Dar Haissoun

The villages of Bin El Ouidane and Ouaouizerth are a ten-minute drive from the villa. The two closest larger towns are Azilal, roughly half an hour away and Beni Mellal, roughly an hour away. Guests enjoy visits to Cathedral, the spectacular Ait Bougmes Valley, the stunning Ouzoud Waterfalls and Marrakech. The villa is surrounded by Berber villages, lush green valleys and wonderful fruit orchards.
 
The Ouzoud Waterfalls are one of the most visited natural sites in Morocco. With a height of one hundred and ten metres, the waterfalls are the highest in Morocco. During dusk, troops of monkeys gather around the waterfalls. ‘Ouzoud’ is a Berber word that means watermill. Close to the falls is a stone that rotates with the force of the water, which locals use to grind cereals.
 
Bin El Ouidane Dam is fifty kilometres from Ouzoud Waterfalls. It is an arch dam that was built in the fifties for irrigation and energy production. The lake is a brilliant spot for swimming, diving, watersports, boating and cycling. Morocco Adventure and Rafting School teach the basics of rafting and kayaking on the lake before heading off to the scenic Ahansal Gorge. There are three and seven-day courses where visitors can run through the rapids in three-metre-wide gorges, camp, spot turtles and enjoy the stunning scenery. Canyoning is another popular activity. Bin El Ouidane is very popular with photographers and artists.
 
Azilal is located in the centre of the Atlas Mountains. It is a beautiful place with gorgeous landscapes, a unique culture, plenty of crafts and eye-catching architecture. It enjoys a rich and varied gastronomy, from amazing couscous, fish and olive tagines to argan oil. You can enjoy the azure blue waters of Bin El Widane Lake, the amazing gorges of the Ahansal Wadi and the beautiful natural reserve of Tamga. Azilal and the surrounding areas are brilliant for sports, including water sports such as canoeing, kayaking and rafting, paragliding over the Ait Bouguemez Valley, canyoning and others. Mount M’Goun, Morocco’s second-highest mountain, offers excellent mountaineering opportunities. A guide in the Ait Bouguemez Valley can take you across the bridge of Imi N’Ifri next to Demnate, to the caves of El Ksiba and Aven and to spectacular waterfalls.
 
Marrakech is a bustling, intoxicating, colourful city of wonders that offers an inexhaustible source of surprises. It is Africa’s Capital of Culture, where everything is on the move. Finding out all of its secrets would take forever, but you can visit a handful of attractions in a few days to get a taste of its noble past and its frenetic present. Colourful spices, glistening lamps, colourful carpets and leather in every shade imaginable are combined with rich, ancient architecture to capture your heart and soul. Its souks are loud, thrilling and very exciting. You can shop for sweets, clothing, leather, spices, soap, perfume, rugs, lighting, musical instruments and much more. All prices are negotiable, and bargaining is a social art. You will discover snake charmers, storytellers and potion sellers. Dining in the Medina is an adventure and will set your tastebuds tingling. Smoke rises from barbecues which are enjoyed along with Gnawa musicians, acrobats and fortune tellers. The famous Patisserie des Princes is perfect for sweet treats and ice cream afterwards. Many of the riads boast exquisite restaurants for fine dining experiences where you will enjoy creative, spice-laced modern Moroccan menus, many of which are on rooftops with fabulous views. Your friendly staff at the riad can recommend and book tables for you. The wonderful Riad Yima Tea Room is the home and personal gallery of Hassan Hajjaj, the Andy Warhol of Marrakech and is filled with upcycled pop art. It is fun and a great place to grab a classic cup of mint tea. The Medina’s labyrinth of winding lanes and alleyways is best explored with a willingness to get lost and a sense of adventure. In 1985 the Medina was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Hammams were introduced to the city by the Romans and adapted to fit Islamic ablution rituals. Visitors enjoy wonderful hammam experiences at Hammam de la Rose, the Farnatchi Spa, the deluxe Royal Mansour and many other spas. This Moroccan city-break favourite is also home to a glossy modern quarter, the Gueliz, which is just steps from the riad. Beyond Marrakech’s ancient heart is this contemporary, manicured area full of funky cafes, chic shopping opportunities, upmarket restaurants and wonderful museums that are architectural statements. It is alive with artwork, with one of the most famous galleries being the Matisse Art Gallery, named after the 20th-century artist Henri Matisse. It draws some of the best artists from all over Morocco with inspirational exhibitions. You will also discover the Royal Tennis Club of Marrakech with its nine courts plus a stadium court. The club is the oldest and largest tennis club in Marrakech and is often used for sporting events.

Marrakech enjoys an excellent collection of museums, including Maison de la Photographie, a three-storey riad-turned-gallery housing the vintage Moroccan photography collection of Patrick Menac’h and Marrakshi Hamid Mergani. Its rooftop cafe is one of the highest in Medina. The Musee Tiskiwin displays the history of Marrakech and the region in general. The Dar Si Said Museum is an exhibition of historic and contemporary Moroccan art, full of intricate Byzantine designs and colours. The Musee Boucharouite features stunning tapestries and another hidden rooftop cafe, while the Musee de Mouassine shows off the work of a local artist. The Music Museum is located in the Saadian quarter, built in the 16th and 17th centuries. The reception of the museum is a jewel of Arab-Andalusian architecture.

The area around the city is sprinkled with magical gardens. Le Jardin Secret is one of Medina’s largest and most important gardens, with a Persian garden full of tufty grasses and olive, pomegranate, fig and date trees and a second smaller garden offering exotic plants. An elaborate irrigation system weaves its way through the gardens, part of an ancient network that once distributed water from artesian wells and fed by the mountains. When fashion icon Yves St Laurent arrived in the city in 1964, he was overwhelmed by the city and its vivacity. He lived in the Jardin Majorelle with his partner, a lush garden painted with an intense shade of ultramarine blue. It is sprinkled with giant cacti, palms and bamboo groves. The Berber Museum is filled with Yves St Laurent’s personal jewellery and fashion collection, and the Musee Yves St Laurent offers a stunning choreography presentation of the clothes in a dramatic black hall.

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