Welcome to MARRAKECH

Coming to Marrakech

By Air

The main point of arrival and departure is the Marrakech-Menara International Airport (RAK), 7 km southwest of the City Center. It is the second busiest airport in Morocco, with roughly 3 million passengers each year.

Marrakech can be reached by many direct flights from most important European cities. There are also many daily direct flights to Mohamed V International Airport in Casablanca from North America (Montreal, New York) and Asia. Casablanca is about 45 minutes flight to Marrakech.

By Train

There are several daily train connections from most domestic rail destinations in the country: Casablanca Airport, Casablanca, Rabat, Tangier, and Fez. They arrive around every two hours regularly to Marrakech.

Conference Venue

ISCO’2018 is held at the Palm Plaza Hotel & Spa 5*, which is 7 kilometers from the Marrakech Menara Airport, and 4 kilometers from the world famous Jamaa El Fna Place.

Although there are other accommodation options in Marrakech to suit all budgets, we advise you to stay at the Palm Plaza Hotel & Spa 5*. The daily single room rate (550 MAD = €55), breakfast included, is excellent for a hotel of this standard in Marrakech. In order to have the special price negotiated with the Palm Plaza Hotel & Spa 5*, please see Accomodation.

Transportation from the Airport to the Hotel

By Petit Taxi

The best and the easiest way to get to your Hotel is to take a “Petit Taxi” (small taxi). Taxis are available at arrival gate and are identifiable by their yellow color. The fare is fixed at 100 Dirhams/10 Euros per trip. You can share the fare with other people on the taxi (from 1 to 3 persons).

By Grand Taxi

You can also get to your Hotel by taking a “Grand Taxi” (big taxi). The fare is fixed at 150 Dirhams/15 Euros per trip. You can share the fare with other people on the taxi (from 1 to 5 persons). Both types of vehicles will directly take you the hotel.

By Bus

Alsa Buses take you on a small tour around town stopping in a dozen of bus stops around Marrakech. Hourly departures start at 6:30 am until 11:30 pm. Each ticket costs 30 Dirham /3 Euros. You buy your ticket from the bus driver.

Pratical Informations

Weather

In April, the average temperature in Marrakech ranges between 12°C (at night) and 25°C (during the day).

Time zone

GMT

Languages

Morocco’s national language is standard Arabic, although this is rarely spoken. Moroccan Arabic dialect is the country’s spoken language and is markedly different from other varieties of Arabic. French is the country’s second language and is widely spoken. But given that Marrakech is a tourist city, English and Spanish are also widely spoken – although you shouldn’t expect everyone to speak them.

Currency

The Moroccan currency is the Dirham (DH) divided into 100 cents. Currency can be exchanged in dirhams in banks or institutions licensed to conduct foreign currency exchange in hotels.

Exchange rate:

• 1 EUR (Euro) = 11.00 MAD (Moroccan Dirham)

• 1 USD (U.S. Dollar) = 9.50 MAD (Moroccan Dirham)

Credit cards such as Visa or Master Card are widely accepted in hotels, restaurants, shopping centers.

For more information:
- concerning local organization and bank transfert, please contact:
Pr. Rdouan Faizi rdfaizi@gmail.com and Pr. Abdellatif El Afia a.elafia@um5s.net.ma
- concerning website registration, please contact: info@isco2018.com

Marrakesh

Marrakesh, also Known as the Red City thanks to the hue of the thick walls surrounding the old city, is one of the most famous cities in Morocco. The city has nearly a thousand years of history and today with more than a million and half inhabitants. It's also one of the imperial cities of Morocco together with Fez, Rabat and Meknes. This exotic imperial city is a melting pot of ancient and modern sights, smells and sounds and a popular choice for many travelers and holiday makers. Marrakech is a favorite tourist destination, thanks in large part to its monuments, the characteristic atmosphere of its streets, its weather and its varied and spectacular cuisine.

Within Marrakech visitors can find everything from mosques to extravagant palaces and lush gardens, with medieval city features as old as the Berber Empire, juxtaposed against modern architecture. Local souqs can be found amongst winding alleyways, with vendors selling traditional Moroccan crafts such as pottery, textiles, and jewellery, and there is always food and entertainment to be found in areas such as Djemaa El Fna. With so many exciting options within one exciting city and even more to be found beyond its borders, Marrakech is Africa’s number one destination for tourists, and is one of the world’s most-visited destinations.

Worth Visiting Places

Museum of Marrakech

Jamaa El Fna
		The world famous Jamaa El Fna is the operating point for entertainers like acrobats, drummers, dancers, pipe musicians, snake-charmers, comedians and storytellers. It is also a place where you can enjoy the best and most varied street food you’ll ever try.
Menara
		The Menara is a mere forty five minutes walk from downtown. It is an old residence with a beautiful garden, within a charming basin. It extends on a surface of 1200 meters long and 800 meters large.
Koutoubia	The Koutoubia is the tallest minaret in Marrakech. Dating back to the 12th century, it is a fine example of Moorish architecture, and a symbol of the city. At around 70 meters high, it makes an excellent marker for tourists to help them orientate themselves.

Majorelle Garden	Majorelle Garden was created during the 1920s by French painter Jacques Majorelle. There, he planted the rarest species around a small Art Deco building that served as his studio until his death in `1962. Abandoned after the death of its owner, the garden owes its salvation to its new owners: Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé.
Atlas Mountains	With the beautiful snow-capped Atlas mountains glistening in the background from December to March, Marrakech is once again exciting.
Medina	Declared a World Heritage Site in 1985, is where we find many of the main attractions of the city as the Jemaa el Fna, Marrakech Museum, Medersa Ben Youssef, the Royal Palace and its big wall, the mosque and the palace of the Bay , Dar Si Said or the big Badi Palace.
Marrakech Souk	It is one of the most popular places of the city is noted for its stores distributed in dozens of streets with all type of items we can imagine, its smells, its peculiar environment, etc... As anywhere in Marrakech, in the souk you can also haggle with shops.
Bahia Palace	This grand palace was built in the nineteenth century with more than 150 rooms. It was built with the intention of being the world's most impressive palace. The roofs of the rooms and the Courtyard of Honor are its main attractions.
The Palm Grove	The palm grove of Marrakech is a great area with more than 100 thousand palm trees, is the source of wood and dates palm for the city. This place has become a tourist destination with luxury hotels and homes. Many people who travel to Marrakech also choose visiting places of great natural interest as impressive Ouzoud Waterfalls, Ourika Valley or excursions to the Sahara desert.