Your luxury villa in MarrakechBoutique with Moroccan flair

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Villa Dinari the perfect antidote to the beautiful chaos of

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the perfect antidote to the beautiful chaos of

MarrakechJmaa el Fna, North Africa’s

most vibrant and exotic square, the ancient heart of Marrakech, where snake charmers, storytellers and acrobats have entertained the passing crowds for a thousand years.

And only twenty minutes from this beautiful chaos, the peacefulness of Villa Dinari, where you can enjoy the luxury of a staffed private home or your own secluded accommodation in beautifully tended gardens.

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Contents5

Welcome

6Villa Dinari

8Party Time

WeddingsFamily Parties

Romantic Getaways

14Your Room

20Dinari Dining

26 Excursions and

Special PackagesSports and Adventure

Golf

34 Our Man in Morocco

36Villa Delicious

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Welcome

Few people these days have time to work their way through a website while trying to find a place to stay for their holidays; what is the accommodation like, is the food good, what else can they do apart from sleep in a comfy bed or lounge by a swimming pool? So here you have the answer – Villa Dinari’s ‘website in a magazine’.

Heather and Abdellatif BenhrimaVilla Dinari, Marrakech, Morocco. Tel: 00 212 524 32 89 22 Mob: 00 212 661 18 66 84

Web: www.villadinari.com Email: info.villadinari@gmail.com

We rented the whole villa - it was simply wonderful

In the following pages we show you our home – and this actually is our home – the rooms we designed ourselves, the delicious Moroccan food we serve, our lovely gardens and swimming pool. You will also see photos of the weddings and parties we host and the exciting mini-adventures we can arrange for you, whether it’s a tour of the tantalising souks or an escape for the day into the High Atlas Mountains.

Our major news is our new restaurant and bar with a cosy lounge area, with roaring fires for winter months, which will be finished by the end of January. For warmer times, our romantically lit gardens are perfect for outside dining under the stars. The food at Villa Dinari has always featured highly in visitor’s comments, and our new restaurant will give us the opportunity to add even more gastronomic delights to our menu.

We look forward to welcoming you to Villa Dinari, and be sure to click on the link below to be kept up to date with future magazines and special offers.

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The

V illa Dinari sits in over two acres of beautifully landscaped gardens and is an oasis of calm and tranquillity – a perfect antidote to the

hustle and bustle of Marrakech yet still close enough to the centre of the ancient city for you to dip into and enjoy all the fabulous sites and restaurants it has to offer.

A selection of eight bedrooms, suites and self-contained garden chalets creates a relaxed environment. In the main house your room in has access to its own private patio, and you can also enjoy the beautiful lawned gardens, pool and shady terraces. Pockets of privacy for you to share a romantic getaway for two, small bungalows for families or space for groups of up to twenty to enjoy family gatherings, weddings, ‘girlie’ weekends, golfing breaks, birthday parties – any

occasion or celebration where you would like to take time away with your favourite people.

During the long hot months of spring and summer, life centres around the swimming pool. Its well-stocked bar becomes the focal point for an aperitif before you enjoy a candle-lit dinner on either the pool terrace itself or at one of the more intimate settings pocketed throughout the gardens.

We’ll meet you at the airport with a chauffeur-driven car, return you there when your adventure in Morocco is over, and for the days in-between do our best to make sure you have everything you need for a lifetime of happy memories. Mint tea and home-made cake will be waiting for you during the winter, or a lounger by the pool when the sun is shining – which is most of the time!

Villa

‘The grounds are just stunning.’

Any occasion or celebration where you would like to take time away with your favourite people.

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‘My third time here and it never disappoints.’

Facilities at Villa Dinari• Swimming pool with bar: our chill-out

zone to meet new and old friends.• Lunch or dinner, both Moroccan and

international cuisine, with our own unique twists.

• Massage and beauty therapy arranged by appointment and conducted in the privacy of your own room.

• Airport pick-up and chauffeur service during your stay by arrangement.

• Personally designed guide services by Abdellatif, Our Man in Morocco.

• General welcome information pack with map of Marrakech.

‘My third time here and it never disappoints.’

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Your new dining room is gorgeous. One of your special cocktails at the bar, a delicious

meal and a lounge on the sofa with a book - all within five paces. My idea of heaven!

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Your

This is your special day, the one you have planned for and dreamed of for so long. Why not celebrate it under blue Moroccan skies at

Villa Dinari?

Wedding

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xchange your vows in the shade of a specially designed tented pergola,

surrounded by scented roses, set in our luxurious gardens. The perfume of jasmine in the air and rich, brightly textured Moroccan rugs under your feet; nothing could be more romantic. In the evening, candle-lit lanterns guide your way to a sumptuous meal, enveloped in the deep blue of a night sky glittering with stars.

