Marrakech for every travel tribe

Marrakech is a city that draws – and rewards – travellers of every stripe, whether you’re swayed by the beauty of its gardens or the frenetic buzz of the souks; the unhurried rituals of the hammam, or the promise of outdoor adventure. Whatever’s on your agenda, Mandarin Oriental, Marrakech makes for the ultimate base. Just ten minutes from the Medina, it feels like another world, with its rose gardens, olive groves and spa: a calm, luxurious counterpoint to the city’s sensory overload. 

Book your stay with British Airways Holidays. All holidays are ATOL protected, plus there’s a host of benefits, including a dedicated 24-hour holiday helpline, so you can enjoy your time navigating the Red City. 

1) The restorative solo getaway

STAY: Atlas Suites offer mountain views, terrace-set plunge pools and Moroccan design details, from cool, tadelakt-plastered walls to woven Berber rugs. 
DO: Head for a session in the geometric-tiled hamman, where black soap and kessa-mitt scrubs conjure up the healthiest of glows. (Book the three-hour Caracal ritual, and it’s followed by a facial and massage.)
SEE: Behind its woven brick façade, the Musée Yves Saint Laurent is a standout, with its sketches, projections and exquisite haute couture. Afterwards, linger over a mint tea at its calm, palm-flanked terrace café. 
TASTE: Long lunches are the way to go, so take it slow on the Pool Garden’s shade-striped terrace, whose laidback menu includes a decadent lobster sandwich. In the Medina, L’Mida’s known for its bold takes on local flavours; try the Berber gnocchi, laced with hazelnut butter. 
DON’T MISS: Hop between boutiques and workshops in Sidi Ghanem, a hub for the city’s coolest makers and designers. Look out for Jajjaj, owned by artist Hassan Hajjaj: a colour-filled, impeccably curated concept store, gallery and café.

2) The family adventure

STAY: Spacious Mandarin Pool Family Villas come with a private courtyard and pool. There’s 24-hour butler service, plus all kinds of child-pleasing perks, from welcome backpacks and in-room tipis to board games to borrow by the pool. 
DO: Wander maze-like Medina, fuelled by honey-soaked pastries (to make life easier, ask the concierge to organise a tailored tour). Back at the hotel, there’s plenty to keep kids occupied, including in-villa pottery classes. 
SEE: The Jemaa el-Fna, with its smoky street-food stalls, whirling performers and rhythmic gnawa musicians; come in the early evening to swerve the worst of the crowds. 
TASTE: While grown-ups feast on Shirvan’s slow-cooked tagines and cinnamon-spiked pastillas, children can try crunchy, cheese-filled briouates and dates with orange blossom ice-cream. (There’s a kids’ menu as back-up, with burgers, bolognese and more). 
DON’T MISS: The Kids’ Kasbah, down by the vegetable garden, with its swings and activities for 4–12s – think cookie-decorating, mosaic-making or yoga under the olive trees. 

3) The dreamy romantic break 

STAY: Opt for a Mandarin Pool Villa, set behind an ochre-walled courtyard, where lanterns and cushioned daybeds edge a jade-hued pool. Inside it’s serene and spacious, with a showstopping circular bath in the Diptyque-stocked bathroom. 
DO: Emerge from your villa for sundowners in the Tent, a palm-fringed open-air lounge. It’s currently hosting a takeover by Don Julio, so order a tequila-laced Manhattan and a side of truffled quesadillas. 
SEE: Discover the city’s gardens, from the iconic, blue-backdropped Jardin Majorelle (ask the concierge to pre-book) to Le Jardin Secret – a peaceful, fig and pomegranate-dotted retreat from the Medina’s throngs. The hotel is also set in expansive gardens of its own; stroll among the roses after breakfast or borrow bikes to explore.
TASTE: Start the day with a Beldi breakfast for two, served in your sun-dappled courtyard, with flaky msemen pancakes, local pastries and a khlii and egg tajine. 
DON’T MISS: A hike through the epic scenery of the Atlas Mountains, following wild thyme-lined shepherd’s trails past perched Berber villages and groves of almond trees.  

4) The ultimate group escape

STAY: Spread out in a capacious two-bedroom Oriental Pool Villa, complete with a central courtyard with a mosaic-tiled pool and an outdoor living room with a fireplace. 
DO: Speed through the lunar landscapes of the Agafay Desert on quad bikes or buggies, or sign up for a tented, twilit dinner under vast desert skies.   
SEE: Take time out from the Medina in the Madrasa Ben Youssef, a former Islamic school founded in the 14th century. It’s a masterclass in Moroccan craftsmanship, with its soaring cedar ceilings, intricate tiles and poetry-inscribed plasterwork. 
TASTE: Meet for dinner at Ling Ling by Hakkasan, and keep the small plates coming: standouts include the wasabi tiger prawns and Wagyu Shanghai dumplings. 
DON’T MISS: In the Medina, check out what’s on at DaDa Marrakech. Once a bus station, it’s been reborn as a hip cultural hub, with music, exhibitions and two chic restaurants – one perched on the roof, with views over the Jemaa el-Fnaa. 

Book your holiday

All British Airways Holidays packages are ATOL protected, include a generous checked baggage allowance and a 24-hour holiday helpline. Secure your Morocco holiday at Mandarin Oriental, Marrakech with a low deposit and enjoy flexible payments until you fly.*

*Full balance due four weeks before departure for short-haul holidays. Subject to availability. T&Cs apply. See ba.com/deposits.