destination is the palm oasis of Skoura, which lies next to the film metropolis of Ouarzazate, whose large studios played host to the shooting of Gladiator and several other movies. It is too easy to get lost in the palm grove, where almost twenty thousand people reside, and finding Dar Ahlam would be impossible without Ali waiting for us at the gates of this fertile land. A kasbah where caravans would meet and exchange goods forms the foundation for this boutique hotel. The maître de maison is there to greet us, and the property feels as if it is ours and ours alone to tame. A heated pool and the scorching sun remind us how close we are to the desert grounds of Erg Chigaga and its golden dunes stretching into the Sahara. In the evening, when we reach the southern passage extending to the Great Desert, locals are not at ease. A storm is on its way, but it brings with it the heavenly water that hasn’t been seen here for a long time. In the morning we find ourselves clenched in a cataclysm. M’Hamid resembles a city that is no more; roads back to Zagora are impassable, the desert is flooded, and wild wadis are shattering people’s lives. A mere glimpse reveals a lake in the Sahara...a photo opportunity to be seized before it disappears. A luxury Bedouin tent provides the night sky observatory that can never be forgotten, and then the final adventure awaits: our long way back home. What we have learned through this adventure is that life excels when people join hands, step in for each other, and put values and humanity first. The Range Rover is the best friend in these circumstances, if not a life saver. Is there a better way to celebrate excellence?
Palais Namaskar
star Palais Namaskar explores new dimensions in hospitality. Nestled between Morocco’s Atlas Mountains and Djebilet Hills, Palais Namaskar graces a romantic picturesque setting in Marrakech’s revered Palmeraie region. With 41 suites, villas and palaces, accommodation at Palais Namaskar is a harmony of timeless elegance and extravagant personal space. The décor is a vibrant combination of Easterninspired architecture infusing feng shui principles with contemporary interior design. In addition to the gourmet restaurant, the elegant tea lounge and the exceptional panoramic bar, guests may dine wherever they like: they may enjoy a private picnic in the gardens, an intimate candlelit meal by the lake, or
dinner with friends under the open sky on a private terrace. Le Spa Namaskar, directed by ila and Guerlain, features spa treatments that create a true sensory experience, and the holistic use of all-natural ingredients further nourishes the body and the mind. Palais Namaskar operates a luxurious and state-of-the-art Dassault Falcon 900LX and, once aboard, guests are cocooned in signature hospitality and looked after by caring and dedicated staff.
L’Heure Bleue Palais The Heure Bleue Palais in Essaouira is like a book with a thousand stories, and is impossible to describe. Set in an
Palais Namaskar The original meaning of the greeting “Namaskar” is “The spirit in me respects the spirit in you.” Commanding more than twelve acres of pristine seclusion, tranquil lakes and inspiring panoramas, the five-
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L’Heure Bleue Palais
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