Ndawani Marrakech and Agafay
A six-day journey through Marrakech’s architectural heritage, contemporary creative scene and distinctive hospitality, followed by a private retreat in the Agafay Desert. The experience balances guided discovery with personal freedom, restorative pauses and moments of celebration, allowing guests to experience Morocco at an unhurried pace.
1
The Architecture and History of Marrakech
The journey begins with the palaces, neighborhoods and monuments that reveal Marrakech's royal and cultural history.
Highlights
Explore the courtyards, gardens and intricately decorated rooms of one of Marrakech’s most important nineteenth-century palaces with a private guide.
The Mellah and Place des Ferblantiers:
Walk from Bahia Palace through Marrakech's historic Jewish Quarter toward El Badi Palace. Along the way, the guide introduces the neighborhood's history, architecture, markets and metalworking traditions.
Discover the monumental remains of the Saadian palace, once constructed as one of North Africa’s most elaborate royal residences.
Explore Marrakech's historic Islamic college, celebrated for its carved cedar, zellige tilework and tranquil central courtyard.
An atmospheric Moroccan dinner accompanied by live musicians, dancers and Gnawa-influenced performances.
2
Contemporary Art Design and Shopping
The second day shifts from historic Marrakech to the city's contemporary creative identity. Guests encounter Moroccan art, enjoy private hospitality and meet the designers shaping Marrakech today.
Highlights
Explore contemporary African art through a privately guided visit led by a curator or cultural mediator who can provide context around the artists, themes and wider African art landscape.
Enjoy lunch in one of El Fenn's private dining spaces, surrounded by contemporary art and the property's distinctive approach to Moroccan design.
Private Design and Shopping Appointments in Sidi Ghanem
Visit a curated selection of fashion, jewelry, textile, furniture and homeware studios. Where possible, appointments include meetings with founders and designers, opportunities for customization and delivery of purchases to the hotel.
Evening at Leisure
The evening is intentionally unscheduled, giving guests time to rest after a full creative day.
3
Marrakech at Your Own Pace
Guests are given the freedom to experience Marrakech according to their individual interests before reuniting for a special evening in an olive grove.
Highlights
A Personally Curated Day:
Guests can select from shopping appointments, museums, private tours, hammam treatments, culinary experiences or a quiet day beside the pool. Ndawani provides the transportation and logistical support required for each choice.
Olive-Grove Supper at Farasha Farmhouse:
In the late afternoon, the group travels beyond central Marrakech for an intimate supper at Farasha Farmhouse. Set within a working farm and extensive olive grove, the evening combines seasonal food, art, nature and relaxed conversation in a beautiful rural setting.
4
Agafay Arrival and Restoration
The journey leaves the energy of Marrakech behind and enters the open landscape of Agafay. With the accommodation exclusively reserved for Ndawani guests, the desert stay begins with privacy, rest and restoration.
Highlights
Private Transfer to Agafay:
Travel from Marrakech to the group's privately reserved desert property, with luggage and room assignments coordinated in advance.
Exclusive Accommodation Buyout:
The property, guest accommodations and principal communal spaces are reserved for the group, creating a completely private environment for the remainder of the experience.
Private Spa Afternoon:
Guests select from massages, hammam rituals and restorative body treatments. Treatment appointments are arranged throughout the afternoon, leaving time to enjoy the rooms and pool between sessions.
Sunset Cocktails:
Gather for drinks and light bites as the sun moves across the desert and the Atlas Mountains appear in the distance.
Private Welcome Dinner:
The evening ends with a relaxed dinner at the property. The atmosphere remains intentionally intimate, saving the major entertainment production for the final night.
5
Agafay From Above and Across the Landscape
The day presents two very different perspectives of Agafay: first from the air and later from within the desert itself. Generous time between the experiences allows guests to rest and enjoy the private property.
Highlights
Private Sunrise Hot-Air-Balloon Flight:
Depart before dawn for an exclusively reserved balloon experience overlooking the Marrakech countryside, desert landscape and Atlas Mountains.
Private Balloon Breakfast:
Breakfast is served aboard the balloon or arranged privately after landing, depending on the selected operator and final group size.
A Leisurely Return to the Property:
The late morning and early afternoon remain open for sleep, pool time and a relaxed lunch.
Guest Choice: Horseback Riding or Quad Biking:
Guests select the experience that best matches their interests. One group takes a guided sunset horseback ride, while the other explores Agafay's rocky tracks on a privately operated quad-bike excursion.
Private Ridge-Top Cocktails:
Both groups arrive at the same secluded sunset location, where lounge seating, cocktails, canapés and music have been prepared. This shared finale brings the group back together without requiring everyone to participate in the same activity.
6
Freedom and the Ndawani Desert Finale
The final day is deliberately spacious. Guests have the property to themselves before coming together for the journey's largest and most celebratory experience.
Highlights
A Day Without a Schedule:
Guests can sleep in, spend time beside the pool, enjoy their accommodations or request an optional personal experience. Transportation and concierge support remain available without imposing a group schedule.
Sunset Gathering:
The group meets for cocktails as the private dinner setting is revealed.
The Ndawani Desert Dinner:
A fully produced private dinner combines a refined Moroccan menu with thoughtful tablescaping, dramatic lighting and attentive service beneath the desert sky.
Live Performances:
The entertainment unfolds throughout the evening with Gnawa musicians, vocalists, percussion and dancers rather than being presented as a single uninterrupted show.
Fire-Show Finale A choreographed fire performance marks the climax of the dinner and transforms the surrounding landscape into a dramatic outdoor stage.
Private After-Party The experience continues with a DJ, dancing, cocktails, fire pits and late-night refreshments. Because the accommodation has been bought out, guests can enjoy the celebration without outside visitors or an immediate return journey to Marrakech.
