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Kasbah du Toubkal

Marrakech, Morocco

Berber Retreat in the High Atlas: Kasbah du Toubkal’s Tranquil Mountain Escape

At the base of Jbel Toubkal, North Africa’s tallest peak, Kasbah du Toubkal offers a serene retreat just 60 km from Marrakech. Praised by Condé Nast Traveller for its “best rooftop views in North Africa,” this peaceful haven in the High Atlas Mountains offers an unforgettable blend of tranquility and breathtaking mountain landscapes.

Managed by locals Hajj Maurice and Hajja Arkia with their dedicated Berber team, Kasbah du Toubkal is a testament to Berber hospitality. Preserving its historical charm, the restored former home of a feudal chieftain blends traditional architecture with modern sustainability, including solar panels that harness Morocco's abundant sunlight.

Guests can choose from a variety of accommodations, including the Garden House, with three bedrooms, a private entrance, and a 12-meter glass wall framing panoramic mountain views. Alternatively, the Deluxe, Superior, and Standard en-suite rooms offer comfort steeped in Berber authenticity. All rooms are adorned with handcrafted walnut furniture, showcasing local craftsmanship.

The cuisine centers on fresh, seasonal, and local ingredients, with vegetarian options always available. Guests can enjoy signature dishes like apricot and walnut lamb tagine and couscous meatball kebabs, all prepared with regional produce, minimizing the use of imported goods.

A sanctuary for wellness, the Kasbah invites you to unwind on yoga terraces with spectacular views, indulge in the centuries-old tradition of hammams, or enjoy personalized massages enriched with the finest local botanicals.

Sustainability is central to the Kasbah’s mission. Five percent of all booking proceeds are channeled into community projects through the Imlil Village Association, supporting initiatives like a community hammam, a trout farm, flood protection, apprenticeships, and building a school for 80 children in a nearby valley.

For the adventurous, the Kasbah provides a gateway to the High Atlas Mountains. Guided treks, from gentle walks to the challenging ascent of Jbel Toubkal at 4,167 meters, are available with mule support. A trekking lodge, located a day’s walk from the Kasbah, provides a base for deeper mountain explorations, featuring traditional architecture, solar-powered underfloor heating, and awe-inspiring views.

As you step through the Kasbah’s entrance, marked by a plaque reading "Dreams are only the plans of the reasonable," you’re invited to start dreaming and immerse yourself in the beauty and tranquility of this extraordinary destination.

Don't miss our exclusive interview with the owner of Kasbah du Toubkal to find out more.

5/8
SGH Criteria

Sustainability Criteria

    • The Kasbah is a co-founder of efamorocco.org
    • Invoices will incur a 5% charge to the Village Association “Association des Bassins d’Imlil” – a Moroccan NGO -which covers the whole of the surrounding valleys
    Icon Community
    Community
    • The Kasbah is run by Berbers and maintains traditional Berber culture
    • Local culture is preserved through donations to the surrounding village community
    Icon Conservation
    Conservation
    • Photovoltaic to produce energy
    • LED lights and motion sensors are installed throughout
    Icon Energy
    Energy
    • The Kasbah was built traditionally with adobe walls and wooden ceilings
    • The staff wear traditional robes
    • All furniture is made locally from wood
    Icon Materials
    Materials
    • The amenities are made from local products with natural ingredients
    • Traditional, local products are used in the hammam
    Icon Wellness
    Wellness

