9 Best Hotels in High Atlas, Morocco

This charming, whimsical guesthouse was built from scratch using traditional methods and materials in the tiny hamlet of Tamatert, just past Imlil. Thanks to the boho-chic style, it's known to inspire many a wannabe interior decorator, and the collection of hammocks and nooks makes it a little paradise of peace. For an even more unique stay, there are two treehouse rooms available! 

One of the valley’s first lodges, this friendly option guarantees excellent service, good food, and a snug bed for prices that won’t break the bank. Run by a warm and chatty woman, Le Maquis also has a good swimming pool, blossoming gardens, and a fantastic hammam where massages and other beauty treatments can be organized on request. The kitchen will serve you a nice range of simple dishes with both French and Moroccan touches.

If you want to really experience rural Moroccan mountain life, spend a night at the home of Said, who grew up in this small village in the Ijoukak Valley and has opened up his family home for visitors. Enjoy hikes in the village, get hands-on in the kitchen, or lie back and relax in the mountain solitude. Breakfast is included with all bookings, and other meals---which are delicious---can be arranged as well.

Not far from the lake, this paradisiacal farm and guesthouse hides out behind the dusty, unassuming village of Makhfamane. Rooms and suites are scattered through the grounds, which are a veritable explosion of fruit trees, vines, vegetable patches, and aromatics. Accommodations are in keeping with this nature theme: natural colors, fabrics, and materials combine to create supreme comfort without the sense of extravagance. The guesthouse menu is created entirely from the farm’s pesticide-free bounty; the homemade fresh cheeses are unparalleled. Instead of a chlorine pool, owners Robert and Carole have created a kind of basin that is filled daily and then used to water the gardens at night. There is a host of animals kept on the farm, too, including pigs, a rarity in these parts. There's also a boutique that sells homemade cheeses, along with syrups, oils, and other local specialties.

This grand Kasbah stands proudly atop a hill offering jaw-dropping views of the surrounding mountain slopes, including Mt. Angour to the south. Due to the way it's cleverly built in accordance with local techniques, all rooms get excellent views. Rooms and suites are smart, very comfortable, and decorated with Moroccan touches like carved wood cupboards and tadelakt bathroom walls. Service is warm and efficient. The British owner, Paul, is very knowledgeable about the region and its topography and is therefore an excellent source of travel ideas and regional geography. The food is mostly Moroccan and there's a licensed bar.

Within this traditional kasbah, you can choose from spacious rooms or bungalows dotted around a pool and beautiful gardens. The kasbah was built using baked earth bricks (and some cement) for the thick walls, resulting in a flawless and peaceful retreat that's cool in the summer and cozy in the winter. Rooms are adorned with local carpets and ornaments, and the walls are spread with tadlak (a smooth, waterproof building material popular in Morocco). The garden is decked with bright flowers and trailing plants, and the vibe is relaxed.

With a fabulous garden, friendly hosts, hot showers, and comfortable beds, this family-owned hotel is one of the most charming choices in the area. This is a wonderful place to rest during a hiking trip, or just to spend a couple of days relaxing. It may not be fancy, but it is clean and comfortable; the garden is nothing short of idyllic. The homemade food is satisfying after a hard day on the trails. They also arrange many hiking circuits around the area, which should be booked in advance. 

This homely guesthouse is only a 20-minute drive from the center of Marrakesh, yet couldn't be more of a contrast. Enveloped in a patchwork of burgeoning gardens, it's a haven for the birds, bees, and humans too. With just seven rooms and suites, comfy living areas, a decent pool, and a friendly staff, it's a congenial place. Children will love feeding rabbits and talking to the sad old donkey; everyone else will love the giant roses, big as artichokes, the countless varieties of fruit trees, and the birdsong at sundown.

This fantastic lodge occupies a prize position in the valley's deepest village, atop a hill with an unbeatable vantage point. All rooms have en suite bathrooms and there’s a traditional hammam available on advance request. The living room in the center of the house has a fireplace and a wood-burning stove, so you’ll be warm in winter. The food is traditional and fresh, using local ingredients supplied in abundance by the valley. You can take cooking lessons, learning the secrets of Amazigh recipes like marinades, spice blends, and couscous.