It was a great pleasure and satisfaction to be on this great palace. I hope to be a another time here and more time. The place it's not noisy and polluted, we can really relax and discover the fantastic environmental nature beside the place.
This is a great place, with Omar being an outstanding host! You are situated in a beautiful setting (see their website for a photo of the grounds and surrounding area) as well as right next to a gorgeous park (see my photos, attached). This is a great place to spend at least a couple of days, exploring the beautiful Moroccan countryside. Omar did a great job in hooking me up with a local spelunker to check out the caves. Omar was very invested in making sure I had a good time in the area. They also feed you outstanding meals (be sure to get dinner from them because you are nowhere near any type of restaurant, out in the countryside). They prepare these meals with fresh ingredients from the grounds of the hotel. If you are a large eater, they will take care of you!
I know this is going to sound exaggerated and somewhat flaky, but I assure you that I am an old cynic, not given to schmaltzy tributes. Every now and then on your travels, so rarely - sadly, you come across a particular spot in the universe that slowly weaves itself into your consciousness forever and actually changes the way you think and feel. Ain Sahla was one of these rare and magical places. From Tangier to Essaouira, and many places in between, we'd booked and stayed in delightful riads, on the sea side and in medinas, on farmlands and in modern cities. But Ain Sahla was undoubtedly the most meaningful. It is conceived, built, owned and run by Monsieur Aomar Ouardiri, assisted by Ms Fatima-Zohra Chahdi. From the moment you are taken upon arrival, literally, into the arms of M. Aomar, you know you have come to a place like nowhere else you've ever been before. The Auberge is a sort of mountain retreat, difficult to categorise ... the term 'hacienda' comes to mind. It is set at the end of a beautiful road, close to the Jbel Tazeka peak, and just outside a national park, about an hour from Taza (an interesting, untouristed city in itself) to the east and Fez to the west, just outside a series of charming untouched little villages and along a magnificent and quiet mountain road. You'll need a car to get here, and it is well worth it. (The co-ords we used, which are dead accurate, are N 34 06 264 and W 004 198 040). The buildings making up the main residence (which rambles over quite a steep hillside) are charming and haphazard, made of rough stone and cement; there are many flights of stairs, and terraces and hidden corners and caves and all sorts of nooks and crannies ... even a basketball court. Accommodation is not luxurious, and the hot water supply was a bit erratic, but the delight of the place is such that it doesn't matter at all. We had a smallish room with 2 comfortable single beds and bathroom, leading out to the gardens and the beautiful swimming pool, and magnificent gardens of herbs, roses, herbs, orange, lemon, pomegranate, olive trees, fig and other trees ... the fruit practically falls into your hands (or on your heads) as you walk by. There are larger rooms with balconies one floor up, and fire-places, which may be more desirable. Overseen by the friendly Rocky, an Alsatian, this place is a true cure for all ills. The temperature, for late September, was perfect, and we were told that the place is very temperate all year round. The food, all made at the retreat from home-grown/bred material, was fresh and wholesome: we had a meat tagine with a sort of pink apple/yam fruit we did not know, and the next night something with chicken and a kind of rhubarb vegetable. Breakfasts and lunch were delicious - all light and fresh, with fresh fruit. We stayed 2 nights - the first night and say we had the place all to ourselves; we walked in the village; read our books, swam a lot (including under the full moon) and just sat still ... a fabulous sensory rejuvenation, and heaven on earth. We did not want to go anywhere by car when we got there, and so missed some of the drives and the caves nearby upon which more energetic visitors have commented favourably. The 2 day sojourn cost MAD 2450 in total (including some laundry), a most reasonable sum. I cannot recommend this place highly enough. Do your best to get there, at least for 2 nights. M. Aomar exudes such a kind, generous and worldly-wise energy, it is contagious, inspirational, liberating. We are definitely going back, and give M Aomar and his staff our thanks and best wishes for a truly brilliant time in his home.…
The food served was outstanding with everything fresh and delightful. The rooms were comfortable, clean, quiet, cool and had large beds. The building where the rooms were located had beautiful shapes and the people were so warm and friendly. I would definitely recomend this place to anyone who wants to stay around this area.
We wanted to drive the circuit around Jebel Tasseka and explore the Gouffre du Friouato so it made sense to make Ain Sahla our base. Despite its rural location, the road to the auberge is well signed. The place is beautiful with lovely well appointed rooms. The atmosphere here is very tranquil and calming with gorgeous scenery. Our host was a very charming man who did everything possible to make our stay perfect. His team were very attentive and ensured we had all our needs met. The food was sensational, locally grown. Rocky, the dog was a beautiful addition. After staying five weeks in Morocco in a variety of accommodation, the Ain Sahla ranked #1.
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