Morocco
From the windswept beaches of the Atlantic Coast to the bustling medinas of Marrakech, and from the rocky Atlas Mountains to dune-filled desert landscapes, Morocco has it all. Gray & Co.’s roots in this country go deep. Our team stands at the ready to plan and produce the ultimate private active trip showcasing the country’s very best.
Step “through the looking glass” when you arrive in Marrakech. Explore the treasure-filled souks and sights of the city in depth and on foot with our expert guide Mohamed Bouskri. Marvel at the modernist Jardin Majorelle and Yves Saint Laurent’s former home, the Villa Oases. Next door sits the must-see museum devoted to the late, great French fashion designer. Dinner at Plus 61 is a highlight, as is lunch at the opulent French brasserie Grand Café de la Poste. Stay in one of the multilevel suites at the palatial Royal Mansour hotel, conceived by Morocco’s king as an ultra-luxe escape, or at another favorite boutique property, such as La Sultana or Villa des Orangers.
A mere 45 minutes away from the bustling city brings you to the tranquil Berber villages of the Atlas Mountains. We recommend this area for families and more playful folks. Base yourself at the dramatic Kasbah Tamadot owned by Sir Richard Branson. At the nearby Olinto Lodge, owners Fabricio and Jose have created the ultimate adult oases complete with exquisite suites, spa, and gardens. From either basecamp, Gray & Co. crafts custom hikes between the Berber villages at the base of the snowy Mount Toubkal, the highest peak in North Africa. Make sure to visit the women’s craft cooperative set up by Eve Branson, Richard’s mother, to purchase extraordinary, one-of-a-kind hand-embroidered housewares.
A scenic drive through argan and olive tree orchards brings you to wild Atlantic beaches and the whitewashed fortified city of Essaouira. A stay within the city walls at the Relais & Châteux’s Heure Bleue Palais makes it easy to head out on curated walking tours, stopping at all the top carpet and wood-working shops, as well as the real “castle made of sand” about which Jimi Hendrix sang. (He supposedly took inspiration from the ruins of the city’s Borj El-Berod watchtower.)
Travellers with more time can enjoy the camels, date-palm oases and dunes of Ouarzazate at Dar Ahlam, the medina of Fez from the Riad Fez, the oceanside Sultana Oualidia and/ or Jasper Conran’s chic Tangier beach outpost of Villa Mabrouka. Salam alikom!
