• Bahia Palace - The Bahia Palace, meaning “palace of the beautiful, the brilliant,” is a 19th-century palace spanning eight hectares in Marrakech. It stands as a masterpiece of Moroccan architecture, a significant monument of the country’s cultural heritage, and a major tourist attraction in Morocco.

Between 1866 and 1867, the northern section of this expansive 8000 m² palace (the largest and most luxurious in Morocco at the time) was constructed in the southeast of Marrakech’s medina, near the current royal palace, by Moroccan architect El Mekki. It was built for Si Moussa, the chamberlain of Sultan Hassan I of Morocco.

Ahmed ben Moussa (1841-1900), son of Si Moussa and his successor as chamberlain, governed Morocco from 1894 until his death in 1900 as the regent for the young Sultan Abd al-Aziz of Morocco. During his rule, Ahmed ben Moussa expanded the southern part of the official palace. It is said that the powerful Ahmed Ben Moussa built this palace for his favorite mistress, hence the name Bahia, “the beautiful, the brilliant.”

Upon Ben Moussa’s death, Sultan Abd al-Aziz of Morocco assumed power and ordered the looting of the palace. The French protectorate was later established in Morocco, and from 1912, General Lyautey, then the resident general of France in Morocco (later Marshal of France), made it his personal residence and a residence for French officers, adding fireplaces, heating, and electricity.

• Saadian Tombs - Situated next to the Kasbah mosque, the Saadian tombs are among the few remnants of the Saadian dynasty, which ruled during Marrakech’s golden age from 1524 to 1659. In the early 18th century, Sultan Moulay Ismail sought to erase all traces of this dynasty’s grandeur by ordering the destruction of its remaining vestiges. However, he refrained from committing the sacrilege of destroying their burials and instead ordered the entrance to the necropolis to be sealed. The secret remained well-guarded until 1917, when the site of the Saadian tombs was rediscovered.

Although this royal necropolis was used from the early 14th century, its splendor dates back to the 16th century with the burial of Prince Mohamed Sheikh in 1557. His son, Ahmed El Mansour, also known as Ahmed “the Walleye,” expanded and beautified the site by constructing the koubba “Lalla Mesouada,” named after his mother. Lalla Messaouda was interred there in 1591, along with the three successors of the sultan.

• Ben Youssef Madrasa - This Koranic school was founded in the early 14th century by Moroccan monarch Abu el Hassan. It was during the reign of the Saadians, who expanded and redecorated the building in 1570, that the Madrasa became the largest Islamic college in the Maghreb region. Up to 900 students resided there to study law and theology, supported by the monarchy with food and lodging, although students had to cook for themselves. Ben Youssef Madrasa was transformed into a museum in 1960, and since its renovation in 1999, it has become one of Marrakech’s most popular sites. The bronze doorway at the college’s entrance, adorned with exquisite cedarwood and mosaic carvings, is a remarkable masterpiece of its era.

Through a passage, visitors can access the interior, featuring a large marble patio with an artistically decorated water basin at its center. The entire inner courtyard is lined with stunning mosaics, and its walls and columns are adorned with exceptional sculptures and stuccoes. From the second floor, visitors can enjoy a fabulous view of this masterpiece of oriental architecture, where they will also find student rooms arranged around small courtyards and the large patio. Adjacent to the patio is a prayer room characterized by three marble columns. Looking up, one can see the impressive dome, skillfully crafted from cedar wood with 24 small mosaic windows.

• Jemaa el-Fnaa - The souks of Marrakech are often a highlight for visitors. The bustling atmosphere, the bargains, the thrill of haggling, and the sensory experience are often significant reasons for people to visit Morocco’s Red City.

A souk is the term for an Arab market. Traditionally an open-air market where locals obtained essential items, a souk would have traveling merchants passing through once a week, once a month, or at other infrequent intervals. Marrakech’s strategic location at the heart of Morocco meant that many traders passed through the city daily. Positioned on important trading routes, goods arrived in Marrakech from all over Morocco, neighboring African countries, and beyond. Merchants often traveled by camel or donkey, usually with heavily laden caravans.

• Entrance fees to all sites included
• 4-hour guided tour with multilingual guide (English/Spanish/French)

• Personal needs
• Meals and drinks

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.