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Where We Sleep . . .
JNANE TAMSNA:
Jnane hotels and villas offer a lifestyle of serenity and well-being in the Palmeraie and countryside around Marrakech. The typical Jnane setting is a collection of individual houses spread out in a garden. This gives guests an atmosphere of being at home while providing the comfort and service of a hotel.
RIAD CASA LILA:
The Riad Casa Lila is decorated with soft purple and violine colours. As soon as you enter the house, you'll discover a sweet world, beautifully coloured. Serenity in a small riad where the words are only whispered, where the murmur of the waters go from the galleries to the opened sky terraces. In Casa Lila, time is set to relaxation and dreaming.
Local Diversions . . .
CULINARY DELIGHTS:
Moroccan dishes are replete with wonderful, healthy ingredients such as garden-fresh fava beans, vine-ripened vegetables, and a medly of legumes. Many dishes feature pastas and grains like couscous and orzo. What sets Moroccan cuisine apart however, is the liberal use of spices.
NATURAL WONDERS:
The Argan is a rare and endangered tree that grows in warm, arid climates and is most commonly found in Morocco. Similar in appearance to an olive tree, it is an important natural resource, producing a nut that provides rich and delicious oil used for cooking.
CULTURAL MOMENT:
The medina (market) in Marrakech is one of the largest in the world. Here, one can buy almost anything. It is particularly good for carpets, rugs, and ornate metalwork.
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The Trip
Day 1 - Marrakech
Arrive at the airport and transfer to the luxurious Palmeraie neighborhood outside the old walls of Marrakech. Settle into your lush room, explore the grounds and the organic vegetable garden or relax by the pool. Head out this evening for an introductory visit to the old medina. Enjoy dinner in one of the fine restaurants in town before returning to the Palmeraie for a good night's sleep. Accommodations: Jnane Tamsna; Meals: D.
Day 2 - Marrakech Medina
Set out this morning to discover the fascinating history and rich cultural heritage of this ancient city. See the elaborate palaces, mosques, and Koranic school as you meander through the narrow alleys of town. After lunch in one of the trendy local restaurants, spend some time with your culinary guide in the souks to familiarize yourself with the fragrant spice stalls and food shops. This will giveyou a great sense of how the locals prepare for their daily feasts. In the evening return to the Palmeraie in time to relax under the palm trees, take a dip in the pool and enjoy a sumptuous meal under the stars. Accommodations: Jnane Tamsna; Meals: BLD.
Day 3 - Palmeraie Cooking
 After a late sleep and leisurely breakfast on the terrace, head into the kitchen and roll up your sleeves during a cooking class. Discover the delicate spice combinations that go into every dish, learn the fine flavor balance of the ultimate tagine and learn how to knead your cous-cous to achieve a perfect airy texture. Enjoy the fabulous feast you have created for lunch and then take the rest of the afternoon at your leisure. Head into town to further explore the sites, markets, and restaurants or simply relax in the serene surroundings with a good book. Accommodations: Jnane Tamsna; Meals: BL.
Day 4 - Lower Atlas Organic Garden
This morning after breakfast venture off by private transfer into the foothills of the Atlas Mountains. On a clear day you can see the snow-capped peaks beyond the walls of Marrakech and as you approach you will discover the lush green terrain of the lower mountain range. Travel across the Haouz plain through tiny rural villages and Berber communities, the market town of Tnine Ourika, and arrive at the Jardin de Senteurs et Cultures Travel, an organic herb garden. Here, see, smell, and taste the various fragrant herbs that go into cooking and also aromatic ointments such as aromatherapy massage oils. See bread baked in the traditional manner in clay ovens, and feast upon it with your gourmet lunch served in the garden against the Atlas panorama. Return to Marrakech for the evening and a farewell dinner at Jnane Tamsna. Accommodations: Jnane Tamsna; Meals: BL.
Day 5 - Marrakech to Essaouira
 After a leisurely breakfast set out with your driver along the scenic road to Essaouira. Traverse the rugged, agricultural terrain through villages and olive groves all the way to the Atlanic coast. Arrive in Essaouira in time for lunch on your own someplace along the water. Once you have settles into your room at the charming haven of Casa Lila, take the afternoon to walk the endless beach south to the dunes, explore the medina or simply relax on the roof terrace and take in the sounds of the city. Accommodations: Riad Casa Lila; Meals: B.
Day 6 - Essaouira Medina & Markets
After a leisurely breakfast set out with your private chef and guide to the market for a food foraging exploration in the souks. Experience the sights and smells of this aromatic market and buy all the ingredients you will need to prepare a fine Moroccan lunch. This afternoon relax and digest your meal, soak in the sun from the roof terrace or take a dip in the ocean. Dinner tonight is at your leisure. Accommodations: Riad Casa Lila; Meals: BL.
Day 7 - Argan Grove
 After breakfast, drive south toward Agadir for about 45 minutes and notice the terrain changing from Olive groves to Argan groves. Wander through one of these endangered Argan forests to see the unique spectacle of goats climbing their thick, gnarled trunks to eat the fruit, then visit a farm where (mostly) women are producing the exotic and delicious Argan oil, virtually liquid gold. Enjoy the rest of your afternoon at leisure with options to ride camels or go driving in buggies on the dunes. Tonight, indulge in an elaborate Moroccan feast in the courtyard of Casa Lila. Accommodations: Riad Casa Lila; Meals: BD.
Day 8 - My Tho
After an early breakfast, drive to Marrakech and depart on your flight home. Accommodations: Riad Casa Lila; Meals: B.
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