Villa des Orangers

At the foot of the Koutoubia Mosque, between the Royal Palace and bustling Jemaa El Fna Square, the Villa des Orangers 5 star hotel in Marrakech, opens up to you like a jewel of serene, quiet living. Its authenticity, refined atmosphere, and harmony of shimmering colors, elegant fabrics, and sculptured wood give it unique charm. This high-luxury riad combines the blend of authentic Moroccan craftsmanship with the art of providing sanctuary from the bustling souks of Marrakech. Most of the 27 guestrooms offer a private terrace with view to the Atlas Mountain.

In the luxurious and comfortable setting of this sumptuous Relais et Châteaux residence, every day seems like magic and time stops to offer you quiet relaxation. From the shade of luxurious patios, on the terraces, or poolside, surrounded by oriental perfumes and the intense lights of the “Ochre City,” look out toward the Atlas Mountains and enjoy an incomparable sense of well-being. a magnificent Riad in the heart of Marrakech. Located on the edge of the Medina, just opposite to the Royal Palace and the square Jemaa El Fna, this hotel is really delightful.

You will fall in love with the place immediately after crossing the heavy wooden door. Whether it’s for the beautiful traditional architecture or the decoration mixing the ethnic, oriental and contemporary styles, everything is designed so cleverly to create a real magical environment. At dusk, the lanterns, candles, scented roses adorning the fountains and the musicians will transport you into a world that is truly wonderful and unique.

The exceptional setting, hospitality, comfort and remarkable service at the hotel were very conducive to relaxation and great inner peace. Relax in the open bar and enjoy mint tea and Moroccan pastries. Dinner by the pool is highly recommend. Rooms are nicely decorated, well laid out and reflect Marrakech in every possible way with its very local colors creating an oasis of calm. Experience unrivalled relaxation in a real ‘One Thousand and One Nights’ Spa. In an atmosphere of unparalleled calm with soft scents from rose petals or orange blossoms, discover our majestic hammam built in the authentic style of Moroccan baths. Step into one of the most ancient traditions of the Orient.

The Villa des Orangers, the kind of structure commonly found in the medina quarter, is a riad, a traditional Moroccan house with an interior courtyard. It was built in the 1930s for a prominent person who lived in the home until 1998. Then the current owners remodeled the rich-looking riad into a magnificent hotel that has been a Relais et Châteaux member property since 2001. It took the city’s finest craft workers nine months to complete the renovation work, fully respecting local traditions. They made the Villa des Orangers a luxury establishment, one that blends authenticity and modern comfort and is a perfect reflection of the spirit of Moroccan culture.

Citrus-themed in color, the 27 bedrooms come with ornate wooden chests, complimentary slippers, super-comfortable beds and enormous marble bathrooms.  All quarters are spacious, too, even the smallest Deluxe rooms.  Out in the garden, Luxury Suites throw in a sitting room, dressing room and plasma-screen TVs for good measure, but undisputably top of the tree is a private riad with two solarium suites, a plunge pool and its own private entrance. All have air-conditioning as well as in-room amenities (iPod dock, flatscreen TV, in-room safe, minibar, coffee / tea making facilities, complimentary newspaper daily, Les Sens de Marrakech bathroom products). Complimentary internet service, breakfast and airport transfers are included with your stay.  

The hotel offers a variety of private active, cultural and artistic private tours in Marrakech and surrounding regions.

Marrakech City Tour
Spend a morning or an afternoon accompanied by an official guide who will be able to give you some of the rich history of Marrakech while you visit a selection of Marrakech's well-known historical buildings and sights. The guided tour includes all entrance fees.

Visit the:

Bahia Palace

Saadien tombs

Medersa Ben Youssef

Marrakech museum

The depths of the souks (shopping is optional!)

The Mellah or old Jewish quarter

The Menara Gardens

The Majorelle gardens (belonging to the late Yves Saint Laurent)

Medina Walking Tour
A walking tour of the colorful souks in the Medina of Marrakech. We offer you a feast for the senses: You will taste some local produce, smell the fragrances of the local spices and oils, touch the texture of the local fabrics, see the colorful markets and listen to the vibrant sounds of everyday life in this unique magical world. We will walk you through the maze of narrow colorful streets, taking you back in time through this active and bustling part of town. Stop by the olive stalls and taste the different varieties of one of Morocco's premium products. Smell the fragrance of the different fresh herbs used for making the special Marrakesh tea and taste the traditional Moroccan mixed snacks that the Moroccans present their guests as a sign of goodwill and hospitality.

