The idea of staying in a Riad captures our imagination but what is a Riad…certainly a place offering sanctuary from all the hustle and bustle of street life.

People sometimes ask; what is a Riad? Riad or Ryad, from which it’s derived, literally means garden; a house with with a interior courtyard with plants. Usually several stories high most of the rooms face on to each other which makes for a charmingly intimate experience. In some cases these have been converted into hotels, over 600 to date in Marrakesh alone.  The Riads in Marrakesh often hog the headlines for luxury but there are a growing number of excellent opportunities outside “the red city”. Morocco also boasts a variety of choice with B&B’s and auberges also available in the villages and at major rural sites. For the tours we like to give you mix of different types of accommodation all of which is carefully mostly based on our personal knowledge. When choosing places for you to stay then we look at location, facilities and the level of comfort you require. Also have we used them before and in most cases we have. Sometimes clients express an opinion for a particular high quality chain hotel available in the larger towns and cities and we’re happy to include it as part of the itinerary. All the establishments we use are 3 stars or more and many of them have pools.

“once you step inside the Riad you are greeted with a wonderfully calm and relaxed atmosphere. The hotel staff are all extremely friendly and helpful and the rooms clean, comfortable, spacious and full of character”

Kate, holiday 2020

Essaouira