An Atlas Mountain Hideaway
When Marrakech begins to overwhelm you with its smells and persistant sales pitches, click your heels three times and chant “there’s no place like Toubkal. There’s no place like Toubkal.”
In a flash (relatively speaking—a 45 minute drive to be more precise) you will find yourself in a mountain retreat where the air is fresh, the views expansive and the people gracious as can be. Kasbah du Toubkal is the antidote to Marrakech, and mirroring nature’s perfection it can be found right next door.
Like no other country we know, good trip planning in Morocco can mean the difference between a disastrous holiday and a love affair. Hailed for its intense exoticism so close to home, what should appeal to many travellers often repels them in short order. The best itineraries punctuate urban exploration with rural escapes, of which Toubkal is the perfect example. While donkeys carry your bags to your room, you can drink in the views of Berber villages and snow-capped peaks. Superb guides will escort you on day hikes or overnight excursions, stopping in people’s homes along the way for a cup of tea and a window into daily life up in these rust coloured hills. Accommodations range from bunk bedded dorm rooms to luxury suites and private houses. Meals are lively and taken together on the rooftop terrace or in the lounge. The hamam is popular, and needs to be booked in advance.
Set aside a few days here towards the end of your trip and let it work its charms on you. Or use it as some respite before you move on to the disorienting chaos of Fez. Kasbah du Toubkal is an ace up your sleeve and a great Ambassador for the country as a whole.
