Arriving during the last week in April, we were warmly greeted by the staff at Dar Sidi Bounou and basically given the run of the place, as we caught them right before the real desert tourist season began. Nancy is a wonderfully well-connected and charming conversationalist, eager to learn about you and to share her own experiences as an artist, gallery owner, and world traveler. The price is right and the food is excellent, plus you get the company of Nancy, Daoud, and the rest of the staff, which is both entertaining and instructive. It doesn't take too long to slough off the idea of the necessity for "doing something" when staying at Dar Sidi Bounou, as relaxation seems to come naturally with the place. That being said, Idri, one of the staff, took us on an excursion to an ancient necropolis, thought to date from the stone age, and the nearby ruin of the ancient Jewish kasbah of Tidri, both located on cliffs high above the Draa river. The place was magic. I will certainly return to explore more of the region and I will use Dar Sidi Bounou as a base. it will be a pleasure to bring more firends here.

Our first visit to Morocco was made very special by an 8 day stay on the edge of the Sahara at Dar Sidi Bounou with owners, Nancy and Daoud and their wonderful team. Our drive from Agadir was great fun, very scenic and problem free. Welcomed warmly by Nancy and staff on our arrival we immediately felt at home in our second floor room in the main house. The house is an authentic daub structure with lovely interior spaces as well as terraces and roof decks providing views of the surrounding palms, dunes and dramatic night sky. We were immediately addicted to mealtimes as both the food and fellowship was outstanding. Nancy arranged a overnight camel excursion into the desert with one of her wonderful staff, Said, and his friend, Abdullah, who provided the camels. Just as we were departing with the camels Shtouki, the proprietor of the cute little onsite boutique, equipped us with turbans. This soon gave us a lesson on the absolute designed-for-purpose nature of proper desert clothing. Not even our trusty Tilley hats could come close to providing the protection from sun, wind and sand that the turbans gave us. With the camels bearing amazing loads of bedding, tents, food and cooking gear, we walked and rode for 7 hours past ancient Kasbahs through a moonscape of dry river beds to reach spectacular deserted trackless dunes. Getting to know our camels provided insight into how amazingly well they are designed for their desert vocation. Camp was set up and after a delicious tajine dinner, we retired to our tent and a luxurious cozy bed. After our return to Dar Sidi Bounou, Said generously escorted us on short tours to Kasbahs and Souks, as well as for a short visit to meet his family. We found the Moroccan people very welcoming and were charmed in numerous encounters by their mint tea tradition. When we left Nancy, Daoud, Said and the rest of the staff to return to the coast it felt like we were leaving part of our family. Future travel plans must include a return trip bringing our adult children to meet our Dar Sidi Bounou family and spend more time traveling in the trackless dunes of the Sahara.

We enjoyed fantastic views and the relaxing terrace room was certainly a bonus. Nancy was very efficient and warm in organizing our stays and excursions, right from when we started booking.

We arrived late at almost 10pm and we were welcomed with a delicious meal. The team has made us feel they truly enjoyed working for her and they were all just like a big family. The camel trip to the oldest Kasbah was absolutely amazing. To our delightful surprise, Nancy is also a talented artist and how kind of her to show us her beautiful studio. The print of one of her paintings we are keeping in the room here in Cambridge will always remind us of one of the most romantic stays we have had.

I have never had such a super holiday.
Thank you Nancy and Daoud, and the welcoming, friendly staff.
I went with Sahara Dance a group of belly dancers from the UK. We danced and drummed and sang and walked and rode camels in the desert. For a week. And we were entertained by friendly musicians who sang and played and we all were encouraged to join in. Food was superb and plentiful, and Rakia the cook came and demonstrated womens' wear, dressed us up in her wedding clothes, and Shtuki sold us turbans, scarves and jewellery. I shared the new Hut with a new Friend. I didn't want to go home. Now I'm saving to back again. The water supply was wonky and the showers variable in temperature, but the stars blazed in the heavens and the fire glowed in the dark as we sat round it at night.
A life changing experience.