Authentic
Spectacular surroundings
Genuine Hospitality
Escape to nature in this wonderful small Local Hideaway. Showpiece at this Hideaway is their terrace with the most beautiful views of the area. Great food, lovely bedrooms, a refreshing pool and above all the best place to explore the area and get acquainted with the berber way of life.
A three hour drive toward Ouarzazate takes me through the massive Atlas Mountains. It’s a breath-taking road: with beautiful panoramic views of colourful Berber villages, of the fields in which women are hard at work and of the perpetually snow covered mountain peaks.
And then I reach my destination, a Maison d’Hotes located in a small Berber village, in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains, at an elevation of about 5000 ft.
Upon arrival a very warm welcome by Abdou, who is very kind man of many wise words, awaits me. He serves me a lovely Moroccan mint tea, of which I personally can never have enough, on a terrace with the most stunning view I have ever seen. The colours of the landscape are wonderfully divers: the mud houses colour the neighbouring villages red, contrasting nicely with the green fields and the multi-coloured rock formations. What an
enchanting place this is! And how fortunate I am to be spending a couple of nights here so I can fully appreciate all the beauty surrounding me. This Hideaway is often used as a stopover between the southern desert and Marrakech, but staying here just one night is such a shame!
Breathtaking views!
This small guesthouse has six standard rooms, three suites and one spacious family apartment, all bright and comfortable…with great beds. Warmer covers and blankets are available for colder nights, after all, you’re in the mountains here. The lovely outside pool or the small hammam will provide ample relaxation and will allow you to rest after returning from one of the many excursions or hikes. The food is simply wonderful. You can enjoy a three-course lunch and/or dinner every day, all prepared with fresh ingredients that are available in the immediate area. In the three days that I was here, I never had the same dish twice, and everything was lovely and fresh! Some very good Moroccan wines are also on offer. And should you rather have something else for yourself or your children, all you have to do is ask one of the staff (who all speak excellent English, by the way).
An enchanting place!
As I said before, crashing here for just one night is simply too short, for there is so much to see and explore. You can go for endless walks and get acquainted with the authentic Berber culture. The Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou is near here, as is Ouerzazate. But this is also the perfect place to lazy about and finish that book you haven’t gotten around to reading. And don’t forget to visit the ‘shop’: Ahmed -the owner- is a fervent collector of exceptional and beautiful things. I now have a beautiful vintage rug in my living room!
But above all, at this Local Hideaway you feel as if you’re visiting good friends or family. Ahmed, the owner, is a wonderful and inspiring man, who knows all about Berber culture and the environment. He regularly sits down at your table for a chat, as does his brother Abdou and the other staff members…this is a place where you feel at ease and where you can enjoy the authenticity of the area: this is a genuine Local Hideaway and one of my favourites!
Tisselday, High Atlas, Morocco