The Dinari Suite, tucked away in a secluded corner of the gardens, awaits you, knowing that you can continue your celebrations the following day, with your family spending the night in one of our delightful rooms or chalets.

Venue and accommodationCelebrant wedding ceremonyLunch and dinner, based on traditional Moroccan food if desiredTable flowers and marquee decorationWedding Cake and Favour sourcingHair and make up for bride and guestsBridal flowersWedding Planning

Entertainment, including:DJBelly DancerFire EaterGnaoua Musicians – African chants and rhythms.Dkaykiya – Marrakech musicians with horns and trumpets.Henna artists

And much more…

We offer a wide range of options:

We work with several excellent wedding photographers who know Villa Dinari intimately, and know exactly where to get the best shots to keep your memories alive for years to come.

Nothing pleases us more than organising a special wedding - and Villa Dinari is

the ideal place to celebrate it.

‘A very big thank you from the heart for making

Sarah and David's wedding day perfect.’

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Villa Dinari has been designed with adaptability

in mind. Perfect for a romantic stay in one of our delightful tucked-away suites for perfect privacy, but equally enjoyable for a group of friends or a family get-together. A combination of suites, double and single rooms means we can accommodate guests of all ages – we can even supply a cot and baby chair for the smallest members of the family.

Our landscaped gardens are completely secure, so they are perfectly safe for children and toddlers to run around, leaving you safe in the knowledge that they won’t come to any harm, although we do suggest that if

Family Partieschildren use the pool there is a responsible adult nearby.

During the warmer months life at Villa Dinari centres around the swimming pool – complete with its own bar – and meals can be served there or in one of the marquees that dot the garden.

There is so much to see and do in and around Marrakech, and we can arrange a wide variety of excursions and events to suit every taste, whether it’s a simple stroll around the souk or a round of golf, at the end of the day you can all get together for a relaxed glass of wine before dinner and try to outdo each other’s yarns!

‘The perfect venue for our family and friends to get together.’

‘It was the best party we've ever had in our lives.’

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Desert nights under the twinkling stars, glorious golden-ball sunsets, enticing souks, candle-lit dinners in ancient Moroccan homes, chilling out under the enormous canvas spread of a traditional Moroccan haima, a luxurious relax in a hamman followed by a massage with scented soaps and oils, snow-capped mountains, pools to bathe in under towering cascades.

Romantic and exotic are two words inseparable from Morocco. Whatever your romantic dreams are; a camel ride across the dunes, a gentle float in a hot-air balloon; a ride in a horse-drawn calèche around the rose-pink walls of Marrakech – we can arrange it for you.

Romantic GetawaysOur two private bungalows, the Dinari Suite and the Garden Studio, are tucked away under the trees in our beautiful landscaped gardens, to give you your private corner of paradise. The swimming pool and pool bar are near at hand to relax in, and if you would like a special meal prepared for a candle-lit dinner a deux, all you have to do is ask. But really, you don’t even need leave Villa Dinari to enjoy a special romantic getaway – anything else is a bonus!

‘It was so memorable, and perfect in every way.’

To visit our web page simply click on any

Villa Dinari logo

Your RoomEach of the rooms at Villa Dinari has its own character, but they all have one thing in common – a seductive mix of soft colours, rich Moroccan textiles, and the best craftwork of local artisans. Lusciousness and luxury combined.

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This delightful and very private bungalow is tucked away in a secluded part of the beautiful gardens. Your own little corner of paradise, with views over the entire garden and swimming pool. Private and perfect for a romantic getaway or honeymoon or just great for friends to share as the bed can be separated into twins. Soft greens and chocolate brown décor and a private terrace, perfect for relaxing and recharging those batteries. Small kitchen, en-suite double sink bathroom.

Dinari Suite

Garden StudioPrivate bungalow surrounded by foliage and an extensive cactus garden, perfect for relaxing in your own private world. Large double bed and decorated with artisan pieces and a palette of soft creams, mochas and splashes of red. You feel instantly at peace on entering. Comfortable seating area overlooking the garden. En-suite shower room, kitchenette. Private terrace.

Toiletries & pool towels SafeTea and coffee making facilities

All rooms include:Air conditioning & heatingMinibar iPod dock Hairdryer

‘The Dinari suite is perfect for privacy.’

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Kasbah SuiteLarge twin/double junior suite with dove grey walls and fuchsia hand woven textiles, with portrait photos of Berber and desert nomads. Situated in our newly built annex, it has large French windows leading out to a semi private terrace with a view of the gardens. Tadelakt en-suite bath/shower room and cosy seating area.Situated next to the Blue twin, Amazigh and Silver rooms.

