On this privately guided Marrakech medina tour take in the vivid Red City, its monuments and carousing life of trade and fun! Accompanied by an experienced and knowledgeable Marrakech tour guide this comprehensive full day tour will give you the best possible experience of the Old Medina! You’ll enjoy the architectural wonders of Marrakech, from Koutoubia Mosque to the Ben Youssef Medersa. You’ll also visit the Old Jewish Quarter, the Mellah, and take a walk through the famous souks of Marrakech.

Djemaa el Fna Square

The true highlight of Marrakech is the medieval square of Djemaa el Fna – Africa’s most famous meeting place. Here at the heart of the old city acrobats and jugglers, snake charmers, beggars, boxers, musicians, fresh juice and food sellers all compete for your attention – and a few dirham’s in the process. Your guide will help you navigate through the labyrinth-like streets and alleys to Djemma el Fna Square.

The Koutoubia Mosque & Gardens

The largest mosque in Marrakech, Morocco. The minaret was completed under the reign of the Almohad Caliph Yaqub al-Mansur  (1184-1199) and was used as the model for the Giarlda of Seville and for the Hassan Tower of Rabat. The name is derived from the Arabic al-Koutoubiyyin for librarian, since it used to be surrounded by sellers of manuscripts. It is considered the ultimate structure of its kind. The tower is 69 m (221 ft) in height and has a lateral length of 12.8 m (41 ft). Six rooms (one above the other) constitute the interior; leading around them is a ramp by way of which the muezzin could ride up to the balcony. It is built in a traditional Almohad style and the tower is adorned with four copper globes.

El Bahia Palace

The El Bahia Palace in Marrakech is a beautiful building and an excellent example of Eastern Architecture from the 19th century that represents trends and standards of the wealthy who lived at that time. It was built for Ahmed Ibn Moussa (or Ba Ahmed) between 1894 and 1900 in Alawi style. Craftsmen were brought from Fes to work on this monumental task which took approximately fifteen years to complete. The name ‘Bahia’ means “palace of the beautiful”. There are 160 different rooms in the palace which are sprawled out in an open, rambling fashion. Decorations take the form of subtle stucco panels, zellij decorations, tiled floors, smooth arches, carved-cedar ceilings, shiny marble (tadelakt) finishes and zouak painted ceilings. The palace is surrounded by an eight-hectare garden.

The Saadian Tombs

The Saadian tombs in Marrakech date back from the time of the sultan Ahmad al-Mansur (1578-1603). The tombs were only recently discovered (in 1917) and were restored by the Beaux-arts service. The tombs have, because of the beauty of their decoration, been a major attraction for visitors of Marrakech. The mausoleum comprises the corpses of about sixty members of the Saadi Dynasty that originated in the valley of the Draa River.

The Jewish Mellah

Founded in 1558 by Moulay Abdallah, the Mellah district was designated as the Jewish quarter in Marrakech. At the time of the Spanish religious wars, Jewish refugees were escaping the country, and were offered this little piece of security by the Sultan.

The Old Spice Market

The Rahba Kedima is a colourful market filled with a wide array of spices including Cumin, Cinnamon, Saffron, Dried Pepper and many more.

Medersa Ben Youssef

Originally built in the 14th century, and subsequently rebuilt two centuries later, the Medersa has recently been restored and is a fine example of Moroccan workmanship, with ornate doors, tiled walls and carved plasterwork. It was named after the Ben Youssef Mosque next door and was reputed to house up to 900 students at a time. Upstairs holds a total of 132 small dormitories with bare walls and small windows either looking out over the central courtyard or smaller inner courtyards.

Included

-Private tour with local guide (english/spanish/french)
-Transportation in a comfortable 4×4

Not Included

-lunch and drinks
-entrance fees for monuments and museums

Description

-Pick up at your Hotel/Riad in Fes at 09:00 h, return at about 17:00 h.