Kasbah Tamadot in Morocco
By Kristina Scuoteguazza
Decadence, luxury, and opulence. The Richard Branson’s luxury hotel Kasbah Tamadot in Morocco encompasses all of these. I got to give him props for owning the most glamorous properties (I just happened to see his bodacious villa while visiting lake como). It’s $3000 a night and not that far from Marrakesh (45 minute ride or 25 minutes with a chopper) and situated in the hillside of the High Atlas Mountains and overlooking Mount Toubkal and the local Berber villages.
Richard’s parents convinced him to buy the villa in 1998, originally the private home of the antiquarian, Luciano Tempo for 1.5 million USD. The hotel is surrounded by lush gardens, A-listers, fruit trees and amenities include pools, restaurants, a library, gym, spa, treasure hunts, cinema nights, camel rides, cooking classes, tea parties and more. Many of Branson’s guests enjoy ballooning over the mountain villages. Let the winds sail you over the Moroccan sunset- sounds cheesy, but it is quite spectacular. Plus, you’ll get the 3 C’s: croissants, coffee, and champagne are provided during the ride.
As for food, do not order scallops or steak, go local and get the lamb tangine- you won’t be disappointed. You will also feel deeply inhabited in the local culture – especially when it comes to dining, spa treatments (they use traditional Moroccan cleansing rituals) and shopping at local craft houses. To achieve this level of authenticity, the hotel employs 90% of surrounding village residents. You can choose to stay in a master suite, a berber tent (villa with private pools- 8 of them) or a traditional hotel room. The rooms are lavish, with antique fixtures, bright colored walls and great views. The rich burnt umber, camel, and sepia tones of the hotel compliment the crisp white, navy blue and auburn shades of the Moroccan decor along with the and green and purple tones of the mountains in the distance. The hotel only has 27 rooms, one-of-a-kind, and seven years in the making.
Kasbah Tamadot Pool Terrace
