Activities
Morocco’s varied landscapes, which range from a 3,500km (2,170 miles) coastline to the forests, rivers and mountains of the Middle and High Atlas and the Sahara Desert, offer a wide choice of sports and leisure activities.
Golf:
PALM GOLF OURIKA (10 mins drive) – designed by Haworth Talbot (Canadian): PAR 72, 6972m. Green fee: 700 DH (£57). Buggy: 200 DH. Buggies are a must as the layout is widespread and it’s a long walk from the 9th green to the 10th tee. In excellent condition and very convenient given the proximity to Villa Alexandra.
SAMANAH GOLF CLUB (30 mins drive) – designed by Nicklaus. PAR 72, 6700m. Green fee: 650 DH (£55). Caddy: 150 DH . Very good test of golf for the serious golfer with challenging bunkers and water features. Typical Nicklaus course and you must be on top of your game to score well. Compact layout so you can walk the course (and caddies are available). Nice club house for refreshments after your game.
ROYAL GOLF MARRAKECH (30 mins drive): designed 1927. PAR 72, 5871m (3x9 layout). Green fee: 650 DH. Caddy: 150 DH. A delight for those who like parkland courses. Fairways are lied (lined)with fully-matured trees giving shade to Moroccan sun. Not the longest course but a good challenge to any standard of golfer. Caddies available and the course is walkable. Friendly clubhouse.
AMELKIS GOLF CLUB (30 mins drive) – designed by Cabelle Robinson. PAR 72 (3x9 layout). Green fee: 650 DH. With the 3x9 hole layout, it can be a bit confusing as to where you are going but caddies are available to guide you.
Trekking / Horse-riding / Fishing:
The foothills of the Atlas Mountains are less than an hour’s drive away where there is trout fishing, horse-riding and trekking. You drive past fields of barley and corn, orchards full of olives, figs, and pomegranate trees, and through the Ourika valley. Mount Toubkal, 4,167 metres high, is the highest mountain in Morocco and here you can reach the summit by foot or by mule. This is a one hour drive from the house.
Skiing:
Oukaimeden, the ski resort, is a one-hour drive. Ski clothing, boots and skis are all available for hire. This is also a lovely place to walk when the snow has melted.
Kite & Windsurfing / Bird-watching and Oysters:
The charming seaside town of Essaouira is a pretty fishing port less than 3 hours away and is certainly worth a day trip (or an overnight trip) to visit the old Medina. It is always very windy but is a charming blue and white town with horseshoe harbour where the fishing boats unload their varied catch direct to the waterside street cafes. There is also the beautiful town of Oualidia with its lagoon which is famous for oysters, beaches and an abundance of wild migratory bird-life.
Quad biking / Go-kart racing / Camel-riding:
You can go go-karting at Marrakech Kart Racing which is a 10-minute drive towards town. There is a quad-biking company situated towards the Ourika Valley but various companies offer quad-biking tours and camel-riding in and around the lower Atlas mountains area.
Watersports:
The great reservoir of Lalla Takerkoust, where all types of watersports are available, is less than a 30-minute drive away. Wake-boarding is available for adults & children at the Palm Golf Ourika club, a 10-minute drive(walk) away.
Shopping:
Mohammed V and the Rue de la Liberté for high street fashion (Attika recommended for shoes); Djemaa El-Fna (the main square off which there are multiple souks to get lost in); For high-end luxury and tailored-clothing try Beldi or Au Fils d’Or.