Features & Activities

  • Holiday Villa, Chalet or Cabin
    Chalet or Villa
  • Hotel in a Historical Building
    Historical Building
  • Horseback Riding Nearby
    Horseback Riding
  • Hotel in the Mountains
    Mountains
  • Hotel Close to Nature
    Nature
  • Rural Hotel
    Rural Hotel
4.5
578 Google Reviews
Daniel Wong
2 weeks ago
When we travel as a family we normally stay at the pricier end, the $1,000 to $2,000 CAD a night range, Four Seasons, Aman, Rosewood. I Imagine a lot of people booking the Kasbah are coming from the opposite direction. I think this review applies either way. The downsides: This is not a polished five When we travel as a family we normally stay at the pricier end, the $1,000 to $2,000 CAD a night range, Four Seasons, Aman, Rosewood. I Imagine a lot of people booking the Kasbah are coming from the opposite direction. I think this review applies either way. The downsides: This is not a polished five star property and it isn't trying to be. It's rough around the edges in places. The pool is small and unheated. The rooms are showing wear. The restaurant does one set meal at lunch and one at dinner, no menu, and there's no alcohol licence. The bones are good, but it was built on a rocky perch near the base of Mount Toubkal 30 or 40 years ago. If you want a proper high end experience, book Richard Branson's Kasbah Tamadot down the valley. Easily triple the rates in comparison, and it won't disappoint. We stayed at both on this trip. Tamadot has a stunning view over the Atlas, but the Kasbah du Toubkal is another 20 minutes deeper into the mountains, and you feel it. The mules carrying your bags up from Imlil are a one of a kind arrival. So why stay here? A few reasons. The remoteness. Once you're here you appreciate how hard it would have been just to get to this spot, let alone build a hotel on it. It's a high mountain lodge operating on a different planet from a beach resort or city hotel with roads and supply chains, so adjust your expectations. That's also what makes it unique, and you don't get that at the Four Seasons. Instead of looking at the small, cold pool - appreciate that they have a pool at all (new with their post earthquake renovation). I know "authentic" gets thrown around a lot, but this place has it. The valley has a lot of tourists, yes, but look out from your room or the rooftop terrace at the houses stacked up the hillside and it's clear the Kasbah is part of an actual community, not something dropped in from outside. It's run by locals. Expensive hotels try to recreate this and it never quite works, because it only comes from being in a place for decades. What they do focus on, they do well. The food is hearty, healthy, local, plentiful and very reasonably priced. Plenty of hot water. The bathrooms are actually quite nice, lots of local tile, and the tubs are gorgeous. The rooms are old but that's part of the charm. It's small, under 16 rooms I think, so you get looked after and get to know the staff. On the whole it's calm and peaceful. Plenty of walks right out the door, and it connects to longer routes and lodges deeper in the mountains, the obvious base for a multi day trek. We were there with our 16 month old. No high chair in the restaurant and a few things like that missing, but it was completely fine with a toddler. It's not a place where you feel bad about your kid running around. Very down to earth, easy for families. Wifi tip: there are several routers and not all are on the sign at reception. Try the networks that show up on your phone with the two passwords on the sign, one will work. Once you're on it's fast everywhere, rooms included. Finally, you might hit a hiccup or two, you'll see a few in other reviews, and that's true of any hotel. But the owners (Discover Ltd, in the UK) are easy to reach by email, respond fast and actually work through problems with you. We had a couple of things that needed sorting and they were efficient, generous and accommodating about putting it right. Everyone on site wants to help too, you just have to ask. Go to them in good faith and they'll respond in good faith. So if you're used to high end places, this costs less than usual and has a charm and location worth experiencing. If it's more than you'd normally spend, I still think it's worth it for the same reasons. Just don't show up expecting a Four Seasons. Think about what it takes to build and run something like this somewhere this remote, and appreciate it for what it is. Which I think is pretty good. [...]
Nicolas Dl
5 months ago
Incredible Kasbah overlooking Imli. We had our lunch and chilled with a tea afterwards. Food was very, very good, the view is fantastic and staff was very nice. Definitely would recommend !
Susan Sabo
5 months ago
The Kasbah is fabulous! The people operating it care and are helpful. We took a mtn. Hike from the Kasbah - arranged by the front desk. A self-service hammam is on site. We ate all our meals there - an abundance of local foods. The room was large and had a large porch area outdoors. The Kasbah is fabulous! The people operating it care and are helpful. We took a mtn. Hike from the Kasbah - arranged by the front desk. A self-service hammam is on site. We ate all our meals there - an abundance of local foods. The room was large and had a large porch area outdoors. It's high in the mountains that make the Imlil Valley. I'd go back and spend more time there. [...]

Location

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Just less than 10 minutes away on foot, the small town of Imlil will be waiting for you, with its traditional houses, the vegetation that grows thanks to its small stream, and its sandy streets.

The Kasbah is set in the Toubkal National Park. Marrakech is 60 km away, a 1.5-hour drive. Private transfers between Marrakech and Imlil are available.

Kasbah du Toubkal
Kasbah du Toubkal, Kasbah du Toubkal، Imlil, Marruecos
Temperature tody
17°C / 63°F
from 240 €
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