Category: Destinations

2008 Gnawa and World Music Festival dates are June 26-29, 2008

The Gnawa and World Music Festival in Essaouira, Morocco is an annual music festival that celebrates music from all over the globe. The festival, which takes place every year in June, is one of the most popular music festivals in Africa.

Now in its 11th year, the Gnawa and World Music Festival features 250 Moroccan artists and musicians and 150 musicians from other parts of the world.

In addition to music, the Gnawa and World Music Festival offers artistic and cultural events, as well as conferences and meetings.

Morocco is great for visiting during most of the year, but there are better times to go for several reasons: the weather gets very hot during the summer and the tourists get very crowded during several weeks of the year.

The best time of year to visit Morocco is during the fall, winter, or spring. This allows you to avoid the extreme hot temperatures in the summer months. It is best not to book travel between early June and late August.

The tourist crowds flock to Marrakech in droves around Christmas and New Year’s and again around Easter. If you don’t want to be caught in the crowds, you should avoid Marrakech during those times.

Hammams are traditional baths in Morocco. Locals and visitors alike enjoy relaxing and bathing in hammams, and it is easy to schedule an appointment for other treatments as well.

Morocco hammams range from very basic to very luxurious, so visitors have their choice in what kind of hammam suits them best. Many hotels and riads also have their own private hammams.

In addition to bathing, higher-end hammams usually offer an array of spa services. Traditional massages are always an option, as are private baths, scented massages, and a whole range of other pampering opportunities.

Looking for a great hammam? My favorite is Les Bains de Marrakech.

Alpha 41
Lots Bouazaoui
Commune Al Ouidane
Marrakech.

Villa Dinari in Marrakech is located 13km outside of the city center. A beautiful property run by a friendly British-Moroccan couple Heather and Abdul, Villa Dinari is a great place to relax away from the bustle of the Medina.

Enjoy Villa Dinari’s swimming pool and garden during the day and the option of eating wonderful meals at the villa. Villa Dinari’s guest rooms are all beautifully decorated, and Heather and Abdul are very helpful in assisting guests with transportation to the city center or other parts of Marrakech.

Room rates at Villa Dinari range from 120-175EUR/night.

194 Derb Chtouka, Kasbah, Marrakech
Phone: 00212(0)24389878

Riad Shemsi in Marrakech is located in the heart of the old city. Set back on a small side street, Riad Shemsi is a quiet haven away from the bustling souks and busy streets of the Medina.

Rooms at Riad Shemsi are color-coded and decorated with traditional Moroccan accents. The dining area (pictured) is perfect for a nice breakfast or a wonderful dinner tagine. The roof has a great area for reading, relaxing, and sunbathing, and there is a plunge pool on the ground floor.

Room rates at Riad Shemsi range from 99-205EUR, depending on the season.

227, Derb Jdid,
Bab Doukkala,
Marrakech 40000

Riad El Mansour in Marrakech is a beautiful riad located right in the heart of the Medina. Riad El Mansour is just moments away from the souks and a short walk from the Djemaa el Fna, Marrakech’s main square.

Riad El Mansour offers massages, a hammam, a gym, a sun deck, and a plunge pool. Guests at Riad El Mansour can eat meals on the roof deck on sunny days and the staff is very friendly and helpful. As an added bonus, Riad El Mansour provides complimentary transport to and from the airport.

Room rates at Riad El Mansour range from 146-319EUR, depending on the season.

The souks in Marrakech are vast and labyrinthine, and half the fun of visiting is getting lost in the maze. The souks have everything from dyes to jewelry to lamps to indigo. Vendors at the souks expect you to bargain, so never take the first price offered.

The Ourika Valley is a great day trip from Marrakech. Located at the base of the Atlas Mountains and home to Marrakech’s Berber population, the Ourika Valley is a beautiful place to visit.

A short driving or bus trip from the busy streets of Marrakech will land visitors in the heart of the fertile Ourika Valley. Fed by snow melt from the Atlas range, the Ourika Valley is green even in the hot summer months.

People visiting Marrakech can take tours of Berber villages and see the unique architecture of the valley. You can also stretch your legs a bit and go hiking to the Ourika Valley’s beautiful waterfalls. Be aware that locals will ‘adopt’ you and guide you to various spots, but they will expect payment at the end.

The Koutoubia Minaret is one of Marrakech’s most visible landmarks. Located a short distance from the Djemaa el Fna, the Koutoubia Minaret and adjacent gardens are worth a visit. While non-Muslim visitors are not allowed entrance into the mosque, the Koutoubia Minaret itself is worth seeing up-close.

The Koutoubia Minaret dates back to the 12th century and is a beautiful example of Moorish architecture. In addition to being an iconic symbol of Marrakech, the Koutoubia Minaret is a helpful landmark for orienting oneself in the maze-like streets of the souks.