Douar Samra

Rooms

There are various different types of guest room slotted into the fabric of Douar Samra. There are 4 in the main house, Yan, Sin, Kran and Kouss; they have no electricity and are lit by candlelight and oil lamps. Three Mini Suites - Mouss, Sdez and Sbat - reside in a separate group of buildings in the garden and are larger, each sleeping 3-4. Here there is electricity, and Mouss (the largest) has a cosy mezzanine to separate the 2 sleeping areas.

There are 2 Treehouse rooms, perched on 8m stilts just a stone's throw from the main house. Shaded by trees in summer, and warmed by a wood-burning stove in winter, they have wraparound balconies offering magnificent views over the mountains and village. The feel is rustic chic, with wooden walls, a mirrored open-plan shower, a separate toilet, a hairdryer (there's electricity here), plus tea and coffee-making facilities for your post-hike mint tea. One sleeps 2, the other sleeps 4 - ideal for families. We stayed in the latter on our most recent visit. We hung out on our balcony in Berber robes and slippers, and the kids loved how close the donkey and ducks were (we heard some noise from them but not an issue). Our only niggle was that the shower space is small.

All of the rooms feel very snug and welcoming and seem to reflect Jacqueline’s own inner warmth. There are bright Berber blankets for curtains, low tataoui ceilings, straw-matted floors, little niches for candles or lamps, richly-coloured sequined cushions and masses of original paintings.

Simple wooden poles rendered into the walls give you somewhere to hang your clothes and reed baskets provide additional storage space. The small tadlakt shower rooms have a similarly organic, homespun feel: sinks set into simple pole frames, screed floors and shower gel and shampoo in a small woven basket. Best of all though, you can slip out of your walking boots and into a pair of the cosy babouches that Jacqueline has placed in all of the bedrooms.

Even if you’re here during the winter months, when temperatures can plummet at night, you won’t be cold. Each room has its own open hearth, there are thick Berber blankets on the beds, cosy fleece dressing gowns and you’ll have a hot water bottle delivered last thing.

Features include:

• Cots available
• Fireplace
• Slippers
• Toiletries

Eating

Douar Samra’s kitchen is the real heart of Jacqueline’s home. Whenever you pass by you’ll be greeted with a waft of spices being used for your next meal.This is the place to try out a few words of Berber or French and, if you’re interested, to be talked through what goes into traditional Berber cuisine.

We ate as well here as we did anywhere in Morocco and have happy memories of sharing dinner with Jacqueline and her guests around a low table in the candlelit dining room. It has the same embracing vibe as the rest of the house with beautiful tataoui ceilings, low tables dressed in brightly-coloured shawls, cushion-laden benches, a fire burning in the hearth and Mohammed, Jacqueline’s second-in-command, busying about.

As vegetarians our meal was made up of a spicy vegetable soup followed by delicious Berber eggs (a sort of tomato tagine) while other guest feasted on tender, slow-cooked chicken spiced with ginger, cinnamon, saffron and cumin. Deserts were simple yet lovely, our favourite was a wonderfully moist almond cake followed by the obligatory mint tea. All vegetables and fruit, where possible, are cultivated in the hotel's organic garden and in the village.

Breakfast is of the simple, Moroccan variety, and is slightly different each day. It’s served out on the terrace in the warmer months. Bread is baked every morning; pancakes and jams are prepared in-house and are accompanied with pot-fulls of coffee and hot milk. You may also get fruit, yoghurts or sometimes boiled eggs.

If you’d like a picnic to take on your hike, just let Jacqueline know the night before; you'll get chicken mayo sandwiches, mixed salads, eggs, fruit and mineral water.

Features include:

• Breakfast
• Communal dining
• Lunch by arrangement
• Organic produce
• Vegetarian options

Activities

• Many guests come to undertake longer treks but day walks can also be organised; Jacqueline can advise on where to go, and tell you about the flora and fauna you may see - we loved our 4-hour waterfall hike with local guide, Abdul
  
• Horse riding can be organised in Imlil as well donkey trekking straight out from Douar Samra
  
• Unwind from your trek with a traditional hammam or borrow a mat and practice yoga under one of the treehouses
  
• The village is enchanting: wandering its narrow lanes feels like stepping back in time; local crops are wheat, fruit and walnuts
  
• Walk to Imlil - it only takes 20 minutes until you're in the buzzy little town, and you can browse shops, hire bikes and go on guided treks from here
  
• With so much beauty all around you may be tempted to reach for your paint brushes and certainly your camera
  
• Head for the kitchen, grab a mint tea and let the friendly staff show you what goes into making a traditional Berber meal
  
• The peacefulness of the house and village fosters a ‘let’s just relax’ mood. There are plenty of quiet corners where you can be alone with your book or have a game of backgammon
  
• Wrap up at night and head onto the rooftop terrace to stargaze - the clear skies are incredible and if you're lucky, you'll see meteors
  
• Marrakech could be visited as a day trip though you might prefer to combine a trip there with an overnight stay

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Birdwatching
• Hiking
• Horse riding
• Plantlife / flora
• Traditional cultures
• Trekking
• Well being
• Yoga

Kids

Children are celebrated everywhere in Morocco and nowhere more so than in the Berber villages. It’s yet another sign of Jacqueline’s generous nature that children under 7 years stay for free and those up to 12 yrs receive a 30% discount on adult rates. You probably won’t need a babysitter because there’s nowhere to go at night. But one could be arranged if you want to just chill out in the restaurant for the evening, or go for a stroll.

Best for:

Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

Five of the rooms can be used as triples plus Mouss has 1 extra single bed. There's also a Family Treehouse that sleeps 4 in 1 double bed and 1 bunk bed (pretty snug, so best suited for ages 6-12).

Cots Available

Distances:

• Airport: 1 hour
• Shops: 5 minutes

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Douar Samra is in the traditional Berber village of Tamartet, near Imlil in the Atlas mountains, close to the Toubkal Massif. It's a 1 hour drive from Marrakech.

By Air
Marrakech Menara (75km). Click on the link below for a list of airlines.

From the Airport
Jacqueline can arrange for a taxi to meet you at the airport (see Rates for details) or she'll get a vehicle or donkey to collect you in Imlil. There are buses (from DH15) and grand taxis (from DH40) up to Imlil from Marrakech, which take around 1.5 hours. Alternatively you could hike to Tamartet from Imlil which would take about half an hour.

By Car
There wouldn't be much point in bringing a car if you're planning to trek. If you do want to hire one, however, see our car rental recommendations. You will need a 4x4 to navigate the Atlas Mountains.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.

More on getting to Morocco and getting around, including ferries