Oriental RoomA large double bedroom decorated in an oriental style of soft greens and creams and local artwork, with en-suite tadelakt bath/shower room.This room is situated in our traditional riad courtyard and has a private terrace overlooking the rose garden.

‘Heather has thought of everything.’

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You can visit our website at any time by clicking on

Villa Dinarilogo

A large double bedroom decorated in a colonial style, of soft creams, beige and browns, with en-suite tadelakt bath/shower room.

This room is situated in our traditional riad courtyard and has a private terrace overlooking the garden.

Colonial Room

Amazigh RoomThis is a large twin/double room decorated in bright sunny colours. En-suite tadelakt shower room and air-conditioned. Local Moroccan art work adorns the walls, and rich woven fabrics have been used to give this room a rustic, homely feel. Large shared sunny terrace overlooking the garden.

Perfect for family and friends on holiday together.

‘I would recommend ANY of them.’

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Silver RoomDouble/twin room decorated with soft silver grey tones and turquoise accessories. The perfect room to unwind with its cool, modern touches and period black and white photo gallery. En-suite tadalakt shower room . Large shared sunny terrace overlooking the garden, perfect for friends and family to share.

Blue Twin RoomTwin room decorated in shades of soft grey and blue, with en-suite tadelakt shower room. Air-conditioned.Perfect for travelling friends, or teenagers travelling with parents.It has all the facilities of the other rooms, but is a little smaller.Large shared terrace overlooking the garden.

‘I can’t imagine staying in Marrakech and not staying at Villa Dinari.’

‘Every room is beautiful, with it's own little terrace.’

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Dinari DiningEating is a very important affair at Villa Dinari. Our love of food, and Moroccan food in particular, has led us to experiment with many different recipes known and loved by our clients.

Nezha, our splendid chef and housekeeper, has worked with us over the years to create our very own traditional menu – with a twist – for our guests. Each famous dish is just a little different to the cuisine you will find in the Moroccan restaurants in town.

We always keep a selection of Moroccan wines for you to sample with your meal, and you will probably be surprised just how good they are.

‘I love Moroccan food and the food I had at Villa Dinari was as

good as any I’ve eaten in the restaurants in

town.’

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Sample lunch menu – 100dhs

Marinated Chicken or turkey brochettes (skewers)Mixed saladSpiced yoghurt dip

Sample dinner menu – 250dhs

Monk fish or chicken pastille (filo pastry square parcel)Chicken Makfoul (sweet and savoury tagine) served with rice or couscousLemon cream crunchTea or coffee

‘Lemon and chicken tagine to die for.’

‘The food!!! Oh my goodness the food was amazing!!’

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It comes as quite a surprise to many people that Morocco, a Muslim country, produces wine, but wine has been made in North Africa for least 2,500 years, since the Phoenicians colonized its coast around the 12th century BC. During the era of the Roman Empire, wines were exported to Rome from the region. Curiously enough, the word ‘alcohol’ comes from the Arabic ‘al-kohl’.

Morocco is one of the biggest wine producers in the Muslim world, and even though its production may have fallen to almost a tenth of its output during its heyday of the 1950s during the period of the French Protectorate, it still produces around 35 million bottles each year. Red wine dominates, with over 75 per cent of production. Rosé wines and vin gris account for almost 20 per cent, and white wine for the remaining five per cent. The majority of the wine produced is everyday vine de table, but with a new breed of producers experimenting with a variety of vines the quality of Moroccan wines has risen enormously, receiving international accolades and an increasing number of awards.

Moroccan Wines

Domaine de la ZouinaThe first vintage produced by Domaine de la Zouina was in 2005 and since then the wines have won a number of accolades and are improving year on year.

Volubilia Rouge A blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon with Syrah, Mourvedre and Tempranillo. Dark cherry in colour, on the nose it has clean hints of blackcurrants, with gamey and vanilla undertones. A ripe, smooth palate suggests notes of leather, mocha and game, ending with soft tannins and a juicy freshness.

Volubilia Rosé Grapes: Caladoc, Marselan, Syrah

A luscious rose-pink, with fresh, zesty mineral notes. Light and delicate on the palate with savours of fennel, herbs and citrus fruit.

Vin gris, given this name because of its colour that falls between white and rose, is made from red grapes, in particular pinot noir, a black grape but which can also be used to make rosé or white wine. When the grapes are brought to the winery and crushed, the juice is run off and removed from contact with the skin, leaving the colour and flavour compounds from the skin behind.

