Marrakech Gardens Tour

Morocco Tour Description: Journey through historic gardens and hidden green spaces on this Marrakech Gardens Tour. Nick named, "the rose among the palms," one of Marrakech’s best kept secrets is its deeply rooted traditions of gardens and green spaces. Marrakech has long been sought after by garden enthusiasts and garden designers for its' centuries-old Andalusian, Art Deco and Moorish gardens.  Our Tailor Made, Gardens of Marrakech Tour is perfect for garden enthusiasts, gardens designers, artists, architects and those seeking inspiration from Marrakech’s splendid green heritage.

Our Marrakech Gardens Tour is designed around your specific interests. It offers the opportunity to explore gardens from both a historic and cultural perspective. Garden enthusiasts will discover a wide range of botanical gardens, drought-tolerant gardens, landscape gardens along with the unique flora and fauna of the region.  

Duration: A One-Day Marrakech Gardens Tour 

►Book a Marrakech Gardens Tour Today call (800) 787-8806. Let us be your Private Morocco Gardens Guide. Don't miss out on an Insiders Guided Tour of Marrakech Gardens along with an exclusive opportunity to meet local gardeners and botanists.  For more information about a private gardens tour to other Moroccan cities contact us. 

GARDENS & PUBLIC GREEN SPACES VISITED ON THE TOUR:
Moorish and Art Deco Gardens at Majorelle in Marrakech
El Bahia Palace Gardens
Harti Gardens & Cyber Park in Marrakech
Historical Landmark Garden at La Mamounia in Marrakech
Cactus Gardens at the Palmerie in Marrakech
The Sunken Gardens at El Badi Palace
Marrakech Private Villa Garden 

►Start your visit early morning at the Majorelle Gardens (Jardin Majorelle)to take advantage of the optimal morning light. The atmosphere of the Majorelle Gardens is peaceful and the area composed and colored like a painting. Moorish and Art Deco inspired structures with bold color palettes are assembled among a vast, opulent array of exotic plants and trees collected from the far reaches of the world. The courageous use of the famous Majorelle blue paint in the architectural design enlivens the garden and acts as a strong backdrop to the plant collection with over 1800 types of cacti, 400 species of palms, and other rare varieties of flora. This bold action revolutionized the way in which gardens are viewed. An elaborate system of canals connects the planted areas and infuse the garden with the sight and sound water. The contrasting effects of light and shadow are repeatedly played against each other throughout the gardens capturing the harsh sunlight and transforming it into a tamed element that defies explanation. 

►Visit the El Bahia Palace & Gardens. The El Bahia Palace in Marrakesh is a beautiful building and an excellent example of Eastern Architecture from the 19th century that represents the trends and standards of the wealthy at that time. The palace is surrounded by an eight-hectare garden. 

► Discover The Sunken Gardens of El Badi Palace. The El Badi Palace was built in the 16th century by the the Arab Saadian Sultan Ahmad al-Mansour following his victory over the Portuguese at the battle of the three Kings in 1578. He commissioned this Palace and Sunken Garden in 1593 and died shortly after the El Badi’s completion in 1603. The original complex took approximately 25 years to build and was designed with gold and onyx. Today what remains is a huge esplanade carved gardens, planted with orange trees and surrounded by high walls. The entrance to the Sunken Gardens of El Badi Palace is through a green pavilion and the courts. The El Badi Ruined Palace and Gardens are located a short distance from the Jewish Mellah. There are fine views from the towers of the Medina and the Atlas mountains. Storks nest on the ramparts as they do along the high walls of the Royal Palace adjoining it. The El Badi Palace has a museum and exhibits of which includes and a 12th-century minbar that once stood inside the Marrakech Koutoubia Mosque.

►Guided walk through the Koutoubia Gardens.TheKoutoubia Mosque is the largest mosque in Marrakech. It is set among the palm-tree dotted landscape that offers the perfect green open space for Marrakech’s to picnic, relax and enjoy daily strolls. The Koutoubia minerat was used as the model for the Gerald of Seville and for the Hassan Tower or Rabat. The name is derived from the Arabic al-Koutoubiyyin for librarian, since it used to be surrounded by sellers of manuscripts. It is considered the ultimate structure of its kind.  

►Go by horse and carriage to La Mamounia’s Landmark Gardens.

Tea and garden tour of La Mamounia Gardens. Built in 1929 this famous historical landmark hotel and gardens in the center of Marrakech is cared for by 40 gardeners who two times a year plant 60,000 annuals to enhance the grounds as well as maintain the immaculately mowed grass under the citrus and olive orchards, desert garden, rose garden and tropical garden as well as the many fountains. The 200 year old avenue of olive trees leads one to the garden pavilion where you can soak in the peace and solitude with a cup of Moroccan mint tea. At the back of the 15 hectares gardens there is an herb and kitchen garden whose produce is used in the fresh daily menus.  Along one side of the garden there are six meterhigh bougainvillea walls which when in bloom are breathtaking. 

La Mamounia is where Alfred Hitchcock wrote the movie The Birds. It is situated on the edge of the walls of the old city of Marrakech and is named for its 200-year-old gardens, which were given as an 18^th century wedding gift to Prince Moulay Mamoun by his father. Today the gardens cover nearly 20 acres and display an incredible variety of flowers and trees. The hotel was designed in 1922 by the architects Prost and Marchisio. They combined traditional Moroccan designs with the popular Art Deco look of the 1920's. Winston Churchill called it, "the most lovely spot in the whole world." He spent many winters at La Mamounia painting the Atlas Mountains and the surrounding countryside

►Enjoy a three-course lunch, among the palms and tricking fountains of a Private Villa Garden

Take a road trip just 15 kilometers outside of Marrakech to explore the Palmeraie & Cactus Gardens of Abderrazzak Benchaabane’s. 

►Abderrazzak Benchaabane’s Cactus Garden & Palmeraie Museum:
Abderrazzak Benchaabane is a Marrakech legend. Quiet and soft spoken, this renowned Garden Designer, Ethnobotanist, Perfumer, Teacher, Photographer, Writer, Garden Restorer and Publisher has created a landmark place for himself within the world of the “red hamra” city. Benchaabane is currently a Botany and Ecology professor at the University of Marrakech. Visit Abderrazzak Benchaabane’s Andalusian Garden & Cactus Gardens have tiled steps and earthen piste walls to complete a place of serenity. The cactus garden was planted 10 years ago with 40 kinds of cactus from Morocco, South Africa, USA, South America and Mexico. The Palmeraie Museum has one of Morocco’s most profound Modern Art collections by Moroccan Artists.

End your day at The Harti Gardens. The Harti Gardens is located in the new city of Gueliz and dates back to the Almoravid dynasty. Harti has an Olive Avenue, a Desert Cactus Garden and a Rose Garden that are all set among mature trees. This garden is a combination of a city center garden and park where young and old, families and couples come to enjoy its serene atmosphere.