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Property |
Location |
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Kasbah Du Toubkal |
Imlil, Marrakech-Essaouira, Morocco |
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One-off feature |
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Kasbah du Toubkal is a magnificent mountain retreat spectacularly situated in the heart of the High Atlas. Near the foot of Jbel Toubkal, the highest mountain in North Africa, it is only 40 miles from Marrakech but the peace and quiet and seclusion are so complete the city seems a million miles away. |
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Property Info |
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Accommodation Type:
| Chalet / Lodge |
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Property Setting:
| Mountainous |
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Holiday Type:
| Relaxing / Family / Sports & activity / Culture |
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Bedrooms:
| 14 |
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Guests:
| 28 |
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Catering:
| Hotel / B&B |
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General Info |
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Perched on imposing outcrop 1,800 metres above sea level, Kasbah du Toubkal crowns Imlil Valley. Its location, high above a waterfall-fed stream and opposite a handful of primitive adobe villages that cling to the rocky mountain face beneath the snow-dusted Mount Toubkal, is perfect. Kasbah du Toubkal is run through a unique partnership with the local Berber community, with a five per cent levy included in guests’ accommodation bills being funnelled back to the villagers. It is more of a Berber hospitality centre than a traditional hotel, where the genuine friendliness, warmth and hospitality are exceptional. There are eight rooms with ensuite bathrooms, a three-bedroom family house and separate dormitory accommodation with a conference centre for study groups. The rooms are rustic yet comfortable, with simple berber adornments such as hand-woven carpets, blankets, intricate carved woodwork and oleander branch panelled ceilings. |
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Details on the area surrounding the property/accommodation |
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The owners of the Kasbah own and run their own travel company – they are happy to plan and arrange as much or as little of your trip as you wish. In the local area the trekking is second to none.
Hiking in the High Atlas is one of the best possible experiences in Morocco. Regardless of your level of fitness this area is accessible to all. Climb the highest mountain in North Africa at 13,655ft (4165m). You will be accompanied by a qualified local mountain guide and have mule support on the access route to the Neltner hut. For trekkers and walkers who wish to do a multiday expedition without compromise on overnight accommodation, the Kasbah has built the Azzaden Trekking Lodge on the outskirts of Aïd Aïssa, a traditional Berber village in a neighbouring remote valley. Let us know what you would like to do, and we can help you organise it! |
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Getting there & away/local amenities |
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Getting There:
| The Kasbah is approximately 1.5 hours drive from Marrakech. Transfers can be arranged – just contact us for more details. Driving directions also given on booking. |
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Nearest airports:
| Marrakech 65 km |
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Nearest train station:
| Marrakech 65 km |
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Nearest bus stop:
| Tahanout 35 km |
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Car Hire:
| Optional |
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Nearest restaurant:
| On site |
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Nearest market:
| Asni Market on a Saturday |
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More info |
Enquiry info |
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Name |
Kerrie Wrigley |
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Contact Phone No. |
+ 33 (0)5 49 05 01 |
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Accommodation details |
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Activities Nearby |
Climbing / Cycling / Horse Riding / Walking
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Interior Facilities |
Linen provided / Maid Service
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Interior Details |
In keeping with our philosophy of wide access, we have a range of accommodation/pricing options from €40 through to €200 per person and beyond. The same public spaces and services are shared by all our guests. This means there will be times when the mix of guest will cover a wide spectrum of the travelling public. We have kept the original rooms in the Kasbah as Berber salons for multiple occupancy by families, walking and school groups. The en suite rooms in the gardens have been built catering for most modern comforts. The Garden House includes a spectacular apartment that meets the requirements of most people and has been rented by celebrities. Our rooms have been very well received by our guests from various walks of life and increasingly in press articles which have been very complimentary about the Kasbah, its philosophy, its facilities and the staff.
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Exterior Details |
Equipped for day visits, seminars, residential stays or as a base for more active pursuits. Whatever you choose, the Berber people who staff the Kasbah will give you a warm welcome and a fascinating insight into their culture. Explore the village, nearby hamlets and the surrounding mountain landscape, on foot or by mule, or just put your feet up and relax on the terrace or in the hammam (steam bath). The Kasbah is particularly suitable for groups and families.