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Thalvin, Domaine des Ouled ThalebPremière du Président Cabernet Rouge Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, GrenacheRich ruby colour with a full taste but soft on the palate, and a good balance of acidity and velvety tannins. Slighty peppery nose with notes of earth and red fruit. This is your uncomplicated quaffable Moroccan red.

Cuvée du Président White Grapes: Clairette, Ugni Blanc, Farranah

A crisp, balanced wine with a pale straw colour, a light blossomy nose and a slight savoury taste. An affordable wine perfect for most occasions, including lounging by the pool.

S de Siroua Rouge Grapes: 100% Syrah

A rich ruby red colour but soft and silky on the palate, with a nose that suggests wild berry fruit and smoky spice, which is repeated in the taste. With moderate acidity and tannins, and supported by the oak barrels it is matured in, the finish is fresh and lively.

S de Siroua White Grapes: 100% Chardonnay

A pleasing wine of bright gold color and green hues. Peach and apple flavours on the nose. A full bodied 14 percent alcohol from aging in new barrels which add a hint of vanilla caramel. Lively and fresh in the drinking.The grapes used for the S de Siroua wines come from the prestigious Rommani Vineyards, where the vineyards are all ploughed and weeded by hand. No fungicide or herbicide treatments are used.

Les Trois Domaine

Guerrouane GrisGrape: Cinsault

A fresh, fruity, easy to drink dry rosé wine, that pairs with salads, roasted fish and spicy dishes. The ideal wine for couscous and tagine.

Les Tres Domaine

Moroccan Wines à la carteWe will be delighted to create a private wine tasting of a selection of Moroccan wines especially for your party. Just let us know your preferred style of wine or - better still - leave it entirely in our hands.Minimum six people.

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It’s not all just camel rides!

Many of the people who visit us are quite surprised by how much there is to do. Everyone expects there to be camel rides and mountain trekking, but there is so much more within a very short ride of Villa Dinari to keep you entertained for days. Marrakech is also becoming an important golfing destination, with six 18- or 27-hole courses and one nine-hole course within a short drive of the city, laid out by some of

the top names in golf-course design.

There are plenty of sports to sample in and around Marrakech; horse riding, ballooning, golf, and one of the best ways to see the city or take a ride further into the mountains is by bike. Marrakech is as flat as a pancake and a bike ride is the perfect way to experience the city – and it’s not nearly as hectic as the traffic looks! Argan Xtreme Sports do everything bike-wise from a jolly around Marrakech to serious off-road work in the Atlas Mountains.

‘There is a bike tour of the city which is really

good!’

For April 2014 Villa Dinari is creating a special package to support the

Marrakech Étapean international cycling event that

raises money for the charityEducation For All

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If you are feeling adventurous – even just a little bit

Marrakech is the place to be

BallooningFor anyone who has never been in a balloon before, you honestly can’t imagine just how tranquil it is – at least apart from when the pilot has to use the burners to keep the balloon afloat! It’s such a wonderful sensation, gently drifting, watching the world pass by below. And don’t ask the pilot where he intends to land, because he might be able to control going up and down, but everything else is in the lap of the gods and winds.

And it isn’t just the flight itself that is the adventure. It begins just after dawn when you are picked up at your hotel, and to see the flames from the burners shooting six metres into the air as night recedes is a fascinating sight. The balloon is one of the biggest in the world, and to see it inflate as Maurice Otin, Chief Pilot of Ciel d’Afrique almost shoots the flames into the balloon to inflate it is absolutely awesome.

Zip WireTerres d’Amanar

is a wonderful sports and

activities estate set in 247,000

acres of beautiful countryside beside the

Toubkal National Park, only thirty minutes from

Villa Dinari. They have all sorts of exciting things to do,

including an adventure course in the forest, archery, climbing and trekking, and one of the best zip wire courses in the area. You don’t have to be hectic, though, because you can simply lounge by the swimming pool or take part in one of their craft workshops. And kids even have their own supervised park with trampolines, swings and slides and a BMX course.

One of the reasons we recommend Terres d’Amanar is that most of the staff are locals, mainly from the surrounding villages. This means that families can stay together in their own villages and helps keep communities together.

Whatever you decide to do, we’ll have every-thing booked and ready for when you arrive.

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Marrakech is an excellent golf destination, whether to play a round as part of your holiday or dedicate the whole of your stay to the green. It’s the ideal place for a winter golfing break, with temperatures from November to the end of April around the low- to mid-twenties.

There are six 18- or 27-hole courses and one nine-hole course within a short drive of the city, laid out by some of the top names in golf course design. All courses have excellent facilities, with a practice ground and/or driving range and the services of a professional and caddies – and of course they all have a clubhouse, restaurant and bar.

