You might think your driver is lost a couple times before you reach Dar Ahlam. The unassuming  road and location of this ancient Kasbah is what makes it so special and unique.

Dar Ahlam is located 5 hours south of Marrakech, in the outskirts of the Sahara desert in the town of Skoura.

As you arrive to the oasis in which the Kasbah is located in, you will see that the surroundings look very similar to the scenery in the movies of Lawrence of Arabia, Prince of Persia and Gladiator, it’s because they were all filmed here. 

The spectacular beauty of the desert with oasis’s scattered around Skoura has attracted travelers from all over the world, however, the most important one in my opinion was the owner of the stunning Dar Ahlam.

The crooked small door will make you think you are checking in to a local’s house rather than a luxury hotel, however, do not judge the book by its cover. As soon as you step in, you will be blown away by this 12 bedroom Kasbah.

The rules are, there are no rules and there is no restaurant. The restaurant is anywhere you want it to be. Reason why we had lunch inside the creek, in the rooftop, in the vegetable garden and in the middle of the desert.

Every meal is a surprise by Chef Mohammed, and each meal exceeded my expectations. All the produce is grown in their garden and all the flavors are as intense as their colors. If you want to explore the grades, the Chef would be happy to walk you around and explain every corner of their enchanting garden.

The balance between the simplicity and elegance was perfectly achieved. Our room, the birdcage room, was my favorite due to its size, the numerous fireplaces and decor. Every bedroom is slightly different, but the Deluxe Suite category are superb

The Kasbah is small, so staying active is a must. The walk along the oasis and ride with the camels is a great way to immerse yourself in their culture, however a day of relaxation in their dreamy pool is also a must. 

Abdul, the guide, is the most knowledgable and interesting man I met during my trip. His explanation of every inch of his country is beautiful and admirable. He was the one that took us glamping in the valley of the roses, my favorite experience of the trip, so make sure you do not miss this overnight camping tour. 

During the valley of the roses camp, the only guests there will be you and your better half. They have 10 people at your service at all times, setting spectacular tables in different locations depending on the time of day. At night they light everything wig candles and bonfires, so the scene is more than romantic. During the day you can visit caves nearby with nomads living in them. Most of them have never seen foreigners before so the culture shock is mind blowing.

My stay at Dar Ahlam was everything I thought a real Moroccan experience would be, an more.

Photographs courtesy of the property.