This stunning photo taken by Epic Morocco customer Darren Ryden shows the Koutoubia mosque in central Marrakech illuminated at night. The mosque is one of a trio of monuments built by the Almohad Berber dynasty of the 12th-century, the others being the Giralda in Seville and the (never completed) Hassan Tower in Rabat. As a city, Marrakech is not particularly big on monuments; the city's appeal lies more in its lively and exotic atmosphere, its excellent accommodation and its proximity to the Atlas Mountains and beyond. Over the past few years Marrakech has seen an explosion in the number of tourists visiting the city - all part of the government's grand plan to attract 10 million tourists a year to Morocco by 2010. Being so close to Europe, and yet so different, Morocco, and in particular Marrakech, makes an excellent short break destination. To cater for (and indeed to feed) this demand, first French, and then English, German, Spanish and Italians (to name but a few well-represented nationalities) have bought up delapidated traditional houses in the ancient medina and renovated and transformed them into high quality guest house accommodation. 'Riads' as they are called vary in price and standard but most share one common element, authenticity. At the top end of the scale are the super-deluxe, hyper-individual riads like "Riad Farnatchi" and the Relais & Chateaux " Villa des Orangers" which will set you back several hundred Euros a night, but, (good news for the those not in the millionaire category), there are some excellent cheaper options, with comfortable and stylish places starting from about £50 per room per night. Typically hidden in the maze of pedestrianised streets in the medina, finding your riad can be the biggest challenge you face on your holiday to Morocco so you're well advised to seek assistance from a member of staff at your hotel to get you there. Having said that, getting lost in the medina is part and parcel of any trip to Marrakech, and the city is a very safe place where locals will be happy to direct you to where you are heading. Selecting a suitable riad can be a challenge, with numerous websites offering directory listings of guest houses across the city. Our local knowledge can of course help with this. We don't claim to know all of the city's riads (as there are literally hundreds), but we work with a list of tried and tested properties for all budgets. As we are based in Marrakech we can also easily visit new places if you find a riad that you like the look of on the internet. Please don't hesiate to enquire for details of short breaks that we can arrange.
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