20th Anniversary in Morocco
A delicate balance between East and West - Morocco is home to a spiritually uplifting culture grounded by gracious hospitality and compelling customs. With its strategic location in North Africa, Morocco stretches across fertile valleys, snow-capped mountains, two extensive coastlines and an immense desert. Every region harbors a distinct local culture, tied to a distant past that shapes Morocco’s distinguished personality in the Muslim World. Over thousands of years, Berber tribes, Roman legions, Arab conquests, and European colonists have contributed to the formation of its heritage, and have left their mark on its history and cities.
A delicate balance between East and West - Morocco is home to a spiritually uplifting culture grounded by gracious hospitality and compelling customs. With its strategic location in North Africa, Morocco stretches across fertile valleys, snow capped mountains, two extensive coastlines and an immense desert. Every region harbors a distinct local culture, tied to a distant past that shapes Morocco’s distinguished personality in the Muslim World. Over thousands of years, various tribes, Roman legions, Arab conquests, and European colonists have contributed to the formation of its heritage, and have left their mark on its history and cities.
Oct 14-17, 2024: Marrakech (3 nights)
Oct 17-18, 2024: Agafay Desert (1 night)
Oct 18-20, 2024: High Atlas Mountains (2 nights)
Oct 20-21, 2024: Marrakech (1 night)
Oct 21-22, 2024: Lisbon (1 night)
If you need any assistance while you are traveling, or if you would like to make any changes, reservations or cancellations during your time in Morocco you can contact the following who will be your local contacts during your trip:
DESTINATION
- Local Contact: will be provided | will be provided
- Your Local Guide: will be provided | will be provided
- Your Driver: will be provided | will be provided
Scenset
- Your Curator: will be provided
- Your Traveler Relations Rep: will be provided
- Scenset Emergency Line: +1 (415) 941-0027
Important: Due to the time difference, for small day-to-day things like touring and dining reservations - or emergencies that need immediate assistance - it will be most efficient for you to use the local contacts as they are in the same time zone as you.
WhatsApp: If you don’t have WhatsApp on your phone, we strongly encourage downloading it for free as it makes contacting our local team easier.
In October, Marrakech typically enjoys warm, pleasant weather with average daytime temperatures around 77°F and cooler nights around 57°F. Skoura experiences similar conditions with daytime highs averaging 75°F and nights cooling down to around 54°F. Both locations have relatively low rainfall during this month, making it a great time to visit.
U.S. passport holders do not need any special visa in order to visit Morocco. Make sure your passport is valid for at least 90 days after your travel dates.
These guidelines are for reference only. Scenset holds no responsibility for travel restrictions. Travelers are responsible for ensuring the right documentation to travel.
Get ready for your trip with our personalized guide to Morocco. You'll find:
- Tipping Guidelines
- Packing Lists
- Useful Arabic Phrases
- Dishes to Try
- and more!
Take a look at Scenset's Guide to Morocco here!
The official languages in Morocco are Arabic and Berber languages. Most people speak an Arabic dialect, Darija, and the major Berber languages are Tamazight, Tachelhit, Tarifit. A large community speaks French, and business is conducted mostly in French and partly in English. Additionally, Spanish is spoken in the Northern part of the country.
Electricity in Morocco is 220 Volts, with a frequency of 50 Hertz. Primary outlets require type C or type E plugs.
Welcome to Morocco!
Founded almost 1,000 years ago, Marrakech beckons with an irresistible blend of ancient mystique and modern vibrancy. A sensory symphony unfolds in the historic medina, where narrow alleyways lead to Djemaa el-Fna, a UNESCO World Heritage site and pulsating heart of the city. Here, vibrant souks burst with the colors of handwoven textiles, aromatic spices, and masterfully crafted leather goods, creating an immersive marketplace experience.
After deboarding the plane and before customs, you'll see a counter for VIP Airport Services called "Pearl Assist". Please approach the attendants and give them your name to be escorted through immigration and customs. Your agent will be holding a sign with "FAST TRACK BOOKING" written on it.
Booked By Scenset.
