London & Morocco Honeymoon: An Adventurous Glamping Experience + Posh City Stay

Two months after their New York nuptials, Su Park and Hui Sung Yoon experienced an adventurous honeymoon complete with glamping in the Sahara Desert and stays in two Moroccan cities, followed by a posh extended layover in London.

Destination: Morocco

“Having the travel bug since Covid, we were eager for an adventurous trip abroad, and the Sahara Desert was always on our bucket list,” affirms Su. “When we found out there were popular guided tours in Morocco that include camping in the desert, we immediately booked with zero regrets!” They also bookended their desert excursion with visits to Marrakesh (also Marrakech) and Fez (also Fes).

Photos courtesy of Riad Idra

“We felt like we had stumbled upon a secret garden,” remembers Su of Riad Idra, a Michelin-recommended property. While exploring the Red City, they joined a walking tour to get familiar with the narrow alleys of the Medina of Marrakesh, an UNESCO World Heritage Site, and spontaneously explored the street-food scene in the main square, Jemaa el-Fnaa. “Hui Sung insisted on trying the local delicacy babbouche (snails in an herbal broth). Definitely worth a try!”

Photos courtesy of Su Park and Hui Sung Yoon

Next up, the Sahara Desert. “We highly recommend Desert Day Tours for a tailored, private experience to explore Morocco,” says Hui Sung of their experience, which began with a guided journey through the Atlas Mountains, down the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs, to a stopover in the Dades Valley at family-run Maison d’Hôtes La Vallée des Figues, and at last, the Dihya Desert Camp glamping site.

Upon arrival, they watched a gorgeous sunset from the dunes, savored a traditional three- course meal, and danced to tribal music around the fire under the stars, before sleeping overnight in a Berber tent.

The next day, their guide took them to their final stop in Morocco. “Fez is known to be the oldest city in Morocco, and the medina, completely free of cars, has been conserved perfectly,” Su notes.

Photo courtesy of Su Park and Hui Sung Yoon

Highlights of Morocco

Sipping tea in Marrakesh. “Before we knew it, Jemaa el-Fnaa had exploded with life! We saw snake charmers, monkeys, and smoke from the grills, and we ventured down from the rooftop café to grab dinner.”

Dancing to traditional music in the Sahara Desert. “After dinner at our desert camp, the local guides and guests gathered around the campfire to dance to the beat of Berber drums.”

Dining at Café Clock in Fez. “They have an extensive menu – from avocado toast to camel burger.”

Photo courtesy of Su Park and Hui Sung Yoon

Destination: London, England

With no direct flights home from Morocco, the couple decided to extend their layover in London for three nights. “Staying in posh Mayfair was a great way to unwind from our tireless exploring and spoil ourselves before going back to corporate reality,” Su explains, sharing that they pampered themselves at Sheraton Grand London Park Lane.

Conveniently located next to some of the best shopping and restaurants and close to the Tube, Su confirms it was also a prime location for their specific dates, as luxury and historic cars were lined up on Park Lane in front of the hotel before the London New Year’s Day Parade.

Photos courtesy of Sheraton Grand London Park Lane

Since Su studied abroad in London during college, she enjoyed showing Hui Sung around her old stomping grounds, including Portobello Road Market in Notting Hill – “very different from the souks [in Morocco] but just as bustling with antique stalls, shops, pubs, and bakeries!” she smiles.

The honeymooners also loved their romantic New Year’s Eve dinner at Michelin-starred Indian restaurant Jamavar and a memorable lunch at Mount St. Restaurant, where they were not only impressed by the art and design but also the British classics on the menu.

Photo courtesy of Sheraton Grand London Park Lane

Highlights of London, England

Visiting the other Four Seasons. “While studying abroad, I used to frequent this Chinatown eatery on Wardour Street for the best roast duck!”

Celebrating the holidays. “We wanted to stay in a hotel that went all out for the holidays. The hotel has beautiful Christmas trees at the entrance and is even more lavishly decorated inside.”

Dining at Mount St. Restaurant. “I had my most ideal meal ever, in which I was eating in the presence of art by Matisse and Freud… The lobster pie for two was also an art of its own!”

Photo courtesy of Sheraton Grand London Park Lane

“On our honeymoon, we felt like there was a good mix of adventure, as well as luxury with pristine rooms and coursed dinners. Balancing our time this way made us feel like we got to have more than one vacation,” Su shares.

If they could do anything differently, they would only have extended their trip even longer and look forward to visiting Marrakesh again, as well as exploring Chefchaouen, Casablanca, and Rabat next time. Su confirms, “There’s so much more to see in Morocco!”

London & Morocco Honeymoon Tips from Su & Hui Sung:

“We really enjoyed going to Morocco in the winter, when the weather is quite mild and you only need a light jacket. It gets colder at night, but it was nothing compared to the weather we were getting back in New York.”

“We were so glad for our packing discipline; we stuck to a small rotation of tops and bottoms. Anything beyond that had to have a certain purpose. By packing strategically, we were able to maximize what we could bring back.”

“While we wanted to travel light, we never skimped on souvenirs and gifts to bring home because there was a high chance we’d never see the same items again.”

“When crossing busy streets in Marrakesh, follow the locals and don’t stop walking! A steady, walking pedestrian is more predictable and harder to hit.”

“In London, snag a lunch reservation at Mount St. Restaurant in advance and grab a drink at The Audley Public House – a pub downstairs run by the Artfarm hospitality group, founded by those behind art gallery Hauser & Wirth. After lunch, enjoy a walk around the beautiful neighborhood of Mayfair!”

This story was originally published as a Travel Diaries feature in the Winter 2025 issue of Inside Weddings magazine. To order a copy of the Winter 2025 issue, visit our library of Inside Weddings back issues available for purchase.