Morocco holidays..ouarzazate city
Morocco holidays..ouarzazate city
The tiny Moroccan town of Ouarzazate is a caramel-colored oasis set against a clear blue African sky. Be inspired by Ait Benhaddou, a beautifully preserved Kasbah that's a UNESCO World Heritage site, or walk in the starry path of celebrities by taking a tour of one of Ouarzazate's two movie studios.
Vacation Overview
Exotic and fascinating, the Kingdom of Morocco is rich in history and culture, offering travelers intriguing historical sites, authentic cuisine, and changing scenery that is perfect for travelers wanting to explore and learn about a new destination. In Marrakesh, step back in time as you wander through the Jemaa-el-Fna, a square and exotic bizarre offering some of the greatest open-air entertainment. Listen to the storytellers—an integral part of the culture—and browse for handicrafts. It’s not hard to imagine what it was like in the past, a time when caravans loaded their camels with food and goods to sell at the markets.
In Fez, take an optional tour to see the ancient medina. Founded in the 9th century, it is one of the largest medieval cities in the world and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stroll through its souks (markets) and alleys, which are virtually unchanged since the Middle Ages. Taste authentic Moroccan cuisine and take in the sites and sounds of this fascinating city.
On this tour you’ll also visit Casablanca, Meknes, Ouarzazate, Ifrane, Erfoud, and Rabat, Morocco’s vibrant capital. Admire changing scenery as the Middle Atlas mountain range transforms to desert as you approach the Erfoud oasis. This affordable vacation to Morocco is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Always feeling free to write about travel ideas, I now come up with a nice new hotel in Ouarzazate, 200km south of Marrakech in Morocco. This new hotel is called Riad Dar Rita and is a 7 room private guest house – bed & breakfast style located in the old district of Tassoumaat, on the entrance of the city of Ouarzazate.
This Ouarzazate hotel now holds the 1st position in Trip Advisor (please check out the Trip Advisor page here: Hotel Ouarzazate). This position is not surprising taking in consideration the extreme care and total professional service of the manager Mrs. Rita. This guest house in Ouarzazate fully opened back in February 2011 and is now working and offering comfort and exceptional accommodation.
Get in
Buses from:
Inezgane (close to Agadir ) twice a day 80 MAD (prices are negotiable, can be reduced till 50 MAD)
Marrakesh- C.T.M Bus 70 MAD (twice a day, morning, evening), grand taxi 100 per person
Regional bus is cheaper, but not as nice, and runs more often. Two bus stations.
often two flights a day during the week from Casablanca. Note that as with the rest of the town, the airport shuts down in the middle of the day for siesta (at least during the summer), so make sure you have cash with you when you arrive, or you may find yourself stranded at the airport!
Get around
The area around Mohammad V is very walk able. The C.T.M station is there as well. Petits taxis for within the city (no more than 10Dh from the airport to the hotel), grands taxis for between cities (no more than 300Dh to Ait Benhaddou and back...though you can probably get it lower), including to Ait Benhaddou and surrounding Kasbahs.
Don't be surprised if during a local taxi ride the driver requests you to "transfer taxis" or has "a friend to pick up on the way." When this happens, a friendly English (or other language) speaking person will start pitching you outings, most of them to Erg Chebbi near Merzouga or Zagora. If you are not interested, just politely tell them so, but if you are, you can negotiate a reasonable price with them.
Ouarzazate is very safe, but don't wander into weird corners at night. Crime throughout the Moroccan south is minimal, but its best not to take (too many) chances.
Do
Visit Ait Benhaddou - one of the best preserved Kasbahs . Taxi can take you there for 300 MAD (probably possible to haggle cheaper price), driver will wait couple of hours. Very picturesque place, lots of movies were shot there (Gladiator). 10 dirham to visit kasbahs. You don't need a guide, but locals will follow you pretending to help and at the end will ask for money. Careful not to get too wet from the river when crossing it, since there's been reports of Schistosomiasis contracted from the water.
Walk along the central square behind Muhammad V at night when everyone comes out. The kids go out to play football on the square, people go eat and socialize, and you'll get a feel for the community just walking around.
Plan an expedition out to Merzouga, M'Hamid and the Dunes of Erg Chebbi. A night in the Sahara is unforgettable and can be the best part of your Moroccan adventure. Ourzazate is the last big town in the south where this is easy and cheap to do. There are lots of agencies around that can arrange a trek like this, though this is the more expensive way to do it. A cheaper way, if you don't mind worrying about a few details, is to rent a car, go out there yourself, and negotiate an overnight in the desert with a Merzougan auberge (most of them offer overnights in the dessert). Renting a car and driving the way is relatively easy if you drive a stick. The roads out that way are very good and easy to navigate. The overnight in the Dunes should only cost about 400-500Dh. A grand taxi will also take you out that way and back for 1500-2000Dh. Everything out here is negotiable, so shop around for the best price.
Buy
Whatever you buy, it is likely you can't find it cheaper in Marrakech orFes. Realize everything is negotiable!
Eat
Plenty of cheap restaurants along Mohammad V. Normal price for tagine should be about 30Dh.
Drink
Bottled water is cheap (10Dh) and widely available.
Sleep
Plenty of hotels of all ranges around town. Ask a cabby to bring you to one, but realize he'll pocket commission for bringing you there.
La Gazella- clean, cheap hotel (156Dhm double room with hot shower), safe parking in the courtyard, ATM just next door, bakery across the road.
Hotel Saghro A bit out of town across the river (you'll need a grand taxi to get there), but the rooms are nice and there's a restaurant on site. They even have a pool.
Nearby
Dar Ahlam is a spectacular 10-room hotel in Skoura, about 40 km from Ouarzazate. It is expensive, but distinctive in every element: architecture, style, service, and food. Possibly the best hotel in Morocco. Ask to stay in one of the villas.
I Roccha (Irocha), Tiseldey/Tisselday. Extremely friendly hosts and international mix of travellers. Quiet and relaxing place overseeing a valley in a small village of Tisselday. For New Year holidays, normally confirms booking only for those who visited previously (and hosts liked them).
Ouarzazate is a city on the Saharan side of the Atlas Mountains. It is also known as "Quallywood". The city, its studios, film museum, and landscape are the reasons why such movies as "Babel", "Gladiator", "Kundun", "Lawrence of Arabia". and other desert-themed movies are made here.
The person who sold me the tour assured me the van would be air-conditioned and the driver would speak English. It van was air-conditioned. It just didn't work. As for the driver he was good and safe, his English consisted of "Huh?".
The trip in a rented van takes four hours one way over the Atlas Mountains with hundreds of switchbacks, missing guard rail sections, trucks, and large tour buses. Of the starting eight people, one couple got out early to catch a bus back to Marrakesh after the woman vomited at the side of the road for twenty minutes, another young man passenger simply vomited in the van and continued.
Mary took and passed out to others her Peace Corps motion sickness pills. Other than bruises on my thigh and her gasps, the trip went well.
The tiny Moroccan town of Ouarzazate is a caramel-colored oasis set against a clear blue African sky. Be inspired by Ait Benhaddou, a beautifully preserved Kasbah that's a UNESCO World Heritage site, or walk in the starry path of celebrities by taking a tour of one of Ouarzazate's two movie studios.
Vacation Overview
Exotic and fascinating, the Kingdom of Morocco is rich in history and culture, offering travelers intriguing historical sites, authentic cuisine, and changing scenery that is perfect for travelers wanting to explore and learn about a new destination. In Marrakesh, step back in time as you wander through the Jemaa-el-Fna, a square and exotic bizarre offering some of the greatest open-air entertainment. Listen to the storytellers—an integral part of the culture—and browse for handicrafts. It’s not hard to imagine what it was like in the past, a time when caravans loaded their camels with food and goods to sell at the markets.
In Fez, take an optional tour to see the ancient medina. Founded in the 9th century, it is one of the largest medieval cities in the world and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stroll through its souks (markets) and alleys, which are virtually unchanged since the Middle Ages. Taste authentic Moroccan cuisine and take in the sites and sounds of this fascinating city.
