Ecolodge de Dar Itrane

Rooms

Dar Itrane has 17 rooms, including 3 Family Suites that can sleep up to 4. The nicest rooms, by far, are those which look out across the valley - we recommend asking for one of these at the time of booking. If you want privacy, request the room at the very top of the hotel, which occupies its own floor, enjoys incredible views and has its own private terrace and seating area.

All are unaffected, homespun and comfortable, with simple screed floors, beamed ceilings and little in the way of fussy decorative detail. The small shower rooms are attractively finished in tadelakt, with small copper basins. Expect just a token bar of soap in the way of toiletries.

We felt that the almost monastic feel of the rooms was just right for a place whose main clientèle is the walking community. And the comfortable duvet-clad beds, with locally-woven colourful bedspreads, ensure that you’ll sleep well even when the temperatures drop below freezing. You should be ready to light candles when the solar-generated electricity gives up at night.

Eating

There are 2 dining rooms at Dar Itrane. Of these we much preferred the salle marrocaine with its low tables, corner hearth and cushion-strewn benches. The second dining room, which has higher, wrought-iron tables and chairs, felt a bit too formal and a little soulless. And, of course, when the weather is good enough you can eat out in the patio in the shade of the apple trees.

Remember you're in such a remote place and don’t expect a gourmet extravaganza. Breakfasts are in simple vein: homemade bread and crêpes, local honey, jams, processed cheese and coffee or tea. Picnic lunches (most guests are out exploring the valley and its surroundings during the day) stick to a simple formula of salad and rice, fruit, bread and cheese, perhaps a can of tuna. Something similar is on offer at midday if you’re back at the lodge.

At dinner expect to be rubbing shoulders with your fellow guests if you're dining in the cosy salle marrocaine. Everyone eats the same fixed menu (included in the tariff) which can be tailored if one of the courses doesn’t suit. Starters tend to be vegetarian: vegetable soups, baked tomatoes or some kind of Moroccan salad variant. Main courses are all the typical Berber dishes of this part of the Atlas: couscous, tagines, méchoui or a thick meat stew. For dessert, there might be cake with fruit salad or flambéed bananas washed down with mint tea. It's hearty home-cooking, and extremely fulfilling after a busy day of walking.

If you are a wine drinker you'll need to bring your own bottle(s) from Marrakech.

Features include:

• Communal dining
• Lunch by arrangement
• Vegetarian options

Activities

• Head on a trek or mule ride straight out from the lodge with local guides. With prior notice you can tackle the summits of M'goun (4069m, feasible from May to November; allow 3 days and 2 nights camping en route) or the lesser trodden Azourki (3690m; allow 2 days and 1 night). Enquire for prices, which vary according to group size and season
  
• Walk around the hamlet, soaking up the days-gone-by atmosphere and local Berber culture
  
• Berber cooking and language classes can be arranged given advance notice
  
• Visit a local village home to see demonstrations of weaving, cooking and harvesting, and have lunch with the family
  
• Dar Itrane provides notes for its own ‘cultural’ self-guided walks through the valley, including one which leads up to a spectacular fortified hilltop granary, a typical feature in this part of the Atlas
  
• Stroll 20 minutes to the nearby village of Tabant, where an authentic souk is held every Sunday - a great insight into local life
  
• Ease away your aches and pains in the beldi hammam. Special hammam packs are on sale in Dar Itrane’s shop

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Cooking classes
• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Language courses
• Traditional cultures
• Trekking

Kids

Anybody travelling with kids in Morocco is given an extra warm welcome by locals and this is especially true up in the remoter Atlas villages. There are regular football matches they'll be encouraged to join in with, and mules for them to ride. It would be an amazing experience for any kid (or adult) to see how people live in a place as remote as this.

Children under 2 year olds stay for free, while 2-11 year olds stay for 50% of the adult price when sharing room with an adult. Extra beds and baby cots are available on request.

Best for:

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

Family friendly accommodation:

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Dar Itrane is in the remote village of Imelghas in the Ait Bougmez valley of the eastern High Atlas Mountains. It's a 5-hour drive from Marrakech along a winding high road; we'd recommend taking the hotel transfer unless you're a very confident driver. From Fes it's an hour or 2 more.

A trip up to Aït Bougmez makes a fantastic side-trip if you’re travelling between Fes and Marrakech.

By Air:
Marrakech Menara (220km) is the nearest airport.

From the Airport
The hotel can arrange a transfer from Marrakech.

By Car:
The Aït Bougmez valley is about 5 hours from Marrakech, the last 2 of which follow a spectacular dirt road up and over a high pass. If you want to hire a car, see our car rental recommendations. A 4x4 is recommended.

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