snake charmers, acrobats, sizzling kebab grills, boulevarding locals and mobs of tourists. 

What’s changed, however, is the hotel scene; it’s a veritable explosion with more coming on line all the time: Rocco Forte’s Assoufid, a Baglioni, a Mandarin Oriental, a W, a Park Hyatt, the Jawhar from Monaco’s Societie des Bains de Mer are all set to open over the next year. 

Morocco's bright lights: Romance, riads and arresting exoticism in the Red City

The Red City yanks you from the 21st century immediately. So much so, it seems impossible that my day began in gloomy London. I stand paralysed, ink from the map clutched in my hand imprinted on my fingers and the bedlam of Marrakech ringing in my ears.

JEMAA EL FNA for food Connaisseurs

As day gives way to night, this famous square is decked out in inviting, make-shift tables, where you can sample grilled meats and traditional dishes.

"I couldn't believe the flawless organisation of the night restaurants in this fantastic square! Long tables are laid out in a flash, while the coals glow red and kebabs flash before your eyes accompanied by bread and tomato sauce. The sellers appeal to passers-by, inviting them to sit at their tables. Under the lights and the fumes, young and old find themselves sitting at the same benches partaking of timeless, unchanging dishes that include couscous with seven vegetables,

Marrakech is more than the medina

Beach clubs, trekking or hill retreats. If you thought it was a city just for weekend breaks, it’s time to think again!

Picture the scene: an old house, a riad, full of beckoning arches and curvaceous carvings, with a cool pool and a picture-book palm in the courtyard. Orange juice and pancakes on the roof for breakfast, couscous and salads under the stars at night. And all this in the middle of the medina, the old town of Marrakech, where the call to prayer rings out every morning and the sun shines all year round.

It’s no wonder we love Marrakech, and no wonder that more than 400 riads offer rooms in the medina. Up to now, however, this has been very much a weekender’s city, overflowing with atmosphere, but a little short on diversions. Once you’ve seen the Saadian tombs and the Bahia Palace, excavated the souks and wriggled among the snake-charmers on the Djemaa el Fna, you’re done. What next?

Dinner For Two In Marrakech

Morocco is famous for its food, and no wonder. It's mouthwatering and eclectic, and there's something for everyone. The best-known dish is the tagine, a filling stew slow cooked in an earthenware pot with a conical lid. In addition to chicken, beef, lamb, fish, or vegetables, tagines often include stewed fruit, olives, onions, or almonds. Many restaurants also serve couscous, particularly as a traditional family lunch on Fridays. The seven-veggie couscous royale, topped with a raisin/onion concoction, is not to be missed.

Discover Marrakch in 36 Hours

IN 1939, George Orwell wrote of Westerners flocking to Marrakech in search of “camels, castles, palm-trees, Foreign Legionnaires, brass trays and bandits.” Ever since, the city has been ravishing visitors with its teeming souks, ornate palaces and sybaritic night life. In recent years, a succession of high-end openings and restorations — most notably, the lavish reopening of the hotel La Mamounia — has transformed the city into an obligatory stop for jet-setters. Yet despite Marrakesh’s new cachet, the true treasures of the enigmatic city still hide down dusty side streets and behind sagging storefronts.