Saadian Tombs

Nature & adventure

Enjoy a private or shared group guided walking tour through bustling Marrakech. Admire some of its major landmarks including Jemaa el-Fnaa Square, the Koutobia Mosque, the Saadian Tombs, and the Bahia Palace. Meet your guide in front of Café de France, an iconic landmark on Marrakech’s bustling Jemaa el-Fnaa Square. First, discover the majesty and vibrancy of Marrakech’s medina. Then admire the Koutobia Mosque and its massive minaret, the largest in the city. Learn about the stunning architecture and fascinating history of this highlight of any visit to Marrakech. Explore the Saadian Tombs, sealed for centuries until their rediscovery in 1917. Marvel at the ornate carvings in a Hispano-Moorish style that frames the crypts of a 16th-century royal family.  Afterwards, head to the equally ornate Bahia Palace, a 19th-century royal dwelling intended to be the most splendid palace of its time. See the elaborately painted ceilings, manicured gardens replete with fruit trees, and elaborate stucco patterns adorning almost every surface of the building. To cap the tour off, stroll through the buzzing souks, with their wide array of local artisans and craftspeople. Your guide will give you insider tips about the best stalls. Finish back at the Jemaa el-Fnaa square, where locals meet every day to enjoy the storytellers, musicians, and performers.

Take a guided walking tour of Marrakech to discover this medieval desert enclave's beautiful and spectacular treasures. Stroll through the old medina with a local guide. Benefit from fast access to the Bahia and Badii Palaces, then pay an optional visit to the Saadian Tombs. Begin your walking tour by passing the ruins of Sultan Ahmed El Mansour's 16th-century Grand Badi Palace. Catch a glimpse of the former affluence of this majestic city. Learn about how, at the height of its glory, the palace was considered the 8th wonder of the world. Then, continue your tour to the Bahia Palace, the jewel in the crown of Marrakech and a monument of breathtaking magnificence. Head inside to find out how it was constructed in the latter part of the 19th century and took the most skilled workers and artisans 6 years to complete. Finally, pay an optional visit to the Saadian Tombs, sealed for centuries until their rediscovery in 1917. Hear about how the tombs date back to the time of Sultan Ahmad al-Mansur. See the 2 main mausoleums within the enclosure, consisting of 66 tombs with 100 more lying outside the gardens.

Enjoy a comprehensive sightseeing tour of Marrakech, exploring the medieval streets, souks and medina of Morocco’s “Red City” through its palaces and monuments. Following a pick-up from your hotel or riad, explore one of Morocco’s oldest imperial cities at sites such as the Koutoubia, one of the largest and most beautiful mosques of the western Muslim world. Marvel at its 221-foot minaret and masterful architecture that evokes the Giralda of Seville. Continues to a peaceful enclosure in the Kasbah to see the Saadian Tombs, dating back to the 16th century of Sultan Ahmad al-Mansu. Admire the colorful tiles, Arabic script, and intricate carvings, hidden to the world after they were sealed up until 1917. Next, spend an hour at the 19th-century Bahia Palace, built in 7 years by 1,000 craftsmen from Fez. Intended to be the greatest example of Moroccan and Islamic architecture in the world, a haphazard arrangement of secret apartments open onto inner courtyards, set in the center of a 2-acre garden.  Then go to Jemaa El-Fnaa, Marrakech's main square and the market place. Through the medina, there are different souks to explore. From the silk-spinners and the spice sellers to carpets to crystals. Each little street has its own identity and its own unique selling point.

Discover some of the highlights of Marrakech on a shared group or private guided tour. Visit notable landmarks such as El Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs, the Koutoubia Mosque, and Djemaa El Fna Square. After meeting your local guide, choose to visit the following attractions in the order you prefer. Explore El Bahia Palace, known as “the palace of the beautiful”, which is designed in an Alaoui style. Stroll through some of the 160 rooms in the palace with decorations of stucco panels, zellij decorations, tiled floors, carved cedar ceilings, shiny marble finishes, and painted ceilings. Visit Koutoubia Mosque, the city's largest mosque, which derives its name from its historical association with bookshops and booksellers. Admire the traditional Almohad architectural style, its tower is adorned with four copper globes. Stroll through the Saadian Tombs, dating from the time of Sultan Ahmad al-Mansur, which house the remains of about sixty members of the Sa’adi Dynasty. Walk through the bustling souks and Djemaa El Fna square at the heart of Marrakesh. Discover an array of traditional Moroccan handicrafts, spices, medicinal remedies, and local entertainment. You can also find Moroccan items like babouches, leather goods, garments, pottery, tajine dishes, and silver jewelry.

Discover the old city of Marrakech with its labyrinthine streets, famous markets, and the Majorelle Garden on this tour. Visit the famous Palais de Bahia, a beautifully decorated palace full of enchanting inner rooms and elaborate mosaic walls.  With a distinctly different architecture from the rest of the medina, walk through the Jewish Quarter. Discover the incredible Saadian tombs and the Medersa Ben Youssef, an old school of Quranic study with beautiful Arabian-Andalucían architecture. Admire the wood carvings and visit the tiny students' rooms, then see the Koutoubia Mosque, an icon of Marrakech and a point of orientation for tourists. Head to the world-famous Jemaah el Fna square with its countless orange juice stands, snake charmers, traditionally-garbed water sellers and henna women. Enjoy a refreshing midday pause on one of the terraces with a panoramic view and take in the sights of the colorful crowds below. Then continue on to the incredible Majorelle Garden and make your way through this oasis of calm in the midst of the bustling new city at your leisure. Visit the Berber Museum housed in the bright blue villa and learn about the history and traditions of Berber people and see some of their beautiful traditional clothing. 

