DAR AHLAM

There is no restaurant here as such; instead, private tables are set up around the property. One day you may find yourself eating lunch in the garden designed by French landscape architect Louis Benech (the mind behind the Jardin des Tuileries in Paris), followed that evening by a Moroccan feast in a lantern-lit lounge. Meals are bespoke and cooked using ingredients foraged from the gardens or bought from the local souk, ensuring every bite is packed with the alluring aromas and flavours of Morocco. Esteemed French pastry chef Pierre Hermé is the brains behind desserts here, which are a particular highlight of the hotel.

In keeping with the relaxed way of life at Dar Ahlam, time here is spent drifting between the hammam and palm-shaded swimming pool before heading to the rooftop in time for bewitching sunset views. However, the Ouarzazate region teems with enriching activities beyond its calming adobe walls. At the right time of year, the Valley of Roses offers a colourful and fragrant desert adventure. Meanwhile, a camel trek into the surrounding Dades Valley is in equal parts soothing and mesmeric. Perhaps the most serene adventure is a visit to the UNESCO-protected palmeraie in Skoura, where the dry desert landscape makes way for a beautiful grove of softly swaying palms. Hidden amongst this verdant haven is the stunning Kasbah Amridil. one of the most grandiose of its kind in Morocco.

SUITABLE FOR:

• Serenity seekers
• Foodies

THINGS TO DO AT THE HOTEL:

• Treat yourself to a soothing treatment in the hammam
• Escape the Saharan heat with a cooling dip in the swimming pool
• Sip rejuvenating sundowners on the roof terrace
• Sample tasty treats courtesy of revered pastry chef Pierre Hermé
• Enjoy a leisurely stroll through the delightfully landscaped gardens

THINGS TO DO NEARBY:

• Take a 4x4 drive along the undulating roads of local valleys
• Befriend a camel during a trek over the desert landscape
• Visit the heavenly Valley of Roses to see the landscape illuminated in vibrant pinks
• Explore the soothing serenity of Skoura's UNESCO-protected palmeraie, also home to the magnificent Kasbah Amridil
• Finish the day with a traditional Moroccan tea ceremony against the backdrop of a 12th century Berber village