Enjoy the tastes of Marrakech

A holiday in Morocco is an ideal time to indulge in the flavours, tastes and culture of its popular city, Marrakech.

A half-day cookery course is a special feature of staying at the iconic Marrakech hotel, La Maison Arabe, renowned for its comfort and its place in the history of the city.

The hotel's culinary connection comes from its origins as one of the first restaurants in Marrakech, set up by two extraordinary French Grand Dames in the1940s. La Maison Arabe swiftly established itself as a legendary gastronomic meeting place and remained so for several decades, frequented by such distinguished travellers as Winston Churchill and Queen Ingrid of Denmark.

In December 1997, Prince Fabrizio Ruspoli and Philippe Cluzel reinvented and brought back to life La Maison Arabe by transforming the original two traditional Moorish homes of the building into a hotel.

The hotel now comprises 13 rooms and suites with terraces encompassing two central courtyards. The entire property is decorated in a multitude of superb local materials and maintains the grandeur of its earlier life as one of Morocco's top eateries.

The Moroccan cuisine at the house restaurant is highly regarded (guests are advised to book as it attracts many visitors from other hotels). Other facilities include an attractive, modestly-sized Turkish bath (hammam), plus pretty courtyards and a small library. If the city gets too much, then the hotel also has its own country club in a garden setting, a 20 minute drive away on the outskirts of town that is serviced by hourly shuttles. The country club has a large swimming pool, beside which lunch is served, and a cookery school.

The cookery course available to guests of the hotel will be given by 'Dada' – traditionally a housekeeper for wealthy families. The La Maison Arabe's Dada will share her ancient family recipes passed down for centuries from mother to daughter with you, such as lamb tajine with dates and almonds, chicken couscous and Moroccan pastries.

The price of a three-night break is from £555 per person (based on two sharing) and includes return flights from Gatwick, airport tax, three nights' bed and breakfast accommodation at La Maison Arabe, return private transfers and a half day cookery masterclass workshop (based on a class of two people). More information can be found at www.realmorocco.com.