Dar Ahlam, Province De Ouarzazate, Morocco: Boutique hotels in Morocco from Chic Retreats

Great for: Kids, Romance, Pool, Spa

"Dar Ahlam means 'House of Dreams' and even before entering the lantern-lit courtyard guests will swoon at the sight of this extravagantly renovated 19th-century kasbah." Condé Nast Traveller, The Hot List 2003. On the Saharan side of the Atlas Range, near Ouarzazate (about four hours from Marrakech), this super-deluxe Kasbah has been reconstructed to approximate the 19th-century original. Artefacts from Bali and India contrast with the medievalesque four-turret exterior. Architects Hervé Morand and Adam Glazewski created a maze of passages opening unexpectedly onto terraces overlooking snowcapped mountains and the surrounding 4,500-acre palmeraie. Guests can soak up the view from the heated swimming pool in the landscaped gardens.

Rates
from EUR 740 per room per night.

Accommodation - 12 rooms

The restored mud-brick fortress has 9 suites and 3 two-room cottages decorated by a team of Parisian designers. Each one is painted a different color; amethyst, brick-red, and marigold, for example. The interior blends contemporary and antique Moroccan, and French, Italian, and Balinese influences can be seen throughout. All the suites have air conditioning, fireplaces and wonderfully spacious bathrooms. There is no television or telephone in the rooms but there is a good mobile phone network for those who are unable to escape from modern technology! The house can be rented in its entirety, and it can comfortably accommodate 16 guests.

Activities

A Parisian landscape architect was in charge of the gardens where you'll find a heated, T-shaped stone pool surrounded by date palms and olive trees, outdoor massage tents and a mosaic Jacuzzi and hammam. Thai massages, cookery classes Moroccan gommage (a clay scrub), and excursions via horse, camel, mule, hot-air balloon are all part of the anything-can-be-arranged philosophy.

Dar Ahlam's guide, Abde Samad, knows every secret of the region's kasbah trail and offers sunrise Champagne picnics to the Valley of Roses and and air-conditioned four-wheel drive desert outings for stargazers.

Dining

The menu was devised by creative chef Fréderick Grasser-Hermé and pastry guru Pierre Hermé, whose rose macaroons are heavenly. Every meal is served in a different setting - on the terrace overlooking the mountains, alfresco in the garden, by the pool with the table positioned to catch the glimmer of a full moon.

Rates for 2010

All rates at Dar Ahlam include all meals, snacks and beverages (soft drinks, wines and alcohol) except French wines and champagne, hammam, traditional bath, heated swimming-pool and cookery classes and the All Inclusive with car formula also includes trasnfers from and to Ouarzazate Airport by 4x4 with driver, exlusive excursions by 4x4 with guide and driver and camel riding. Extra guests can be accommodated at EUR 350 each per night with a maximum of 2 guests. Guests can also camp for a night at EUR 1650 for a 2 person tent including 4x4 with driver (guide will cost an extra EUR 100) and all meals, snacks and beverages except French wines and champagne. Transfers from Marrakech to Ouarzazate by 4x4 with driver are EUR 250 one way. A private plane or helicopter transfer can be arranged on request.

Rates for 2010 are all priced in EUR

Room	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
All inclusive with car:
Double Suite	1150-1180	1150	1150	1150	1150	870	870	870	1150	1150	1150	1150-1180
Single Suite	940-990	940	940	940	940	700	700	700	940	940	940	940-990
Double Villa	1800-1890	1800	1800	1800	1800	1260	1260	1260	1800	1800	1800	1800-1890
Family Villa (2 adults +1-2 children)	1900-1990	1900	1900	1900	1900	1350	1350	1350	1900	1900	1900	1900-1990
All inclusive without car:
Double Suite	890-1020	890	890	890	890	740	740	740	890	890	890	890-1020
Single Suite	730-800	730	730	730	730	610	610	610	730	730	730	730-800
Double Villa	1360-1500	1360	1360	1360	1360	1130	1130	1130	1360	1360	1360	1360-1500
Family Villa	1470-1650	1470	1470	1470	1470	1220	1220	1220	1470	1470	1470	1470-1650