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Inside the Spa at Mandarin Oriental Marrakech: Moroccan Wellness Meets Asian Tradition
A very good place to slow down
We didn't have time to experience everything at the spa at Mandarin Oriental Marrakech. As travel agents vetting so many places for our clients, time is a very rare thing. For us there was no full spa day, no long afternoon by the pool. I had a one-hour massage, and honestly, that was more than enough to understand why this place is so special.
When I arrived, the spa team welcomed me and put me in one of their very comfortable lounge chairs. I had a drink, and even the spa cat was keeping me company. The whole place immediately feels relaxing. The architecture is based on traditional Moroccan motifs, with sunlight coming through the cut-out patterns in the wooden panels. It gives you that feeling of being somewhere distinctly Oriental, but seen through a European design perspective.
It is not overly decorated. The light does a lot of the work.
A massage for a pianist
I had a sports massage, and the therapist had a very different way of working from anything I had experienced before. Before starting, he asked me exactly how my body was feeling. Then he started feeling the muscles himself, almost investigating what was going on rather than simply following what I had told him.
That became particularly interesting with my hands.
I had just played several concerts with very different repertoire, and my hands had taken quite a bit of work. One of the pieces was the Chausson Concerto for violin, piano and string quartet, which is certainly not something I would recommend to the hands if they are looking for an easy week.
The therapist immediately noticed that my hands were different from those of most people. He could feel the different muscular structure and the tension and understood that my right hand had taken more of a beating from the repertoire I had been playing. He also had a very particular technique with the hands which I had never experienced before. They sure felt much better afterwards
He was incredibly attentive throughout the treatment. We talked about his work, where he came from and how he had developed as a therapist. He was clearly someone who takes his work seriously and is constantly trying to improve. I had asked him to go a little further than he recommended, so he warned me that I might feel sore the next day; I did.
But that was exactly what I had asked for, and in the long run it made me feel much better.
The Moroccan side of the spa
The spa is very closely connected to Morocco, not only through the architecture but through the treatments themselves.
The traditional hammam is a big part of the experience. There are treatments using Moroccan black soap and the kessa glove, argan oil, rose water and orange blossom. There are also longer rituals such as the Moroccan Rose journey, which includes a rose-infused bath, a full-body rose wrap and an argan-oil massage.
We didn't have time for a full hammam during this stay, but if I returned, that would be the first thing I would add after another massage.
The menu is actually quite extensive. There are Oriental treatments, Thai massage, hot stones, aromatherapy, personalised treatments and programmes designed around things such as jet lag, sleep and detox. There are also experiences specifically designed for mothers and daughters.
What I like about that is that it doesn't feel as though there is one treatment that everyone is supposed to have. You can talk to the spa team about what your body actually needs and choose from there.
Visit the Spa-Website of Mandarin Oriental Marrakech directly through this link
Stay a little longer
The best part came after the massage; I was ready to sleep. Fortunately I didn't have to jump up, get dressed and leave the moment my treatment finished. The treatment room itself has a place to rest, a shower, a bathroom and a private terrace. You can sit outside, have a drink and simply take your time. That is how I would do it next time. A proper full-body massage, followed by a hammam, and then some time doing absolutely nothing.
The spa has been named Morocco's Best Resort Spa 2025, and after experiencing the treatment myself, I can understand why.
For me, though, it wasn't the award that made the impression. It was the therapist sitting there first asking what my body was doing, then working from what he actually found; After several concerts, my hands definitely appreciated it.
Further reading about Mandarin Oriental Marrakech:
Our Food-experiences at Mandarin Oriental Marrakech
The Butler Experience at Mandarian Oriental Marrakech
Our in-depth Villa review of Mandarin Oriental Marrakech
Planning a Stay at Mandarin Oriental Marrakech?
If you are considering Mandarin Oriental Marrakech, this is exactly the sort of property where I would recommend booking through a Virtuoso travel advisor rather than simply booking the room yourself.
The Virtuoso rate we can offer includes private round-trip airport transfers, daily breakfast at Shirvan, a USD 100 dining or spa credit, complimentary Wi-Fi and the hotel's butler service. There is also a room upgrade and early check-in or late check-out when available.
For a hotel like this, those details add up. The airport transfer means the experience starts before you reach the resort. The breakfast is something we would definitely take advantage of, and having a spa credit makes it very easy to add the massage or hammam experience we enjoyed so much.
Of course, the most important part is choosing the right villa or suite and making sure the stay actually fits the way you want to experience Marrakech.
That is where we come in. We can help you choose the right accommodation, arrange the experiences before you arrive and make sure you are getting the most from the hotel and your time in Morocco.
Interested in staying at Mandarin Oriental Marrakech? Get in touch with DeSalvio Travel and let us plan it for you.
Robert Poortinga
Travel Booking Assistant
River cruise & Europe destination expert
Culinary and art travel specialist
Concert Pianist
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