Outside Marrakech

Kasbah Du Toubkal

Imlil, Morocco (00 212 524 485 611; www.kasbahdutoubkal.com). A stunning restoration of an abandoned hilltop stronghold by two English brothers and their Moroccan partner, Kasbah du Toubkal is two hours south of Marrakech on the lower slopes of Jbel Toubkal, North Africa's highest peak. Guests are driven from the city to the village of Imlil, then transferred by mule. A simple Berber lunch is taken on the kasbah's upper terrace with snowy peaks looming high above. Afterwards, there is a spot of trekking before the trip back to the city, arriving by 6pm. For those reluctant to leave, the kasbah offers accommodation ranging from dormitory beds to a split-level, glass-walled suite.

Les Bains De Marrakech

2 Derb Sedra, Bab Agnaou, Kasbah, Marrakech (00 212 524 381 428; www.lesbainsdemarrakech.com). Les Bains de Marrakech is an elegant spa centre located in an old townhouse pressed up against the 12th-century city walls in the southern kasbah quarter. A full range of treatments, from water massage to shiatsu, plus steam-cleaning in a traditional hammam, are on offer.

What To Do

A TOUR AROUND THE CITY WALLS

Hop into a horse-drawn calèche for a tour around the outside of the city walls. First constructed in the 12th century, these form a neat circuit of six miles punctuated by about 200 towers and 20 gates. Made of pisé, the fortifications possess a pinkish tinge and glow beautifully in the setting sun. A complete whirl around takes the best part of an hour; prices are fixed by the municipality and are posted beside the carriages, which wait in line on the north side of place de Foucauld (just follow your nose).