Accommodation Guide

Morocco is a kingdom with several travelling destinations, but no trip is complete without a visit to Marrakesh.

The city boasts a broad range of hotels, but nothing can compare with the option of experiencing the real life of Morocco through the rustic style of a stunning Riad.

A Riad is a private abode based in the Medina (meaning old city), a place of meditation and escape for its protected inhabitants. The thick, exterior walls are designed to tell nothing of the stunning interior which it hides to the outside world, with its extraordinary abundance of decorative wealth.

The typical home is centred around a square courtyard, known as wast ed-dar (the house centre).
This is decorated and furnished by a multitude of exotic trappings. These include sculptured plaster or marble, carefully painted wood known as zouak, and most have a soothing fountain as a centrepiece. Symmetrical paths, leading from the fountain, allow access to the various rooms of the house. Often, orange, lemon, mandarin or palm trees grow alongside these paths, providing a welcome shade in the heat of the summer and an exotic atmosphere.

The central courtyard is generally surrounded by an arched colonnade giving easy access to the living rooms and kitchen. The Riad's are sometimes only one storey high, but often, sleeping areas are situated on the upper floors. This creates a covered arcade around the patio with balustrades running around each storey.