On this tour you’ll also visit Casablanca, Meknes, Ouarzazate, Ifrane, Erfoud, and Rabat, Morocco’s vibrant capital. Admire changing scenery as the Middle Atlas mountain range transforms to desert as you approach the Erfoud oasis. This affordable vacation to Morocco is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Always feeling free to write about travel ideas, I now come up with a nice new hotel in Ouarzazate, 200km south of Marrakech in Morocco. This new hotel is called Riad Dar Rita and is a 7 room private guest house – bed & breakfast style located in the old district of Tassoumaat, on the entrance of the city of Ouarzazate.
This Ouarzazate hotel now holds the 1st position in Trip Advisor (please check out the Trip Advisor page here: Hotel Ouarzazate). This position is not surprising taking in consideration the extreme care and total professional service of the manager Mrs. Rita. This guest house in Ouarzazate fully opened back in February 2011 and is now working and offering comfort and exceptional accommodation.
Ouarzazate Morocco
Dar Rita Ouarzazate
- Address: Rue de la Mosquée 39
- Tassoumaât district, city of Ouarzazate, Morocco
- Phone: +212.654.164.726
- Email: darritamaroc@gmail.com
- Web: Ouarzazate Hotel
More tips about Morocco: If you’re looking for more riads in Morocco try the website 31best (Guest House Marrakech), or directly visit the website of Riad Paula located in the old Medina of Marrakech (Riad Marrakech). Enjoy your vacations in Morocco.
Get in
Buses from:
Inezgane (close to Agadir ) twice a day 80 MAD (prices are negotiable, can be reduced till 50 MAD)
Marrakesh- C.T.M Bus 70 MAD (twice a day, morning, evening), grand taxi 100 per person
Regional bus is cheaper, but not as nice, and runs more often. Two bus stations.
often two flights a day during the week from Casablanca. Note that as with the rest of the town, the airport shuts down in the middle of the day for siesta (at least during the summer), so make sure you have cash with you when you arrive, or you may find yourself stranded at the airport!
Get around
The area around Mohammad V is very walk able. The C.T.M station is there as well. Petits taxis for within the city (no more than 10Dh from the airport to the hotel), grands taxis for between cities (no more than 300Dh to Ait Benhaddou and back...though you can probably get it lower), including to Ait Benhaddou and surrounding Kasbahs.
Don't be surprised if during a local taxi ride the driver requests you to "transfer taxis" or has "a friend to pick up on the way." When this happens, a friendly English (or other language) speaking person will start pitching you outings, most of them to Erg Chebbi near Merzouga or Zagora. If you are not interested, just politely tell them so, but if you are, you can negotiate a reasonable price with them.
Ouarzazate is very safe, but don't wander into weird corners at night. Crime throughout the Moroccan south is minimal, but its best not to take (too many) chances.
Do
Visit Ait Benhaddou - one of the best preserved Kasbahs . Taxi can take you there for 300 MAD (probably possible to haggle cheaper price), driver will wait couple of hours. Very picturesque place, lots of movies were shot there (Gladiator). 10 dirham to visit kasbahs. You don't need a guide, but locals will follow you pretending to help and at the end will ask for money. Careful not to get too wet from the river when crossing it, since there's been reports of Schistosomiasis contracted from the water.
Walk along the central square behind Muhammad V at night when everyone comes out. The kids go out to play football on the square, people go eat and socialize, and you'll get a feel for the community just walking around.
Plan an expedition out to Merzouga, M'Hamid and the Dunes of Erg Chebbi. A night in the Sahara is unforgettable and can be the best part of your Moroccan adventure. Ourzazate is the last big town in the south where this is easy and cheap to do. There are lots of agencies around that can arrange a trek like this, though this is the more expensive way to do it. A cheaper way, if you don't mind worrying about a few details, is to rent a car, go out there yourself, and negotiate an overnight in the desert with a Merzougan auberge (most of them offer overnights in the dessert). Renting a car and driving the way is relatively easy if you drive a stick. The roads out that way are very good and easy to navigate. The overnight in the Dunes should only cost about 400-500Dh. A grand taxi will also take you out that way and back for 1500-2000Dh. Everything out here is negotiable, so shop around for the best price.
Buy
Whatever you buy, it is likely you can't find it cheaper in Marrakech orFes. Realize everything is negotiable!
Eat
Plenty of cheap restaurants along Mohammad V. Normal price for tagine should be about 30Dh.
Drink
Bottled water is cheap (10Dh) and widely available.
Sleep
Plenty of hotels of all ranges around town. Ask a cabby to bring you to one, but realize he'll pocket commission for bringing you there.
La Gazella- clean, cheap hotel (156Dhm double room with hot shower), safe parking in the courtyard, ATM just next door, bakery across the road.
Hotel Saghro A bit out of town across the river (you'll need a grand taxi to get there), but the rooms are nice and there's a restaurant on site. They even have a pool.
Nearby
Dar Ahlam is a spectacular 10-room hotel in Skoura, about 40 km from Ouarzazate. It is expensive, but distinctive in every element: architecture, style, service, and food. Possibly the best hotel in Morocco. Ask to stay in one of the villas.
I Roccha (Irocha), Tiseldey/Tisselday. Extremely friendly hosts and international mix of travellers. Quiet and relaxing place overseeing a valley in a small village of Tisselday. For New Year holidays, normally confirms booking only for those who visited previously (and hosts liked them).
Ouarzazate is a city on the Saharan side of the Atlas Mountains. It is also known as "Quallywood". The city, its studios, film museum, and landscape are the reasons why such movies as "Babel", "Gladiator", "Kundun", "Lawrence of Arabia". and other desert-themed movies are made here.
The person who sold me the tour assured me the van would be air-conditioned and the driver would speak English. It van was air-conditioned. It just didn't work. As for the driver he was good and safe, his English consisted of "Huh?".
The trip in a rented van takes four hours one way over the Atlas Mountains with hundreds of switchbacks, missing guard rail sections, trucks, and large tour buses. Of the starting eight people, one couple got out early to catch a bus back to Marrakesh after the woman vomited at the side of the road for twenty minutes, another young man passenger simply vomited in the van and continued.
Mary took and passed out to others her Peace Corps motion sickness pills. Other than bruises on my thigh and her gasps, the trip went well.
Merzouga Vacations..MERZOUGA The last village
Morocco holidays..Merzouga
While lazing away the hours in Rissani, I'd been investigating the route to Merzouga, the home to the only genuine Saharan ergs in Morocco (an erg being a classic, sand dune desert). There are two roads to Merzouga, but both are relatively scary. The route from Rissani is the shorter of the two, but sections of it are pretty rough, and in a rented Fiat Uno it's probably not in your interests to try it, unless being stranded in the middle of the desert is your cup of tea. The other route, from Erfoud, is easier to follow, but it's still along rough dirt roads (or pistes as they're known in Morocco) and the guidebooks are careful to sound a note of caution, while still saying that normal cars can reach Merzouga without serious problems.
Taking a break on the way to Merzouga to chat to a local on a bicycle
Not wishing to get stuck with a stranded car in the desert, Peta and I had popped into Rissani to check out the score, only to be welcomed by the usual gaggle of young men trying desperately to sell us their guiding skills and goodness knows what else. They felt about as trustworthy as the most dodgy Moroccans do – in other words, you'd trust them as far as you can spit, which in the desiccated desert is no distance at all – so we turned around and decided to risk driving to Erfoud and them down to Merzouga.
It proved to be no scarier than the corrugated dirt roads in outback Australia, and we made it to Merzouga without any lasting damage (though the bone-shaking roads made it sound as if the car, now nicknamed Sandy, was about to fall apart in spectacular style). Things were helped by a couple of tourists we'd brought along from the hotel, Mike and Marie, who would have been very handy if we'd got stuck in sand, and provided us with enough confidence to tackle the desert and win.
A donkey in Merzouga
The drive itself was beautiful, and after about 40 minutes of rattling and swerving round the potholes, the sand dunes of Erg Chebbi popped into view on the horizon, like a huge red mountain range in the distance. We bumped our way along the dusty dirt road straight towards the dunes, and as they got closer the red dissolved into a myriad mix of peach, ochre and brown, giving the dunes a magical look that made all the bouncing worthwhile.
Sure, we got stuck in the sand when we got to Merzouga itself, but who cares? It was the work of two minutes to push us back onto the road, and it wasn't long before we'd found a genuine oasis at the end of the caravan route: the Ksar Sania has atmospheric double rooms set in their own desert cottages (complete with roof), and suddenly life never seemed better. The peach dunes rose from the desert a stone's throw from our roof terrace, camels wandered around, mini-dust storms blew through town, and the peace was complete.
