Moroccan Escape
A gleaming jewel in the Mediterranean, Marrakech takes honeymooners on a romantic escape
A gleaming jewel in the Mediterranean, Marrakech takes honeymooners on a romantic escape with its sapphire waters, golden deserts and imperial citadels, writes Melissa Gail Sing
Few places in the world possess the kind of dreamy allure that has enraptured travellers for centuries as Morocco. The jewel of North Africa has inspired some of the world’s most well-travelled, from Saudi royalty and legendary designer Yves Saint Laurent to beauty heiress Aerin Lauder. You’ll know you’ve entered the country’s most fabled city, Marrakech, when you see the red sandstone buildings that take on a rosy hue during sunset, alluding to the moniker “Red City”. We check into Four Seasons Resort Marrakech, a luxurious base from which to explore the city. It is just a 5min drive away from the alluring buzz and colour of the famed Jemaa el Fna square and marketplace. As we cruise along the palm-lined Boulevard de la Menara to the resort, we are transported to a completely different world—one of opulence, tranquillity and exclusivity. Inspired by the nearby medina, or old city, the main buildings evoke a Moorish palace with courtyards and lantern-illuminated stairways, reflecting pools and fountains strewn with rose petals, palm trees and olive trees, and intricate tiling and objets d’art that dot the public spaces.
DAY 1 MEETING MARRAKECH
We are greeted with a hot glass of Moroccan mint tea, a traditional welcome gesture in any Moroccan home. It’s our first taste of the genuine hospitality and luxury that will mark the entire escape to Morocco. All rooms offer magnificent views of either the snow-capped Atlas Mountains, the historic Menara Gardens next door or the pool. The most premium of the accommodation options, the 452sqm Royal Villa has four bedrooms surrounding a lap-sized pool, four full-marble bathrooms, a guest powder room, private terraces and a central salon. An eightperson whirlpool spa, private barbecue area and your own chef and butler service promise a spectacular stay for larger groups. You’ll be tempted to stay inside your room with its plush bed, spacious bathroom and a well-positioned balcony that gives you an unfettered view of the beautiful gardens, pools and surrounding buildings. Sit, sip champagne and watch the world go by. However, there’s something pressing on the agenda: the spa! An appointment at Le Spa at Four Seasons is a must to prep you for your Marrakech adventure. Book the couple suite for absolute bliss. The private garden and outdoor terraces add to the healing ambience. After a hammam steam bath and a dip in the plunge pools, your therapist (Tatler tip: Tarik Belachmi is most requested for his exceptional pair of hands) will indulge you the authentic Moroccan way, with treatments inspired by centuries-old beauty rituals that use local ingredients such as argan oil, eucalyptus, saffron, rose, olive, orange and ghassoul clay. Stop by the salon to get your hair perfectly coiffed a la Marocain before your romantic dinner with your other half. One of the resort’s dining outlets, Inara Lounge is a wonderful introduction to Moroccan cuisine, offering everything from tagines and grills to couscous but with a fusion flair. There are plush seating appointments indoors, inviting you to linger just a little longer, but if you prefer to dine under the stars, head outdoors where lanterns gently illuminate the night sky and conjure a romantic mood. Traditional musicians play on certain evenings, so order a bottle of Moroccan wine (yes, Morocco does produce its own wines!) to complete your Moorish experience.
DAY 2 CULTURAL RESPITE
The warm Mediterranean climate is perfect for outdoor activities. Start your day with sunrise couple yoga as instructor Jessica Satherley patiently guides you through various poses, ending with a soothing lavender oil head massage. Post-yoga, there
are plenty of nooks around the property where you can just spend time with one another, like the private cabanas at the adultsonly pool where you can sip cocktails while basking in the sun. After a satisfying breakfast, head to Majorelle Garden, long known as Yves Saint Laurent’s creative retreat. It was in Marrakech that the celebrated designer conceived many of his most iconic collections. The city’s brilliant hues, traditional silhouettes and embroideries found their way into pieces like his first safari jacket and the Mondrian dress. After wandering through the network of succulent plants, olive trees, palm trees, date palms and beautifully-scented orange trees, drop by the Berber museum (Berbers are the original people of Morocco) which is also inside the garden. Then, visit the Musée Yves Saint Laurent Marrakech. Opened in October 2017 to much acclaim, it displays haute couture pieces from the designer’s archives in Paris as well as a library on fashion and the local culture. Later in the afternoon, journey like newlywedded royalty on a horse-drawn carriage to Jemaa el Fna in the medina quarter or old city. Just a stone’s throw from the city’s highest mosque, Koutoubia Mosque, which was built in the 12th century, Jemaa el Fna is packed with tourists and locals, especially during the summer months. The energy is infectious, with acrobats, traditional musicians, henna artists and fortune tellers amid stalls hawking everything from silver teapots to jewellery, leather goods, perfumes, spices and Moroccan art. All that walking around will leave you craving for sustenance. There are many stalls offering traditional fare like harira, a heartwarming lentil soup, and tagines. Don’t miss the street food like snail soup, merguez sausage sandwiches and chebakia, delectable rose-shaped pastries coated with a honey-rosewater syrup. Then, continue the excitement at the nearby Le Comptoir Darna where you can dance the night away alongside graceful belly dancers.
DAY 3 HISTORY LESSON
Have brunch at the pool-facing alfresco restaurant Azzera. Lively chatter from business associates, holidaying couples and families fills the air, punctuated by chirps from adorable native birds that dart about the surrounding olive trees. Tuck into typical brasserie fare, such as salads, sandwiches, grilled meats and fresh seafood. After brunch, why not spend a leisurely afternoon at the 19th century Bahia Palace? Also known as Palace of the Beautiful, the
Brilliant, the 8ha monument has been hailed a masterpiece of Moroccan architecture. Built for Si Moussa, chamberlain of Sultan Hassan I of Morocco, it is made up of about 150 ornate pieces of moucharabiehs (wooden lattice), marble, carvings and paintings on beech and cedar wood, stucco, mosaic tilework, and the first stained glass windows of the Maghreb. Moving through the different chambers of the palace which was once the residence of General Lyautey, then resident general of France in Morocco, we are told by friendly ground staff that the palace marble floorings obtained from Italy were traded at a rate of one kilo sugar for a kilo of marble. From there, visit Saadian tombs, the resting place of about 60 members of the Saadi Dynasty (1578-1603). Discovered in 1917, the tombs were restored and their ornate beauty makes the mausoleum a major attraction. The tombs are kept in three rooms with tall columns and are made of Italian Carrara marble, and the gardens outside, where many a friendly stray cat roams, hold the graves of soldiers and servants. As dusk falls, head back to the resort for dinner at Quattro, a sophisticated restaurant that serves Southern Italian cuisine. Watch the chefs in action from the open kitchen as you savour standout pastas, pizzas and grills. If you are up for more, the resort’s concierge can also organise a hot-air balloon flight to catch a spectacular sunrise over the Atlas Mountains, followed by a picnic breakfast and a guided tour of a Berber village nestled in the mountains. Or, how about a visit to Essaouira, a charming seaside city with a medieval-meetsbohemian vibe that is one of the settings for Game of Thrones? Opening the doors to such a diverse range of sights, sounds, history and activities to enjoy and with inimitable hospitality, Morocco enchants at every turn, leaving you yearning to return even before your stay is up.