All tours on this holiday have now departed. Future departure dates will be confirmed in due course.
Marrakech Medina
Menara Pavilion
Jardin Majorelle
Marrakech Shops
Le Jardin Secret
Marrakech Street
Menara gardens
Le Jardin Majorelle
Marrakech Horizon
Anima Botanical
Palace El Bahia
Jardin Majorelle
Ourika Valley
Marrakech’s atmospheric Medina
Majorelle Gardens – once owned by Yves St Laurent
Ourika Valley – home to the traditional Berber people
Saffron Paradise garden
The extraordinary lunar landscape of the Agafay Stone Desert
Marrakech is renowned for its amazing Medina, which is unmissable and of course included on this superb new tour. But the city and its surroundings offer so much more. Its gardens are also extraordinary and varied, which we will explore in the company of popular expert, David Hurrion. We’ll also visit the surrounding landscapes in the Atlas Mountains, Ourika Valley, home to the traditional Berber people, amazng Anima Garden and the tranquil Saffron Paradise. Add to that the stunning scenery of the Atlas Mountains and the other-worldly landscape of the Agafay Stone Desert - this is truly an extended city break with a difference!
Day 1: Fly from London Gatwick to Marrakech and transfer by coach to the hotel. Group meal this evening.
Day 2: Majorelle Garden, Bahia Palace, Medina and Arsat Moulay Abdesslam Garden
The first visit on this delightful new tour is one of the highlights – the two-acre Majorelle Garden and Cubist villa, designed by French artist, Jacques Majorelle (son of Art Nouveau pioneer Louis Majorelle) in the 1920s with a villa painted a vivid blue (Majorelle blue, which he patented) added in the 1930s. The garden fell into disrepair in the 1950s until its rediscovery by fashion designers, Yves St Laurent and Pierre Bergé in the 1980s, who restored it and whose foundation continue to manage it. Next on the agenda is the 19th century Bahia Palace, intended to be the greatest palace of its time, capturing the essence of Islamic style, with a series of rooms opening onto beautiful tiled courtyards and traditional riad garden. We then head to beautiful Menara Gardens, dating back to the 12th century, before going to the heart of the city for lunch at the atmospheric Café Arabe at the Medina to fortify us for an afternoon guided tour of the souks. Finally, a packed first day ends nearby at the Arsat Moulay Abdesslam Garden, dating back to the 18th century before returning to the hotel. This evening we will have a welcome dinner at the Dar Zellij restaurant.
Day 3: Atlas Mountains – Ourika Valley, Anima Garden, Saffron Paradise, Agafay Stone Desert and tea at a Berber home
Another glorious day in prospect as we depart after breakfast to travel by 4x4 to the Atlas Mountains. Here we will visit the beautiful Ourika Valley, home to the traditional Berber people and the tranquil Paradis di Safran (Saffron Paradise), where the valuable spice is grown. We’ll also visit the magical Anima Garden, an exuberant four-acre garden, created by artist, André Heller with statues by artists such as Picasso and Rodin, exotic planting and stunning views of the surrounding mountains. Lunch will be taken as we head into the mountains at the traditional Kasbah Beldi with terraces overlooking the mountains. We return to Marrakech via the extraordinary lunar landscape of the Agafay Stone Desert with an en-route stop to enjoy tea at a Berber home. Evening at leisure.
Day 4: Cacti Garden of Marrakech, Secret Garden and Aman Museum
This morning visit the Cacti Garden of Marrakech, created in the 1960s by Hans Thiemann, one of North Africa’s largest cacti farms, with fields of giant aloe, agave and prickly pear - the largest cactus, at 8m high, is 80 years old. From here to the Secret Garden located in the Medina, a peaceful hideaway with exotic and traditional Islamic gardens. Lunch will be at the nearby Terrasse Des Epices restaurant in the Medina of Marrakech before visiting the fascinating Aman Museum, which shows the importance of water management in the creation of gardens in Morocco. This evening dinner is included at the hotel.
Day 5: Bio-Aromatic Garden, Ourika Valley
Today return to the Ourika Valley to visit the Bio-Aromatic Garden of Ourika, the first of its kind in Morocco, which cultivates some fifty medicinal plants used in cosmetics and natural cures. Return to Marrakech where your afternoon and evening will be at leisure.
Day 6: Day at leisure and farewell dinner
Your final day is free to soak up more of the city’s unique atmosphere, before we enjoy a farewell dinner at Dar Soukkar.
Day 7: Free time and return flight to London Gatwick
Free time to spend in Marrakech before afternoon transfer to the airport for the return flight to London Gatwick.
NB: Exact order of the itinerary may vary according to local conditions and tour manager’s discretion.
This tour has been listed as Demanding due to the amount of walking tours and potential uneven grounds at the gardens visited. The touring days are very busy, and the group need to be together at all times for visits.
Please note the maximum group size is 35 passengers.
INCLUDED
NOT INCLUDED
Opera Plaza Hotel, Marrakech
Centrally located, four-star boutique hotel with restaurant, bar, spa, hammam and swimming pool. Bedrooms have been individually designed in an Arab-Moorish style and are comfortable with all modern amenities including en-suite bathroom, air-conditioning, TV, telephone, and wifi.