Meet your private driver in the arrivals area of the airport, after clearing customs. Upon meeting your driver, you will be transferred to your accommodation. Your private driver will accompany you for the whole trip.
- Meeting time: Morning
- Meeting point: Arrivals hall
- Duration: About 20 minutes
- Your Driver: A driver will be provided | will be provided
- Contact: If you have any problems, or can't locate your driver, please contact your local contact | will be provided
Booked by Scenset.
Check in to your accommodation.
If your room isn't ready yet, feel free to leave your luggage with the hotel front desk while you enjoy exploring the hotel - perhaps enjoy a dip in the pool.
Experience a traditional experience of Moroccan hammam with a purifying exfoliation with the Kessa glove & black soap. You'll sit in a hot steam room to open your pores and get an exfoliating treatment from the attendants. Afterward, you'll have silky soft skin.
- Departure Time: Mid-afternoon
- Appointment Time: Early evening
- Location: La Sultana Marrakech
What to Bring: A swimsuit to wear in the hammam
Reserved by a scenset—to be paid locally.
Start your trip the right way: with food. Experience the energy and essence of the Marrakech street food scenset as it comes to life. This fascinating tasting trail reveals the captivating appeal of the medina as the sun goes down and the locals enjoy the specialities that only the evening offers.
Wind your way through the alleys and souks with a local food expert. You will visit different food souks allowing the chance to try traditional Moroccan street food, from olives and preserved lemons to sweets and mint tea. You may also try tangia, lamb stew cooked in earthenware underground with local spices.
- Meeting time: Early evening
- Meeting point: Hotel door
- Duration: Approximately 2 hours
- Your Driver: will be provided
- Your Guide: will be provided
- Contact: If you have any problems and can't reach your guide using the number provided, please contact will be provided
Booked by Scenset.
Here are some of our favorite restaurants in Marrakech.
- Dar Yacout is a landmark of Marrakesh. It was one of the first tables d’hôte, created more than 20 years ago in the medina. The decor is enchanting with its private rooms and breath-taking panoramic view from the terrace overlooking the medina and the Koutoubia mosque of Marrakesh - Dar Yacout is one of our top picks for traditional cuisine.
- NOMAD is known for its sleek sand-coloured sofas and black-and-white tiled tables. The menu is fearlessly modern, featuring eclectic twists on classics such as calamari marinated in cumin served with a dash of spicy harissa or saffron-scented date cake with salted caramel ice-cream.
- Le Jardin is a green-hued oasis with an overarching canopy of banana leaves, bamboo and palms. Order up a light Moroccan salad or club sandwich, accompanied by an orange and beet smoothie or a milky date shake.
- Latitude 33 serves up sophisticated Medi-Moroccan fusion cuisine, which includes ambitious offerings such as cream cheese briouat (pastries) with strawberry puree, and chicken tagine with caramelised apples and thyme honey.
- Gastro MK is famous for its fusion Euro-Moroccan cuisine and is one of the medina’s finest restaurants. As there are only 20 seats, pre-booking is essential and a deposit is required. As a nod to the owner's English background, you can also enjoy a full English Afternoon Tea here!
- La Maison Arabe set the benchmark for Marrakech fine dining. The menu is exclusively Moroccan, offering heartwarming classics such as tanjia alongside more inventive dishes like saffron-infused lamb chops.
- Chez Lamine Hadj is where it gets real. You come here for an authentic Marrakech experience of a famous local dish: the Tanjia. No reservation required.
- La Grande Table Marocaine - located at the Royal Mansour and described as the best restaurant in Marrakesh, this famous restaurant is fruit of Yannick Alléno’s bond with the Kingdom he holds close to his heart, having studied specialties from the North to the South.
- L'Italien Located at the La Mamounia, you'll find curvaceous armchairs, crimson fabrics, red, blue and green stained-glass windows and silk brocatelle fabric on the walls by Maison Prelle – with a proud three-hundred-year history. The dishes served by the Chef are equal to the setting – delicate, feminine and sunny.
