After a couple of days dodging mopeds in the souks and haggling for lanterns, there’s nothing better than swapping the noise of the medina for a sun lounger, a long lunch and a rose garden. That’s exactly what a day at Beldi Country Club offers. Just outside the city, it’s one of the most popular places in Marrakech to spend a pool day.
I recently visited Beldi Country Club during a 3 day trip to Marrakech and absolutely loved it. We went with our 10 month old, and it was the perfect baby-friendly pool day in Marrakech.
In this guide, I’ll cover what a Beldi Country Club day pass includes, how to get there, what to eat, and my tips for making the most of your day.
Beldi Country Club at a glance
| Location | Km 6, Route du Barrage, Chérifia, about 15 minutes’ drive south of the medina and 10 minutes’ drive from the airport |
| Best for | A relaxed pool and lunch day, couples, families, a final day before a late flight |
| What’s included | Pool access and sun loungers, with the option to add lunch |
| Price | For pool and lunch, the entry price is 440 Dirham per adult (approx EUR40/£33). Children are 280 Dirham. |
| Booking | Book ahead, especially at weekends and in peak season. Opening time is from 10.30am. |
| Phone | +212 524 383 950 |
What is Beldi Country Club?
Beldi Country Club is a hotel, restaurant and spa set in roughly 15 hectares of gardens on the southern edge of Marrakech. It was created by the Leymarie family and is designed to feel like a small Moroccan village. Clay-walled lanes wind between courtyards, olive groves, cactus gardens and a famous rose garden planted with thousands of bushes. On clear days, you can see the Atlas Mountains from the gardens.
It’s a blend of Moroccan tradition and French country-house charm, and it’s a long-time favourite with both visitors and Marrakchis escaping the city for the day. Alongside the hotel rooms, there are pools, restaurants, a spa with traditional hammams, tennis and padel courts, and a small souk of artisan shops.
It is the most beautiful respite from the hustle and bustle of the city, and although we visited just for the day, next time, I would absolutely stay for a few nights.
How to get to Beldi Country Club
As mentioned, Beldi Country Club is about a 15–20 minute drive from the medina depending on traffic.
- Petit taxi or Uber: Easiest from the medina. If using a petit taxi, agree the fare before you get in, or ask for the meter.
- Ask your riad or hotel: Most can book a driver for you, which is the simplest option.
- Getting back: Taxis aren’t always waiting outside, so arrange your return journey in advance or ask reception to call one for you before you want to leave. We ordered an Uber straight from Beldi to the airport for our flight home.
The Beldi Country Club day pass: what’s included
Day visitors can book either:
- A pool pass: a sun lounger and access to the day pools, or
- A pool pass with lunch: the same, plus a set lunch at the poolside restaurant, with a starter, main and dessert.
The pool-and-lunch option is the one to go for. It’s very good value by Marrakech standards and turns the day into a proper long, lazy lunch rather than just a swim.
The pools
The day pools are the star of the show: long, dark-tiled pools set among olive trees, with loungers and parasols spread around them. There are two to choose from for day visitors, of which one is heated. The water is quite deep and the pools are long enough for actual lengths. It’s a world away from the small plunge pools you find in most medina riads.
Both have gradual steps in so perfect for small kids, although I’d definitely recommend bringing armbands and floaties.
Around the pools are dozens of cosy sunbathing nooks, with the sunloungers surrounded by bougainvillea. We had our own secluded sunlounging sofa, and it was perfect with our little one.
Lunch at Beldi
Lunch is served at El Badia, the restaurant by the pool, with seating on a shaded terrace. The menu mixes Moroccan and Mediterranean dishes, think fresh salads, pastilla and tagines, and it changes with the seasons and the produce. In winter, lunch moves into a greenhouse dining room surrounded by fruit trees and vegetable beds.
Beldi also serves alcohol, which isn’t a given in Marrakech, so a glass of Moroccan rosé by the pool is very much on the cards if you so please! Drinks aren’t included in the three course meal offer, but they’re very reasonable at around 35 Dirham a soft drink or house lemonade (EUR 3/£2.70)
Things to do at Beldi Country Club beyond the pool
Make time to leave your lounger and explore. The grounds are the highlight:
- Wander the rose garden. It’s the signature of the estate. If you happen to visit in April or May for the rose harvest, the gardens are at their most spectacular.
- Browse the artisan souk. Small shops on site sell ceramics, glassware, Berber rugs and embroidered linen, much of it made by artisans working on the property.
