Les Cinq Djellabas ★★★★

Les Cinq Djellabas is a contemporary boutique group of African eco-lodges built in a lovely garden of one hectare of palm, banana and olive trees. The design is contemporary but its central concept is a heartfelt celebration of simplicity and serenity. Touches of traditional Moroccan crafts can be seen all around, from the carved wooden screens in the bedroom to the use of sustainable materials such as earth and thatched roofs, in a minimalistic African lodge style.

But this was not a ‘back to nature’ type of holiday; we arrived fully expecting not only the simplicity of the lodge and gardens, but modern comforts and conveniences, and we certainly found them in abundance! We had a king-size bed, mini bar, safe, even a fireplace for chilly evenings and all the practical necessities like a hairdryer and lovely toiletries in the bathroom. For our entertainment, if we needed more than simple relaxation and the lovely grounds outside, there was satellite TV, DVD player and, most important of all, a good Wi-Fi connection. 

It all creates an extraordinary contrast from the sort of sensory overload you come to expect from Marrakesh – the noise and colour, the spicy aromas and the endless bustle and frenetic buzz all just fade away into a haven of peace here. It is a real oasis of calm and the position facing the eternal snowy range of the Atlas Mountains is a balm for the spirits. But it is also not far from the Old Medina, and so if you want to spice up your peaceful sojourn, it’s only a short drive away. For me and my husband, though, most of the time we opted for the quietness of our lovely surroundings.

In our lodge, I loved the Turkish-screen-style carved doors of the wardrobes – practical for air circulation, and so delicate and pretty. Diaphanous white curtains floated around the bed: so practical to discourage unwanted flying visitors but so pretty and romantic! There were deep soft settees and armchairs, and a bowl of exotic fruits decorated our table. As a calm contrast to the colour of the city, the room was decorated in serene shades of taupe and cream but before you feel too relaxed, a playful metal sculpture of a huge armadillo makes its way up the wall and an appliquéd camel strides calmly over a dark brown cushion.

Outside, we relaxed by a serene heated outdoor pool edged with sun beds – and these are real beds with real mattresses and pillows. We roused ourselves on a couple of occasions during our stay to join in a fabulous lesson in Moroccan cookery, at least I did, and my husband couldn’t resist a round on one of the golf courses in Bab Atlas Marrakesh. There are lots of other things to do, see and learn about, and the staff are always happy to arrange these. But for us, comfort, simplicity and peace were the name of the game and Les Cinq Djellabas gave us exactly that.