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Kasbah du Toubkal

"'Best rooftop views in North Africa' from this mountain retreat"

Address

BP 31,
Imlil,
Asni,
Marrakech,
High Atlas - Morocco (1800m,
N31 07.895 W7 55.081)

Telephone

+212 44 48 56 11

Fax

+212 44 48 56 36

Email

booking enquiry

Website

Kasbah du Toubkal's website

Come for

trekking / ecotourism / scenic position / seclusion

Cost

Moderate

Rooms

Rooms 10 en suite, 1 Apartment, 3 Berber salons

e-booking

Click here to book online

Stunning vistas and intelligent service make the Kasbah du Toubkal a top choice if you intend to get out of Marrakech for a few days and experience Morocco's magnificent landscape. A good base for trekking, and utterly tranquil, but no pool.

Kasbah du Toubkal Writes

"With the best rooftop views in North Africa. this is the country’s first and foremost mountain retreat." Condé Nast Traveller April 2002

Near the foot of Jbel Toubkal, the highest mountain in North Africa, the Kasbah du Toubkal is only 40 miles from Marrakech but the peace and quiet and seclusion are so complete the city seems a million miles away.

Equipped for day visits, seminars, residential stays or as a base for more active pursuits, stay for a few hours or a week! As Churchill said to Roosevelt "If you are in Marrakech you owe it to yourself to visit the Atlas." If you can stay overnight so much the better but if not come for a day visit and gain an insight into Berber Culture and life in the mountains.

The Kasbah du Toubkal is an extraordinary venture, the product of an imaginative Berber and European partnership. There is a shared belief that the beauty of the Toubkal National Park should be accessible to all who respect it. To this end the Kasbah has been transformed using traditional methods, from the home of a Feudal Ciad into an unprecedented haven; one that provides a variety of accommodation and event possibilities to meet differing requirements and budgets. The Kasbah is a welcoming environment for those seeking a comfortable mountain refuge, and for those who wish for superb rooms in a stunning setting. It is also a conference centre for those who are searching for a venue that inspires, one that provides peace in a spectacular and remote location, whilst providing the best of modern equipment. The Kasbah du Toubkal is not a hotel in the traditional sense, it is more an extension of the hospitality that stems from the home of the Berbers who run it. It is difficult to describe the Kasbah fully, one needs to visit, but our guests are often more eloquent than ourselves:

"The greatest strength of the Kasbah (greater even than the stunning location) is the people who live and work there. The rooms are superb, the food was a wonderfully rewarding adventure for us, the roof terrace is my favorite place in the world. I am left with wonderful memories, a changed outlook on life and a burning desire to return as soon as is humanly possible. I cannot say enough to congratulate everyone involved in creating something as unique and precious as the Kasbah."
Paddy Burrows

"The scenery is magnificent. The friendliness and consideration of the staff are outstanding and the Hammam was terrific after Toubkal. One of the most enjoyable experiences in my 2 and ½ years in Morocco."
Anthony Layden - British Ambassador Rabat

Reviews of Kasbah du Toubkal

Joanna Monkhouse:
"I’m wondering why I’ve been wasting my time elsewhere in Morocco when I could have been up here." Sophie Pither, Condé Nast Traveller, April 2002.

Kasbah du Toubkal (1800m) has incredible views of the High Atlas mountains and the summit of Jebel Toubkal (4167m), the air is fresh and clean, the greenery is lush, the valley fertile, and the peaks spectacular. The 40 mile, hour and a half drive south from Marrakech is best done in a 4WD but can even be tackled by an old Renault 4. Arriving at the touristy village of Imlil, the base for climbing Toubkal, is nothing new to anyone who has spent any time in Morocco, but once the mule has been summoned to take your bags, you see the Kasbah up on the hill and make the 10 minute climb up through the walnut grove, the hassle is left far behind. The Kasbah was built in the 1940s as the summer home of Caid Souktani but it was abandoned in 1956 when Morocco gained its independence and the Glaoui tribe lost power. It has been carefully and traditionally restored by Discover Ltd, the British owners, now under French/Berber management. There was no electricity until 1997 so the renovations were all done by hand, which makes the achievement even more remarkable. The Kasbah is run on ecological principles, collecting trash from local Berber villages, recycling, filtering spring water rather than using bottled water and encouraging responsible tourism that respects rather than destroys the local cultures, habitat and population, for which they have won the Green Globe Award for sustainable tourism and in November 2002 won a Highly Commended British Airways Tourism for Tomorrow Award.

The carpet-strewn terrace has stunning views on all sides of the mountains and the Berber hamlets across the valley, a perfect setting in which to relax. Trekking is the most popular pastime here and many trips of varying length and difficulty, on foot or mule, can be organised through the Kasbah. However, if the mere thought of that is too exhausting, there are two giant chess sets laid out on another level of the terrace, and two traditional hammans where you can soak and steam yourself after your strenuous activities. The candle-lit dining room is cocoon-like, serving delicious, traditional food (and tarte aux pommes!), freshly prepared to order in the kitchens, where guests are welcome to learn about the local cuisine. The Berber staff at Kasbah du Toubkal have invaluable local knowledge of the region and are friendly and helpful. The ensuite rooms are rustically luxurious - traditional decoration using natural materials and locally handcrafted furniture, tadelakt shower or bathrooms, with modern conveniences such as a cd player in each room and, of course, the fantastic views. The three Berber salons accommodate visitors in a simpler style. There are also multimedia conference facilities for 60. The new garden house caters for those looking for a bit more luxury - the large salon has breathtaking panoramic views from the two glass walls, looking out over the valley. There is a selection of board games and a wood burning stove ensuring ultimate comfort and relaxation after a long day's trekking. There is also a kitchen if you want to self-cater - but with food this good you'd be mad not to eat it at every opportunity!

In 1996, the Kasbah was taken over for a month and transformed into a Tibetan monastery for Martin Scorcese’s film Kundun. Although it is more expensive than most other auberges, and there is no pool here, Kasbah du Toubkal is unique - the outstanding beauty of its setting, the warm Berber welcome, and the experience of staying in this mountain refuge is one that will stay with you for a long time.

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