- Le Marocain Located at the La Mamounia, this restaurant transports you to the heart of Moroccan hospitality. The watchwords are refinement, generosity and sharing. Enjoy a tajine on the cool terrace, in a romantic setting, with candles and the gentle sound of water from the ponds and the three fountains.
This is a recommendation only.
Why we love it for you: This is a traditional riad in every sense, starting with your arrival. Winding through back alleys to reach the nondescript door, it makes it all the more impressive when you walk into the bright courtyard. This is one of the only riads in the medina with a rooftop plunge pool, but the real luxury of this hotel is the familial ambiance, like being welcomed into a family home.
Riad Siwan
1x Khorbat Room
- Breakfast included
- Confirmation: will be provided
Head out with a professional photographer to explore the city. You can bring your own camera or a smart phone—whatever your instrument of choice is. You'll explore the souks and end up at Marrakech's most photogenic attraction: the Jardin Majorelle.
- Meeting time: Morning
- Meeting point: Hotel door
- Duration: 3 hours
- Your Driver: will be provided
- Your Guide: will be provided
- Contact: If you have any problems and can't reach your guide on the number provided, please call your local contact will be provided
Booked by Scenset.
Visit Jardin Majorelle, a gift to Marrakesh by Yves Saint Laurent in 1964. Explore the electric- blue villa and its gardens that preserve the vision of its scenset owner, landscape painter Jacques Majorelle.
Booked by a user.
Enjoy some free time for lunch at your leisure, paid locally.
After lunch, continue your day with a walking tour of the Ochre City, where you'll travel back in time as you explore the old city of Marrakech, called the Medina. Lose yourself in the narrow streets of the souks, and stop at the most remarkable monuments. Step into legends from an ancient past, still lingering in the Bahia Palace, the mesmerizing Dar el Bacha, the Secret Garden, and the Koutoubia Mosque, whose minaret will always help you to find the right direction.
- Meeting time: In the afternoon
- Duration: 4 hours
- Your Driver: will be provided
- Your Guide: will be provided
- Contact: If you have any problems and can't reach your guide, please call your local contact will be provided
Booked by Scenset.
- NOMAD is known for its sleek sand-coloured sofas and black-and-white tiled tables. The menu is fearlessly modern, featuring eclectic twists on classics such as calamari marinated in cumin served with a dash of spicy harissa or saffron-scented date cake with salted caramel ice-cream. The sun terraces offer unique views across the Spice Square and medina rooftops
- Terrasse Des Epices is built on a terrace inside the medina, offering sweeping views over the Atlas Mountains. Terrace des Épices is beautifully lit at night which makes it a magical spot to have dinner under the stars. The menu is inspired by both Moroccan and international recipes.
- El Fen - The rooftop terrace at El Fenn is great for watching the sunset with lovely views over the Atlas mountains. Enjoy a Moroccan lunch menu or pick a dish from their light menu that runs until 6 pm. On warm evenings, dinner is served under the stars.
This is a recommendation only.
Riad Siwan
1x Khorbat Room
- Breakfast included
- Confirmation: will be provided
Experience a Moroccan cooking class to learn how to create dishes you'll enjoy this week back at home. The workshop will be conducted by a dada (traditional Moroccan cook) using easy-to-use, modern equipment. First, you'll get an introduction into the many spices used in Moroccan cooking. Afterward, learn how to prepare an appetizer and a main dish, or a main dish and dessert. You will enjoy the meal you have prepared for lunch, on the patio.
- Meeting time: Morning
- Meeting point: Hotel lobby
- Duration: 3 hours
- Your Driver: will be provided
- Contact: If you have any problems, or can't locate your driver, please contact will be provided
Booked by Scenset.
Visit Marrakech’s main historical attractions in style: by motorbike with sidecar. Hop on a tour of the Red City in the most unique way after designing your exact itinerary with your driver based on what you want to see. In the swinging 1960s, the Ochre city acquired a magnetic aura. Soon, bohemian jetsetters flocked in, such as Saint-Laurent or Warhol. Discover the emblematic places of these hedonistic days.
