Marrakech: Palaces & Monuments Half Day Guided Tour

Marrakesh’s palaces are essentially riads (courtyard homes) with lavish courtyards, intricate architecture, painted ceilings and succulent gardens. Spend your time in the city exploring these gorgeous buildings and learn about their role in shaping Moroccan history.

To start with, you will visit the Koutoubia Mosque, the largest mosque in Marrakesh with a 70-meter high minaret. A classic example of Hispano-Moorish art, it is said that the mosque derives its name from the booksellers that used to cluster around its base – hence the name, from kutubiyyin (booksellers). From here, you will move on towards the 19th-century Bahia Palace. Translating to ‘brilliant’ in Arabic, this sprawling structure is spread across two acres and features beautiful gardens filled with fruit trees and lightly scented flowers. It also has 150 rooms, including a harem section! A visit to the Menara Gardens adds a refreshing touch to your tour: as you surround yourself with the beauty of nature, find beautiful Moroccan elements in the garden.

Next, make your way towards the Saadian Tombs and admire the cedar wooden domes and the marble columns there. Dating back to the time of Sultan Ahmad al-Mansur (1578-1603), the tombs were sealed off and hidden, only to be discovered in 1917. Follow your guide along and learn about the fascinating stories of the prominent figures who lie in these tombs and how the rediscovered tombs were promptly uncovered and restored to their former glory. Before going back to your hotel in Marrakesh, you will make a pitstop at a herbalist’s for a presentation of the spices and plants used in traditional Moroccan medicine.