Spring In Morocco 2025 – Day 1: Beaming Down

In March 2025, we visited Morocco for the first time, and spent two-weeks on an extensive tour with Exodus Adventure Holidays.

That Sunday morning, Freedom Airport Taxis took us to Leeds/Bradford Airport from Harrogate to catch the 07.25 am Ryanair flight to Menara Airport in Marrakesh. It is the only direct flight from Leeds/Bradford to Marrakesh.

The flight landed in Marrakesh at 11.20 am, local time. Marrakesh is known as the “Red City”. Menara Airport is modern with 21st century decor. As Morocco does not allow visitors to bring Moroccan currency in to the country, we changed British pounds into Moroccan Dhirams at the airport.

A driver from Exodus met us at the airport and drove us to the 4-star Ayoub Hotel & Spa on Rue Ibn Qodama in the Marrakech-Safi Region, about 5 km. from the airport.

Khalid, the Exodus tour leader met us at hotel reception, explained the arrangements for the day and checked us in. He also had a small notice about the tour pasted on the reception desk.

The ensuite double room was comfortable without being luxurious. It had air conditioning and a small balcony with table and a chair. The small bathroom had a tiny shower with plenty of hot water. The room TV had a limited number of channels – BBC and CNN were not available. There were no tea/coffee making facilities and reception staff were unable to loan an electric kettle to make my own morning coffee. We were advised not to use tap water for drinking or cleaning teeth but the hotel did not supply any bottled water. We bought water from a small kiosk next to the hotel. The hotel had a spa but the small outdoor swimming pool was not heated and did not have a changing room. Hotel staff were courteous and very friendly.

We had a light lunch – fried chicken, vegetables & rice followed by mint tea from the little cafe by the pool. The meal was delicious. The hotel does not serve any alcoholic beverages.

Streets near the hotel were quiet and lined with Saville Orange trees heavy with fruit. Houses were painted pink and had flat roofs. Marrakesh University Medical Faculty was across the street from the hotel. Snowcapped Atlas Mountains were in the distance. There were camels about.

We met the rest of the tour group at a meeting arranged by the tour leader that evening at the hotel. Thirteen holidaymakers from the UK and one from the US made up the group. Most were veteran Exodus adventurers.

We went out to dinner as a group to a nearby restaurant chosen by the tour leader. Wine and beer were available. The meal was enjoyable and the company was good.