- Book a hammam or massage. The spa has two traditional hammams, and treatments use argan oil and rose products. Book in advance and add it to your day. I chanced it and was able to secure a 45 minute massage on the day for later in the afternoon, and I highly recommend.
- Try a pottery workshop. The on-site pottery studio runs hands-on sessions, which are a great option for families with older children.
- Stay for golden hour. The gardens are beautiful in the late-afternoon light.
Is Beldi Country Club good for families?
Yes, Beldi is a popular choice for families, with plenty of space for children to run around in the gardens. Most guests coming for the day had little people with them. With a baby or toddler, just keep a close eye around the deep pools.
The whole place is well set up for families, and I enjoyed walking through the grounds with the pushchair whilst getting Oliver down for a nap. It was perfect!
My tips for visiting Beldi Country Club
- Book ahead. It’s popular, especially at weekends, in school holidays and with the expat crowd.
- Arrive early to get a lounger in the shade. The official opening time is 10.30am but we arrived early at 9.30am and they were very welcoming, even if service hadn’t properly started at this time.
- Be patient at lunch. Service is relaxed and can be a little slow on busy days, so treat lunch as a leisurely affair and don’t plan anything tight afterwards.
- Bring cash for tips and the taxi, and a cover-up for walking around the grounds and the souk.
- Use it on your last day. A day pass is perfect if you’ve checked out of your riad but have a late flight. It’s also handily on the airport side of the city. You can store your luggage at the arrival desk and access it whenever you need throughout the day.
- Showers. There are some showers in both the men’s and women’s changing section but they’re a little basic. If you want to be really clean after your pool day, I recommend booking a treatment for late afternoon and showering in the spa.
- Manage expectations. It’s charmingly rustic rather than polished five-star, which is part of its appeal.
Beldi Country Club FAQs
How much is a day pass at Beldi Country Club? It is currently around €40 for pool access with lunch. Check with Beldi directly here before you go.
Yes, it’s best to book ahead, especially at weekends and in peak season, as day-pass places are limited.
It’s about 6 km south of the city, roughly a 15–20 minute taxi ride from the medina.
Yes, which makes it one of the easier places in Marrakech to enjoy a drink with lunch by the pool.
Yes. In winter, lunch moves to the greenhouse restaurant, and one of the day guest pools is heated. A pool day is most enjoyable from spring to autumn.
Yes, there are rooms and suites set around courtyards and gardens. It’s a good choice if you want a calm base outside the medina, although you’ll need taxis to get into the old city.
Planning a trip to Marrakech?
I hope you found this guide to visiting Beldi Country Club as a day visitor useful. If you’re planning a trip, you might find these guides useful:
- How to Spend 3 Days in Marrakech
- Visiting Le Jardin Majorelle
- Visiting La Mamounia as a day visitor
- Foodie guide to Marrakech
- Visiting Essaouira from Marrakech
Where to Stay in Marrakech
As mentioned, Beldi Country Club is a magical place to stay. But if you want to stay nearer the medina, then Marrakech has some truly beautiful riads.
On our most recent trip, we stayed at Riad Dar El Gnaouia, and its location was amazing. It’s tucked down a quiet lane right off Jemaa el-Fna, so we could pop home whenever we needed to, which was a lifesaver with a baby. The staff were really helpful, and while there are no frills, it made a lovely, comfortable base. The riad isn’t especially set up for children, but they did provide a travel cot.
Here are my picks of the best mid-range and luxury riads.
Mid-range riads:
- Riad Cologne (from around £100 per night)
- Marrakech Riads, Angsana Heritage Collection (from £139 per night)
- Sofitel Marrakech Palais (from around £267 per night)
- Tigmiza Boutique Hotel & Spa (from around £281 per night)
- Riad Star (from around £314 for two nights – the minimum stay length)
- Riad le Clos des Arts (from around £560 for three nights – the minimum stay length)
Luxury riads:
- Palais Ronsard Relais & Chateaux (from around £379 per night)
- Selman Marrakech (From around £529 per night)
- The Oberoi Marrakech (from around £883 per night)
- Four Seasons Marrakech (from around £1,162 per night)
- Mandarin Oriental Marrakech (from around £1,424 per night)
- Royal Mansour (from around £1,454 per night)
On an earlier trip, I stayed between two beautiful riads, both located right by each other at the edge of the medina. The first, Riad Attika was small but perfect for a 2 night stay, then for our final night we upgraded to the swish Angsana Heritage Collection Marrakesh Riads where we stayed in an amazing Heritage Suite.
Disclaimer: This visit to Beldi Country Club was entirely paid for by myself. There was no involvement from the tourism board or any local companies. This is an independent guide.
