Luxury Villa Rentals in the Africa- Morocco
The House Of
Dreams
The House of Dreams is an extremely refined,
almost zen-like, luxuriously renovated
19th-century kasbah set in four acres of manicured
walled gardens in the midst of an oasis in
Southern Morocco: breathtakingly beautiful views
over the oasis towards the Atlas mountains.
The kasbah may be taken in its entirety;
however, individual private villas - there are
three of them - or suites may also be rented.
Access is by a long unpaved road out of a
village near Ouarzazate: guests go through an
oasis and over a shallow river bed before entering
another palm grove; covered parking for ten cars
is just a few steps away from an ancient small
studded gate leading into a lovely courtyard with
uniquely decorated floor; the tranquil gurgle of a
nearby fountain ushers one to the entry door.
The entry door opens into a long romantic
corridor leading to a stunningly beautiful
art-déco-style living room (1300SF) with
generous seating areas in front of a massive
ultra-deep blue contemporary fireplace, low
Japanese-style tables, large deep-brown leather
poofs, a very lovely custom-made black and gold
corner screen, and three floor-to-ceiling glass
doors opening onto an awning-shaded terrace
(900SF) looking straight out over a gorgeous
swimming pool area.
Half way down the corridor to the right, large
formal dining room à la japonaise with dark
red tadelakt walls and two black dining tables for
about 20 guests.
Off the corridor near the entry doors to the
left is the entry into the heart of the kasbah:
archway to the "eye of the kasbah"---a
lovely room with views out onto the gardens---a
small interior courtyard, a room with giant South
Sea Island urns in near darkness, the spa, and
three interlinked very beautiful Moroccan salon.
The ground floor accommodation comprises: Riad
Suite in Moroccan style with ensuite double
bedroom.
Stairs in the heart of the kasbah lead to the
first floor accommodation arranged around a
beautifully decorated interior terrace surrounding
a massive stairwell: Chabnam Suite with ensuite
double bedroom and terrace; Ethnic Suite in
African style; Blue Suite in modern style; stairs
to the second floor.
The second floor accommodation comprises the
Syrian Suite, tented Sarahoui Suite, the Samsara
Suite in Indian style, and the Zouackee Suite
named after a unique style of Moroccan wood
painting.
The suites are all large---350-400SF---and some
are full (not junior) suites: all are individually
decorated and air-conditioned; all the ensuite
bedrooms have fireplaces and views on the Atlas
mountains; each bathroom has a separate loo and
six have separate walk-in showers.
The second floor also has an office with
internet connection and a small library leading to
a vast partially covered terrace with a shaded
dining table for 20: fine Atlas views and an open
staircase giving direct garden access.
The rooftop terrace has a tower room, a covered
salon, and wonderful views of the surrounding
oasis, the minarets in several tiny villages, and
the Atlas mountains in the distance: as early as
late October - while the weather settles in to
remain agreeably warm throughout the winter - one
can see the first snows on the highest peaks.
One independent suite in the garden with two
terraces.
In addition to the suites, hidden away behind
an ancient wall beyond the swimming pool area on
the far side of the garden, there are three
independent villas: each has an ancient studded
and carved door opening onto a central patio
(2000SF) with heated plunge pool.
The Villa les Oliviers has a living room, an
ensuite double bedroom with shower bathroom, and a
second ensuite double bedroom.
Villa l'Indienne has a large living room,
double bedroom with large bathroom (separate
shower and separate loo), office, and a second
ensuite double bedroom.
Villa d'Argent has a large living room, double
bedroom with anti-chamber and a vast bathroom, a
second ensuite double bedroom, and a child's
sleeping area.
The décor of the kasbah is without doubt
the nec plus ultra of neo-Moroccan refinement and
restrained good taste in an intriguing historic
setting: soothing tadelakt and brick floors;
white, pale cream, near black, and paste-coloured
tadelakt walls; ancient doors and high ceilings
with spotlights or elegant hanging lanterns;
classic wood-and-reed Moroccan ceilings, corridors
with billowing curtains; arches, skylights, and
softly illuminated niches all go to create an
inspiring environment.
