Kasbah Ennasra

Description

Kasbah Ennasra is a unique collaboration between an Italian architect and a Moroccan tour-guide. Located towards the desert, Kasbah Ennasra remains secluded in the Tafilalet region and only five minutes drive to the nearby town of Rissani. Built between 2003 and 2005 the hotel has been expertly constructed with traditional straw and mud bricks made by local artisans. Kasbah Ennasra’s exterior blends into its environment and the interiors also evoke an understated, authentic Moroccan style.

Warm-tones such as ochre and red decorate the rooms in Moroccan tadelakt plaster. The standard rooms generally have double beds, en-suite facilities and a private patio. Suites offer a similar set up, but with a second room including twin beds and a living room. Suites are good choices for families staying at Kasbah Ennasra due to the space provided. On the other hand, prices for single occupancy are available for standard options. Many of the rooms include fireplaces and four-poster beds or beds with canopies. A rustic atmosphere is achieved with wooden ceilings and Berber and Tuareg furnishings. But the style remains clean and neat with ironwork tables and tiled floors.

Whilst all rooms offered at Kasbah Ennasra offer private patios for guests to enjoy in the sun or to dine throughout the day, communal areas are also provided. The indoor lounge offers a small library, where guests are encouraged to donate a book and keep the library developing. The swimming pool is large enough for dedicated swimmers and is surrounded by tables, chairs and parasols. Guests can take lunch here or simply enjoy the sun, or view over the expansive surrounding land. Date-palms, cacti and bougainvillea are also planted in the area. The terrace is also a popular spot to take advantage of the snack bar Kasbah Ennasra offers, or to simply eat a meal al fresco. An outdoor lounge area is provided in the garden with a Berber tent arranged with a sofa and pillows. An indoor lounge decorated in Moroccan rugs and wall-hangings provides comfortable seating and tables out of the sun. Additionally, Kasbah Ennasra’s spacious and sociable restaurant can seat large numbers of guests at a series of red table-clothed tables.

Meals at Kasbah Ennasra are generally Moroccan in style. Breakfast consists of fresh orange juice, mesmen (Moroccan crepes), assorted pastries, honey, apricot jam, cheese, yogurts, olives and eggs. This meal can be brought to guests’ rooms, served beside the pool, or inside the restaurant. A typical lunch may include a Moroccan salad with beef kebabs or meatballs, chips and a dessert of oranges with cinnamon. Italian pasta may be an offered alternative, guests may wish to discuss this with the hotel on arrival. A traditional dinner is available at Kasbah Ennasra. Starting with an orange and lettuce salad a chicken and almond tagine may follow, finished with a refreshing lemon Moroccan pastry. Kasbah Ennasra buys all ingredients organically and locally (especially vegetables, meat and cheese).

With a team of twenty-three staff members, Kasbah Ennasra offers an extensive concierge-like service. Organised overnight excursions to the desert, including tent, or suite accommodation and dinner served beside an open fire are all available. Similar excursions to nearby towns and sights, as well as the desert at sunset are also available with half-day or full-day options. Furthermore planned tours around Morocco, lasting from one to two weeks can be requested by guests. Alternatively guests may prefer to sample some of the surrounding attractions such as the famous Erg Chebbi sand dunes, only a thirty-minute drive from Kasbah Ennasra.