DESTINATIONS MARRAKECH ADD-ONS NORTH AFRICA
Sir Richard Branson after his parents spotted it from a hot-air balloon. There are only 28 rooms, each decorated in sumptuous traditional Moroccan style. The views from the outdoor restaurants and pool are spellbinding. Classic Collection Holidays offers a two-centre trip that includes three nights at Kasbah Tamadot and three nights at the equally plush La Maison Arabe in Marrakech’s medina. Prices start at £1,034 and include breakfast, flights and private transfers for a January 26 departure.
w CHEFCHAOUEN Deep in the Rif Mountains in northern Morocco is one of the country’s most exquisite towns. Chefchaouen is an enchanting blend of Moroccan and Andalusian architecture, with vivid blue-tinted houses in the shadow of the two peaks that give the town its name. The heart of the medina is Place Outa el-Hammam and the cafes that cluster around the terracotta-coloured kasbah, home to an ethnographic museum and small gallery. Next to the
Most of the pleasure is just in exploring the lanes and souks, stopping for a glass of sweet mint tea
RIGHT: La Maison Arabe, Marrakech
BELOW: Chefchaouen
kasbah is the Grande Mosquée, which dates from the 15th century and has an unusual octagonal shape. For a taste of Spain, head to the western side of town to the Ciudad Nueva (new town) where the main square, Plaza Mohammed V, was designed by Joan Miró. As with Essaouira, life here is unhurried and relaxed, where holidaymakers browse the souks in search of hand-painted ceramics and Berber woollen blankets. Most of the pleasure
is just in exploring the brightly coloured lanes and the souks, stopping from time to time for a glass of sweet mint tea. The town is less than an hour’s drive from the Unesco-listed Talassemtane National Park, a favourite area for hikers of all levels who take advantage of easily arranged day trips with local guides. Travellers coming from
Marrakech can take the overnight train to Tangier before getting a bus to Chefchaouen. The train is a safe, efficient and comfortable
service with a couchette car attached. Intrepid Travel includes Chefchaouen in its nine-day North Morocco Adventure that starts in Casablanca and goes on to Rabat and Fes before taking in Chefchaouen and Tangier. It ends with an overnight train to Marrakech for the final two days. The starting price of £530 includes B&B accommodation, two meals, train travel, private transfers and guided tours. Flights to Morocco are extra, and departures start in January.
Getting to Marrakech
Marrakech is served well by British airlines. EasyJet flies daily from Gatwick and twice- weekly from Manchester and Bristol. Ryanair has twice- weekly flights from Stansted, Luton and Liverpool. British Airways offers daily direct flights from Gatwick, and the choice from regional airports widens if clients are willing to change planes in one of the London airports or Madrid. This is useful for clients flying from Aberdeen, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow or Manchester. Royal Air Maroc flies daily from Gatwick but stops en route in Casablanca.
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travelweekly.co.uk 17 November 2016
PICTURES: MATT LIVEY;
STILL-IMAGES.NET/ALAN KEOHANE; SHUTTERSTOCK
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