Marrakech Medina
Menara Pavilion
Jardin Majorelle
Marrakech Shops
Le Jardin Secret
Marrakech Street
Menara gardens
Le Jardin Majorelle
Marrakech Horizon
Anima Botanical
Palace El Bahia
Jardin Majorelle
Ourika Valley
Marrakech’s atmospheric Medina
Majorelle Gardens – once owned by Yves St Laurent
Ourika Valley – home to the traditional Berber people
Anima Gardens - an enchanting fusion of art and nature
The extraordinary lunar landscape of the Agafay Stone Desert
Marrakech is renowned for its amazing Medina, which is unmissable and of course included on this superb tour. But the city and its surroundings offer so much more. Its gardens are also extraordinary and varied, which we will explore in the company of popular expert, David Hurrion. We’ll also visit the surrounding landscapes in the Atlas Mountains, Ourika Valley, home to the traditional Berber people, amazing Anima Garden and the tranquil Parc Lalla Hasna. Add to that the stunning scenery of the Atlas Mountains and the other-worldly landscape of the Agafay Stone Desert - this is truly an extended city break with a difference!
Available Departures |
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| 11 - January - 2026 | £ 2225.00 | Travel Info Book Now |
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Provisional Timings London Gatwick Departing: 11th January 2026 at 10:00 Returning: 17th January 2026 at 13:20 |
Day 1: Fly from London Gatwick to Marrakech and transfer by coach to the hotel. Rest of the afternoon at leisure before a welcome drink at the hotel followed by a group dinner together.
Day 2: Menara Gardens, Bahia Palace, Secret Garden and Dar El Bacha
Our first visit on this delightful tour is to the beautiful Menara Gardens, dating back to the 12th century and featuring an expansive pool, olive groves and picturesque views of the Atlas Mountains. Next on the agenda is the 19th century Bahia Palace, intended to be the greatest palace of its time, capturing the essence of Islamic style, with a series of rooms opening onto beautiful tiled courtyards and traditional riad garden. After the palace a short walk through the souks at the Medina will lead us to the atmospheric Café Arabe for lunch (included) featuring a menu of Moroccan specialties. This afternoon we continue with a visit to the Secret Garden located in the Medina, a peaceful hideaway with exotic and traditional Islamic gardens. We finish our touring for the day with a guided tour of Dar El Bacha which offers an insight into Moroccan history and artistry with its grand interiors and cultural exhibits. This evening we will have a dinner at Dar Zellij restaurant.
Day 3: Atlas Mountains – Ourika Valley, Bio-Aromatic Gardens of Ourika, Agafay Stone Desert and tea at a Berber home
Another glorious day in prospect as we depart after breakfast to travel by 4x4 to the Atlas Mountains. Here we will visit the beautiful Ourika Valley, home to the traditional Berber people. Our first stop is at the Bio-Aromatic Gardens of Ourika, the first of its kind in Morocco, which cultivates some fifty medicinal plants used in cosmetics and natural cures. Lunch (incuded) will be taken as we head into the mountains at the traditional Kasbah Beldi with terraces overlooking the mountains. We will take a short walk through the gardens to a glass-blowing workshop where artisans transform recycled materials into unique handcrafted pieces. We return to Marrakech via the extraordinary lunar landscape of the Agafay Stone Desert with an en-route stop to enjoy tea at a Berber home. Evening at leisure.
Day 4: Majorelle Garden, Thiemann Cactus Garden and Aman Museum
Our first visit today is one of the highlights – the two-acre Majorelle Garden and Cubist villa, designed by French artist, Jacques Majorelle (son of Art Nouveau pioneer Louis Majorelle) in the 1920s with a villa painted a vivid blue (Majorelle blue, which he patented) added in the 1930s. The garden fell into disrepair in the 1950s until its rediscovery by fashion designers, Yves St Laurent and Pierre Bergé in the 1980s, who restored it and whose foundation continue to manage it. Next onto the Cacti Garden of Marrakech, created in the 1960s by Hans Thiemann, one of North Africa’s largest cacti farms, with fields of giant aloe, agave and prickly pear - the largest cactus, at 8m high, is 80 years old. We continue to the Beldi Country Club for a look around the beautiful landscaped grounds before enjoying lunch (included). This afternoon we visit fascinating Aman Museum, which shows the importance of water management in the creation of gardens in Morocco. Dinner included at the hotel this evening.
Day 5: Anima Gardens, Koutoubia Mosque and Parc Lalla Hasna and the Medina
This morning we visit the magical Anima Garden, an exuberant four-acre garden, created by artist, André Heller with statues by artists such as Picasso and Rodin, exotic planting and stunning views of the surrounding mountains. We continue our morning with a visit to the gardens surrounding the Koutoubia Mosque and Parc Lalla Hasna which offer a peaceful retreat in the heart of Marrakech. The afternoon is dedicated to exploring the souks of Marrakech winding through hidden alleyways filled with traditional workshops, vibrant market stalls and historic Fondouks. We will stop along the way at a bakery and also a traditional hammam to show daily life in the Medina. Evening at leisure.
Day 6: Day at leisure and farewell dinner
Your final day is free to soak up more of the city’s unique atmosphere at your own pace. This evening we will have a farewell dinner at Narwama Restaurant.
Day 7: Free time and return flight to London Gatwick
Free time to spend in Marrakech before afternoon transfer to the airport for the return flight to London Gatwick.
NB: Exact order of the itinerary may vary according to local conditions and tour manager’s discretion.
This tour has been listed as Demanding due to the amount of walking tours and potential uneven grounds at the gardens visited. The touring days are very busy, and the group need to be together at all times for visits.
Please note the maximum group size is 25 passengers.
