Marrakech and Atlas Mountains

The ornate entryway at Le Riad Monceau in Marrakech.

The courtyard oasis at Le Riad Monceau in the heart of the Marrakech medina.

Posing before our Marrakech Insiders tour.

Exploring the outskirts of the city on a Marrakech Insiders tour.

One of the ancient city gates seen on our Marrakech Insiders tour.

The ornate hallway surrounding the entryway courtyard at the Royal Mansour hotel.

Gorgeous tile work in front of La Mamounia hotel.

Sunset from the rooftop of NOMAD restaurant in the medina.

A meal at NOMAD allowed us to escape the hustle and bustle of the market below.

The incredible view from our terrace outside our room at the boutique hotel, Kasbah Bab Ourika.

This is a view you want to wake up to every day.

Our deluxe room at Kasbah Bab Ourika, with incredible views from every window.

Just one of many sitting areas from which to enjoy a good book or a quiet chat with fellow travelers.

The produce garden at the back of the Kasbah, where chefs source much of the food served in the restaurant.

Battling over a game of Scrabble in the cozy firelit bar.

The verandah at the Kasbah, where lunches were served daily.

Admiring the sunset in the produce garden with a glass of wine.

The hotel brought in local henna artists for the special Christmas Eve dinner. I loved my design, only regretting not getting it done on both hands.

Morning light streaming into the Kasbah.

Another morning with impeccable mountain views from our terrace.

Exploring the hills around the Kasbah. While trails were not marked, they were easy to find most of the time, especially with the help of our AllTrails app.

Wandering the trail back to the Kasbah.

Savoring one final sunset at the Kasbah.

Taking note of another cozy sitting area in the gardens for our next visit.

After one final stroll of the gardens, we said goodbye to Kasbah Bab Ourika, promising to visit again soon.