If you want to wake up to stunning mountain views, then Villa 7 L'Amandier is for you. The sound of birdsong and braying of donkeys is the usual wake-up call with the sun coming up over the mountains and flooding the rooms with light. The front door opens into a large welcoming hall with all the living and bedrooms leading off to either side. The property has two large terraces, one with a plunge pool, the second on the roof, a private garden and use of extensive communal gardens. There is a large communal infinity swimming pool located at the hotel on the complex which is open for our guests' use. The three good-sized bedrooms with air-conditioning open onto an internal courtyard with a fragrant orange tree. Two of the bedrooms have double beds with locally made and sourced furniture with large ensuite bathrooms with a full-sized bath with an overhead shower. The middle bedroom has two single beds furnished with local made furniture and a large shower room. All bedrooms have air-conditioning/heating, hair-dryers, mosquito repellent plugs and black-out curtains to prevent that bright early morning sunshine waking you too early! The sitting and dining rooms, although open plan are separated by a working fireplace. Again all the furniture has been sourced locally and is a mix of antique and modern to reflect the workmanship found in Morocco. Check out the old Berber cupboards in the dining area and entrance hall. We have put in a music centre and dvd player and there are adaptors to take modern pods, etc. Wifi is available. The the sitting and dining rooms and kitchen have floor to ceiling windows which open out onto the terrace with those spectacular views of the mountains. The kitchen is modern and has all mod cons including a dishwasher, coffee making machine, microwave, citrus squeezer and ice-cream maker! We have supplied enough cutlery, crockery and glassware to meet your daily needs as well as unbreakable plates and glasses to take outside. There is a utility room with washing machine and tumbler drier and an iron if you need one! Again we have supplied the villa with sufficient linen, duvets, pillows both feather and micro-fibre, towels to suit all needs from sun-bathing and hair-towels to bath sheets, hand towels and flannels. We have anticipated the changes in weather, yes it does get cold in the winter months, so there are summer and winter weight duvets and flat sheets for those boiling hot nights. The villa has been lovingly furnished with modern and antique pieces sourced in Morocco. The secluded private garden is filled with birdsong and colourful plants with lawned areas on which to relax and a sunken area with kadai fire bowl. Sun-loungers and umbrellas allow you to relax in the sun, a large table and chairs invite you to enjoy alfresco meals. A bespoke fountain created by London based Lucy Smith plays in the garden which encourages wild life. The views from the villa encompass not only the breath-taking mountains but also two plateaux on which the local shepherds graze their sheep and goats. At night, there is no light pollution so the sky is very, very dark and the stars feel so close that you could almost pick them out of the sky. It is not uncommon to watch your own spectacluar shooting star show while enjoying a glass or two of wine. Villa 7 is one of 13 privately owned villas set on a plateau in the Toubkal National Park surrounded by the breath-taking Altlas Mountains. We can highly recommend that you visit the Domaine de la Roseraie about 4 kms from the villa to sample their hospitality sipping tea or wine in their gardens, dipping in their pool or taking in lunch or dinner. We usually walk down to the Roseraie and get a local taxi to bring us back to the villa! Its good to book as dining times can be a bit on the rigid side! Another good place to visit and enjoy is Sir Richard Branson's Kasbah Tamadot at Asni. A very special place with large dining terraces, spa, two great pools and its own "zoo" with camels, donkeys and goats. At the same time visit Eve Branson's shop to purchase some authentic pieces made in Morocco to support her several local charities. Recently opened is Olinto Resort Hotel in Marigha, just a shortish walk down to the village. Our guests are welcome to sample their cuisine and bar as well as enjoying their beautiful landscaped gardens. While staying at L'Amandier, staff are on hand to help with any bookings for near-by or further afield trips ranging from booking a hamman and spa treatments at the Kasbah Tamadot, horse riding at the Domaine de la Roseraie or local trekking to trips down to Marrakech or to the desert or ocean. On your arrival you will receive a simple welcome pack of food and bottled water (please let us know if you have any special needs) and there is a local market and shops in Asni about 20 minutes drive away but we advise stopping en route from Marrakech at Carrefour an excellent supermarket to stock up on supplies, especially alcohol which is not readily available in the Mountains, to meet your daily needs. Villa 7 is self-catering but if you run out of essentials, just tell Abdou at L'Amandier and he can easily arrange for replenishments. L'Amandier is off the beaten track, about 2k from the main road to Ouirgane so having a hire car would be useful but not essential as there are some extremely good and reliable local taxis who are happy to take you on your journeys. For transfers to and from the airport, we can recommend our good friend Mohamed Ait Douch who runs Exotic Lines Travels and he and his competent drivers and modern vehicles can be relied on to get you to and from Marrakech to the Mountains safely. Or further afield to explore Morocco to the full. He is completely trustworthy and speaks several languages including English and French. Marrakech, which feels like a world away with is vibrant Medina and lifestyle, is only just over an hours' drive from the villa. Sir Richard Branson's Kasbah Tamadot, well worth a visit, 20 minutes down the road on the outskirts of Asni on the Imlil Road. This part of Morocco offers a myriad of things to do from the total "not doing anything" to let's go zip-riding or hang-gliding, golf or even skiing. So if you are adventurous or more cautious there is always something to keep you busy. The moods of the mountains are constantly changing ranging from the snow topped peaks in the winter months through to massive thunderstorms with great flashes of lightening, from the bright green of spring to the deep reds of the summers. The earth coloured Berber villages nestling into the mountainsides are barely visible to the naked eye but they are all around clustered onto the steepest slopes. The Berber people themselves are incredibly friendly and delightful. Make friends with them and you will be invited into their homes to meet their families and learn about their lives. But why restrict yourselves to just one area, break your visit into two destinations and spend time in the bustle of Marrakech or by the seaside at Essouira or Meknes the fertile area that produces fruit, vegetables, wine and roses. Or even visit the desert and take a camel ride and spend time in a Berber tent. There is so much to try and discover in this amazing country.
