Explore MARRAKESH, hotels & restaurants.

There are trips you take, and then there are trips that feel like you’ve stepped into a different version of yourself entirely. Marrakech was very much the latter. I spent a few days at the beautiful La Mamounia hotel with Clé de Peau Beauté, so let me show you around because it really is something special.

La Mamounia isn’t just a hotel, it’s an atmosphere. The kind that slows you down the moment you walk through the doors. Tucked behind those famous walls is this lush, calm setting, endless gardens, tiled corridors, and that soft golden light bouncing off every surface. It’s indulgent, yes, but never overwhelming. More of a quiet, effortless luxury. And when you realise the Sex and the City 2 cast stayed here during filming, it all starts to make sense.

It’s also one of the most iconic hotels in Marrakech, with a history that goes back to the 1920s, originally gifted as royal gardens before becoming the hotel it is today. You can really feel that heritage when you’re there, it doesn’t feel new or overly polished, it feels established, considered, and properly Moroccan.

The gardens alone are worth it, with olive groves, palms, and hidden walkways that make it feel more like a private estate than a hotel. There’s also a huge spa, multiple restaurants, and spaces that all feel completely different depending on the time of day.

The days were hot, but by evening the air cools just enough to make it feel perfect. Marrakech is not the place for playing it safe with fashion. Channeling my inner Samantha Jones, I leant all the way in with bold colours and fluid shapes. Think hot pinks, deep magentas, silk catching the light as you walk. I packed my favourite kaftans from Club L, one in that vivid pink and another in navy. Accessories stayed classic, oversized Louis Vuitton sunglasses and simple Ralph Lauren sandals.

One afternoon, we escaped the city and headed out towards the Agafay Desert, just outside Marrakech. Fun fact, it’s actually looking really green at the moment because they’ve had so much rainfall, which makes it feel even more surreal when you arrive.

As the sun started to dip, everything turned that soft golden colour, and just as the light peaked, a horse show began. It felt cinematic set against that open landscape, and then just to add a bit of drama, a thunderstorm rolled in the distance.

Dinner followed at Kasbah Bab Ourika, which sits up in the mountains overlooking the valley, and honestly it ended up being one of the most special parts of the trip. The setting alone is unreal, you’re completely surrounded by that open landscape, and as the sun started to go down, everything turned that soft golden colour.

It felt like the most magical dinner setting, long tables, flowers everywhere, that warm glow of the candles, and all the Clé de Peau products subtly woven into the tablescape. The whole atmosphere was just beautiful, everyone chatting, relaxed, enjoying the moment, and it had that rare balance of feeling elevated but still completely comfortable.

As the sun dropped, the sky started to shift and in the distance you could see sheet lightning flickering across the horizon again, which just added to the whole experience. It wasn’t cold either, the air stayed gently warm, so you could just sit there and take it all in without rushing anywhere. It was one of those dinners where everything just works, the setting, the people, the light, and you end up staying longer than planned because you don’t really want it to end.

Back in the city, one of my favourite nights was at El Fenn Rooftop for sunset. That hazy pink sky Marrakech does so well, and then completely out of nowhere, lightning started cutting across the distance. Not rain, just flashes. It lit up the whole skyline in this surreal, almost theatrical way. It ended up being one of those evenings that you don’t plan, but stays with you.

I’ve linked everything from this trip if you want a closer look, including outfits, beauty, and all the places we visited. You can shop anything directly by clicking on the images, and I’ve also tagged details for anything that might be harder to find. It should all be really easy to navigate if you’re planning something similar or just want to recreate a few of the looks.

Disclaimer: Clé de Peau Beauté invited me on this experience. All views, content and opinions are my own.