Nkhila Lodge

Fantastic location and views. Very comfortable lodging. Just recommend packing snacks or other essentials as there are no options available other than the meals provided. That being said we had a great time and would definitely stay there again.

Having just returned from a 2 night stay, I cannot recommend avoiding this place strongly enough. The staff were horrendous. Our shower didn't work in the room. The staff spent several hours inside our room attempting to fix it (whilst we were trying to relax - there is nowhere else to go at the lodge). They continually said it was fixed but each time I had to go back to tell them it still didn't work. At one point, they actually came down at breakfast (embarrassingly amongst other guests) and marched me back up to the room accusing me of lying about the shower not working. They never said sorry or offered any kind of compensation for the significant inconvenience. What's more, the resort is still a building site, clearly not finished and definitely definitely not worth the significant price. They were drilling and sawing throughout the day further ruining the relaxing vibe they advertise. There are many better places to stay in Agafay. FYI - I emailed the hotel management to explain what happened before writing this review. They never replied. My partner spoke to them on the phone, they dismissed our issues in much the same way as the staff.

The spot is amazing and the staff as well . however we had a shower issue ( neither cold nor hot water) the manager did his best but didn’t solve the problem. Worst, he reported it as solved when it wasn’t . For a 220 € per nights it’s outrageous. For the dinner, each day it’s a menu not a lot of choices, specially when you are out of nowhere you may starve. They have a pu mic toilet where the water pressure is below expectations that it’s useless . We booked via a plateforme where I choose to pay at the lodge, they tried to debit my card 5 hours before arriving. No bill was given since we payed on site .

We loved staying at Nkhila Lodge - it was a night to remember. Star gazing, incredible views, and wonderful service. We were very well looked after. The cabins are very well appointed and it was an amazing place to stay.

This is the fourth time we have visited Morocco and we always ask for “Abdou” by name. He is an excellent driver, safely negotiating busy town centres and motorways alike. He always keeps his vehicle in immaculate condition. He has an excellent instinct for what interests us, local markets, historic places and we feel safe and well cared for with Abdou. He chooses local guides personally. He finds places to eat that offer good food and good value. When we arrive at a Riad, he always ensures that we and our luggage are safely conveyed to where we are staying. We are on a 4 centre tour this time which we would not have wanted to undertake without Abdou.

This was an all round great experience. The tent was superbly appointed, large and comfortable with all mod cons working fine. The dining was of a high standard, local food and very tasty. This is a peaceful location but not far from Marrakesh. All staff on site were very pleasant and helpful. Nkhila offer a perfect desert experience, which, by necessity, will be short for most as the range of activities is limited. I used this for a rest and recovery stay after my many walk in the mountains.

The tajine we had for dinner was delicious, and breakfast was also very good. Sleeping in this kind of tent was a unique and wonderful experience. Nkhila Lodge is located in a very secluded area. All tents have a view of the Atlas Mountains. The cooking class was enjoyable, and the food we prepared was excellent. Despite the language barrier (except for Mohamed), the staff were always friendly and helpful. So, globally, we had a nice experience. However, when we arrived, we were told to wait for half an hour before lunch would be ready. However, we ended up waiting for one and a half hours, and the food was cold by the time we received it. During our guided walk, we encountered a language barrier as the guide only spoke Arabic and not English, French, German, Spanish, or Flemish. Additionally, we did not receive any water during the walk, nor were we advised to bring any, possibly due to Ramadan. The walk was great, with some very nice views. Later, we were supposed to go on a camel ride, but the camels did not arrive at the camp as previously mentioned. We had to drive to where the camels were located, but our driver was 1.5 hours late. The night sky was not as expected since the camp was too illuminated even at midnight. When I made the reservation, the website stated that each tent had a telescope, binoculars, a field guide, and a planisphere. This was a significant reason for choosing this accommodation, but none of these items were present in the tent. The website has since been updated to mention that guests can borrow them, but when I requested a telescope, I was told that they did not have one. If you don't get stressed when people don't stick to the agreements, then this is definitely a top location to go to.

This camp is extremely unsafe. Please do not stay here. We had thieves go through out tents while at dinner, they sliced one tent with a knife and ram sacked two tents. The police are involved and they have informed us that’s this has happened before and the lodge ignored advise to improve security. Stay somewhere else!

Nkhila Lodge 2023 “This is where the adventure begins” said our guide and driver as he turned the 4x4 off the metalled road and onto a rough track which crossed a water course, led between very narrow stone walls, left behind the last village, passed the almost hidden camel lines, and then climbed upwards along the side of a steep hill into the wind and silence of the stony Agafay desert. We had not realised that only about 2 hours outside Marrakech you can find the awesome solitude of Agafay with Nkhila Camp alone in it. Like the majority of deserts, this is a stone desert (not Beau Geste, etc, struggling over the last sand dune), so it has the majestic loneliness, the sweep of far horizons with the snow capped Atlas Mountains in view and the clear starlit night skies untroubled by ambient light. Above all, it has solitude. You are not in close proximity to other people ticking “desert” off their bucket list. If that’s what someone wants, fine, but come to Nkhila Lodge for a unique experience. The camp has been carefully and sensitively made so that its footprint rests lightly in its environment, and using the lie of the land, there is no sense of crowding. There are two types of accommodation, the Stargazing Tents (like tents on a wooden platform stilts) and a small boma of Tents in a circle round a fire pit (ideal for a group). And when I say “tent”, they look like traditional tents from the outside but they are luxurious! We had one of the Stargazing Tents: large comfortable double bed, en-suite shower, wash basin and toilet. Cupboard space, a heater if you needed one and a veranda/balcony where you can sit and eat if you choose. We chose! We sat and saw the sun set, the stars (oh, how many) come out, the moon rise, and finally the sun rise. Stress dropped away, the peace of the Agafay desert replaced it. Providing the genuine desert experience, so physically close to Marrakech yet so distant, Nkhila Lodge is unique.