Kasbah Tamadot Review: Sir Richard Branson's Hotel in the High Atlas Mountains

After our stay in Marrakech, we ended our two-week Moroccan vacation at the most magical Moroccan property in the Atlas Mountains: Sir Richard Branson’s Kasbah Tamadot. With views of the snow capped Atlas Mountains and perched on a hillside in the little town of Asni, Kasbah Tamadot is a dream.

*The sun rising over the Atlas Mountains*

From the moment we arrived, we felt like we were living in a palace! We wandered the property. Exploring the cozy library, rooftop terrace, and lounges, every turn was more enchanting than the next. Rose petals adorned one of the three pools on the property, and international antiques decorated each storied room. Kasbah Tamadot is a Virgin Limited Edition Property, and this place does not disappoint.

An Overview of the Moroccan Retreat

Sir Richard Branson discovered Kasbah Tamadot during his hapless hot air expedition around the world. He purchased the property and all of the treasures inside from the renowned antique dealer and designer, Lucian Tempo in 1998.

There are so many delightful surprises when you explore Kasbah Tamadot. There are stables with camels and donkeys, a bakery where you can find a woman making fresh Moroccan bread daily, and a grass tennis court, which my husband LOVED!

There is also a friendly Moroccan man serving fresh mint tea on the patio who enlightened us about life in the Atlas Mountains. In fact, the majority of the staff at Kasbah Tamadot is from the local Berber villages.

Guest Rooms

There are luxury guest rooms in the main building, and private tents as well. All of them are spacious and uniquely decorated. In our guest room, we found some lovely touches, such as the pairs of babouches (Moroccan leather slippers) gifted to each guest and the complementary mini bar stocked with Moroccan wine. Our room was one of the smaller ones, yet it still had a sitting area, desk, and a spacious bathroom -- where I enjoyed a candle-lit bubble bath! The room was beautiful!

*Moroccan slippers and snacks in our Kasbah Tamadot Suite*

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Things to do

There is plenty to do at Kasbah Tamadot, although the best idea is to simply relax! The Kasbah Tamadot actually reminded my husband and I a lot of the Grootbos in South Africa because of the activities they offered to explore the surroundings, the fact that they both employ and train people from the area, and both resorts have foundations that support the local community. They do all of that while being a five-star resort.

Touring the local village was by far our favorite thing (I'll elaborate on that in just a moment), but there are plenty of ways to spend your time in this calming retreat.

Relax at the infinity pool
Play tennis on the grass court
Get a massage or hammam in the spa
Play chess or read a book in the library
Take a guided trek through the atlas mountains
Visit with locals in a nearby Berber village
Visit the Eve Branson Foundation
Shop handmade goods from local artisans at the foundation's shop
Learn how to cook Moroccan food with a lesson

Meeting the Locals in Atlas Mountains

Our luxurious stay inside Kasbah Tamadot was incredible, but our experience visiting the nearby village was by far the highlight of our visit. The hotel arranged a guided hike for us to tour the Atlas Mountains. Early on, I mentioned how I’d love to see a local village. I was interested in learning more about the Berber way of living.

*My husband is wearing a Djellaba (a hooded robe typical of the region) to stay warm. Djellabas are provided to all guests.* *Doesn't he look majestic?*

The next thing we know, our guide led us through the village and into his house! His mother made us fresh mint tea and warm bread, and she showed us around their home. The main floor is for their animals (a donkey for transportation, a cow and sheep) which are critical to the family’s livelihood. They also had a room for television and a full kitchen. Our guide’s mother didn’t speak English but she had the biggest smile the entire time. She was so generous and an excellent host! It was such a special experience!

*Enjoying mint tea and fresh bread with our guide and his mother*

Meals at Kasbah Tamadot

You can enjoy International and Moroccan food & wine on the property. In fact, there aren’t many options near the hotel, so most hotel guests eat breakfast, lunch and dinner at Kasbah Tamadot. You can choose half or full board, and since my husband and I don’t eat that much, we opted for half and paid ala carte for the rest. That was perfect for us.

What makes meals special are the incredible views. We enjoyed lunching on the outdoor patio. Sipping our morning tea with gorgeous views of the snowcapped High Atlas Mountains was a great start to the day! By the way, the restaurant is open to the public. Therefore, if you’re just dropping by, I’d recommend coming for lunch on the patio. That way, you can fully soak in the panoramic views.

How to get there

Although the Kasbah Tamadot feels like a world away from the busy city of Marrakech, it is only an hour drive from the city center. We hired a driver to pick us up from our amazing Riad in Marrakech to reach the Atlas Mountains. If you want ultimate luxury, Kasbah Tamadot can arrange a helicopter transfer for you.

Tips for Visiting Kasbah Tamadot

Book well in advance! We booked five months in advance and reserved the last available room. We visited at the end of March. The Berber tents are especially romantic, but they were all booked by the time we made a reservation.