Come with me on my recent Marrakech scouting journey
Marrakech is a city of contrasts. Vibrant streets give way to centuries-old traditions, and some of the most memorable places are hidden behind doors you might otherwise walk straight past. During my recent scouting journey, my goal was to discover places with character, meet the people behind them and build relationships with local partners I can genuinely trust.
Because at Aurea Escapes, a recommendation is never just about what looks beautiful online. It is about understanding the experience first-hand and knowing which places might genuinely add something special to a client’s journey. These are five places that stood out to me; each for a very different reason.
Alkamar Camp; A Slower Side of Marrakech
After experiencing the energy of Marrakech, heading towards the landscapes of Agafay offers a complete change of pace.
During my Scouting Journey, I was kindly invited to Alkamar Camp, where the team welcomed me and showed me around the property. Experiencing it in person allowed me to understand how beautifully it could complement a stay in Marrakech.
Guests can stay in one of the camp’s lodges, enjoy its culinary offering, spend time by the pool and bar, or explore the surroundings through experiences such as camel and quad rides. But what stood out to me most was the contrast it can bring to a journey. Marrakech is full of energy, colour and discovery; Alkamar offers space to slow down and experience another side of the region.
Why Alkamar camp? Because I love combining different atmospheres within one journey. A stay at Alkamar can add that moment of stillness and contrast that makes an itinerary feel considered rather than conventional.
There is something special about stepping away from the streets of Marrakech and through the doors of a riad.
During my own stay at Riad Yamina52, I had the opportunity to experience exactly what I value when selecting boutique accommodation: character, atmosphere and personal hospitality.
Staying there myself also gave me something that photographs and online reviews never fully can — a feeling for the property. How does it feel to return after a day exploring Marrakech? What is the atmosphere like? How does the hospitality feel? And, ultimately, which type of traveller would feel at home here? These are the details that matter when I recommend accommodation to a client.
Why Riad Yamina52? Because choosing a hotel should be about much more than its star rating. I look for places that complement the traveller and the journey itself. Riad Yamina52 offers the kind of intimate, characterful setting that can become part of the Marrakech experience rather than simply somewhere to sleep.
Some places allow you to stay in a destination. Others help you feel more connected to it. My introduction to Dar des Arts was particularly interesting because of the wider philosophy behind Dar Society: bringing together hospitality, culture, art and gastronomy.
Rather than approaching Marrakech purely as a collection of places to visit, this way of thinking invites travellers to engage more deeply with its heritage and creative identity.
For me, meeting the people behind concepts like this is an important part of scouting. Understanding their vision and way of working helps me determine not only whether something is beautiful, but whether it has the substance and character I look for when curating an Aurea journey.
Why Dar Society? Because I am drawn to places with a story. A stay becomes much more memorable when the surroundings, design and people behind it create a genuine connection to the destination.
One of the things I love about Marrakech is that you never quite know what might be waiting behind the next door. La Famille is a beautiful example of that. Hidden within the Medina, this women-owned restaurant offers a peaceful garden setting away from the energy of the surrounding streets. It is the kind of place that feels like a discovery, somewhere you might easily miss unless you know where to look.
For me, a thoughtfully designed journey is made up of these smaller moments too. Not every experience needs to be grand or exclusive. Sometimes it is a beautiful lunch in an unexpected setting, supporting the people who give a destination its character, that becomes one of the memories you take home.
Why La Famille? Because hidden gems do not necessarily mean luxury in the traditional sense. They are places with character, authenticity and a story behind them. La Famille brings those elements together in a way that feels personal, local and distinctly Marrakech.
Lalla Zehra; Learning more about Marrakech through its local kitchen
Some of the best ways to understand a destination happen around a table. My experience with Lalla Zehra was about much more than learning how to prepare Moroccan dishes. It offered a more personal way to discover the culture and traditions behind the food.
Cooking together, hearing the stories behind what we were preparing and experiencing Moroccan cuisine in this setting created the kind of connection I look for when selecting local experiences.
Why Lalla Zehra? Because food is one of the most authentic ways to understand a culture. Through local ingredients, recipes and traditions, you discover the stories behind a destination. Lalla Zehra turns a cooking class into a meaningful connection with Moroccan culture exactly the kind of experience I love to include in an Escape.