Begin your walking tour by visiting the Koutoubia Mosque, the city's largest mosque, which derives its name from its historical association with bookshops and booksellers. Admire the traditional Almohad architectural style and a tower adorned with four copper globes. Then, explore Bahia Palace, and its 160 rooms around little courtyards, which were, according to rumor, occupied by concubines. See the surrounding eight-hectare garden decorated by stucco panels, zellij, tiled floors, carved cedar ceilings, shiny marble finishes, and painted ceilings. Continue to the Ben Youssef Medersa, a Quranic School dating back to Sultan Abou el Hassan's rule, was later rebuilt in the 1560s by the Saadians. Marvel at the architectural masterpiece, showcasing typical Moroccan styles such as zellij tiling, stucco plasterwork, and carved cedar wood. End your sightseeing adventure in Marrakesh's lively souks – the city's beating heart, providing traditional Moroccan handicrafts, spices, medicinal remedies, and local entertainment. Discover items such as babouches, leather goods, clothing, pottery, tagine dishes, and silver jewelry.

In the Medina of Marrakech it is not always easy to find your way. This is why it is best to have a biking guide to show you the best places of the area, making you feel like the area is yours. Just biking through Marrakech itself will make you feel like a sultan as you discover the inside of this ancient and imperial city. Biking along the medieval red-clay city walls in particular is sure to make your Marrakech visit an extraordinary experience. Throughout your tour you will pass by various monuments and interesting buildings which might be worthwhile to explore in depth once you have finished your first exploration of the city. At the conclusion of your experience, you will return to your point of origin.

Spend a full-day visiting the most iconic attractions in Marrakech. Following a pickup from your accommodation, explore one of Morocco's largest and most beautiful mosques, Koutoubia.   Continue the tour to the Bahia Palace and admire its beautiful gardens filled with fruit trees and sweet-smelling flowers. Then, head over to the peaceful enclosure in the Kasbah to see the cedar wood domes and marble columns of the Saadian Tombs. Next, get ready to see Morocco's most famous souks and experience the daily hustle and bustle of the city before visiting Djeemaa El Fna, Marrakech's bustling marketplace filled with merchants from the Souk region. After soaking up the colorful atmosphere of the market, there'll be free time for you to have lunch and join in for the second part of the tour. After your lunch break, visit the Secret Gardens, which dates back to the Saadian Dynasty over 400 years ago and was rebuilt in the 19th-century. Then make your way to the Menara Gardens, the famous summer residence of Sultan Abderrahmane, and gaze in awe at the beautiful orchards and olive groves. Relax on the drive back to your hotel or riad at the end of your tour.

Enjoy a 1 or 2-hour EcoScooter tour with a local group leader. Either follow a predefined private tour program to discover the most important places in Marrakech or define your own private itinerary and visit the sights you're most interested in.  Start the tour from Sofitel Hotel Esplanade and head to the famous Koutoubia mosque where you will start a short visit to Jamaa El Fna Square, The Souks, and the Medina (From Bab Ftouh to Bab Laksour). Then, continue to Gueliz, the contemporary quarter of Marrakech, which is home to craft shops, chic stores, and exclusive boutiques. Make a short stop in the Menara Gardens, built during the period of the Saadian Dynasty in the 16th century. Surround yourself with beautiful orchards and olive groves. Finally, end the tour back at Sofitel Hotel Esplanade.

The Majorelle Gardens, originally designed by Jacques Majorelle and later owned by Yves Saint Laurent, offer a peaceful and picturesque atmosphere with fish pools, bridges, cacti, and trees. It features a charming shop, café, and restaurant, and is known for its unique "Majorelle blue" hue, which has inspired imitations across the city. The Koutoubia Mosque, the city's largest mosque, derives its name from its historical association with bookshops and booksellers. Following a traditional Almohad architectural style, its tower is adorned with four copper globes. Miniature replicas of the mosque are widely sold in Morocco, attesting to its popularity. El Bahia Palace, known as "the palace of the beautiful," was constructed in the Alaoui style between 1894 and 1900 for Ahmed Ibn Moussa. It boasts 160 rooms surrounding courtyards, with rumours of concubine occupancy. The palace's stunning interior exhibits stucco panels, zellij decorations, carved cedar ceilings, and shiny marble finishes. It is surrounded by an extensive eight-hectare garden. The Ben Youssef Medersa, a Quranic School dating back to Sultan Abou el Hassan's rule, was later rebuilt in the 1560s by the Saadians. It is an impressive architectural masterpiece, showcasing typical Moroccan styles such as zellij tiling, stucco plasterwork, and carved cedar wood. The school served as a place where around 800 students memorized the Koran. The Saadian Tombs, dating from the time of Sultan Ahmad al-Mansur, house the remains of about sixty members of the Sa’adi Dynasty. Rediscovered in 1917 and carefully restored, these tombs have become a prominent attraction in Marrakech, serving as the final resting place for members of the dynasty from the Dra’a Valley beyond the high Atlas Mountains. Marrakesh has a Jewish Mellah, historically inhabited by non-Muslims, including Jews. Many synagogues still stand, though fewer are in use. The Mellah district holds cultural and historical significance. The bustling souks are the heart of Marrakesh, offering an array of traditional Moroccan handicrafts, spices, medicinal remedies, and local entertainment. Visitors can find iconic items like babouches, leather goods, garments, pottery, tajine dishes, and silver jewellery. Bargaining is a common practice, adding a sense of fun and excitement to the shopping experience.