Riad Dar Les Cigognes   (5*)

one of the deluxe rooms at Dar Les Cigognes

Why we like it

• The beautifully lit alcoves and courtyard at dusk, with its citrus and palm trees, tiled basin and marble fountain.
• Fantastic location in the heart of the Old Town of Marrakech
• The African living room with its relaxing sofas, massive open fireplace, hanging lamps, African maps, the leather and reed carpets, water gourds and other African artefacts
• The excellent candlelit Moroccan restaurant
• Its intimate atmosphere and its bhous - indoor and outdoor lounges with plumped up seats and cushions, tables and vases filled with flowers
• Watching the storks on the parapets of the Royal Palace from the rooftop terrace and the views of the medina and Marrakech
• Moroccan mint tea served all day

Hotel Images

Superior room

Deluxe room

Deluxe room

Deluxe room

Deluxe room

Deluxe room

Deluxe room

Spa

Dining room

Living room , where you will find hanging lamps, African maps, leather and reed carpets, and a massive fireplace with lots of comfy chairs and couches

Library - relax with a good book in front of the fire

Library which has a good selection of novels and books about Morocco and Africa

Courtyard at night - you can see one of the seating areas built into the walls with comfy chairs and cushions, and which are a feature of courtyards in Morocco

Rooftop terrace with wonderful views of the medina

Features

• Living room , where you will find hanging lamps, African maps, leather and reed carpets, and a massive fireplace with lots of comfy chairs and couches
• Library with a good selection of books, leather table and chairs, and a fireplace
• Restaurant and bar, with room service
• Courtyard with fruit trees, a fountain, and covered seating areas
• Rooftop terrace with excellent views of the medina and the Atlas Mountains, rose, orange and grapefruit trees plus jasmine and cactus plants
• Laundry and dry cleaning
• Water pipes
• Boutique selling books, jewellery, beauty products, handicrafts, souvenirs and clothing
• Beautiful hamman and spa with a wide range of treatments, steam room and relaxing jacuzzi room with arches, domed ceiling and the scent of rose petals
• Trips and excursions

Rooms

All the rooms are styled differently based on different areas of Morocco, and they have split them into three of standard class, seven deluxe class with more opulent furnishings, most with a fireplace and a sitting area, and one suite. Many have fireplaces, however they all have air-conditioning and a safe. When you arrive, there will be a fruit plate waiting for you with a large bottle of water, and in the winter you will get a hot water bottle.

Restaurants

There is a restaurant which serves meals and drinks all day, however you can choose to dine anywhere in the riad such as on the rooftop, in the courtyard or in your own room. As with many riads the ingredients are fresh, and the riad bakes its own bread. You can have a copy of all the recipes if you wish.

The Resort

• We offer a fantastic selection of short breaks, weekends and holidays to Marrakech, including both riads and hotels with plenty of character.
• Riads are small, traditional Moroccan houses or palaces that have been converted in to a small hotel. They usually have interior gardens, courtyards and small pool, and often a rooftop terrace where you can enjoy breakfast and dinner. Most raids are also very centrally located in the heart of Marrakech and either in or within easy walking distance of the medina and Djemma el Fna square. We recommed you stay in one of these unique types of accommodation, and we like to think we have the best choices in Marrakech.
• If you want a short break or weekend then 4-5 nights in Marrakech is ideal, but for a longer holiday why not combine a few days in Marrakech with a few days in the Atlas Mountains or by the coast in Essaoira, where we offer accommodation at the Sofitel Essaouira, approximately 2 hours away from Marrakech.
• There are a number of day trips from Marrakech - one of the best is 'Lunch at the Bransons' where you will visit the Atlas Mountains with a stop at Richard Branson's Kasbah Tamadot, about an hour away from Marrakech.

Trips and Excursions

• A day in the Atlas Mountains - you can visit the Atlas Mountains in just under an hour, a world away from the hustle and bustle of Marrakech. Most day trips pass through the stunning Ourika Valley and take you through traditional Berber villages
• This is your chance to dine at Sir Richard Branson's beautiful kasbah on the outskirts of Marrakech in magnificent surroundings. On the way, you pass through Berber villages and take in a traditional market
• Hamman - There are several hammans (Turkish Baths) around Djemma el Fna, catering for tourists, including scrubs and massages.
• Horse and Carriage rides - there is no shortage of people offering you a horse and carriage ride
• Djemma el Fna - this is the main square where you will find a huge array of stalls, dancers, acrobats, magicians, snake charmers and food stalls, while the adjacent medina is a maze of narrow alleys where you can buy almost anything especially spices, arts and crafts, jewellery, leather, pottery, woodworks, and souvenirs.
• Eat Well - there are some magical restaurants in Marrakech - one of our favourites is the restaurant in La Sultana, with tables places around the pool in the courtyard, and musicians playing in the background
• Following on from this, there is a cafe at one end of Djemma el Fna which has a terrace and the best views in Marrakech - you can't miss it, but it's best to go mid / late afternoon when things start to come to life in the square below.
• Palaces and Gardens - there are several within walking or horse and carriage distance - one favourite of mine is the Majorelle Gardens.
• Full day at Ouarzazate where the scenery is dramatic and many films have been made such as Lawrence of Arabia. Most day trips include a visit to a wonderful 11th century Kasbah called Ait Ben Haddou.
• Horse riding
• Traditional Moroccan Cooking Class at La Maison Arabe
• Marrakech Hot Air Balloon Flight
• Golf - there is actually a fairly decent course at Palmeraie just outside Marrakech, and we can guarantee you tee-off times if you pre-book
• Enjoy mint tea - beautifully made and served in your hotels or riads,

Other Information

A typical itinerary

DAY 1 - arrive in Marrakech and relax in your riad. In the evening take a walk outside and find a good restaurant.

DAY 2 - walk around the medina, the souqs and arrive at Djemma el fna square around late afternoon when everything starts to get going.

DAY 3 - Take a trip to the Atlas Mountains, passing through wonderful scenery along the way. Tonight dine on the rooftop of your riad.

DAY 4 - Visit some of the palaces and gardens of Marrakech, and perhaps enjoy the Moroccan show in the evening.

DAY 5 - unfortunately fly home

Twin and Multi Centres

• The most usual twin centre is to combine Marrakech with a coastal resort such as Agadir or Essaouira. The transfers are approximately 4 hours between the two, and you would normally come back to Marrakech for your flight home.
• There are some very special places to stay just outside Marrakech, where is it a little cooler and certainly more peaceful. For example, Kasbah Tamadot - see http://www.kasbahtamadot.virgin.com/ for details. You could spend a couple of nights here, and a couple in the city.

The Weather

Welcome!
Come and talk to us face to face about your holiday plans.

Monday to Saturday 9am - 6pm     65 Station Road     Letchworth Garden City     Hertfordshire     SG6 3BJ   01462 677 111         holidays@onyourtravels.co.uk

All the extra government taxes are INCLUDED in the prices quoted.

All Marrakech riads and holidays include transfers. Unlike some travel companies, we do not charge a booking fee.

Payments by credit cards are charged at 2%, however there are no surcharges for payments by debit cards or Switch / Maestro.

IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT YOU HAVE FULL 10 YEAR BRITISH PASSPORTS WITH AT LEAST 6 MONTHS REMAINING

Please note that holidays at these offer prices are subject to availability the time of booking. Offers may be withdrawn without prior notice, and may be sold out before it is possible to update the website. However, all offers are correct and available at the time of writing. When they're gone, they're gone.