Koucheit, Morocco
Dar Ahlam
Historic Hideaway
What it is
A 200-year-old Kasbah with 14 rooms flanked by gardens, with topnotch (and all-inclusive) service.
What it isn't
Lacking anything. You’ll find a palm-tree lined mosaic swimming pool, glimmering hammam and a massage room adorned with flickering candles.
What we think
Proof that Dar Ahlam is sheer perfection can be found, ironically, in the dirt. Gardens here were designed by Louis Benech, who famously dreamt up Paris’s Jardin des Tuileries and even Versailles’s Bosquet du Théâtre d'Eau. Marie Antionette herself would surely feel right at home at Dar Ahlam, where more than 100 staffers await to pamper guests, and guest rooms are downright royal-worthy. We recommend the Garden Suite for its private entrance, leafy terrace and fireplace; the Kasbah Suite feels thoroughly Moroccan with its hanging tapestry and pillows for lounging. No matter which room you choose, you’ll have every nicety imaginable, including zippy Wi-Fi, all meals and snacks included, hammam access and (phew!) air conditioning.
You're here because
Staff have curated a host of bucket list excursions, ranging from twilight tea ceremonies to guided jaunts through 12th century Berber villages.
The Moment
Only in your Arabian nights did you ever dream of experiencing something like this: a guided exploration of Iriki, an age-old salt lake that’s now a sea of sand dunes rippling to all points of the horizon. The only thing better? Knowing the staff have arranged your rest in an antique filled tent (with an en-suite bathroom) and dinner under the stars, by a flickering fire.
Restaurants & Bars
Dar Ahlam - Moroccan Cuisine
Location
In a palm and almond tree grove edging the wild desert, just a 10 minute drive from Kasbah Amridil, a 17th century walled city that’s now a historical landmark.