Marrakesh Travel Forum

Hi

We are undertaking a trek in September and wanted to stay on after it in Marakesh or surroundings.

Does anybody know of either eco-lodge or self-catering accommodation?

We'd rather stay with a private local and support them than some posh hotel.

Any info appreciated!
Thanks
Iris

Hi are your question was about marackech area ?

why not stay in a riad?
it's a traditional morrocoan house, often located in the medina.
i stayed in one when i was in marrakesh and we had kitchen facilities and the girl running the place even gave my friend a cooking course in morrocoan food while we stayed there.
the place was called riad johenna and the adress and directions are on my marrakesh place.

try gulz area . or the south of marakech there is an other chance to stuck between atlas mounts in a town . there are houses too at the edge of the desert families rent houses , mix of trad and modr styl.
if you gona stuck in marakech you wanna find this apartment in guiliz .
am afraid that riad are not good for you in that case .

Oh thanks so much for the good tips -I will check them out this weekend!!

Have a good one
Iris ;)

The Gueliz area of Marrakech is not exactly the most beautiful. It is the business/new district.
If you are looking for an eco-lodge/ self catering you will be better off staying outside of Marrakech. Aim for Imlil, Tahannaout about 1hrs drive
Of course it all depends on how much time you have in Morocco.
Dar Johenna can be self catering & is lovely, it is run by a German & his Moroccan wife. I know them well.
I can also suggest other places depending on your budget.
Marrakech is starting to explode tourism wise & the big hotels & flashy riads (the image Marrakech tries to portray)are over charging.
If you want to do well, look for a small riad or even Dar, yes there will be cracks in the walls, but they will offer you more hospitality for your money than you can imagine and you will be genuinly be helping them by your stay.

Hi dear Iris,

Have a read around my Telouet pages as well - its an excellent place to soak up the environment and the culture - my tips especially on staying at Jackies House with Mohammed and his lovely wife who are wonderful hosts - you can have your own kitchen or let them cook for you. theres great walking around the valleys as well. and certainly has not yet been hit by any tourism other than the tour companies with long caravans of 4x4s that come tearing in and hole up at ripoff Auberge Telouet for lunch and take off again.

its an area of berber villages that do need money input and staying there would be of some benefit to them.
Have a look at the nearby villages of which i have pages and tips on Tasgha,(the walk through the valley from Telouet to Tasgha and on up to Anmiter and Tigzha) is stunning and so away from any tourists or foreigners - you dont see anyone but local berber folk usually) Anmiter and Tigzha. beautiful area. theres an excellent all day walk up from Anmiter or Tigzha up to the Tamda lakes that Abdel at Auberge Anmiter can be a good help with or Khalid at Maison Nomade Berbere at Telouet.

As with the walks around the High Atlas,Imlil and so on These places are all higher up in the TiznTichka so are much cooler than the heat of Marrakech and OUarzazate so can be lovely respite from the heat of the areas that you might have been seeing around that time too.

and not self catering but Hotel Toulousain in Marrakech - more the Gueliz area but only about 10mins away from the main square and its chaos and hustle - is a hotel i love staying at - not posh and not a 'tourist hotel' that tourist hungry package companies vie for either. more a down to earth place for budget travellers who are want a relaxing breakfast and then are generally out and about seeing the sights and coming home late for a bed.

Hello lovely people and THANKS TO ALL for the great tips, they will be browsed and explored in more detail ...

We are going end of September so hope the heat won't be swealtering ;)

Wishing you a great start to this week!
Iris