If you would like to enjoy a round of golf during your stay at Villa Dinari, we can make all the arrangements for you; transfers to and from the courses, pre-book tee times and make restaurant reservations. We can also arrange a complete package, which includes accommodation, transfers and green fees.

The Royal Golf Club of MarrakechRoyal Golf opened in 1923, on the instructions of the then Pasha of Marrakech who fell in love with the game after a visit to Great Britain, Royal Golf is the second oldest golf course in Morocco. Sir Winston Churchill, David Lloyd George and Eisenhower, all played the fairways, as did the late King Hassan II, a self confessed golf fanatic. Set at the foot of the snowy peaks of the High Atlas Mountains, the luxurious vegetation, technicality and stunning landscapes makes this an excellent course, with 27 holes spread over three nine-hole stretches.

Amelkis GolfNamed after a Queen of the Berber tribes, Amelkis Golf Club was designed by Cabell Robinson, a protégée of Robert Trent Jones, and opened in 1995. Its 27 holes are spread out over three nine-hole stretches, with one 18-hole round of about 6,300m from the white tees. The Amelkis Golf is a difficult and technical course, with many blind shots and nice water hazards. It is a quite a spectacular course, hilly, bumpy, with traps at each hole – a course strewn with ambushes and huge bunkers defending each green. Amelkis hosted a European Tour event within its first five years, the 2000 Moroccan Open.

‘Just returned from a fabulous week’s golf holiday at the gorgeous Villa Dinari. The courses are wonderful, and

my personal favourite, the Amelkis has views of the snow capped Atlas mountains, such a treat.’

Marrakech Golf

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Al Maaden GolfSet in the foothills of the High Atlas Mountains, the Kyle Philips-designed 18-hole course combines a love a nature with technical imagination, and blends beautifully into a fabulous wooded scenery alternating flatlands and reliefs. The course is designed on a varied terrain, with undulating fairways and scattered with one hundred and four bunkers, numerous water obstacles, and greens surrounded by palm, cypress and almond trees. Al Maaden golf course is adapted to all levels of play, although the mirror lakes in the centre of the two 9-hole stretches add excitement to the challenge, and a bunker and an uphill green give the course a demanding finish. Opened in 2010.

Atlas GolfAtlas Golf is a nine-hole golf course designed by Alain Prat, which opened in 2010. The third hole is a challenging 151m par three, with a variety of water hazards and bunkers. The club offers special golf training and lessons, tailored to the individual’s needs. An excellent course for beginners, who can be set on their way by a friendly pro.

Palmeraie GolfPalmeraie Golf is situated in the Palmeraie on the outskirts of Marrakech, one of Morocco’s most important natural palm oasis. Designed by Robert Trent Jones, it opened in 1993 as an 18-hole course, extended to 27 holes in 2009. It is quite a technical course, with plenty of water hazards and many of Trent Jones’ trademarks – unusual shaped bunkers, dog-leg holes, undulating greens and, in this particular instance, lots of palm trees.

Assoufid GolfThis is a brand new desert course designed by Scottish designer Niall Cameron, which opened at the beginning of 2012 and has ambitions to be one of Marrakech’s best. It has a variety of green fairways and brown desert landscaping, with a particularly challenging par four at the sixth hole, and a dogleg to the right.

Samanah Golf When Jack Nicklaus designed the eighteen-hole course at Samanah Golf he created demanding greens that need a lot of concentration; technical, but playable for all levels. There are wonderful views of the High Atlas Mountains, particularly from the 13th hole. The eighteenth hole can be particularly difficult, with a lot of bunkers on the fairway and a dogleg to the left, bordered by a large water hazard.

‘We travelled as a group of golfers looking for some sun, relaxation, good food, good company and good golf.

In all respects we were not disappointed.’

Try our ‘Tee for Two’ with your partner; a day of golf at one of Marrakech’s superb courses, with a relaxing sports or beauty massage at the luxurious Bains de Marrakech.

It’s always a temptation to just flop and relax in Villa Dinari’s beautiful gardens and soak up the sun, but there is so much to see and do that we are continually creating new packages to help you make the most of the gloriously mystical Red City and the surrounding area. A day out the High Atlas Mountains, a delve into the heart and history of Marrakech’s exotic past, a wine tasting of Morocco’s excellent wines or a wander through the beautiful gardens of this enigmatic city, including the delightful Majorelle Gardens with its dazzlingly blue buildings, taken from the colour of the robes of the nomadic Tuaregs. We’ll arrange everything for you, and to whet your appetite here are a couple of packages that are our most popular.

Special Packages

Shopping and sightseeingDay 1: Arrive Villa Dinari: Welcomed with mint tea and home-made cake.19.30: An aperitif before dinner at 20.00.