Resolutely contemporary décor and
furniture play with dark and light: silk
draperies, Berber rugs, unusual antiques, black
and white photographs of bygone Morocco, original
art, artefacts from the four corners of the globe,
and the light from very tasteful Moroccan lanterns
complete an utterly seductive atmosphere.
The rigorous attention to detail - nothing is
out of place and everything is pleasing to the eye
- is such that it only reveals itself over a
period of time.
Within the heart of the kasbah, there is an
arcaded green-tiled courtyard leading to a very
beautiful and spacious spa with hammam, Jacuzzi,
plunge pool, two separate massage rooms, and a
shower room: world-class wellness treatments
enhanced by the very best creams, oils, perfumes,
and cosmetics.
Guests couples may opt for a exfoliation,
massage, or relaxing facial---together---followed
by a beauty treatment.
The grounds - a sheer delight - were designed
by a noted French landscape gardener to offer a
choice of havens of peace and beauty with the
ancient pise dividing wall next to the swimming
pool area : they embrace lawns, low walls, flower
beds, an alley of orange trees, a jasmine-covered
walkway, date palms, olive and fig trees, an
extensive orchard traversed by streams, and a
kitchen garden with aromatic herbs, fruit, and
vegetables to provide jams and raw materials for
the chef.
The magnificent 80-foot green-tiled swimming
pool is T-shaped with a shallow end for children
(1.0-2.1m): the surrounding sunbathing
terrace---tables, teak loungers and parasols---is
flanked by old pisé walls, thick
vegetation, and giant palm trees.
To the left of the dividing wall: formal
gardens with a decorative fountain as well as an
olive grove and the kitchen gardens; to the right
of the wall, pool area, orchard, rose garden, corn
plantation, and the independent villas
The exquisitely refined meals - created by an
exceptionally accomplished chef supported by a
very creative pastry chef - are served by
beautiful and attentive staff on fine dinnerware
enhanced by first-class cutlery, table linen, and
crystal glasses.
Breakfast lunch and dinner can be taken in the
privacy of one's suite (or villa) or in the formal
dining room; however, as a general rule, the staff
arrange a unique private dining area experience
for each family, group, or couple - a secluded
corner of the garden, one of the Moroccan dining
salons, an orchard setting, poolside, a main
kasbah fireside terrace, or one of the upper
terraces - and the effect is just as if one had
the whole property to oneself.
Dinner is usually preceded by drinks in the
main salon where guests mingle: the completely
international atmosphere often leads to unexpected
long-lasting friendships.
There is a wide range of local activities
including cooking lessons with one of the chefs, a
visit to an authentic Moroccan village with
traditional craftsmen, a visit to the local town,
mule trekking and picnicking in the celebrated
Valley of the Roses; walks in the Dadès
Gorge, the Valley of Almond Trees, and the Draa
Valley; sunset dromadory rides in the desert.
The more adventurous will opt for a guided
luxury trek about four hours south towards the
Algerian border: here they will dine under the
stars in the blackest of skies and sleep in Berber
tents surrounded by massive sand dunes topped with
giant lanterns creating an extraordinarily
romantic atmosphere.
The kasbah - a unique marriage of the
contemporary and the rural traditions of Southern
Morocco with its quite extraordinary light - is
one of the great, if not the greatest, Moroccan
experiences: guests leave with some considerable
reluctance, longing to return.
Using Marrakech as a base, access is by
commercial jet or private plane; however, for the
full transcendental experience, guests should
really take the five-hour safari over the Atlas
mountains and down to the desert: snow-clad
mountains give way to lush oases and rushing
rivers an then to the desert around Ouarzazate
with its American mid-west features.
The House of Dreams is ideal for a couple, a
family, or a corporate group of up to 28 seeking
total peace and exquisite refinement in sublime
surroundings close to the Gates of the Desert.
BOOKING & MORE INFORMTION
If you would like to obtain booking information about Ailleurs Villas, you can EMAIL us or call us on the numbers below. We will respond your email enquiry within 24 hrs.
If you have any questions about any of our other properties or indeed our service please do not hesitate to contact us.
Telephone: +353 1 288 9355
From Canada & the US 1-800-894 5712
By e-mail info@privateluxurytravel.com