How I love the desert, especially when you can get a nice, cold bottle of water to keep the heat in check...
Exploring the Saharan Dunes
There isn't a lot of water in the Sahara, and the sign in the hotel made the point pretty succinctly:
The huge dunes of the Erg Chebbi
It's obvious just how dry it is in the desert from the speed at which your clothes dry after washing: lie your soaking towel on the roof and the scorching winds will dry it in under 15 minutes, not surprising then you consider the maximum temperature when we were in Merzouga was a whopping 48°C (and the minimum was 27°C, a respectable temperature for a midsummer's day in England).
Your lips dry up unless you constantly apply lip salve, your skin starts to flake, and the flies will land on absolutely anything that contains even a hint of water, including tear ducts, the corners of your mouth, and any portion of visible, sweating skin. It is hot beyond words.
The view from our hotel roof
But that's the point, and it would be a pretty stupid thing to complain about the heat when you've just crossed hours of stony desert to check out the Sahara in June. If you wanted to explore the desert in a more amenable climate, then although Merzouga hasn't had any rain since 1995, it's not devoid of water. Indeed, when it rains in the High Atlas, and when the snow melts, the rivers rage, creating havoc for local transport but feeding the oases with enough water to sustain life. Merzouga even boasts a lake for part of the year, and it glimmers on the horizon, attracting flamingos into the otherwise utterly inhospitable environment of the desert. As you drive along the roads of the hammada the most common road sign is the one warning of a ford in the road, sporting a car plunging through water, spraying out from under its wheels. It's an odd thought as you rattle over river-beds that look like they've never seen water, let along flooding.
48°C in the shade
But without this amazing lack of rainfall you wouldn't have the dunes, and it's the dunes that make the Sahara. Stony desert is one thing, but after a while the beauty of the hammada begins to pale, which is why it's such an epiphany driving to Merzouga and seeing the huge dunes of the Erg Chebbi rising up on the horizon. Located right next to the town of Merzouga, the dunes rise up 150m in huge piles of peach undulation, and if, like me, you're unable to pass a mountain without wanting to climb it, you're in for a treat.
Climbing sand dunes is an art, and it's one I don't particularly understand. Dunes are no more than huge piles of sand – indeed, in the Erg Chebbi you can see the underlying ground, and it genuinely looks like someone has simply dumped a load of peach-coloured sand straight onto the ground – but climbing huge piles of sand is no joke, especially in the baking Saharan sand. If you try to traverse the dunes, you'll slip downhill; if you try to climb straight up, then it's two steps up, one step down; if you climb in boots then they'll fill with heavy sand within two minutes, but if you climb in sandals your feet will fry; your water will be as hot as tea within half an hour of setting off; and when the wind blows, as it does an awful lot in the desert, your molars fill up with sand and your eyes feel like sand pits.
Whirlwinds in the Merzouga desert
Get up that dune, though, and who cares about the hurt? The landscape is like no other, because Erg Chebbi is nothing other than a peach sand mountain range. OK, so the mountains aren't huge, but the range of textures and colours is so other-worldy that it's trivial to trick yourself into thinking that you're staring at a massive Martian landscape of rifts, valleys and dizzying heights. The dunes don't go on as far as the eye can see – they're bound on all sides by hammada – but they do extend for a number of kilometres in each direction, and it's easy to kid yourself that you're surrounded by sand right to the horizon and beyond.
Surrounding Area
Hotel set in the sand dunes of Merzouga. Information on rooms, location, rates and dromedary excursions throughout the southern region of the country
Accommodations
The ksar Bicha is located just outside the village of Merzouga and only a few steps from the Erg Chebbi. The double and triple rooms, all with private bath, are clean and comfortable. And for families in search of a night under the stars, ksar Bicha invites its guests to sleep on the terrace or in a tent, or experience the desert in a bivouac. Accommodation is half board. The cost of the pack trips varies with the size of the group and length of stay
Rooms/Suites
You have a choice of 10 bedrooms, each elaborately decorated and offering the best in interior design in traditional Morrocan style. Each room has a private bathroom and individual design.
a big choice also of more than 30 berbere tents, double, single and family tents.
Amenities
The restaurant offers delicious cuisine with fresh local produce from the markets used in the preparation of the food. We offer traditional Morrocan dishes.
You will enjoy a haven of peace where style and comfort are combined to create a special atmosphere.
Services Offered
The Riad ksar bicha provides professional services in Airport transfers between (marrakech ,errachidia, ouarzazate, fes )and Merzouga desert. journeys to other cities in the great south of morocco.
Other Information
At the gateway to the Sahara, on the edge of the Erg Chebbi, the highest sand dunes in Morocco, the hotel Ksar Bicha offers a pleasant base from which to discover the desert
hotel ksar bicha invites you to bivouac in the superb golden sand-dunes of the moroccan desert.
There you can attend colourful sunrises and sets, go for wonderful dromedary-rides, drink tea with nomades and enjoy absolute serenity, relax and meditation oppurtunities.
It would also be marvellous if you visit the oasis, lake sirji and the berber villages in the surroundings.
Directions
2 km before merzouga village on the way comming from rissani , there is a sign indicate the 1 km of a good track to the hotel.
Berber tents in the Sahara
Desert Nomad Bivouac in Sahara Desert
Auberge du Sud’s special crew will give you thrill and adventure through out Sahara Desert and organize trips to other amazing places in Morocco. We organize programs like nights in Berber tents below the stars in the Sahara. Auberge du Sud offers different types of tents (bivouac) and nomad camps inside Erg Chebbi Dunes. From luxury tents to standard camps with nomad tents, Auberge du Sud relies on quality and exceptional service in Sahara Desert.
Auberge du Sud has different types of facilities for you and one of the most asked are the Berber tents. Either in the middle of the Sahara or near our main building, you can experience the real life of a nomad inside a real desert tent. This experience is perfect for star lovers and makes the perfect romantic spot for lovers.
Private groups and organizations
Auberge du Sud can arrange everything you wish to organize your friends vacations. Special events can be arranged in order to make you and your group of friends have an amazing time in their Desert experience. Bikers, Campers, Classic cars, Young people, etc. Just let us know in advance.
Merzouga is for most travellers the final stop on the journey south from Rissani, or Erfoud. It is a hulking village, a place of extremes. It can be years without rain here, but a few years back, heaven opened up and flooded the place, destroying most houses.
The main attraction here, must be the Saharan lake of Dayet Sriji, quite a surprise to come by. Morocco is a country of very few natural lakes, so finding a real one here, about an hour of travel south of everything, feels unreal. It is a real salty one, making agriculture impossible, yet it is a true lake.
In the lake there are numerous birds, of which flamgoes will be the most fascinating for most to watch. I had a small accident with my camera, which destroyed the good pictures I made of the birds. The one of to the left is the closest I have to any flamingo.From a not-too-far distance, the village of Merzouga merges with the surrounding landscape. That applies even to the inhabitants, of which most are dressed in traditional jellabas of earten colours.
In between all the trees of the oasis, run canals. Considering how far you are from the next trace of civilization, how barren the nature is, and how hot it is all through the year, it is surprising to see how strongly the water streams through the canals.
Merzouga.Auberge,Camping and bivouac SAHARA
Village Hassi labiad 3km before Merzouga, Morocco Hotels & Resorts
Nice hotel in a oasis at the adge of Merzouga's sand dunes recommanded by all famous guide-books and run by flexible multi- language staff organising different services : Cameltrips & trekking Bivouacs Rent 4x4 &VTT Camping & swimming pool
Bask in glorious sunsets and channel your inner sheik while you ride a meandering camel across the windblown dunes of Erg Chebbi. Merzouga, a small village in southeast Morocco, gives visitors a taste of desert life, and treks to nearby villages will reward you with African revelry, including music and dance.
While lazing away the hours in Rissani, I'd been investigating the route to Merzouga, the home to the only genuine Saharan ergs in Morocco (an erg being a classic, sand dune desert). There are two roads to Merzouga, but both are relatively scary. The route from Rissani is the shorter of the two, but sections of it are pretty rough, and in a rented Fiat Uno it's probably not in your interests to try it, unless being stranded in the middle of the desert is your cup of tea. The other route, from Erfoud, is easier to follow, but it's still along rough dirt roads (or pistes as they're known in Morocco) and the guidebooks are careful to sound a note of caution, while still saying that normal cars can reach Merzouga without serious problems.