Day 2: A lazy breakfast followed by lounging around in the gardens or by the pool until a light lunch at 13.00.14.30: Gird your loins for an assault on the fabulous souks of Marrakech with your personal shopper. Everyone’s first experience of the souks is magical; the glitter of light from pierced metal lamps, row upon row of soft, lusciously coloured leather babouche slippers, richly embroidered djellabas, a jewel box of the exotic and unusual. And if you find that bartering isn’t your strong point he’ll take you to the fixed price Aladdin’s cave where we shop personally.Return to Villa Dinari to wind down before an aperitif at 19.30.

Day 3: Is it to be a return to Marrakech for a tour of the ancient Medina, or a ride into the foothills of the High Atlas Mountains? The choice is yours. Medina Tour. Marrakech medina comes to life as you explore the Saadian tombs, Bahia Palace, Ali Ben Youssef Koranic School, and discover the intricacies of the various souks, escorted by your personal guide. The Medina might seem like a haphazard arrangement of skinny lanes, but it has its own historic organization that is mirrored in every ancient city throughout the country. Or you might choose to visit the glorious gardens of Marrakech, an eye-opener for many people who imagine Morocco to be nothing more than Atlas mountain peaks and Saharan desert. Ourika Valley Tour. For generations Marrakshis have taken their weekend jaunts to the cool of the Ourika Valley. The land rises from the arid plain

surrounding Marrakech, with olive groves and citrus trees, poplar and weeping willow scattering the hillside, until finally you are in the lush countryside of the Ourika Valley itself, with its pine and cedar forests.Whichever tour you choose, after a leisurely breakfast you will leave around 10.30, have a light lunch at 13.00 and return to Villa Dinari around 16.00 to relax before a pre-dinner aperitif at 19.30. (If you wish we can arrange for you to have lunch in a traditional Berber home if you decide on the Ourika Valley tour.)

Day 4: The day is yours until your car arrives to take you to the airport.

The price of our Shopping and Sightseeing package includes transfers to and from Marrakech airport, your room (two people sharing), all meals taken at Villa Dinari, a personal guide for both your shopping and sightseeing excursions, entrance fees where applicable. The price does not include drinks, other than your pre-dinner aperitif.

Tee for TwoIf you are a golf lover you could try our ‘Tee for Two’ with your partner. (or ‘Tee for Four, Six or even more if you would like to come as a group.) Marrakech has some excellent golf courses, far better than most people imagine, some of which are located virtually on Villa Dinari’s doorstep. On page 24 you will find details of some of the best. In this package you choose two courses to play and we make all the arrangements.

Day 1: Arrive Villa Dinari: Welcomed with mint tea and home-made cake.19.30: An aperitif before dinner at 20.00

Day 2: Breakfast before leaving for the first of your chosen golf courses at 9.30. Return to Villa Dinari for lunch at 13.30.15.00: Tour of Marrakech Medina (See ‘Medina Tour, Shopping and Sightseeing.’). 18.30, return to Villa Dinari to relax before a pre-dinner aperitif at 19.30.

Day 3: Breakfast before leaving for the second of your chosen golf courses at 9.30.Return to Villa Dinari for lunch at 13.30.Free afternoon to relax in the beautiful gardens or around the pool before drinks at 19.30 prior to dinner.

Day 4: The day is yours until your car arrives to take you to the airport.

The price of our Tee for Two package includes transport to and from Marrakech airport, your room (two people sharing), all meals taken at Villa Dinari, a personal guide for your sightseeing excursion, entrance fees where applicable on your tour. The price does not include drinks other than pre-dinner aperitif.Course fees vary. We can let you have further information when you make your choice for the package.

Further Afield

Ourika ValleyOurika Valley is the nearest of the preferred destinations. Just 60 minutes from town, you will find a completely different way of life. Mainly inhabited by Berbers, this valley is a delight to see. Stop at a roadside café and eat a Berber tagine by the riverside, or lunch in Ourika’s best restaurant, Le Ramuncho. Alternatively, enjoy the spectacular views and excellent restaurant at Kasbah Bab Ourika. The option of climbing to the SettiFatma waterfalls is available for those who feel fit and adventurous.

Asni and the Ouirgane ValleyAbout 90 minutes from Marrakech, this is a beautiful area to visit. You will pass different types of mountain terrain, visit a Berber village and lunch in one of the area’s many delightful guesthouses, Chez Mou Mou, Au Sanglier Qui Fume or for those of you with deep pockets the ‘Kasbah Tamadot’, Richard Branson’s hotel. There are Berber markets on Tuesdays and Saturdays which are worth a visit.