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Further Details |
The Kasbah du Toubkal is not a hotel in the traditional sense; it is more an extension of the hospitality that stems from the homes of the Berbers who run it. We have deliberately not appointed a ‘European-trained’ manager as this would stifle the genuine hospitality for which the Berbers are renowned and destroy that special unquantifiable ingredient that makes visiting the Kasbah such a special and valuable experience. The Kasbah is a living place that will vary depending on the guests who are visiting—it is real, unpretentious and allows guests to engage with the Berbers who run and manage the Kasbah. A stay at the kasbah is a unique chance to learn about the Berber culture and simple lifestyles of these proud mountain people who have changed little over the centuries. The village of Imlil comprises some five separate settlement areas with a population of just 1,500. Its location is at the end of the main road system, beyond which narrow footpaths and precipitous mule tracks are the only channels of communications with the outside world. Little wonder Hollywood movie director, Martin Scorsese, found it an ideal location for Kundun his film about the Dalai Lama, when it was temporarily converted into a Tibetan monastery. Sample the area yourself in a 5 day walking tour - ask owner for more details...
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Conditions of
Rental |
We operate a minimum 2 night booking policy although we will still take single night bookings where we have single spaces to fill. Includes: Fresh sheets, towels, sleeping bag/sheet loan (for sleeping on roof terrace), use of hammam and towels and breakfast. Extra person above 2 in double room €40 per person B&B. Check out time 12.00 p.m.
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Other Information |
Cook available / Ideal for honeymoons / Other rental properties on site / Short breaks available
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What visitors have said about Kasbah Du Toubkal |
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I am writing this review whilst sitting in the library in front of a roaring wood burner with no. 26 (one of the Kasbahs gorgeous kittens) sitting on my lap and to be fair, sitting partly on the keyboard.
My husband and I have spent five nights/six days staying at the Kasbah in a deluxe ensuite room with outside balcony and seating area. The accommodation has been both cosy, comfortable and very welcoming especially after the trekking that we have done in the Atlas Mountains. Free soft drinks and both dried and fresh fruit have also been provided in the room every day.
On our first morning we did one of the free daily welcoming walks, this was a lovely introduction to the area and the Berber way of life. You have the choice whilst staying at the Kasbah of either taking numerous walks on your own (routes are clearly marked) or paying for the guided treks which are available.
The Kasbah is not a luxury five star hotel. If this is what you are looking for, visit Mr Bransons resort down the road. If you are looking for a vacation that will allow you to kick back, relax, enjoy traditional home cooked meals in a fabulous atmosphere with no pretension then this is definitely the place for you.
For meals, the Kasbah provided a variety of dishes every evening and lunchtime which we thoroughly enjoyed, we actually ate in the Kasbah every night as the food was so nice.
With all meals, the Kasbah provides fresh spring water that is UV treated (to be extra sure) and for the cautious, free bottled water. We drank the spring water every day with no ill effects. This is also the better environmental option as it means no disposal of plastic bottles.
The Kasbah provided the use of a traditional hammam during your stay. This was extremely relaxing and unlike most of the riads in Marrakech was free for the duration of our holiday.
For us, it was the staff and their hospitality who made our trip. Most of the staff are not trained hoteliers but regardless of this, they are absolutely fantastic and provide a much friendly and kinder service than most of the five star hotels that we have stayed in. We couldn't have asked for a better vacation, thank you.
Jen, Dec 2010 
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This is a rare place. A labor of love of two men—one Berber and one English—who created a luxurious mountain haven while honoring the qualities of the local culture (food, architecture, welcoming hospitality). All the comforts are provided including a pleasing hamman (steam room); reading room ,wifi, all in a dramatic mountain setting facing the Toubkal peak (13,000 ft); great local food. Easy access to local trails into mountainside Berber villages and into the high reaches—all with Kasbah provided guides and mules. The Kasbah rates among my top-five worldwide for luxury in an exceptional traditional rural setting (in this case mountainous). Scorcese’s Kundun (Dalai Lama) was filmed in Morocco and parts at the Kasbah.
axismundi
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The Kasbah has been described as “not so much a hotel - more of a Berber hospitality experience”. My wife and I discovered that this is NOT pretentious waffle, but a very good description of what has been, for us, a unique and wonderful experience.
The setting is exceptional - the Kasbah is on a small outcrop at about the level of the tree-line, at the confluence of several small valleys. Whichever way you look, the views are stunning with woodland, waterfalls, moluntains and small Berber villages all around you.
We had a standard room which was at the top of a small tower and had its own roof terrace, where we could ascend with a hot drink in the cool of the early morning to watch the sun creep over the mountains before bathing the slopes below. Timeless and magical. We never return to the places we visit (except Venice!) but will be returning to the Kasbah as soon as we are able.
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