Kasbah Bab Ourika, inside the private villa
Kasbah Bab Ourika was evidently designed with one objective in mind: to provide its clients with the opportunity to breathe, relax, and take a moment for themselves. The Kasbah is positioned on a steep hill in the Ourika Valley and is just 45 minutes from Marrakech. The property looks down on the river, lush fields and trees of olives, oranges, and lemons, and up to the glorious white mountain peaks.
The starting point
Stephen Skinner was an Englishman, a London native who fell in love with Morocco a few years ago. At the time, Stephen did something a little more unusual and founded a riad as a guest house in Marrakech's Medina. Opening a Riad upon arrival from Europe looks extremely regular and popular nowadays. We agree, but Skinner did it at a period when it was still exceedingly atypical.
But, after a few years amid the crowded streets of Medina, and knowing how daunting this area can be, it was time to embark on a new adventure. Ourika, a rural commune in Morocco, has been a fantastic destination for tourists who wish to completely immerse themselves in nature. The area is rugged, rocky at times, with unfinished roads, yet it provides a sense of authenticity that Marrakech can no longer provide. Skinner was once again ahead of everyone and recognised something in Ourika that few others did.
Coexisting with nature
Kasbah Bab Ourika, which opened over ten years ago, has since become a well-known retreat location. What's more astounding is the scale of the property, especially considering it was built from the ground up. We saw how they designed various areas across the hotel to make customers feel like they were "the only ones here." You will notice a little chamber in the midst of the garden with a vintage curated couch and bookshelves, allowing you to take a break and enjoy your own company. All of this in a well-designed and well-thought-out setting.
The site is actually very vast, allowing you to stroll about all day while inhaling fresh air and seeing the most beautiful scenery. When we look out at the mountains from the Kasbah, we feel little; we recognise the majesty of our surroundings and appreciate them. Feeling little is a constant reminder that we coexist with nature and aren't the only ones here. Kasbah helps us to reflect, breathe, and put things into perspective in a tranquil landscape.
Home away from home
The hotel has more than 40 rooms, but one private house in particular piqued our interest. This one-of-a-kind villa genuinely provides a "home away from home" experience. The house is fully furnished, allowing you to stay for as long as you like with anything you could require. The villa will immediately put you at ease, whether it's the black marble kitchen countertop, the dried olive branches, or the antique cameras in the living room. But the nicest feature is the own endless pool and patio with a breathtaking view of the mountains. The villa's location in front of the entire Ourika Valley allows you to enjoy one of the most breathtaking views from Kasbah.
There is a large living room with a fireplace and a reading area, as well as two gorgeous bedrooms, each with its own bathroom and one overlooking the vegetable garden. The private villa is a great location for someone who requires peace and a creative environment with plenty of natural light. Accent seats, old books, stylish tables, and Moroccan elements are sprinkled around the area.
The dining venue
Even if your villa has the most elegant kitchen, the desire to just sit and eat without any work is appealing. The menu is small, yet it has enough options to let you make a rapid selection. The food, like the décor of the Kasbah, is a celebration of Moroccan cuisine with a modern touch. It tastes fresh, organic, and represents their environmentally responsible concept. The experience is genuinely "from the farm to the table."
The retreat
Kasbah Bab Ourika was able to develop a few additional items on the grounds over time to guarantee visitors had what they needed. The 11 ensuite bedrooms were built to accommodate various themed events, such as a yoga retreat. Having a large plot of land is the ideal location for inviting visitors to live an unforgettable experience.
The spa
The property also offers a Beldi spa, a one-of-a-kind outdoor oasis dedicated to your health, relaxation, and beauty. Being in a retreat area, a spa just looks like the icing on the cake to guarantee you're completely relaxed during your whole stay. The Kasbah makes use of aromatherapy oils developed by Nectarome, an organic garden located next to Kasbah Bab Ourika. Their goods are manufactured from plants grown in their gardens in the Ourika Valley and in the Atlas Mountains' distant reaches.