Jbel ToubkalThe highest mountain in the High Atlas range. Enjoy a truly scenic drive through the mountains and visit the ‘Kasbah du Toubkal’ with its 360 degree view of the mountains. Lunch can be arranged at the Kasbah and for the adventurous among you, trekking can also be organised. This is an amazing day out and not to be missed.

Telout, Ait Ben Haddou and OuarzazateNot for the faint hearted, this trip is quite epic in proportions but so worth it if you can take the long car journey.Climb (by car of course) the High Atlas Mountains over the Tizi n’Tichka pass, (the highest in North Africa) then a sharp turn off to the left to descend into the valley to visit the old Glaoui Kasbah in Telouet. It is in ruins, but has some amazing interior architecture. There are a couple of nice cafes if you would like to have lunch and then continue on to Ait ben Haddou, (a World Heritage site), and then on to the town of Ouarzazate to visit one of the town’s Kasbah’s. Ourzazate is well known for it’s international film studios and is known as the ‘Gateway of the Sahara’. Please be aware though, that the nearest Dunes are another four hours from this town. The return journey takes a different route until you reach the Tichka Pass, where you rejoin the route from earlier in the day.

EssaouiraThis pretty little fishing village on the Atlantic Coast was built by the Portugese and is sometimes known as ‘the Windy City’. It is well known amongst the surf boarding community. It still has the old fort and the people have a wonderful laid-back approach to life. The dulcet tones of Bob Marley can be heard on many a street corner. This is a great place to shop for local art, musical instruments and Thuya wood.About 2.5 hours from Marrakech, it is great for a beach day trip, sit in a beach side restaurant eating the local ‘catch of the day’ with a glass of crisp white wine and then taking a stroll around their medina.

Marrakech is a fabulous place to visit, but a reasonably early start will reward you with a glorious

day out to enjoy the enormous range of culture, scenery and colour that this delightful country has to offer.

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MOROCCO HAS DAZZLED VISITORS FOR CENTURIES; writers, travellers, adventurers, searchers of the exotic, academics researching learned treatise, romantics to gaze at desert stars, and hardier types to trek Jbel Toubkal, North Africa’s highest peak. Rarely did anyone leave less than enchanted.

As Edith Wharton, the doyen of early travel writers, wrote, “Morocco is too curious, too beautiful, too rich in landscape and architecture”, and there are few who have the depth of knowledge of this delightful country to ensure a most remarkable adventure as….

Our Man in MoroccoAbdellatif Benhrima’s love of Moroccan history as a child was the beginning of his career as a tour guide – although he didn’t know it at the time. Born and raised in Marrakech’s Medina, Abdel knew all the hidden corners of the ancient heart of the city while still in his teens, and by the time he went to Rabat University to study linguistics (he speaks Arabic, French, Berber and English fluently), he was already delighting his friends with his knowledge as he travelled his country devouring its sights, sounds and stories. The moment he received his license as a guide from the Moroccan Government, he was off, and in the intervening twenty-five years has become one of the most knowledgeable and respected guides in Morocco.

The essence of Our Man in Morocco is that Abdel is Your Man in Morocco. From a half-day trip to unearth the secrets of the souks to a month-long, once in a lifetime journey to discover this most exotic of North African countries, Abdel and his team of experienced guides can create a Moroccan adventure far beyond anything you hoped for or expected. A romantic night under the stars with a camel ride to watch the glorious desert dawn; ancient kasbahs of once powerful lords of the mountains; the workshops of ladies hand-weaving luxuriously rich carpets, their tribal designs each telling their own private story of daily life; the glories of the Imperial Cities; private homes and gardens of friends, where you can take tea by invitation only – all you have to do is ask.

Our Man in Morocco

‘I would just like to comment on what a wonderful guide Abdel is. We booked on his Secret Medina tour when we booked

our stay at Villa Dinari and it was excellent. He made our holiday for us.’

From an afternoon shopping to a night under the desert stars, Our

Man In Morocco will organise everything for you

down to the last detail.

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Half-day toursIf your time in Marrakech is limited and you would like to get a feel of the city and its surroundings, we suggest these half-day tours:

Secret Medina - The hidden corners, tucked-away workshops and stories of life in the Medina that only a born and bred Marrakshi would know.

Behind the Walls – Life lived away from public gaze explained and contrasted with the glories of the Bahia Palace of the Grand Vizier Si Moussa and life in the tiny cells of the students at the Ben Youssef Madrasa.

Personal Shopping – Everything from a glittering lamp to houseful of exotic ideas, Our Man in Morocco knows where to find it.

