Illustrative photo of the region — the property's own gallery is on the booking page.

Berber-run mountain refuge below North Africa's highest peak — reached on foot or by mule, worth every step.

The Kasbah du Toubkal crowns a rock above Imlil, an hour and a half from Marrakech and then fifteen minutes by foot or mule — there is no road, which is precisely the point. Run in long partnership with the local Berber community, which shares in the proceeds of every stay, it feels less like a hotel than a mountain refuge with very good tagines.

Days are for walking: village paths, valley circuits, or the two-day hike to Toubkal's 4,167-metre summit with local guides. Evenings are for the hammam, blankets and a terrace that looks straight up at the mountain. Comfort levels run from dorm-style to genuinely lovely rooms, so it suits trekkers and honeymooners alike.

Why we picked it

• Arrival on foot or by mule from Imlil — there is no road
• Run in partnership with the local Berber community, which shares in every stay
• Terraces staring straight at Jbel Toubkal, North Africa's highest peak