Taking a break on the way to Merzouga to chat to a local on a bicycle
Not wishing to get stuck with a stranded car in the desert, Peta and I had popped into Rissani to check out the score, only to be welcomed by the usual gaggle of young men trying desperately to sell us their guiding skills and goodness knows what else. They felt about as trustworthy as the most dodgy Moroccans do – in other words, you'd trust them as far as you can spit, which in the desiccated desert is no distance at all – so we turned around and decided to risk driving to Erfoud and them down to Merzouga.
It proved to be no scarier than the corrugated dirt roads in outback Australia, and we made it to Merzouga without any lasting damage (though the bone-shaking roads made it sound as if the car, now nicknamed Sandy, was about to fall apart in spectacular style). Things were helped by a couple of tourists we'd brought along from the hotel, Mike and Marie, who would have been very handy if we'd got stuck in sand, and provided us with enough confidence to tackle the desert and win.
A donkey in Merzouga
The drive itself was beautiful, and after about 40 minutes of rattling and swerving round the potholes, the sand dunes of Erg Chebbi popped into view on the horizon, like a huge red mountain range in the distance. We bumped our way along the dusty dirt road straight towards the dunes, and as they got closer the red dissolved into a myriad mix of peach, ochre and brown, giving the dunes a magical look that made all the bouncing worthwhile.
Sure, we got stuck in the sand when we got to Merzouga itself, but who cares? It was the work of two minutes to push us back onto the road, and it wasn't long before we'd found a genuine oasis at the end of the caravan route: the Ksar Sania has atmospheric double rooms set in their own desert cottages (complete with roof), and suddenly life never seemed better. The peach dunes rose from the desert a stone's throw from our roof terrace, camels wandered around, mini-dust storms blew through town, and the peace was complete.
How I love the desert, especially when you can get a nice, cold bottle of water to keep the heat in check...
Exploring the Saharan Dunes
There isn't a lot of water in the Sahara, and the sign in the hotel made the point pretty succinctly:
The huge dunes of the Erg Chebbi
It's obvious just how dry it is in the desert from the speed at which your clothes dry after washing: lie your soaking towel on the roof and the scorching winds will dry it in under 15 minutes, not surprising then you consider the maximum temperature when we were in Merzouga was a whopping 48°C (and the minimum was 27°C, a respectable temperature for a midsummer's day in England).
Your lips dry up unless you constantly apply lip salve, your skin starts to flake, and the flies will land on absolutely anything that contains even a hint of water, including tear ducts, the corners of your mouth, and any portion of visible, sweating skin. It is hot beyond words.
The view from our hotel roof
But that's the point, and it would be a pretty stupid thing to complain about the heat when you've just crossed hours of stony desert to check out the Sahara in June. If you wanted to explore the desert in a more amenable climate, then although Merzouga hasn't had any rain since 1995, it's not devoid of water. Indeed, when it rains in the High Atlas, and when the snow melts, the rivers rage, creating havoc for local transport but feeding the oases with enough water to sustain life. Merzouga even boasts a lake for part of the year, and it glimmers on the horizon, attracting flamingos into the otherwise utterly inhospitable environment of the desert. As you drive along the roads of the hammada the most common road sign is the one warning of a ford in the road, sporting a car plunging through water, spraying out from under its wheels. It's an odd thought as you rattle over river-beds that look like they've never seen water, let along flooding.
48°C in the shade
But without this amazing lack of rainfall you wouldn't have the dunes, and it's the dunes that make the Sahara. Stony desert is one thing, but after a while the beauty of the hammada begins to pale, which is why it's such an epiphany driving to Merzouga and seeing the huge dunes of the Erg Chebbi rising up on the horizon. Located right next to the town of Merzouga, the dunes rise up 150m in huge piles of peach undulation, and if, like me, you're unable to pass a mountain without wanting to climb it, you're in for a treat.
Climbing sand dunes is an art, and it's one I don't particularly understand. Dunes are no more than huge piles of sand – indeed, in the Erg Chebbi you can see the underlying ground, and it genuinely looks like someone has simply dumped a load of peach-coloured sand straight onto the ground – but climbing huge piles of sand is no joke, especially in the baking Saharan sand. If you try to traverse the dunes, you'll slip downhill; if you try to climb straight up, then it's two steps up, one step down; if you climb in boots then they'll fill with heavy sand within two minutes, but if you climb in sandals your feet will fry; your water will be as hot as tea within half an hour of setting off; and when the wind blows, as it does an awful lot in the desert, your molars fill up with sand and your eyes feel like sand pits.
Whirlwinds in the Merzouga desert
Get up that dune, though, and who cares about the hurt? The landscape is like no other, because Erg Chebbi is nothing other than a peach sand mountain range. OK, so the mountains aren't huge, but the range of textures and colours is so other-worldy that it's trivial to trick yourself into thinking that you're staring at a massive Martian landscape of rifts, valleys and dizzying heights. The dunes don't go on as far as the eye can see – they're bound on all sides by hammada – but they do extend for a number of kilometres in each direction, and it's easy to kid yourself that you're surrounded by sand right to the horizon and beyond.
Surrounding Area
Hotel set in the sand dunes of Merzouga. Information on rooms, location, rates and dromedary excursions throughout the southern region of the country
Accommodations
The ksar Bicha is located just outside the village of Merzouga and only a few steps from the Erg Chebbi. The double and triple rooms, all with private bath, are clean and comfortable. And for families in search of a night under the stars, ksar Bicha invites its guests to sleep on the terrace or in a tent, or experience the desert in a bivouac. Accommodation is half board. The cost of the pack trips varies with the size of the group and length of stayRooms/Suites
You have a choice of 10 bedrooms, each elaborately decorated and offering the best in interior design in traditional Morrocan style. Each room has a private bathroom and individual design.
a big choice also of more than 30 berbere tents, double, single and family tents.
Amenities
The restaurant offers delicious cuisine with fresh local produce from the markets used in the preparation of the food. We offer traditional Morrocan dishes.
You will enjoy a haven of peace where style and comfort are combined to create a special atmosphere.
Services Offered
The Riad ksar bicha provides professional services in Airport transfers between (marrakech ,errachidia, ouarzazate, fes )and Merzouga desert. journeys to other cities in the great south of morocco.
Other Information
At the gateway to the Sahara, on the edge of the Erg Chebbi, the highest sand dunes in Morocco, the hotel Ksar Bicha offers a pleasant base from which to discover the desert
hotel ksar bicha invites you to bivouac in the superb golden sand-dunes of the moroccan desert.
There you can attend colourful sunrises and sets, go for wonderful dromedary-rides, drink tea with nomades and enjoy absolute serenity, relax and meditation oppurtunities.
It would also be marvellous if you visit the oasis, lake sirji and the berber villages in the surroundings.
Directions
2 km before merzouga village on the way comming from rissani , there is a sign indicate the 1 km of a good track to the hotel.
Berber tents in the Sahara
Desert Nomad Bivouac in Sahara Desert
Auberge du Sud’s special crew will give you thrill and adventure through out Sahara Desert and organize trips to other amazing places in Morocco. We organize programs like nights in Berber tents below the stars in the Sahara. Auberge du Sud offers different types of tents (bivouac) and nomad camps inside Erg Chebbi Dunes. From luxury tents to standard camps with nomad tents, Auberge du Sud relies on quality and exceptional service in Sahara Desert.
Auberge du Sud has different types of facilities for you and one of the most asked are the Berber tents. Either in the middle of the Sahara or near our main building, you can experience the real life of a nomad inside a real desert tent. This experience is perfect for star lovers and makes the perfect romantic spot for lovers.
Private groups and organizations
Auberge du Sud can arrange everything you wish to organize your friends vacations. Special events can be arranged in order to make you and your group of friends have an amazing time in their Desert experience. Bikers, Campers, Classic cars, Young people, etc. Just let us know in advance.