The Gardens of Marrakech - Marrakech was a ‘garden city’ long before the the idea occurred to urban designers. Green spaces, vibrant horticultural gems, calming pools, none of it is new

Villa Dinari is delicious, and as I lie in my island-size bed in my elegant room of soft shades of grey, it occurs to me for about the zillionth time, “How come I’m on my own yet again in such sumptuous delight, when I should have an endearing little deary to be romantic with?” As ever, there’s no answer – so much for the itinerant journalistic life.

The villa didn’t start out life as a holiday hideaway from the beautiful chaos of Marrakech. The original idea was a family home for Heather, her husband Abdellatif and their five year-old son Adam, within striking distance of the city, something comfortable but compact. After months of searching, with hopes and wallet never quite connecting, the good fairy waved her

magic wand when a friend of Abdel’s rang to say he had seen a piece of land that he’d better look at immediately, before the owner realised he’d left a zero off the end.

“We’d never, ever have believed we’d find a piece of land this size within our budget, so we jumped at it,” says Heather. “We just couldn’t let it go, because it meant we could have the house we wanted and large gardens, which are really important to me.”

Starting smallThe first construction

was a small cottage and a swimming pool so the family could enjoy weekends away from the city while they designed the house and laid out the gardens.

“One of the difficulties

when you have guests is that neither they nor yourselves can always have privacy, so we decided to combine two styles of house in one. The main house is very modern and has large rooms and plenty of space, but we decided to incorporate the traditional style of house, the riad, that you find in the Medina for the guest rooms. A riad has a garden in the centre with rooms running off it, but we decided that each room would also have its own private terrace so everyone could have peace and quiet and then get together in the main house in the evenings. But it was never intended as somewhere for paying guests, we just wanted our friends and family to be comfortable when they visited us.”

Villa Delicious

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When Heather Benhrima tells me that staying at Villa Dinari is a home-from-home experience I think that she might be kidding herself a bit. This is about as unlike a home-from-home experience as you can get - at least as far as a home-from-my-home experience goes.

As seen in Marrakech Uncovered

And this is probably what Heather means when she says it’s a home-from-home experience because the apparently casual layout of the guest rooms, both attached to the main house and carefully placed throughout the beautiful gardens, totally lack the sometimes oppressive formality of a hotel. Even when Villa Dinari is full you feel more like you are having a garden party with friends than staying at a chi-chi country B&B.

And, boy, it is chi-chi, but in the nicest possible way.

Stylishly differentEach room is totally different and

brings together Heather’s beautiful combinations of colour and fabrics (so it’s no surprise to find that she runs a very successful clothing design business) and Abdel’s many years as one of Morocco’s top guides, who conducts the elite of the interior design world on shopping forays into the depths of the Medina (and who is charmingly discreet when questioned about his A-list clients).

I’m fortunate that my early spring visit has days warm enough to lounge by the pool – but not warm enough yet for a dip – and jumper-chill evenings ideal for sitting in front of the big log fire in the living room. Heather joins myself and the other six guests for an aperitif, to ready our appetites for a tantalizing monk-fish pastille, parcels

of filo pastry, and a chicken Makfoul, a wonderful sweet and savoury tajine. (Abdel is at that moment sitting by another fire, but that one is at a desert camp under the star-sparkly sky of the Sahara)

“When we decided to build the garden rooms we wanted to create pockets of privacy so if, for example, a couple were spending a romantic weekend here they would be undisturbed in their accommodation and could have a candle-lit dinner in the garden, if that’s what they wanted, and still be able to mix with other guests and enjoy each other’s company. That’s also why families and groups seem to enjoy staying here, because they can be together as much as they like and yet still be able to slip off for a bit of peace on their own without leaving the villa.

Garden partyAnd we go back to the feeling of

being at a friend’s garden party. There is plenty of space to be alone, but the beautifully laid out gardens with pockets of tables and chairs almost invites you to schmooze.

“I think it’s that informal ‘garden party’ atmosphere, particularly during the warmer months (in other words, most of the year), that Abdel and I

e n j o y so much. We usually join our guests for a drink in the evening and we often find that people have so much in common that we feel that we are just having a drink with friends. I’m sure many hotel owners say that, but it’s true. I’m always learning something new, and for us it’s a pleasure to help guests with information about things to do that will help them enjoy their holiday.”

Work calls and I pack my bag for a trip into the High Atlas Mountains, their peaks shimmering with snow off in the distance through the window of my room. It emphasises the charm of Villa Dinari for me; a place of calm between the frenetic Medina and the wilds and hard slog of the mountains.

www.villadinari.com

www.villadinari.com

Villa Dinari, Marrakech, Morocco. Tel: 00 212 524 32 89 22 Mob: 00 212 661 18 66 84

Email: info.villadinari@gmail.com

Designed by Derek Workmanderek@spainuncovered.net