Bahia Palace

Enjoy a private or shared group guided walking tour through bustling Marrakech. Admire some of its major landmarks including Jemaa el-Fnaa Square, the Koutobia Mosque, the Saadian Tombs, and the Bahia Palace. Meet your guide in front of Café de France, an iconic landmark on Marrakech’s bustling Jemaa el-Fnaa Square. First, discover the majesty and vibrancy of Marrakech’s medina. Then admire the Koutobia Mosque and its massive minaret, the largest in the city. Learn about the stunning architecture and fascinating history of this highlight of any visit to Marrakech. Explore the Saadian Tombs, sealed for centuries until their rediscovery in 1917. Marvel at the ornate carvings in a Hispano-Moorish style that frames the crypts of a 16th-century royal family.  Afterwards, head to the equally ornate Bahia Palace, a 19th-century royal dwelling intended to be the most splendid palace of its time. See the elaborately painted ceilings, manicured gardens replete with fruit trees, and elaborate stucco patterns adorning almost every surface of the building. To cap the tour off, stroll through the buzzing souks, with their wide array of local artisans and craftspeople. Your guide will give you insider tips about the best stalls. Finish back at the Jemaa el-Fnaa square, where locals meet every day to enjoy the storytellers, musicians, and performers.

Depart Agadir or Taghazout early in the morning taking the highway Agadir to Marrakech. After a 3-hour drive with some rest stops on the way while crossing the High Atlas mountains, you'll arrive in Marrakech. Once you arrive in Marrakech, you will meet your local tour guide and begin a walking tour of the Medina (the old city of Marrakech). Start by stopping outside the historical walls of the Koutoubia Mosque and strolling thorugh the square of Jamaa El Fana.  Have the option to purchase a ticket to the Bahia Palace. If you wish to visit the Bahia palace and Badii palace please skip or leave the group and tell your guide to set a meeting point with him for lunch (not included in the price). At the end of your local tour, you will have free time to walk through the streets of the souks (local market), haggle with the shop vendors, and find a good place to enjoy some local street food. After lunch, you’ll meet up with your driver, and begin the drive back to your hotel in Agadir with an expected arrival time of roughly between 9:00 PM and 9:30 PM.

Take a guided walking tour of Marrakech to discover this medieval desert enclave's beautiful and spectacular treasures. Stroll through the old medina with a local guide. Benefit from fast access to the Bahia and Badii Palaces, then pay an optional visit to the Saadian Tombs. Begin your walking tour by passing the ruins of Sultan Ahmed El Mansour's 16th-century Grand Badi Palace. Catch a glimpse of the former affluence of this majestic city. Learn about how, at the height of its glory, the palace was considered the 8th wonder of the world. Then, continue your tour to the Bahia Palace, the jewel in the crown of Marrakech and a monument of breathtaking magnificence. Head inside to find out how it was constructed in the latter part of the 19th century and took the most skilled workers and artisans 6 years to complete. Finally, pay an optional visit to the Saadian Tombs, sealed for centuries until their rediscovery in 1917. Hear about how the tombs date back to the time of Sultan Ahmad al-Mansur. See the 2 main mausoleums within the enclosure, consisting of 66 tombs with 100 more lying outside the gardens.

Discover the most distinctive sites of Marrakech on a private guided tour. See parts of the old town, then learn about El Bahia Palace with your guide as you explore the grounds and apartments. Start your tour with a stroll through the old town in Medina. Then, visit the El Bahia Palace. Immerse yourself in Morocco's imperial history as you explore this grandiose royal residence, built for the Grand Vizier Sultan Moulay El Hassan I. Next, take in the palace's feature fountains, gardens, extraordinary living quarters, and several shady courtyards which are closed to the public. Hear from your guide about the history of the grounds as you wander. Finally, enter the apartments of the Vizier's favorite concubine and the council chamber. Admire the illuminated cedarwood ceiling and tiled walls, then marvel at the expansive marbled central courtyard with its many fountains and zelliges.

Discover some of the highlights of Marrakech on a shared group or private guided tour. Visit notable landmarks such as El Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs, the Koutoubia Mosque, and Djemaa El Fna Square. After meeting your local guide, choose to visit the following attractions in the order you prefer. Explore El Bahia Palace, known as “the palace of the beautiful”, which is designed in an Alaoui style. Stroll through some of the 160 rooms in the palace with decorations of stucco panels, zellij decorations, tiled floors, carved cedar ceilings, shiny marble finishes, and painted ceilings. Visit Koutoubia Mosque, the city's largest mosque, which derives its name from its historical association with bookshops and booksellers. Admire the traditional Almohad architectural style, its tower is adorned with four copper globes. Stroll through the Saadian Tombs, dating from the time of Sultan Ahmad al-Mansur, which house the remains of about sixty members of the Sa’adi Dynasty. Walk through the bustling souks and Djemaa El Fna square at the heart of Marrakesh. Discover an array of traditional Moroccan handicrafts, spices, medicinal remedies, and local entertainment. You can also find Moroccan items like babouches, leather goods, garments, pottery, tajine dishes, and silver jewelry.

