Inspiration · · 5 min read
What to do in Marrakech when you just want to relax? Our ideal day
Want to slow down, especially when Marrakech gets hot? Poolside breakfast, massage, Mediterranean lunch, hammam: the hour-by-hour plan for a relaxing day in La Palmeraie.
The souks, Jemaa el-Fna square, the gardens, the museums: Marrakech is wonderful, and sometimes exhausting, especially in the heat. If all you want is to do nothing, but to do it well, here is the day we wish for you.
8.45am — Breakfast under the palm trees
A short drive is all it takes to leave the bustle of the centre behind and reach La Palmeraie. Tuesday to Friday, AVA BAY opens at 8.45am: croissants, eggs, fresh fruit, pressed juices, matcha or coffee, served by the pool. The light is soft, the air still cool. It is the best moment of the day, and few people know it.
10am — Settle in, and stay put
Your sunbed is ready, and so is your towel. A book, a swim, a nap: the plan fits in three words. On weekdays the estate is reserved for women; you feel free here, with no outside eyes, in an enclosed space where capacity is deliberately limited.
11.30am — A massage by the water
Without even leaving your sunbed, the AVA Détente massage releases your neck, shoulders or back in thirty minutes. For a deeper treatment, choose a private room for a fifty-minute Thai massage or sensory relaxation.
1pm — Lunch at La Table d'Ava
Healthy, generous Mediterranean cooking: quinoa salad, burrata, poke bowl, grilled fish, fresh pasta. Pair it with a homemade juice or an alcohol-free cocktail, and save room for dessert: the exotic crème brûlée and the pistachio kunafa have their regulars.
3pm — The hammam, to reset everything
Steam, black soap, kessa glove scrub, ghassoul: a one-hour traditional ritual that leaves your skin soft and your mind clear. For the full version, the hammam continues with a relaxing massage.
5pm — A finishing touch
A signature blow-dry, a Japanese manicure or, for the curious, a Japanese Head Spa: the day ends with one last treatment. You leave ready for dinner, without going back to the hotel.
7pm — Head home differently
The sun sets over La Palmeraie. You visited nothing today, and that is exactly what you needed.
What if you come with your children?
The day stays the same. While you take time for yourself, the children join Ava Land, our club run by trained educators: toddlers from 12 months on weekdays from 9am to 4pm, older children from age 3 after 4pm and at weekends.
Practical information
- Pool access: AVA ENTRY at 350 MAD (full day, sunbed and towel included) or a private BED for two at 900 MAD, with 2 cocktails.
- Booking: strongly recommended, especially at weekends and during school holidays.
Book your visit
AVA BAY is open Tuesday to Sunday, 8.45am to 7pm (closed on Mondays), in La Palmeraie. Places are limited: book online, by email at reservation@avabay-marrakech.com or on +212 6 55 05 64 05.
