From Miles to Smiles Stylish travel for professionals seeking luxury at affordable prices
We trundle across a rocky plateau, pebbles crunching underfoot, dust billowing around us. Google maps is jittery and the arrow is bobbing around like ducks in water. This is the second time we have ventured down this rocky road, little more than flattened gravel. Getting more frustrated, we peer across the desert trying to spot something that looks like an upmarket kasbah. In the distance we can see cypress trees and figure that is a good place to head for. We crunch past a dusty village where donkeys laze aimlessly, pass a tiny convenience store (little more than a ramshackle hut wilting in the sun) and approach a walled garden of palm trees and cypress. A narrow path squeezes between two mud walls, two blue arrows drawn haphazardly on the edges. We squeeze into the gap to find a tower and a black steel gate embedded in the walls. ‘Kasbah des Cypres?’ I ask the smartly dressed chap on the gate. He nods and relieved we pull our car into the shade of the palmeraie.
Stepping through the gate, we enter the magic of the Kasbah des Cypres, a hidden oasis of beauty and serenity just 5 miles from Skoura.
The gardens of the Kasbah Des Cypres
A shaded path leads past a bubbling fountain towards the stunning kasbah towering above. Lush gardens overflow with palms, cypress, cacti, fruit trees and other flowering bushes. Carved lanterns dot the grounds and a large pool shimmers beneath the Kasbah.
A shala and other covered areas house dining and seating areas throughout the gardens. The owners have thoughtfully placed tables to allow guests from all 7 suites sufficient privacy whilst staying at the Kasbah. Guests can be as anti-social or social as they please!!
Kasbah Des Cypres accommodation
Tower rooms
We stayed in ‘abricot,’ one of the tower rooms. It is tastefully decorated with white linens, neutral colours and natural materials but colourful Moroccan lights and stained glass add splashes of colour.
The bed and wardrobe are carved from stone and blend into the walls of the kasbah. The theme of union with nature continues into the bathroom where likewise the furniture merges seamlessly with the cool stone of the walls.
Note, there is not a lot of space for luggage so you may wish to pack light.
Suites
There are also a few suites in a seperate building in the grounds. These offer much greater space for longer stays so if you want to stay for a few days, these would be your best option.
Communal areas
There are several communal areas for guests including a typical bedouin camp style area that connects the 4 towers of the top floor. Open to the breeze, it offers far reaching views towards the Atlas mountains. Head to the gap between the two west facing rooms at sunset for stunning views over the Palmeraie.
On the floor below, another communal area offers respite from the weather. With an open fire, oversized cushions for lounging and a selection of games and books this is an ideal place to escape from the heat or cold.
Food and drink
Dinner
Dinner is a set menu for 25E. This is 3 course fixed menu which changes daily. Our menu was:
- Caviar eggplant that resembles a fishcake
- Chicken and lemon tajine – a succulent dish of chicken that melts off the bone
- A dessert of fresh fruit and pomegranate from the garden.
Guests can choose to eat anywhere in the grounds. We opted for a small table by the entrance fountain where we can enjoy the tinkling waters as you eat. Coloured lights illuminate the fountain’s base creating a pretty setting which we enjoy with Moroccan wine served by the house.
Breakfast
Breakfast likewise can be served in a location of your choice and consists of bread cooked fresh from the garden oven, jams, cheeses and omelette.
You can select your preferred dining time the night before and pick your preferred drink. Note if you want white coffee in Morocco be sure to ask for ‘cafe au lait’.
Hospitality
The service is simply sublime. Servers appear silently at your side to bring food and drinks and occasionally stop to chat and share stories about the building and its family heritage. It feels more like an upmarket homestay than a hotel.
The owner, Jehad chats to me by the pool and explains that their vision is to ensure that regardless of class of room, every guest receives the same excellent service. He also fills me in on the fascinating history of the property.
History
Jehad is originally from Belgium and decided to renovate the old family holiday home that he used to visit as a child and convert it into a beautiful retreat in the desert. He has a vision to build sustainable and unique properties with exemplary service which is already evident at Kasbah Des Cypres.
The property has so much potential. Already it has hosted a yoga retreat and would be an ideal venue for intimate weddings or small family celebrations. Jehad has big plans for the future and wishes to continue developing the property but also plans to launch another hotel in the Ardennes of Belgium. Watch this space!
Reserve a room at Kasbah Des Cypres
Why visit
If you want to escape to a beautiful oasis with wonderful service then this Kasbah should be on your list. Just over an hour from the airport of Ouarzazate, you can even visit for a long weekend.