Begin your walking tour by visiting the Koutoubia Mosque, the city's largest mosque, which derives its name from its historical association with bookshops and booksellers. Admire the traditional Almohad architectural style and a tower adorned with four copper globes. Then, explore Bahia Palace, and its 160 rooms around little courtyards, which were, according to rumor, occupied by concubines. See the surrounding eight-hectare garden decorated by stucco panels, zellij, tiled floors, carved cedar ceilings, shiny marble finishes, and painted ceilings. Continue to the Ben Youssef Medersa, a Quranic School dating back to Sultan Abou el Hassan's rule, was later rebuilt in the 1560s by the Saadians. Marvel at the architectural masterpiece, showcasing typical Moroccan styles such as zellij tiling, stucco plasterwork, and carved cedar wood. End your sightseeing adventure in Marrakesh's lively souks – the city's beating heart, providing traditional Moroccan handicrafts, spices, medicinal remedies, and local entertainment. Discover items such as babouches, leather goods, clothing, pottery, tagine dishes, and silver jewelry.

Discover the old city of Marrakech with its labyrinthine streets, famous markets, and the Majorelle Garden on this tour. Visit the famous Palais de Bahia, a beautifully decorated palace full of enchanting inner rooms and elaborate mosaic walls.  With a distinctly different architecture from the rest of the medina, walk through the Jewish Quarter. Discover the incredible Saadian tombs and the Medersa Ben Youssef, an old school of Quranic study with beautiful Arabian-Andalucían architecture. Admire the wood carvings and visit the tiny students' rooms, then see the Koutoubia Mosque, an icon of Marrakech and a point of orientation for tourists. Head to the world-famous Jemaah el Fna square with its countless orange juice stands, snake charmers, traditionally-garbed water sellers and henna women. Enjoy a refreshing midday pause on one of the terraces with a panoramic view and take in the sights of the colorful crowds below. Then continue on to the incredible Majorelle Garden and make your way through this oasis of calm in the midst of the bustling new city at your leisure. Visit the Berber Museum housed in the bright blue villa and learn about the history and traditions of Berber people and see some of their beautiful traditional clothing. 

Immerse yourself in the culture of Marrakech on this day trip from Casablanca. After getting picked up from your hotel, begin the 2.5-hour journey to Marrakech, making the most of the free wifi and air conditioning during the journey. Choose from a private or small group tour. Upon arrival in Marrakech, enjoy a camel ride through the charming Palm Grove. Next, visit sights such as Koutoubia Minaret Market and Mosque, and the majestic Bahia Palace. Stroll through the narrow streets of the medieval Medina and see craftsmen at work, making leather, argan oil and much more. Later, soak up the atmosphere of Jemaa El-Fnaa Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, before beginning the journey back to Casablanca.

In the Medina of Marrakech it is not always easy to find your way. This is why it is best to have a biking guide to show you the best places of the area, making you feel like the area is yours. Just biking through Marrakech itself will make you feel like a sultan as you discover the inside of this ancient and imperial city. Biking along the medieval red-clay city walls in particular is sure to make your Marrakech visit an extraordinary experience. Throughout your tour you will pass by various monuments and interesting buildings which might be worthwhile to explore in depth once you have finished your first exploration of the city. At the conclusion of your experience, you will return to your point of origin.

Begin your walking tour of Marrakech at the Koutoubia Mosque, the city's largest, known for its historical ties to bookshops. Admire its Almohad architectural style, featuring a tower adorned with four copper globes. Next, explore El Bahia Palace, constructed between 1894 and 1900 with 160 rooms around courtyards. Walk through the surrounding eight-hectare garden, admiring intricate decorations like stucco panels, zellij, tiled floors, cedar ceilings, marble finishes, and painted ceilings. Move on to the Ben Youssef Medersa, a Quranic school dating back to Sultan Abou el Hassan's rule that once housed around 800 students memorizing the Quran. Rebuilt in the 1560s, it's a Moroccan architectural masterpiece with zellij tiling, stucco plasterwork, and carved cedar wood. If time allows, you continue to the Dar El Bacha Museum, a symbol of the city’s history and culture, and a historic palace that now houses a collection of Moroccan art, showcasing intricate woodwork, vibrant textiles, and ornate ceramics. Explore its opulent rooms for a glimpse into the lifestyle of the Moroccan elite. Complete your sightseeing tour in Marrakesh's lively souks, with traditional Moroccan handicrafts, spices, remedies, and local entertainment on offer. Test your bargaining skills as you browse through babouches, leather goods, clothing, pottery, tagine dishes, and silver jewelry.