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The main attraction here, must be the Saharan lake of Dayet Sriji, quite a surprise to come by. Morocco is a country of very few natural lakes, so finding a real one here, about an hour of travel south of everything, feels unreal. It is a real salty one, making agriculture impossible, yet it is a true lake.In the lake there are numerous birds, of which flamgoes will be the most fascinating for most to watch. I had a small accident with my camera, which destroyed the good pictures I made of the birds. The one of to the left is the closest I have to any flamingo.From a not-too-far distance, the village of Merzouga merges with the surrounding landscape. That applies even to the inhabitants, of which most are dressed in traditional jellabas of earten colours.In between all the trees of the oasis, run canals. Considering how far you are from the next trace of civilization, how barren the nature is, and how hot it is all through the year, it is surprising to see how strongly the water streams through the canals. Merzouga.Auberge,Camping and bivouac SAHARA
Village Hassi labiad 3km before Merzouga, Morocco Hotels & Resorts
Nice hotel in a oasis at the adge of Merzouga's sand dunes recommanded by all famous guide-books and run by flexible multi- language staff organising different services : Cameltrips & trekking Bivouacs Rent 4x4 &VTT Camping & swimming pool
Bask in glorious sunsets and channel your inner sheik while you ride a meandering camel across the windblown dunes of Erg Chebbi. Merzouga, a small village in southeast Morocco, gives visitors a taste of desert life, and treks to nearby villages will reward you with African revelry, including music and dance.
Tangier Property
Tangier Property
You would have probably seen the beautiful places and scenery when you spent your holidays to Morocco. The beauty of this country is truly undeniable, and one clear evidence of this fact is the increasing number of guests who are buying properties here. These guests have now made this country their second home. If you are also interested in buying a real estate property here, then you should definitely read the information below.
Al Houara is a spectacular, world-class Atlantic resort that blends Moroccan culture with European sophistication. The resorts range of residential and tourist real estate properties are located across key locations within attractive beach, Kasbah, golf course and forested areas. Insight Morocco are proud to present Phase 1 and 2 of this spectacular resort with residential properties to suit every taste and budget.
To receive your Tangier Property information pack and details of the latest property prices and availability please complete our enquiry form below.
Al Houara caters to exquisite taste, exuding a sense of timeless elegance. In Phase 1 choose from luxurious Beach Villas, enchanting Ocean View Palaces or spectacular Beach Apartments all of which benefit from panoramic views of the fantastic beachfront and Atlantic Ocean. The materials used throughout Al Houara are all of the highest quality and in sympathy with the surrounding habitat. Environmental sensitivity, attention to design and detail, and construction quality blend together harmoniously.
Al Houara lies on Morocco's lush Atlantic coast, nestled along 2.5 kilometres of stunning North African coastline stretching from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic, with the towering Atlas Mountains only a few hours away. Al Houara is ideally located with the cities of Tangier and Asilah both under an hour's drive. The resort also has easy access to Tangier International Airport.
Phase 1 of Al Houara was launched in July 2007 and is located on the beachfront of the resort. Phase 2 will include Golf Villas & Apartments has just launched in June 2008. Subsequent phases include Forest Villas & Apartments and Kasbah Apartments.
GOLF APARTMENTS AND VILLAS
Insight Morocco are delighted to bring you the latest release of luxurious golf apartments in the unparalleled world class Al Houara Resort in Tangier, Morocco. This is a first stage pricing release for the golf apartments and only 20 properties are being launched at these prices.
Golf Apartments - Prices from £120,000
Located in a fantastic setting with fabulous golf course views, these 1,2,3 and 4 bedroom apartments are very attractively priced for a resort of this quality and indeed compare very favourably with other property types within the development. These spacious apartments, starting from 96 sqm, also include outdoor terraces and underground parking.
Send me more information about this Tangier property and the latest prices and availability
Golf Villas - Prices from £615,000 - AUGUST PRICES NOW FROM £555,000!
GOLF VILLA PROMOTION AUGUST 2008
Insight Morocco are now offering 14 golf villas which have just been released at a 20% discount as a special summer promotion from the developer. All 14 golf villas on the VJ Singh 18 hole championship golf course will have unobstructed views of the course and lakes plus access to the clubhouse.
All villas have either 3 or 5 bedrooms (plus maid's room) with habitable areas of 252-352 sqm on plots spanning 601-822 sqm. All villas have a 2 car garage, a swimming pool and terraces. Access to Al Houara’s first class amenities are available, including the 5-Star Kempinski Spa hotel, Equestrian Centre and Moroccan Kasbah.
Send me more information about the Golf Villa Promotion and the latest prices and availability
Send me more information about this Tangier property and the latest prices and availability
Ocean View Palaces
Luxury oceanfront living is redefined in these 6 bedroom, Ocean View Palaces at the exclusive Al Houara Resort. Designed to accommodate a large family, staff and guests, your palace residence will befit your vision of the authentic royal Moroccan lifestyle.
Relax among the 1,844 square metres (19,850 square feet) of habitable space on 3 storeys centred around a traditional Moroccan courtyard. The residence’s sleeping quarters consist of 6 bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms which include a generous master suite and secondary master bedroom. Two distinctly separate wings and a third level for library and kitchen areas. Fitness and Spa areas are additional benefits of this spacious palace. Staff quarters will accommodate house maids, driver and guard with sleeping and food preparation area. The palace unfolds to beautifully landscaped gardens and fountains which can be enjoyed from several exterior terraces, covered walkways and a private swimming pool with views to the Atlantic Ocean.
Architectural exteriors and interiors will blend together to reflect the ease and comfort of Moroccan living. The furnishing and interiors will be executed with an uncompromising commitment to quality and luxury. The use of traditional patterns, materials and colours represents the essence of a grand Moroccan palace. Timber ceilings, local tiles and Moroccan fountains reflect the luxurious lifestyle at Al Houara Resort. The palace comes fully furnished in a contemporary Moroccan style that reflects a sophisticated and discreet colour palette. The beautifully-designed collection includes details such as lanterns, handcrafted hardwood chairs and richly patterned ottomans.
Prices from £6.4 Million - Please contact us for prices and availability
Send me more information about this Tangier property and the latest prices and availability
Beach Villas
The villas lie along beautiful stretching arcs anchored by enchanting palaces, all benefiting from unobstructed panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and enjoying direct access to a pristine 2.5 Km beach.
Each private villa is a luxurious spacious and expertly crafted residence. The living areas are all wonderfully full of natural light. Each villa has multiple bedrooms wih en-suite bathrooms. The comfortable lifestyle is increased by fabulous walk in wardrobes. Each villa is centred around a traditonal Moroccan courtyard which features a swimming pool, verdant gardens and unfettered views of the Atlantic. All Villas come with parking and staff quarters.
The villas have been designed with family living and generous entertaining in mind. A truly wonderous abode for all the family.
There are 4 types of villas available with either 4 or 5 bedrooms.
Prices from £1.4 Million Please contact us for prices and availability
Send me more information about this property in Tangier and the latest prices and availability
Beach Apartments
The beach apartments are situated in the most distinctive beachfront location of the Al Houara resort.
The apartments are influenced by classic Moroccan riad design and built around central courts featuring a garden of exotic Moroccan flora and an expansive swimming pool. Palm tree shaded terraces welcome quiet evening walks and social gatherings.
Each apartment comprises spacious and light filled living, kitchen and dining areas. All apartments feature master bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms while some offer additional house maid accommodation. The apartments encompass either one or two spacious exterior terraces with panoramic ocean views.
The apartments available include 1, 2 and 3 bedrooms with multiple choice of designs for the 2 and 3 bedroom units.
Prices from £140,000 Please contact us for prices and availability (Only 2 and 3 bedrooms available)
Send me more information about this Tangier property and the latest prices and availability
The Developer - Qatari Diar
Qatari Diar Morocco is a subsidiary of Qatari Diar, which is a wholly owned entity of the Qatar Investment Authority. Qatari Diar was established in December 2004 to support Qatar's growing economy and to coordinate the country's real estate development priorities. Qatari Diar is responsible for creating and coordinating financially sound property development opportunities that will generate sustainable and tangible socio-economic benefits. Qatari Diar's vision is to become the region's most trusted and effective real estate investment company by focusing its value proposition on the creation of quality, well-planned and desirable communities.