We will take you to the heart of the traditional markets to see the different alleyways, districts and the bright colors of the shops displaying all sorts of garments, shawls and fabrics made of wool, cotton or vegetable silks; feel the texture of all these fabrics and learn about their quality. Stop every now and then at your leisure and haggle, if you wish, over the prices of different items. With the help of our guide, you can talk to the crafts people and ask them questions in order to learn more about their traditions and skills. We will visit one of the many herbalists in the Souks and learn about the spices, Arabic medicinal herbs and Berber essential oils and their uses in traditional Moroccan medicine and cuisine.

We will end our walk at the UNESCO world heritage site, Jemaa El Fna square, to hear some of the local folklore traditions such as the Berber musicians, the Gnaoua drummers, the story tellers and more. Our guide will explain the meaning of all these activities while you hear the voices of medicine men and fortune tellers trying to attract and convince their audience. We will see the local dancers, the acrobats, the snake charmers and learn about each of these ancient and traditional performers.

Atlas Mountain Tours
With such stunning scenery it would be a tragedy to be anywhere near that Atlas mountains and not to venture out for a day to walk through some of the most beautiful, natural walking areas in North Africa.  The simple earth villages with their charming and peaceful Berber inhabitants are welcoming  and friendly.  Stop for mint tea in a local village home, share the home made bread to sit into local olive oil and salt. We can offer day walks for all levels of fitness.  Do as much or as little as you like BUT do it!  Mules available to carry tired children. Perfect for bird watchers as there are so many species to be spotted!

Experience life with a Moroccan Berber family
This morning will take you to experience life with a Moroccan Berber family. Understand the Berber culture, spend some time in a small village and experience the countryside first hand. You will learn some of the daily tasks from baking your own bread, learning to make your own tagine, cooking on coals, milking the goats, going for water at the well, making mint tea. This day starts from your hotel in Marrakech at 9am and last for around 5 hours.

Berber 4 x 4 Adventure
Enjoy the breathtaking scenery of the valleys, villages and wide, open landscapes. Drive through the region of Lalla Takerkouste and the foothills of the Atlas Mountains commanding a great view of the lake. We will take a detour to Ouarialt village to be invited by a family of locals for a break and a delicious glass of mint tea. Then we'll visit our charity educational centre in the village where we will learn more about this community. We will drive up to Kik Plateau and explore unspoilt countryside, rarely explored by tourists. Enjoy some of the best panoramic views and scenic roads in Morocco.  We will reach the lush green valley of Asni and enjoy the drive until the olive valley of Marigha. Our Lunch will be on the terrace of a fine property, between hundreds of olive groves, in the valley of Marigha. After lunch, our guide will take us for an optional walk to the salt vats down in the valley to learn about the ecosystem of this region before we drive back to Marrakesh.

Falcon Day Trip
Members of the Kwassem tribe - the inheritors of the tradition of Moroccan falconry introduce you to the secrets of their art. After explanation on the capture of wild falcons they use for hunting, they show you the various stages of training and make a demonstration flight with their spectacular high-flying hawks. Then there will be little eagles that you may be able to carry on their wrist, equipped with a falconry glove. Loads of positive emotions, great photos and memories are guaranteed! Workshops - In the grand nomadic tent the Kwassems, the inheritors of the tradition of Moroccan falconry introduce you their art.

Presentation of falcons:

High-flying birds (Lanner and Peregrine, Gyrfalcon) high pole.

Low-flying birds (Harris Eagle) on their perch.

Presentation of falconry equipment: gloves, hoods, lure, falconer, jets, telemetry, loin, needles, etc.

Explanation and history.

Falconry: demonstration flight

Flight of a falcon to the lure (in the space provided on the site) and return of the falcon to the wrist of the participant.

Essaouira Day Trip 
Blue and white architecture, windswept beaches and easy-going charm...With its brilliant blue and white architecture, windswept beaches and easy-going charm, Essaouira is a popular excursion for day-trippers from Marrakech.  Have lunch at one of Essaouira's great fish restaurants, walk around the town and visit thuya wood workshops, artists’ enclaves and silent alleyways where cats sun themselves and veiled women emerge from studded doorways. A two hour drive from Marrakech and a great day out on Morocco's Atlantic coast. This is a full day excursion.

Ouzoud Waterfall Trip
You will be collected at 9.30 am from your hotel. Ouzoud is a two hour drive from Marrakech and a very pretty one passing through stunning and varied countryside. Ouzoud is located in a valley, within a friendly Berber village with three beautiful tiered waterfalls with a series of spectacular wide to narrow plunges that drop 110m into the river below. The village is very charming. A delicious lunch at one of the pretty restaurants in Ouzoud surrounded by lime-trees or enjoy Moroccan specialties and freshly squeezed orange juice at one of the many cafes along the terraces by the falls. A local guide will take you on a walk down the falls and you may cross the pools of water at the bottom on a raft pulled by people using ropes! Return to marrakech in the afternoon by about 4 pm.