*One person sits in the sidecar, and one person sits on the back of the motorbike behind the driver.
- Meeting time: Afternoon
- Duration: 3 hours
- Your Driver: A driver will be provided | A phone number will be provided
- Contact: If you have any problems, or can't locate your driver, please call your local contact A contact will be provided | A phone number will be provided
Booked by Scenset.
Riad Siwan
1x Khorbat Room
- Breakfast included
- Confirmation: will be provided
Check out of your accommodation in the late morning.
Spend the morning at leisure.
After lunch, meet your driver and head out to the desert.
- Meeting time: In the afternoon
- Meeting point: Hotel door
- Duration: About an hour
- Your Driver: will be provided
- Contact: If you have any problems, or can't locate your driver, please contact your local contact will be provided
Booked by Scenset.
Arrive at the mind-blowing stone desert of Agafay. The luxury camp affords stunning 360° views of the Agafay's barren grandeur and beyond, to the Atlas mountains. Enjoy some free time to relax and swim in the pool.
Journey across your surroundings on camel back for the most spectacular and immersive view of the desert in its most beautiful light.
- Meeting time: Evening
- Duration: Approximately 30-40 minutes
- Contact: If you have any problems, or can't locate your driver, please call will be provided.
Booked by Scenset.
Watch the sun slowly descending and hiding itself behind the mountain range, while sipping a glass of delicious Moroccan mint tea. Then, take a seat at the main tent for dinner and savour tasty dishes.
Dinner at the Scarabeo Camp is a communal affair. Enjoy a lively dinner with homecooked food and live music.
Booked by a scenset - incuded.
With all the light pollution far away, the desert is the perfect place to contemplate the universe and all its glory. A special set-up will be arranged for your astronomy session this evening. As the clear sky slips to a deep inky blue, the stars and planets shine like diamonds scattered across the Universe. You'll easily spend hours amazed by what you've been missing.
Moonrise is at around 2 a.m. on this day, so you'll have a dark night sky to admire the stars!
Booked by Scenset.
Why we love it for you Embedded into the lunar landscape of the peaceful Agafay Desert, luxurious ecru tents give the sense of being at the end of the world, right at the foot of the Atlas Mountains, yet with all the comfort deserving of your perfect honeymoon. The whistling of the wind and the surrounding mineral universe contribute to the feeling of disconnection in your vast, magical surroundings.
Scarabeo Desert Camp
Roches Noire Suite
- Breakfast & dinner included
- Confirmation: will be provided
Enjoy breakfast at the main tent with sweeping views of the dunes and the Atlas Mountains in the background.
Enjoy a yoga session this morning.
Booked by Scenset.
After a final morning enjoying your camp, head out with your guide to your retreat in the Atlas Mountains.
- Meeting time: Late morning
- Duration: Approximately 2 hours
- Your Driver: A driver will be provided.
- Contact: If you have any problems, or can't locate your driver, please contact your local contact. A contact number will be provided.
Booked by Scenset.
Check in to your accommodation.
Spend the afternoon at leisure. Enjoy some of the property's activities, or perhaps simply relax by the outdoor pool and read a book.
We recommend enjoying dinner at your hotel this evening.
Enjoy a credit to use on food and drinks at the Kasbah Tamadot restaurant as a special perk for using Scenset!
Why we love it for you: Perched in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains overlooking the Ouirgane Valley near the village of Asni, the property sits at 4,330ft. Aside from the indoor (heated) and outdoor pools, there’s a four-room spa replete with hammam and Watsu pools, a fully equipped gym, two tennis courts and other facilities surrounded by blooming gardens. This is the ideal hotel to end a journey through Morocco on a high note!
Kasbah Tamadot
Riad Deluxe Room
- Breakfast included
- Confirmation: will be provided
Today will introduce you to the ancient culture of the Berbers, the indigenous people of Morocco whose presence in this region of the world dates back to 2,500 BC and beyond. After the arrival of the Arabs in the 8th century, many Berber tribes secluded themselves to the peaks of the High Atlas Mountains for safety and cultural identity survival. In this region of Morocco, many of the Berbers barely speak Arabic and have their own customs.