INCLUDED
NOT INCLUDED
Grand Plaza Hotel, Marrakech
Centrally located, four-star boutique hotel with restaurant, bar, spa, hammam and swimming pool. Bedrooms have been individually designed in an Arab-Moorish style and are comfortable with all modern amenities including en-suite bathroom, air-conditioning, TV, telephone, and wifi.
OUR VIEW OF THE HOTEL
A high level of comfort, facilities, and service as well as an ideal location make this hotel the ideal base for this tour in Marrakech.
David Hurrion
David started gardening as a young child and has been growing plants for more than 40 years. He has worked in gardens and nurseries, growing on a range of different soils and in different types of microclimate. His extensive knowledge and practical experience of plants, crops and growing techniques is founded on a thorough botanical and scientific training, complemented by an in depth understanding of garden design, wildlife, geology and climatology. He also trained as a teacher and has taught a huge diversity of subjects from botany, soil science and plant identification, to propagation, garden design and crop production, and from City & Guilds through to Degree level. He is also a popular speaker with local gardening groups.
As a journalist, David has spent more than 20 years writing for and editing the nation’s crop of garden magazines, currently as Associate Editor for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine. He has also written for a number of websites and appeared both as a regular contributor and an expert commentator on TV and radio. David is a popular figure in the horticultural world, well liked and respected for his knowledge by nurserymen, professional gardeners, journalists and the gardening public. He has designed, built and planted show gardens and display stands at most of the major garden shows in the UK, including the world-famous Chelsea Flower Show, and is now a Designate Judge for the Royal Horticultural Society.
He has also travelled to every continent, with the exception of Antarctica, to discover plants and gardens, both independently and on more than 50 trips accompanying groups of gardeners.
Interesting trip. Gardens were terrific, especially Anima and the Cactus Garden. Had been with Travel Editions and David Hurrion before and he was exceptional, knowledgeable, interesting and kind. Given the location, we also had two local guides who stuck with us but were also informative on the history of Marrakesh and Morocco. There were many highlights apart from the gardens, a 4x4 into the Atlas Mountains being one!
Review by Johnson who travelled 12-January-2025
Great tour, might have been slightly easier with a smaller group. When walking through the souk, for instance, in single file the group felt too large. But tour manager and local team handled it well Local guides Khaled and Mounir both very good, as was David Hurrion with his great knowledge and people skills.
Review by McKenna who travelled 12-January-2025
A lovely January escape from cold, grey England. Not as warm as expected, but pleasant enough for walking around gardens and exploring. Modern, clean and comfortable hotel, though situated on busy road junction opposite the station, so road-side rooms rather noisy. Rooms overlooking the pool were much nicer. I recommend the hotel Hammam experience! Very good breakfast buffet with lots of fresh fruit and salads as well as freshly made omelettes and flatbreads. Included lunches and evening meals out at various local establishments were well-chosen and much appreciated. David Hurrion was an excellent tour manager and the lovely gardens we visited were made all the more memorable with his expert guidance. Our Moroccan guides were very welcoming and helpful but not always easy to understand. I felt that the group was rather big for this tour, as it was difficult at times to hear/follow information on narrow pathways and especially to keep together in the souks. The transport provided was very comfortable, with excellent drivers - especially on the rough tracks in the Atlas Mountains and on the busy roads of Marrakech. The balance of garden visits and activities was good and there was time at the end of the week for individual relaxation/exploration. I did not enjoy the farewell dinner on the last evening - the food was nice, but it was served quite late and the entertainment was not to my taste. The performers were professional but the music was very loud and we were late returning to the hotel. It must have been quite expensive to attend and I would have preferred a less touristy venue for our last evening - and an early night!
Review by Broadhurst who travelled 12-January-2025
A good holiday with a good variety of gardens and an excellent botanist leader and charming and well in formed local guides. We ate well in some superior establishments. Programme a bit too intense at times. The aromatic garden was located in the Ourika valley and yet we saw nothing of the valley, a wasted opportunity. The group was probably too large and in the Marjorelle garden, an Italian visitor complained loudly to our leaders that the size of our group was detracting from her enjoyment of the garden.
Review by Taylor who travelled 12-January-2025
An excellent tour the only downside being the traffic noise from the the very busy junction by the hotel.
Review by Reader who travelled 12-January-2025
Exceptionally good tour
Review by Barrett who travelled 12-January-2025
Overall a wonderful experience of Morocco, and David Hurrion was an excellent guide. Nothing was too much trouble and he bent over backwards to accommodate everybody’s demands - all 32 of them! His knowledge is second to none over a wide range of subjects. The 2 local guides were also excellent. All went above and beyond to give us the best experience possible. I think 32 people is possibly too many, though I understand it keeps the costs down overall, but it is a lot for 3 guides to cope with - especially in the Medina of Marrakesh! Sometimes it would have been nice to have longer at a garden, as occasionally we felt rushed in these special places. The standout day for me was Tuesday (Anima and Atlas Mountains). Absolutely memorable! The hotel was ideal, clean and comfortable and made a good base. Thank you for a marvellous holiday!
Review by Silver who travelled 12-January-2025
The tour exceeded all expectations. The local guides were delightful and could not do enough for us, and the UK horticulturalist David Hurrion, could not have been better. His plant knowledge was beyond question, and his "people" management, both with the local guides and the tour participants, was brilliant. A smaller group would have been preferable as 33 was a lot to lead around the back ways of the medina and for some restaurants, but all was managed well. Ten out of ten all round!
Review by Purdy who travelled 12-January-2025
Beyond my expectations. David was brilliant as were the local guides. No complaints whatsoever.
Review by Cosgrove who travelled 12-January-2025
