Marrakesh Travel Forum

I'll be staying at the Al Qantara complex, route d'Ourika, Av Mohamed V1, 22 -29 July. My questions are:

1. How far is it into Marakesh centre ?
2. Where do i find the best deal for "quading" ?
3. What's on locally ? (festivals, fêtes, concerts)
4. How much is the train to Casa (return)and how long will it take ?
5. The best address for Mint tea ?
6. Any Morocan experience i shouldn't miss ?

Train details can be found on www.oncf.ma
For mint tea....has to be any one of the cafes on Djemma el Fnaa, for the general spectacle rather than the quality of the tea. Which doesn't vary much to my doubtless uneducate palate.

Hi, as to how far into the centre I could find out but I think you should be able to find out from the complex itself or from the mob youve arranged the booking with. for a lot of info such as Moroccan experiences you shouldnt miss I would of course recommend having a look through VTers pages - time and effort has been spent creating tips and pages to provide info and help for this reason - mine included!
For quadding info you could try VTer John Sakura.
Mint tea is excellent nearly everywhere! Marrakech and Moroccan society is blessed with a cafe culture that means that cafes are all over the place! You could check out my tip on the well regarded patisserie la Prince as one place to try.

In amongst quite a number of recommended sights and experiences, An interesting intro to Moroccan culture I would also recommend a night at Chez Ali - tickets are available from most hotels. Bus will collect enroute and bring you back. You get to see some of the tribes from around Morocco, their music and clothing and so on and you also get to indulge in a bit of a banquet to try a range of dishes.
Sites too such as the Marjorelle gardens are not only lovely but have an excellent smallish museum with a good range of info and artefacts to introduce you to the Berber peoples. the Dar Si Said museum is quite good - but i like it mostly for the ceilings and designs as it was originally a palace, and also the Bahia Palace though renovated is a nice example.

the Folklore festival is usuallyon in July but you will have to confirm dates - if it is on when youre there are entertainment evenings of longer and wider range of the tribes of Morocco and their music similar to Chez Ali but at Menara Gardens.

the museum of Marrakech and Ben Youseff Medersa are two sites I would definitely recommend and of course time spent roaming around the souks.

but enjoy roaming around the tips and pages here on VT and also recommend the Lonely Planet and the DK Eyewitness guidebooks for good info as well to arrive in Morocco nicely prepared.
all the best.

Hi! I see You're hedgeing Your bets by asking Your questions here on VT and on Travel adviser!

Well I tried googling Your planned accomm.(Not a place I'd heard of) which was in French, but it seems to be 10 mins from the 'old town' It is to the south of Marrakech.

Taxis are reasonable, rates vary with time of day etc - speaking a few words of Moroccan Arabic / Berber helps bring the price down.

Quad bikes (if this is Quading) can be hired in the Palmeries district of Marrakech - again try googling for companies, or ask at Your hotel.You can probably try haggling for a good price, but don't be surprised if its a fixed price - probably depends on the competition, how good business has been that day etc.

Agree with Angibabe re Chez Ali. There is also a music and dance spectacular each night at the Menara Gardens. Djemma el Fnaa is a Must Do experience.

You just miss the Fete du Trone on the 30th - one of Moroccos most important secular holidays.


Mint tea in my experience is very good, wherever it's drunk. Sometimes the location etc makes it that bit better. My favourite mint tea experience was in a house in Tighza, quite a distance from Marrakech, but it was served with great ceremony.

In Marrakech, I've enjoyed this beverage from a glass in Djemma el Fnaa, after a meal of Sheeps head at one of the stalls, where I was the only foreigner.

From one of the restaurant terraces overlooking the square, both day and night.

At the Hotel Mamounia - probably the most expensive, but worth it for the experience of sitting outside one of Marrakechs' legendary hotels.


Moroccan experiences -

Haggling in the souks - I personally prefer the smaller bazaar in the mellah, near the Badi Palace - better prices, less hassle.
Try the local food - Djemma el Fnaas food stalls have to be experienced at least once.
A caleche ride - I visited the Majorelle Gardens this way.
A Hammam - steam bath and massage - either in your hotel, or one of the places off Djemma el Fnaa - You'll feel squeaky clean and very relaxed!

Take a bus or taxi to Essaouira - 3 hours away - sea, Gnawa music and great seafood - try to visit one of the Argan oil co - operatives near to Essaouira too.

It all depends what You're interested in!

Take time to view the many tips on Marrakech on VT, to get more of an idea of things to see and do.

Happy Travelling,
Sue

Hope this is of some interest

HI! Shirley:

I'll take a slightly off the track suggestion - if you like cooking and wants to know about Moroccan cooking, you can sign up (in advance) for a half day cooking class in Marrakesh @ The Le Maison Arabe (http://www.lamaisonarabe.com/en/ateliers.html)

Thanks to all for the info - very helpful. Might just try a sheeps head Sue, i had sheeps testicles once - very tasty indeed.

Hi again! I have eaten Sheeps testicles twice in Marrakech - agree very tasty, with the salt and cumin dip!

Just to add that the specialty dish of Marrakesh is Tanjia - sheep stew cooked in a special pot in a Hammam. Lovely - if gastronomy is the call of the day.

sheep stew in a hammam - you mean in a bath or bathhouse?sounds romantic - add candles and rose petals!

Yes, in a bathhouse. It's the specialty of Marrakesh...though I wouldn't associate it with romance....(grin)

Hi, i pretty much lived in Marrakech for a couple of years and missed hearing about Tanjia in a hammamm! I will look into with interest!

There are quite a number of stalls selling at Place Jemaa El Fna....those stalls with sheeps' head? Most of them sell Tanjia!

but we are still talking about Tanjia in a hammam?!

Hi The tagine in a hammam - Traditionally, houses didn't have their own ovens, so was the custom for the locals to take their prepared tagines (and bread etc)to the hammam ovens - located below the baths, where the fires heated the water/ rooms above. The tagines would therefore be cooked in the charcoal fire, then reclaimed a few hours later. Each pot was identified with the owners mark.
This practice still carries on in some areas.
Sue x