1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?

We spent five nights in the Atlas Mountains, Morocco, staying at this accommodation and it was all so absolutely beautiful and memorable that we would struggle to identify one-off things! The valley is a lush, green oasis sitting quietly at the foot of the slopes and the hotel itself is run by an incredibly friendly and helpful team of locals, headed up by a charming Frenchman (with good English) called Vincent. Vincent was accommodating and solicitous and couldn't do enough for us; even spending half an hour translating the comprehensive French walking guides for us (we now know a lot more words for 'dried up river bed' than we used to.) Some memories that stand out...? The skies at night, which are jammed with stars, the pretty, pocket-sized fields we wandered through for hours, the syrupy mint tea and the sad-eyed, docile donkeys that are everywhere, laden with colourful baskets of crops.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?

Go full-board - it's not as if there is anywhere else to eat or buy food but the hotel!
Bring tummy medicine, as good though the food is and careful though I’m sure you will be, you'll probably get an upset tum at some point. Bring shower gel - there are only small bars of soap in the bathrooms. Bring warm clothes and a waterproof - the weather in the Atlas can change on a dime. We were there in the third week of September and needed factor 30, macs and fleeces at various points. Bring felt-tips - the village children ask for 'un stylo' whenever they see a foreigner. Learn some French - French is the locals' third language after 1, Berber and 2, Arabic. Or better still, learn some Berber or Arabic. Don't fret about the four-hour car journey from Marrakech airport; it's a pretty drive and it is worth the wait. Having said that, our one real complaint would be just how expensive the private transfer laid on by Origins, is. If we went back, we would probably just arrange taxis once we arrived at Marrakech. The transfer is of course easier and one less thing to worry about, but it cost us almost as much as five nights stay full board!

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?

Hopefully, having a hotel (and it's a small place, done out in the local style) won't bring tourists in their droves to the area, as its main charm is how tranquil and isolated it is. The eco tax seems a good idea and is certainly no burden for the traveller and the hotel provides work, so that's good too. Can't see how it really merits the title 'ecolodge' however. True, they don't change your towels every day unless you request that but nothing else really stood out as especially green.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?

It would have been nice not to get ill, but we were stoical about that! Breakfast was a bit monotonous but I accept that not all countries make a big deal out of that meal. The walking guides and library were all in French - that needs improving. But these are small gripes and overall we thoroughly enjoyed our trip and would go back.

Read the operator's response here:

By creating this accommodation, we developed a small accommodation that helps in demonstrating that ecotourism is a more sustainable long-term way than destroying or altering habitats for short-term gains and we act for the prosperity of the valley. By promoting environmentally responsible practices, we work for the preservation of the Bougmez Valley and its people, contributing to the valorisation of their natural patrimonial. We still work on improving our behaviours, but here is a small description of our commitment as an Ecolodge.

- The accommodation provides new revenues to the local communities, through direct and indirect jobs; we use mostly local products to cook, and develop partnerships with local families, to offer guests the opportunity to experience the Berber way of life while benefiting the social welfare in the valley
- Our staff is trained and employed on a local basis through fair labour practices; we employ 4 people over the year, which are declared and paid social insurance.
- We provide our guests with information about Berber culture and sensitize them about ecological behaviours in and around the Lodge (books, photographs, and information about the cultural habits in the area).
- In the daily operations, we work on reducing our impact on the environment through energy saving tactics, waste separation and recycling, buying food locally, sensitize our clients and staff for water consumption.
- A participation of €3 per person per night is taken and distributed via our program “your participation, our commitment” to local development projects: waste collecting and transfer of non biodegradable waste to Marrakech, Renovation of Marabou Sidi Hussein and rebuilding cemetery wall which represents something very significant for the local people and for local Berber culture in general – culturally, environmentally and architecturally (until its decay the Marabou acted as both a local grain store and a place of prayer, particularly for women who were having difficulties conceiving).