In search of an invigorating and awe-inspiring weekend of activity within easy reach of home? You'll be hard pressed to find a better destination than Morocco's enchanting Atlas Mountains.

As either a stand-alone experience or combined with a visit to Marrakech (it makes for a brilliant 'fast then slow' combination) a trip to Ourika Valley is a must for anyone looking to truly get away from it all.

The kasbah

We’ve fallen in love with an incredible new resort called Kasbah Bab Ourika, offering supremely luxurious digs at a remote hilltop at the gateway to the Atlas Mountains. Just 45-minutes drive from Marrakesh, this majestic mud-walled Kasbah has been lavished with love and an eye for sophisticated design. You’ll love these gorgeously decorated suites (each with their own terrace), and there are two secluded swimming pools to choose from.

Gourmet food

This experience is also a gourmand’s heaven – Bab Ourika has an internationally acclaimed chef who specialises in traditional Berber recipes and international cuisine, always using the freshest locally sourced ingredients. And it’s up to you whether you want your meals served in the orchard gardens, in the colonnaded restaurant or privately in your suite.

Altas mountain trekking

This is Morocco at its best: sophisticated design details, 360-degree bird’s eye views of the Atlas, Berber villages nearby and the lush Ourika river valley to explore on foot. Trek along winding Atlas Mountain paths fringed by lime groves and olive trees. Trodden over by nomadic Berber tribes for centuries, these landscapes offer the ultimate in peaceful solitude and stunning views. After a day out in nature, return for sweet mint tea on the terrace, or discover the joys of a Hammam Spa.

It might be Marrakech that always gets the coverage (and we can understand why) but just an hour away lies a perfectly remote and stylish haven to match any stay in the buzzing capital.