My favourite spa in Marrakech — and why I keep going back

A hidden gem steps away from the Kasbah

Some addresses you tend to keep to yourself. La Sultana Spa, nestled inside a 17th-century riad just steps from the Saadian Tombs, is one of them. The first time I brought a group there, I watched faces light up the moment they crossed the threshold. That blend of ancient zellige, soft light and silence — right in the heart of the Médina — works on you immediately. You feel transported, into an intimate side of Marrakech that few travellers take the time to discover.

The spa is part of La Sultana Marrakech, a quietly luxurious hotel whose reputation rests on the authenticity of its spaces and the quality of its welcome. The spa spans several levels of the riad and features a private hammam, an indoor pool, a jacuzzi and hand-decorated treatment rooms. Every detail tells you something about Marrakech.

What I love about the treatments on offer

The treatment menu draws on Morocco's great rituals: beldi soap scrub, ghassoul wrap, argan oil massage. But what sets La Sultana apart is the way these rituals are carried out — slowly, attentively, with never a sense of being rushed through a conveyor belt.

I've personally tried the traditional hammam ritual followed by a hot stone massage. Two hours that cleared my head after a hectic week. The therapist took the time to explain each step, which reminded me that the hammam, in Morocco, is far more than a beauty treatment: it's a moment of purification, almost ritual in nature, rooted in the culture for centuries.

The atmosphere: real luxury lives in the details

What photos struggle to convey is the silence. In the Médina, silence is a rare commodity. At La Sultana Spa, you truly hear it — or rather, you barely hear anything at all: just the fountain in the inner courtyard and a very gentle Andalusian melody in the background. The lighting is perfectly calibrated, and the textures — Marrakech marble, cedarwood, thick linen — speak for themselves.

The team speaks both French and English, and they have that rare gift of sensing what you need before you have to say it. For the incentive travel groups and wellness retreat guests I bring here, this is consistently the moment they mention when they give me feedback.

My tips before you book

• Book in advance: the spa is intimate and time slots fill up quickly, especially during high season (March–May and October–November).
• Give yourself plenty of time: don't squeeze a treatment between two sightseeing stops. Arrive early, enjoy the pool before or after your treatment, and let the rhythm of the house wash over you.
• Go for a full ritual: à la carte treatments are lovely, but the hammam + massage rituals give you the full measure of the experience.
• Think of it as a gift: a treatment voucher at La Sultana is one of the most beautiful gifts you can give someone visiting Marrakech for the first time.

If you'd like to book directly, you'll find La Sultana Spa Marrakech on JustMarrakech — I'll be happy to help you choose the right treatment for your stay.

To complete your wellness stay

La Sultana Spa fits beautifully into a balanced day: a morning in the souks or at the nearby Saadian Tombs, a light lunch on a Kasbah rooftop terrace, then an afternoon of treatments. If you're looking to carry the relaxation into the next day, I also offer a Hammam & Massage à Guéliz, in a different setting — more contemporary — for a chance to compare two sides of wellness in Marrakech. And for those who want to alternate rest with activity, a Vol en Montgolfière à Marrakech at sunrise remains one of the most striking contrasts you can offer your senses.