Payment Terms
In accordance with Moroccan law, there are 5 steps to securing ownership of a property at Al Houara:
1. Reserve a property with a refundable deposit of 50,000 Moroccan Dirhams (approx. €5,000/£3,300)
2. Formal reservation with a deposit of 20% of the purchase price (less the 50,000MD deposit) payable on signing.
3. Preliminary Sales Contract is signed with 30% payment of the purchase price due when the foundations are laid.
4. Intermediate Payment of 20% of the purchase price upon completion of the property's roof.
5. Final Sales Contract with remaining 30% payment of the purchase price payable upon final completion.
Mortgages are available - please contact us for details
Escrow and Bank Guarantee
Qatari Diar strives to offer the highest level of buyer protection as possible, either placing all payments in escrow or offering a bank guarantee with every real estate purchase to back up its construction and delivery promise to every buyer. The bank guarantee will be provided through a respectable Moroccan bank upon signature of a Preliminary Sales Contract. Should the developer default on its promise to deliver a buyer’s property for any reason, all capital payments held in escrow or secured by a bank guarantee will be returned in full to the buyer (less any bank charges).
Buyer Options
Properties in Al Houara are offered on two different terms: Personal Use, Rental and Exchange (PURE) and Private Use.
Personal Use, Rental and Exchange Option - PURE
Under this option, properties are sold on the basis of resort leaseback schemes found at select luxury resorts in Europe. Owners reserve time throughout each year for personal use at the resort or at other affiliated global resorts and hand over the rest of the time to be professionally managed and rented. All properties are furnished to match the design aesthetic and high quality standards of Al Houara.
Private Use Option
Some select properties will not be sold as PURE to allow the owners to use their property for private use and not for commercial use. Private owners can opt for limited Club Diar concierge services, but will not enjoy the commercial or travel opportunities of full Diar Club membership.
Diar Club
All residences in Al Houara come affiliated to a distinctive and exclusive private members club, the Diar Club. Membership with the Diar Club brings an array of services and facilities exclusively to owners of Qatari Diar's luxury real estate communities around the world and as an owner at the prestigious Al Houara resort, you automatically qualify for membership.
Diar Club 'Investor' membership is for owners who wish to derive rental income from their property, whilst at the same time having access to their villa or apartment in selected periods of the year for personal use. For 'Investor' members your villa or apartment will be maintained to the finest detail - from the highest quality furnishings sourced by the Diar Club to hospitality services such as cleaning, linen change and any necessary property maintenance. At every visit, you'll also enjoy private limousine transfers from Tangier airport to and from your residence.
Through the Diar Club 'Investor' level membership, you can exchange holiday time in your Al Houara residence with 'Investor' members in other Qatari Diar communities, giving you the chance to experience the same levels of comfort and luxury at other locations. You get to travel the world on your terms, enjoying many beautiful and exotic locations through the Diar Club's perfect mix of hand picked properties around the globe.
You would have probably seen the beautiful places and scenery when you spent your holidays to Morocco. The beauty of this country is truly undeniable, and one clear evidence of this fact is the increasing number of guests who are buying properties here. These guests have now made this country their second home. If you are also interested in buying a real estate property here, then you should definitely read the information below.
Al Houara is a spectacular, world-class Atlantic resort that blends Moroccan culture with European sophistication. The resorts range of residential and tourist real estate properties are located across key locations within attractive beach, Kasbah, golf course and forested areas. Insight Morocco are proud to present Phase 1 and 2 of this spectacular resort with residential properties to suit every taste and budget.
To receive your Tangier Property information pack and details of the latest property prices and availability please complete our enquiry form below.
Al Houara caters to exquisite taste, exuding a sense of timeless elegance. In Phase 1 choose from luxurious Beach Villas, enchanting Ocean View Palaces or spectacular Beach Apartments all of which benefit from panoramic views of the fantastic beachfront and Atlantic Ocean. The materials used throughout Al Houara are all of the highest quality and in sympathy with the surrounding habitat. Environmental sensitivity, attention to design and detail, and construction quality blend together harmoniously.
Al Houara lies on Morocco's lush Atlantic coast, nestled along 2.5 kilometres of stunning North African coastline stretching from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic, with the towering Atlas Mountains only a few hours away. Al Houara is ideally located with the cities of Tangier and Asilah both under an hour's drive. The resort also has easy access to Tangier International Airport.
Phase 1 of Al Houara was launched in July 2007 and is located on the beachfront of the resort. Phase 2 will include Golf Villas & Apartments has just launched in June 2008. Subsequent phases include Forest Villas & Apartments and Kasbah Apartments.
GOLF APARTMENTS AND VILLAS
Insight Morocco are delighted to bring you the latest release of luxurious golf apartments in the unparalleled world class Al Houara Resort in Tangier, Morocco. This is a first stage pricing release for the golf apartments and only 20 properties are being launched at these prices.
Golf Apartments - Prices from £120,000
Located in a fantastic setting with fabulous golf course views, these 1,2,3 and 4 bedroom apartments are very attractively priced for a resort of this quality and indeed compare very favourably with other property types within the development. These spacious apartments, starting from 96 sqm, also include outdoor terraces and underground parking.
Send me more information about this Tangier property and the latest prices and availability
Golf Villas - Prices from £615,000 - AUGUST PRICES NOW FROM £555,000!
GOLF VILLA PROMOTION AUGUST 2008
Insight Morocco are now offering 14 golf villas which have just been released at a 20% discount as a special summer promotion from the developer. All 14 golf villas on the VJ Singh 18 hole championship golf course will have unobstructed views of the course and lakes plus access to the clubhouse.
All villas have either 3 or 5 bedrooms (plus maid's room) with habitable areas of 252-352 sqm on plots spanning 601-822 sqm. All villas have a 2 car garage, a swimming pool and terraces. Access to Al Houara’s first class amenities are available, including the 5-Star Kempinski Spa hotel, Equestrian Centre and Moroccan Kasbah.
Send me more information about the Golf Villa Promotion and the latest prices and availability
Send me more information about this Tangier property and the latest prices and availability
Ocean View Palaces
Luxury oceanfront living is redefined in these 6 bedroom, Ocean View Palaces at the exclusive Al Houara Resort. Designed to accommodate a large family, staff and guests, your palace residence will befit your vision of the authentic royal Moroccan lifestyle.
Relax among the 1,844 square metres (19,850 square feet) of habitable space on 3 storeys centred around a traditional Moroccan courtyard. The residence’s sleeping quarters consist of 6 bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms which include a generous master suite and secondary master bedroom. Two distinctly separate wings and a third level for library and kitchen areas. Fitness and Spa areas are additional benefits of this spacious palace. Staff quarters will accommodate house maids, driver and guard with sleeping and food preparation area. The palace unfolds to beautifully landscaped gardens and fountains which can be enjoyed from several exterior terraces, covered walkways and a private swimming pool with views to the Atlantic Ocean.
Architectural exteriors and interiors will blend together to reflect the ease and comfort of Moroccan living. The furnishing and interiors will be executed with an uncompromising commitment to quality and luxury. The use of traditional patterns, materials and colours represents the essence of a grand Moroccan palace. Timber ceilings, local tiles and Moroccan fountains reflect the luxurious lifestyle at Al Houara Resort. The palace comes fully furnished in a contemporary Moroccan style that reflects a sophisticated and discreet colour palette. The beautifully-designed collection includes details such as lanterns, handcrafted hardwood chairs and richly patterned ottomans.
Prices from £6.4 Million - Please contact us for prices and availability
Send me more information about this Tangier property and the latest prices and availability
Beach Villas
The villas lie along beautiful stretching arcs anchored by enchanting palaces, all benefiting from unobstructed panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and enjoying direct access to a pristine 2.5 Km beach.
Each private villa is a luxurious spacious and expertly crafted residence. The living areas are all wonderfully full of natural light. Each villa has multiple bedrooms wih en-suite bathrooms. The comfortable lifestyle is increased by fabulous walk in wardrobes. Each villa is centred around a traditonal Moroccan courtyard which features a swimming pool, verdant gardens and unfettered views of the Atlantic. All Villas come with parking and staff quarters.
The villas have been designed with family living and generous entertaining in mind. A truly wonderous abode for all the family.
There are 4 types of villas available with either 4 or 5 bedrooms.
