Like a mirage Le Palais Paysan appears before us. We sweep in through its gates and disembark outside a brutalist orange building, the entrance to paradise. A boutique hotel with just 16 suites, set in beautifully manicured gardens and possessing truly jaw dropping views of the mountains, it is a wonderfully tranquil oasis in a barren landscape. 

Our plan today is shopping. We’ve come prepared this time, with empty bags ready for Moroccan treasures to decorate our home, which is about to undergo a major refurbishment, so we’re on the hunt for suitably exotic examples.

We hadn’t planned to find ourselves dressed in Berber robes and riding camels when we hailed a taxi outside Yves Saint Laurent’s gardens 20 minutes ago… but in the spirit of adventure we’ve taken up our driver’s suggestion

Returning to the exotic streets of Marrakech, to stay in Riad Ambre et Epices, in the heart of the Medina