Five escapes into the countryside of Marrakech

Just beyond the ochre walls of Marrakech lies a land of olive trees, earthen lodges, and wide open skies. A slower rhythm begins where the city ends, one of lantern-lit dinners, ancient kasbahs, and wild desert dreams. Here are five thoughtfully curated ways to experience the refined, rural soul of Marrakech.

1. Sleep beneath the olive trees at Berber Lodge (Oumnass)

In the quiet village of Oumnass, about 30 kilometers south of Marrakech, the Berber Lodge is a poetic retreat. Conceived by designer Romain Michel-Ménière, the property blends Berber tradition with architectural minimalism: reed roofs, mud walls, handcrafted pottery, and rough-hewn woods. Days unfold slowly, a swim in the sun-dappled pool, a book beneath an olive tree, and dinners by candlelight in the fragrant garden.

⟴ Oumnass Village, Tameslouht
℡ +212 661 34 52 15
🌐 www.berberlodge.net

∞ Instagram: @berberlodge_

2. Retreat to the Mountains at Kasbah Bab Ourika (Ourika Valley)

Perched on a hilltop overlooking the Ourika Valley, Kasbah Bab Ourika offers panoramic views of terraced fields, red-earth villages, and the snow-capped peaks of the High Atlas. Built in traditional rammed earth, the kasbah exudes a raw elegance, with citrus-scented gardens, hammams, and quiet courtyards. Sunset over the valley, followed by a locally inspired dinner, feels almost sacred.

⟴ Tnine Ourika, Ourika Valley
℡ +212 524 38 02 82
🌐 www.kasbahbabourika.com

∞ Instagram: @kasbahbabourika

3. Berber camp in Agafay: Quads, Camels & a night in a vintage van

The Agafay Desert is a lunar landscape, rocky, golden, and mysterious. At Berber Camp Agafay, adventure meets design. Ride a quad through the desert, take a camel at sunset, enjoy a traditional dinner show under the stars, and spend the night in a 1976 VW camper van, stylishly renovated in “beldi-chic” fashion. With solar showers, local decor, and a natural stone pool, it’s a bohemian dream come true.

⟴ Agafay Desert
℡ +212 665 77 38 00
∞ Instagram: @amazigh_van_life

4. Middle eastern elegance at Al Aïn (Fairmont Royal Palm)

Al Aïn, the Middle Eastern and North African fine dining restaurant at the Fairmont Royal Palm, is a feast for all senses. Under sculpted arches and glowing lanterns, dine on exquisite tagines, melt-in-your-mouth mechoui, and fragrant mezze. The cuisine honors Moroccan heritage with contemporary finesse. Outside, the gardens whisper under palm trees, and the Atlas Mountains watch in silence.

⟴ Fairmont Royal Palm Marrakech, Km 12, Route d’Amizmiz
℡ +212 524 48 78 00
🌐 Fairmont – Al Aïn

5. Hike around Lake Lalla Takerkoust

Just 45 minutes from the city, Lake Lalla Takerkoust offers a refreshing pause in nature.

⟴ Lalla Takerkoust, Al Haouz Province

Postcard from the Edge

As night falls and the sky turns indigo, Marrakech beckons from afar, but you’ll carry with you the dust of the trails, the silence of the hills, and the memory of stars above a desert van. In these quiet corners, far from the medina’s maze, the real magic of Morocco unfolds.