Prices from £1.4 Million Please contact us for prices and availability
Send me more information about this property in Tangier and the latest prices and availability
Beach Apartments
The beach apartments are situated in the most distinctive beachfront location of the Al Houara resort.
The apartments are influenced by classic Moroccan riad design and built around central courts featuring a garden of exotic Moroccan flora and an expansive swimming pool. Palm tree shaded terraces welcome quiet evening walks and social gatherings.
Each apartment comprises spacious and light filled living, kitchen and dining areas. All apartments feature master bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms while some offer additional house maid accommodation. The apartments encompass either one or two spacious exterior terraces with panoramic ocean views.
The apartments available include 1, 2 and 3 bedrooms with multiple choice of designs for the 2 and 3 bedroom units.
Prices from £140,000 Please contact us for prices and availability (Only 2 and 3 bedrooms available)
Send me more information about this Tangier property and the latest prices and availability
The Developer - Qatari Diar
Qatari Diar Morocco is a subsidiary of Qatari Diar, which is a wholly owned entity of the Qatar Investment Authority. Qatari Diar was established in December 2004 to support Qatar's growing economy and to coordinate the country's real estate development priorities. Qatari Diar is responsible for creating and coordinating financially sound property development opportunities that will generate sustainable and tangible socio-economic benefits. Qatari Diar's vision is to become the region's most trusted and effective real estate investment company by focusing its value proposition on the creation of quality, well-planned and desirable communities.
Payment Terms
In accordance with Moroccan law, there are 5 steps to securing ownership of a property at Al Houara:
1. Reserve a property with a refundable deposit of 50,000 Moroccan Dirhams (approx. €5,000/£3,300)
2. Formal reservation with a deposit of 20% of the purchase price (less the 50,000MD deposit) payable on signing.
3. Preliminary Sales Contract is signed with 30% payment of the purchase price due when the foundations are laid.
4. Intermediate Payment of 20% of the purchase price upon completion of the property's roof.
5. Final Sales Contract with remaining 30% payment of the purchase price payable upon final completion.
Mortgages are available - please contact us for details
Escrow and Bank Guarantee
Qatari Diar strives to offer the highest level of buyer protection as possible, either placing all payments in escrow or offering a bank guarantee with every real estate purchase to back up its construction and delivery promise to every buyer. The bank guarantee will be provided through a respectable Moroccan bank upon signature of a Preliminary Sales Contract. Should the developer default on its promise to deliver a buyer’s property for any reason, all capital payments held in escrow or secured by a bank guarantee will be returned in full to the buyer (less any bank charges).
Buyer Options
Properties in Al Houara are offered on two different terms: Personal Use, Rental and Exchange (PURE) and Private Use.
Personal Use, Rental and Exchange Option - PURE
Under this option, properties are sold on the basis of resort leaseback schemes found at select luxury resorts in Europe. Owners reserve time throughout each year for personal use at the resort or at other affiliated global resorts and hand over the rest of the time to be professionally managed and rented. All properties are furnished to match the design aesthetic and high quality standards of Al Houara.
Private Use Option
Some select properties will not be sold as PURE to allow the owners to use their property for private use and not for commercial use. Private owners can opt for limited Club Diar concierge services, but will not enjoy the commercial or travel opportunities of full Diar Club membership.
Diar Club
All residences in Al Houara come affiliated to a distinctive and exclusive private members club, the Diar Club. Membership with the Diar Club brings an array of services and facilities exclusively to owners of Qatari Diar's luxury real estate communities around the world and as an owner at the prestigious Al Houara resort, you automatically qualify for membership.
Diar Club 'Investor' membership is for owners who wish to derive rental income from their property, whilst at the same time having access to their villa or apartment in selected periods of the year for personal use. For 'Investor' members your villa or apartment will be maintained to the finest detail - from the highest quality furnishings sourced by the Diar Club to hospitality services such as cleaning, linen change and any necessary property maintenance. At every visit, you'll also enjoy private limousine transfers from Tangier airport to and from your residence.
Through the Diar Club 'Investor' level membership, you can exchange holiday time in your Al Houara residence with 'Investor' members in other Qatari Diar communities, giving you the chance to experience the same levels of comfort and luxury at other locations. You get to travel the world on your terms, enjoying many beautiful and exotic locations through the Diar Club's perfect mix of hand picked properties around the globe.
Morocco holidays..Tangier Vacations
Morocco holidays..Tangier Vacations
For the first half of the twentieth century TANGIER was one of the stylish resorts of the Mediterranean – an international city with its own laws and administration, plus an eclectic community of exiles, expatriates and refugees. Tangier was also the world's first and most famous gay resort – favoured by the likes of Tennessee Williams, Joe Orton and Kenneth Williams – a role it maintains to a lesser degree today. The ghosts of these times left a slight air of decay about the city, still tangible in the older hotels and bars. Until recently Tangier's tourism future didn't look too rosy, as it had gained a reputation as somewhere to avoid or, at best, only as a transit point for onward travel.
Tangier's port, recently re-named Tanger-Ville and ranked second only to Casablanca, is central to its economic future. The now constant stream of ferries arriving daily – nearly around the clock during the August holidays – has prompted the construction of another, goods-only port, Tanger Mediterranée, 20km from Ceuta on the Atlantic coast and financed by the private sector, which will eventually leave Tanger-Ville a passenger-only port.
Tangier's interest and attraction lies in the city as a whole: its café life, beach, and the tumbling streets of the Medina. The handful of "monuments", with the notable exception of the Dar el Makhzen palace, are best viewed as adding direction to your wanderings, rather than as unmissable sights.
Finally, despite the clear-out of most of its hustlers, Tangier is still a tricky place for first-time arrivals – hustling and mugging stories here should not be discounted and the characters you run into at the port are as objectionable as any you'll find in Morocco – but once you get the hang of it, Tangier is lively and very likeable, highly individual and with an enduring eccentricity.
Located on the Strait of Gibraltar where Africa meets Europe, Tangier has long held strategic importance. Ruled through the centuries by waves of conquerors including Romans, Vandals, Byzantines, Arabs and Portuguese, the city is more than two and a half millennia old, making it one of North Africa's most ancient. The medina, kasbah, bazaars and souks are among the country's most vibrant, and the beaches are excellent. In the last century, Tangier became a hot spot for the internation
al jet set.
Tangier (UK: /tænˈdʒɪə/, US: /tænˈdʒɪr/; Berber: Tanja or (archaic) Tingi, Arabic: طنجة Ṭanjah) is a city in northern Morocco with a population of about 700,000 (2012 estimates). It lies on the North African coast at the western entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic Ocean off Cape Spartel. It is the capital of the Tangier-Tetouan Region and of the Tangier-Asilah prefecture of Morocco.
The history of Tangier is very rich due to the historical presence of many civilizations and cultures starting from the 5th century BC. Between the period of being a Berber settlement and then a Phoenician town to the independence era around the 1950s, Tangier was a refuge for many cultures. In 1923, Tangier was considered as having international status by foreign colonial powers, and became a destination for many European and American diplomats, spies, writers and businessmen.
The city is currently undergoing rapid development and modernization. Projects include new 5-star hotels along the bay, a modern business district called Tangier City Center, a new airport terminal and a new football stadium. Tangier's economy is also set to benefit greatly from the new Tanger-Med port.
Tangier's sport team I.R.T. (or Ittihad Riadi de Tanger) is a prominent football club with a large following base. Tangier will be one of the host cities for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations football tournament, which shall be played at the new Ibn Batouta Stadium and in other cities across Morocco.
lenty of places have been mythologized over the years as glamorous bastions of ill repute, but Tangier in the Forties and Fifties was one of the few that actually lived up to its bad name. Part of an international zone on the North African coast that was officially ruled by nine nations, the city was effectively governed by none of them—so its habitués could get away with things they’d never attempt back home. Spies and arms dealers gathered in seedy cafés; aging Englishmen entertained offers from Arab boys; American heiress Barbara Hutton hosted drug-fueled parties at her house in the casbah. But after the city was incorporated into Morocco in 1956, the expats started to drift away, taking much of the excitement with them, and Tangier became known as a shabby port town, a place you hurried through on your way to Fez or Ouarzazate.