OUR VIEW OF THE HOTEL
A high level of comfort, facilities, and service as well as an ideal location make this hotel the ideal base for this tour in Marrakech.
David Hurrion
David started gardening as a young child and has been growing plants for more than 40 years. He has worked in gardens and nurseries, growing on a range of different soils and in different types of microclimate. His extensive knowledge and practical experience of plants, crops and growing techniques is founded on a thorough botanical and scientific training, complemented by an in depth understanding of garden design, wildlife, geology and climatology. He also trained as a teacher and has taught a huge diversity of subjects from botany, soil science and plant identification, to propagation, garden design and crop production, and from City & Guilds through to Degree level. He is also a popular speaker with local gardening groups.
As a journalist, David has spent more than 20 years writing for and editing the nation’s crop of garden magazines, currently as Associate Editor for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine. He has also written for a number of websites and appeared both as a regular contributor and an expert commentator on TV and radio. David is a popular figure in the horticultural world, well liked and respected for his knowledge by nurserymen, professional gardeners, journalists and the gardening public. He has designed, built and planted show gardens and display stands at most of the major garden shows in the UK, including the world-famous Chelsea Flower Show, and is now a Designate Judge for the Royal Horticultural Society.
He has also travelled to every continent, with the exception of Antarctica, to discover plants and gardens, both independently and on more than 50 trips accompanying groups of gardeners.
Interesting trip. Gardens were terrific, especially Anima and the Cactus Garden. Had been with Travel Editions and David Hurrion before and he was exceptional, knowledgeable, interesting and kind. Given the location, we also had two local guides who stuck with us but were also informative on the history of Marrakesh and Morocco. There were many highlights apart from the gardens, a 4x4 into the Atlas Mountains being one!
Review by Johnson who travelled 12-January-2025
Great tour, might have been slightly easier with a smaller group. When walking through the souk, for instance, in single file the group felt too large. But tour manager and local team handled it well Local guides Khaled and Mounir both very good, as was David Hurrion with his great knowledge and people skills.
Review by McKenna who travelled 12-January-2025
A lovely January escape from cold, grey England. Not as warm as expected, but pleasant enough for walking around gardens and exploring. Modern, clean and comfortable hotel, though situated on busy road junction opposite the station, so road-side rooms rather noisy. Rooms overlooking the pool were much nicer. I recommend the hotel Hammam experience! Very good breakfast buffet with lots of fresh fruit and salads as well as freshly made omelettes and flatbreads. Included lunches and evening meals out at various local establishments were well-chosen and much appreciated. David Hurrion was an excellent tour manager and the lovely gardens we visited were made all the more memorable with his expert guidance. Our Moroccan guides were very welcoming and helpful but not always easy to understand. I felt that the group was rather big for this tour, as it was difficult at times to hear/follow information on narrow pathways and especially to keep together in the souks. The transport provided was very comfortable, with excellent drivers - especially on the rough tracks in the Atlas Mountains and on the busy roads of Marrakech. The balance of garden visits and activities was good and there was time at the end of the week for individual relaxation/exploration. I did not enjoy the farewell dinner on the last evening - the food was nice, but it was served quite late and the entertainment was not to my taste. The performers were professional but the music was very loud and we were late returning to the hotel. It must have been quite expensive to attend and I would have preferred a less touristy venue for our last evening - and an early night!
Review by Broadhurst who travelled 12-January-2025
A good holiday with a good variety of gardens and an excellent botanist leader and charming and well in formed local guides. We ate well in some superior establishments. Programme a bit too intense at times. The aromatic garden was located in the Ourika valley and yet we saw nothing of the valley, a wasted opportunity. The group was probably too large and in the Marjorelle garden, an Italian visitor complained loudly to our leaders that the size of our group was detracting from her enjoyment of the garden.
Review by Taylor who travelled 12-January-2025
An excellent tour the only downside being the traffic noise from the the very busy junction by the hotel.
Review by Reader who travelled 12-January-2025
Exceptionally good tour
Review by Barrett who travelled 12-January-2025
Overall a wonderful experience of Morocco, and David Hurrion was an excellent guide. Nothing was too much trouble and he bent over backwards to accommodate everybody’s demands - all 32 of them! His knowledge is second to none over a wide range of subjects. The 2 local guides were also excellent. All went above and beyond to give us the best experience possible. I think 32 people is possibly too many, though I understand it keeps the costs down overall, but it is a lot for 3 guides to cope with - especially in the Medina of Marrakesh! Sometimes it would have been nice to have longer at a garden, as occasionally we felt rushed in these special places. The standout day for me was Tuesday (Anima and Atlas Mountains). Absolutely memorable! The hotel was ideal, clean and comfortable and made a good base. Thank you for a marvellous holiday!
Review by Silver who travelled 12-January-2025
The tour exceeded all expectations. The local guides were delightful and could not do enough for us, and the UK horticulturalist David Hurrion, could not have been better. His plant knowledge was beyond question, and his "people" management, both with the local guides and the tour participants, was brilliant. A smaller group would have been preferable as 33 was a lot to lead around the back ways of the medina and for some restaurants, but all was managed well. Ten out of ten all round!
Review by Purdy who travelled 12-January-2025
Beyond my expectations. David was brilliant as were the local guides. No complaints whatsoever.
Review by Cosgrove who travelled 12-January-2025
