Reviews of Holidays and Hotels in Morocco - Hide And Chic

The Guardian, 6 Nov 2004

[This article has being edited to exclude parts not relevant to Morocco]

Hide and chic

Suzanne Duckett and Andy Friedlander find affordable places in the sun to lie low

Tigmi, Morocco

On the fringe of Tagadert, a small, rural hamlet on the red plains 15 miles outside Marrakech, Tigmi was formerly several labyrinthine village dwellings that have been knocked through into a modern, colourful rustic retreat. Made from local materials (sifted earth mixed with straw and water), a series of stylish and verdant courtyards, alcoves, walkways and terraces provide shade from the desert heat. The pink exteriors lead through traditional Moroccan arched doorways to very sexy, souk-style bedrooms with low-slung orange and saffron covered day beds, floor cushions and white stone bathrooms. Outside, surrounding a walled pool on huge rampart-like roof terraces, you can see the snow-capped Atlas mountains.

The property has a tiny gym (anachronistically set up in a small mud-walled hut), a traditional hammam (steam room) and offers basic pampering beauty treatments and muscle extending massages. But if you want to stretch your own legs, you can hire bicycles or visit a nearby lake. Popular as a week-long chill-out with affluent younger travellers, your only likely disturbance will be the odd cry from a passing shepherd trying to rally his flock.