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Marrakech Destination Guide

Week Two
Marrakech

Marrakech

Published: Tuesday, 22 January 2008, 10:10AM

On today's programme, Sarah Heaney takes a whistle-stop tour of the vibrant city of Marrakech. She gets swept into the melting pot of the medina and the city's sprawling souks, before retreating to its smartest spas and stunning gardens.

We look back into the Wish You Were Here...? archive, and Chris Kelly's visit to the city in 1981.  Back then, Chris haggled his way to securing the best deal on a camel saddle.  The tradition endures today, and Sarah hits the souks to put her haggling skills to the test.

Daunted by the prospect of tackling the medina's 28,000 shops on her own, Sarah hires personal shopper Laetitia Trouillet.  She makes the most of her valuable shopping time and gets the inside track on the best buys in clothes and the hottest homewares

She heads to the Djemaa el Fna to absorb the intoxicating atmosphere of the city's central square by night, with its snake charmers, fire eaters, monkey handlers and wealth of food stalls.

Sarah winds down with some traditional spa treatments and a wander round the beautiful Majorelle Gardens restored by Yves Sant Laurent.

Heather Benhrima fell in love with Marrakech – and her tour guide – over 20 years ago.  We hear how they bought a plot of land and tour the magnificent house that they designed and built.

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Fact file

Marrakech

General: Morocco's second largest city is near the Atlas Mountains and attracts 400,000 British visitors a year
Airport: Marrakech-Menara, 6km from the city
Average temperature: 13°C in winter, 26°C in summer
Currency: Moroccan Dirham
Language: Arabic & French

Top three highlights

Supplier

Murano Oriental Resort

Tourist board