Today you will set out with your expert hiking guide to explore the valleys and passes of the incredibly beautiful High Atlas Mountains. The hike will be tailored to your preferences and fitness levels - the difficulty level is easy to medium.
- Meeting time: Late morning
- Meeting point: Hotel lobby
- Duration: 4 hours
- Your Driver: will be provided
- Contact: If you have any problems, or can't locate your driver, please call your local contact will be provided
Booked by Scenset.
As part of your hike, you'll visit a Berber village for lunch. Follow the road past the Kasbah up to the village of Imlil. Enjoy dazzling views as you traverse the Toubkal National Park, home to highest peak of North Africa. From here, take an off road track to the highest village in North Africa– Arm’ed (2000m). An excellent traditional Berber lunch will be served on the highest roof terrace of the village with stunning views down the mountain.
Booked by scenset - lunch included.
Spend this afternoon relaxing at your hotel or exploring at your own pace.
The birth of the Hammam can be traced back to the famous Greek and Roman baths. This practice began in 600 AD under the influence of Mohammed the prophet, who believed the properties of Hammam heat were both healing and rejuvenating. Because of Mohammed's convictions, the practice of the Hammam became associated with religious purification.
The culture around the Hammam remains popular and relevant to this day and all of the products used in your treatment will be locally sourced.
Recommended by Scenset—nothing has been booked.
Kasbah Tamadot
Riad Deluxe Room
- Breakfast included
- Confirmation: will be provided
After a leisurely morning and check out, you'll be picked up from your kasbah in the mountains for private transfer back to Marrakech.
- Meeting time: Late morning
- Meeting point: Hotel lobby
- Duration: Approximately 1 hour
- Your Driver: A driver will be provided.
- Contact: If you have any problems, or can't locate your driver, please contact your local contact. Their contact information will be provided.
Booked by Scenset.
Check in to your accommodation.
Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.
Why we love it for you: The orange trees that give the riad its name also give the sensation that you’ve stumbled upon a hidden palace. The stately bedrooms with leather furniture and private terraces only add to the royal ambiance, especially with the thick scent of citrus and flowing sound of fountains as a backdrop. The only thing not traditional about this riad is that there are two pools: one secluded under the trees and another on the roof for watching life in Marrakech go by.
Villa des Orangers
- Temporelle Room
- Breakfast and lunch included
- Non alcoholic drinks from the minibar included
- Confirmation: will be provided
It's been a whirlwind trip through Morocco, but it's time to say goodbye for now and head home. Hopefully this is just an "until next time," as there is so much more to explore.
Check out of your accommodation around midday.
You'll be picked up from your hotel for a private transfer to the airport before your international flight out.
- Meeting time: Afternoon
- Meeting point: Hotel lobby
- Duration: 15 minutes
- Your Driver: A driver will be provided | A phone number will be provided
- Contact: If you have any problems, or can't locate your driver, please call your local contact A contact person will be provided | A phone number will be provided
Booked by Scenset.
Upon arrival at the airport, please head to the "Pearl Assist" office for your VIP arrival service - this is located in the Departure hall.
Your greeter will assist you to skip the immigration and customs lines so you can quickly and seamlessly get to your gate.
Booked By Scenset
The Melia Airport Hotel is just a few minutes away from Terminal 1 by foot. Head over to your hotel to check in and relax.
If you'd like to take a taxi into Lisbon for dinner, it's just a 20-minute taxi ride to the city center.
Why we love it for you: Just a few steps from Lisbon Airport Terminal 1, this innovative urban hotel has functional facilities, rooms inspired by the world of aviation, and the best regional cuisine. Relax in the pools and work out or enjoy a spa experience in the wellness center.
Melia Airport Hotel
Premium Room
- Breakfast included
- Confirmation: will be provided
This morning after breakfast, you can walk back to the airport Terminal 1 where your flight departs. Check in, drop off your bags, and have a safe flight home.
Please refer to our terms & conditions here.