1. Ultimate Guide to Luxury Travel in Morocco

Morocco has been on the radar of bohemian celebrities for decades, and the lavish riad scene is more thriving than ever - but you don't need an A-lister certificate to be considered royalty. Raising your budget opens up endless possibilities, whether it's a customized Saharian glamping trip or a hot air balloon ride to admire the sunrise over the Atlas Mountains on the horizon.

Glamp in the Sahara

So you want to go to the desert but don't like being rough? We hear your voice. Today, "camping" instead of "camping" in the Sahara allows travelers to see the quicksand of those rose-gold dunes without sacrificing the all-important creature comforts.

Experts can arrange overnight and multi-day tours, which take approximately 12 hours from Marrakech and 8 hours from Fes. The long drive is a journey worth experiencing in itself - passing crumbling castles, mud-built Berber villages, lush valleys and palm groves along the way.

When you arrive, you can expect a nomadic-style tent with a proper bed and plenty of blankets for those chilly nights, and a nice bathroom that provides piping hot water thanks to solar panels. A delicious breakfast with eggs and fresh fruit, days for hiking, sandboarding and camel rides, followed by a delicious home-cooked dinner as the sun sets and the Milky Way begins to emerge.

This 8-day itinerary covers Marrakech, Essaouira, and the Sahara Desert, including an overnight glamping. While this is a true luxury getaway, you should still bring the essentials for this terrain: outdoor clothing, a sun hat, sunscreen, and some cash for a tip. If you have some extra time, you can opt for this two-week itinerary that includes glamping, hammam visits, winery tours and a hot air balloon adventure.

Luxuriate in a Hammam

Few experiences are as quintessentially Moroccan as the hammam. These steam rooms are the pride and pleasure of most luxury riads, and they often offer a full range of spa-style treatments.

Classic hammam treatments are traditionally performed the natural way, including a pore-opening steam and exfoliation on a marble slab (scrubbing with rough kessa gloves and black olive soap), followed by a thorough rinse with cold water. At the luxurious end, book a relaxing orange blossom-scented massage, then relax by the mosaic-tiled, lantern-lit pool in a fluffy robe and mint tea in hand. After a few hours, you'll feel like a newborn, walking on air.

Our favorite is La Sultana in Marrakech, whose "Royal Hammam" is followed by a soothing argan oil massage. The Royal Mansour boasts a stunningly luxurious white spa, three private hammam suites, top-notch treatments and a unique ambience. In Fes, head to Les Bains Amani Spa, where you can treat yourself to the Royal Baths with 75 minutes of fabulous scrubs and masks, all done by candlelight.

Sleep in a Moroccan Palace

It's like a magic trick: push open that nameless wooden door, and behind it you'll find a quiet orange tree-lined courtyard with fountains splashing and lanterns casting patterns. Once home to the Moroccan elite, many mansions and riads now welcome guests in truly palatial style. Just utter the word and the elven staff will arrange candlelit dinners, lovingly prepared with seasonal ingredients, a hearty breakfast on the rooftop terrace overlooking the medina atop the minaret, or a private hammam session.

The highest bill goes to the Royal Mansour in Marrakech. Designed by King Mohammed VI himself, this "medina within a medina" is a stunning display of art, where 1,500 artisans took three years to perfect hammers, carvings and tiles. Luxurious all the way, with impeccable service (including a personal butler), exquisite spa, rose garden and fine dining restaurant.

One of the most luxurious options in Fes is the Palais Amani a fascinating 17th-century palace in Art Deco style. Here, citrus-scented courtyards lead to luxury suites and mosaic-tiled hammams. In the foothills of the High Atlas, Sir Richard Branson's five-star Kasbah Tamadot in Asni is an otherworldly getaway with 360-degree mountain views, landscaped gardens, palatial Suites and luxurious Berber-style tents with private hot tubs.

Wake Up with a Hot Air Balloon Ride

Floating slowly over the arid landscape near Marrakech as the sun begins to rise is an experience that was once there and will never be forgotten. Yes, you may have to get up in the dark, but the quiet excitement is worth it as you drift forward and up, with the Atlas Mountains on the horizon and ochre mud villages appearing in the distance toy-town tiny far below.

Many expedition experts offer 40- to 60-minute hot air balloon rides on their itineraries (weather permitting), but be sure to book in advance. Most include 4x4 transfers and mint tea or full breakfast in a Berber tent after the flight. To elevate the luxury (and romance) even further, you can book a private flight for two - in Marrakech, a solid option is the Ciel d'Afrique.

Tailored Cooking Classes & Wine Experiences

If you want to recreate that incredible diffa (feast) back home, a hands-on cooking class is a great way to get to grips with the subtleties of Moroccan cuisine. You’ll typically learn how to make an appetizer, an entrée (usually a tagine), and sometimes dessert, before enjoying the fruits of your labor. Groups tend to be small (maximum 12 people), so there’s plenty of time to socialize and get tips from the dada (traditional Moroccan cook). Bring a notepad and camera to keep tabs on what you’re cooking.

Highly regarded classes in Marrakech include the insightful workshops run by La Maison Arabe, which are followed by lunch on the roof terrace. At Faim d’Epices, a farm on the city fringes, Michel breathes passion into his classes, where you’ll get a primer on spices before launching into a full morning of bread, salad, and tagine making. Lunch is served al fresco overlooking the olive groves. This 7-day trip pairs Marrakech fun, including a tagine class, with Berber culture in Imlil

Wine, you say? Morocco now produces some surprisingly good tipples, some of the best from the vines at organic boutique winery Val d’Argan in Essaouira. Vintner Charles Mélia hails originally from Châteauneuf-du-Pape and his wines (especially the reds) are a nod to France’s esteemed Rhône Valley. After a tour of the vineyards, which are worked by camels instead of tractors, you can enjoy a tasting and a Moroccan lunch with wine pairing in the restaurant. Be sure to try to the Perle Gris, a fresh, fruity, pale rosé that's made with a red-wine grape and white-wine practices.

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