Now, however, the city is on the upswing again, luring a new crowd of in-the-know Europeans as well as a massive influx of government spending, courtesy of Morocco’s young king, Mohammed VI (his conservative father, Hassan II, hated Tangier for its decadent reputation and neglected it for decades). And although the talk among expats these days is more likely to be about scoring good hydrangeas than good hashish, the town still retains much of its gritty, idiosyncratic appeal. Longtime locals are hopeful that Tangier will never be like Morocco’s reigning tourist mecca, Marrakesh, which has lately begun to suffer from its own success, as foreign buyers transform every available corner of the souk into neo-Moorish boutique hotels and British partyers arrive en masse via low-cost fares from London. For many Europeans, Tangier is an ideal under-the-radar alternative, straddling the line between boomtown and ghost town.
“Tangier is one of those cities you either love or despise. I, of course, love it,” says Paris social doyenne Betty Lagardère, who has been renting a summer place here for several years and recently decided to buy. Seated in the back of her chauffeur-driven SUV and dressed in a custom linen djellaba, Lagardère explains that she was drawn to Tangier by the same North African light that captivated Matisse and the same cross-cultural mix that drew composer and writer Paul Bowles, who lived here from 1947 until his death in 1999. “It’s such a mysterious place,” she says. “To understand it, you have to look behind its doors.”
Indeed, Tangier’s charms might not be instantly obvious to first-time visitors: Touring its main public areas, which the city is feverishly renovating in a bid to host the 2012 International Exposition, is a bit like meeting an octogenarian who’s just had her first facelift. But the changes completed in the past year alone have made a dramatic difference. “See those gardens? New,” says Lagardère as we speed past a freshly planted town square. “That fountain? New. A year ago this street was covered in garbage.”
For the first half of the twentieth century TANGIER was one of the stylish resorts of the Mediterranean – an international city with its own laws and administration, plus an eclectic community of exiles, expatriates and refugees. Tangier was also the world's first and most famous gay resort – favoured by the likes of Tennessee Williams, Joe Orton and Kenneth Williams – a role it maintains to a lesser degree today. The ghosts of these times left a slight air of decay about the city, still tangible in the older hotels and bars. Until recently Tangier's tourism future didn't look too rosy, as it had gained a reputation as somewhere to avoid or, at best, only as a transit point for onward travel.
Tangier's port, recently re-named Tanger-Ville and ranked second only to Casablanca, is central to its economic future. The now constant stream of ferries arriving daily – nearly around the clock during the August holidays – has prompted the construction of another, goods-only port, Tanger Mediterranée, 20km from Ceuta on the Atlantic coast and financed by the private sector, which will eventually leave Tanger-Ville a passenger-only port.
Tangier's interest and attraction lies in the city as a whole: its café life, beach, and the tumbling streets of the Medina. The handful of "monuments", with the notable exception of the Dar el Makhzen palace, are best viewed as adding direction to your wanderings, rather than as unmissable sights.
Finally, despite the clear-out of most of its hustlers, Tangier is still a tricky place for first-time arrivals – hustling and mugging stories here should not be discounted and the characters you run into at the port are as objectionable as any you'll find in Morocco – but once you get the hang of it, Tangier is lively and very likeable, highly individual and with an enduring eccentricity.
Located on the Strait of Gibraltar where Africa meets Europe, Tangier has long held strategic importance. Ruled through the centuries by waves of conquerors including Romans, Vandals, Byzantines, Arabs and Portuguese, the city is more than two and a half millennia old, making it one of North Africa's most ancient. The medina, kasbah, bazaars and souks are among the country's most vibrant, and the beaches are excellent. In the last century, Tangier became a hot spot for the internation
al jet set.
Do you want to know where exactly your accommodation is located in Tangier? Then check the map of Tangier below. The map will show you 40 accommodations at most.
Tangier (UK: /tænˈdʒɪə/, US: /tænˈdʒɪr/; Berber: Tanja or (archaic) Tingi, Arabic: طنجة Ṭanjah) is a city in northern Morocco with a population of about 700,000 (2012 estimates). It lies on the North African coast at the western entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic Ocean off Cape Spartel. It is the capital of the Tangier-Tetouan Region and of the Tangier-Asilah prefecture of Morocco.
The history of Tangier is very rich due to the historical presence of many civilizations and cultures starting from the 5th century BC. Between the period of being a Berber settlement and then a Phoenician town to the independence era around the 1950s, Tangier was a refuge for many cultures. In 1923, Tangier was considered as having international status by foreign colonial powers, and became a destination for many European and American diplomats, spies, writers and businessmen.
The city is currently undergoing rapid development and modernization. Projects include new 5-star hotels along the bay, a modern business district called Tangier City Center, a new airport terminal and a new football stadium. Tangier's economy is also set to benefit greatly from the new Tanger-Med port.
Tangier's sport team I.R.T. (or Ittihad Riadi de Tanger) is a prominent football club with a large following base. Tangier will be one of the host cities for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations football tournament, which shall be played at the new Ibn Batouta Stadium and in other cities across Morocco.
lenty of places have been mythologized over the years as glamorous bastions of ill repute, but Tangier in the Forties and Fifties was one of the few that actually lived up to its bad name. Part of an international zone on the North African coast that was officially ruled by nine nations, the city was effectively governed by none of them—so its habitués could get away with things they’d never attempt back home. Spies and arms dealers gathered in seedy cafés; aging Englishmen entertained offers from Arab boys; American heiress Barbara Hutton hosted drug-fueled parties at her house in the casbah. But after the city was incorporated into Morocco in 1956, the expats started to drift away, taking much of the excitement with them, and Tangier became known as a shabby port town, a place you hurried through on your way to Fez or Ouarzazate.
Now, however, the city is on the upswing again, luring a new crowd of in-the-know Europeans as well as a massive influx of government spending, courtesy of Morocco’s young king, Mohammed VI (his conservative father, Hassan II, hated Tangier for its decadent reputation and neglected it for decades). And although the talk among expats these days is more likely to be about scoring good hydrangeas than good hashish, the town still retains much of its gritty, idiosyncratic appeal. Longtime locals are hopeful that Tangier will never be like Morocco’s reigning tourist mecca, Marrakesh, which has lately begun to suffer from its own success, as foreign buyers transform every available corner of the souk into neo-Moorish boutique hotels and British partyers arrive en masse via low-cost fares from London. For many Europeans, Tangier is an ideal under-the-radar alternative, straddling the line between boomtown and ghost town.
“Tangier is one of those cities you either love or despise. I, of course, love it,” says Paris social doyenne Betty Lagardère, who has been renting a summer place here for several years and recently decided to buy. Seated in the back of her chauffeur-driven SUV and dressed in a custom linen djellaba, Lagardère explains that she was drawn to Tangier by the same North African light that captivated Matisse and the same cross-cultural mix that drew composer and writer Paul Bowles, who lived here from 1947 until his death in 1999. “It’s such a mysterious place,” she says. “To understand it, you have to look behind its doors.”
Indeed, Tangier’s charms might not be instantly obvious to first-time visitors: Touring its main public areas, which the city is feverishly renovating in a bid to host the 2012 International Exposition, is a bit like meeting an octogenarian who’s just had her first facelift. But the changes completed in the past year alone have made a dramatic difference. “See those gardens? New,” says Lagardère as we speed past a freshly planted town square. “That fountain? New. A year ago this street was covered in garbage.”
Morocco:
Tangier, Morocco.
View of the beach and the Medina (old town), where Paul Bowles and William Burroughs wrote their masterpieces. Also the home at one time to virtually every international scoundrel.
Chefchouen, Morocco.
One of many colorful corridors in the medina of this old mountain town. Well known as a center of the Moroccan hashish trade.
13th century medersa (Islamic school), Meknes, Morocco.
Olive vendor, Meknes bazzaar, Morocco.
Farmers market, Fes, Morocco.
They seem awfully oblivious to my presence, don't they?
Leather Tanneries, Fes, Morocco
Medieval gates, Meknes, Morocco.
Conveniently adequate for horses, donkeys, and mercedes.
Portugal:
Sintra, Portugal
Sintra is a calm town about 50 km from Lisbon.
Royal Castle, Sintra, Portugal
Part Moorish, part Renaissance, part DisneyWorld.
Moorish Castle, Sintra, Portugal
Porto, Portugal
Czech Republic:
Near Prague Castle, Czech Republic
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