You don’t often find yourself at such beautiful surroundings that it makes you wonder… Is this a movie set? At Scarabeo Camp this thought will definitely cross your mind. Maybe it hits you the moment when you are staring at the flowing ceiling of your luxurious tent or later on when you follow the path of candles to your dinner table. At some point, you will feel that this is no ordinary campsite. 

Straight from the airport we drive the 40 kilometres to the Scarabeo campsite. Out of nowhere a small village of white tents appears in the middle of Agafay’s stone desert. We are welcomed in the most wonderful manner, including a tour around the site and some sweet mint tea. That is, of course, poured as high as possible. The interior of the bright white tents is a mix between design and safari, with natural fabrics in neutral colours, Berber rugs, typical Moroccan accessories and vintage finds that seem to belong to a world explorer. There are plenty of spacious, but cosy seating areas. You can tell that there was a lot of eye for detail whilst decorating. Snoop around and you find antique binoculars, globes and old school games.

A two-night stay at Scarabeo Camp is the perfect beginning of your trip to busy Marrakech. Relax with a book and the gorgeous backdrop of the desert, take a nap with only the sound of a blowing tent cloth, take in the sunbeams on one of the sunbeds or just enjoy the campfire. Walking around, taking in the stunning views is followed by a game of Pétanque. Trust us when we say you’ll need the exercise after a few meals here.

During lunch- or dinnertime the whole table is filled with small dishes. It transforms the place into a beautiful piece of art that is definitely insta-worthy. Dig in and taste all the different flavours. How about homemade Falafel, roasted cauliflower, sweet mashed pumpkin, braised fennel, stewed quince, roasted turkey skewers and freshly baked bread? All dishes are prepared in the camp’s kitchen in Marrakech and finished on the spot. After dinner it’s time for tea and something sweet like an almond tart with strawberries or sliced oranges with cinnamon and drops of rose water. Dessert overlooking the desert, does it get any better?

All people working on and around the campsite were just lovely and made us feel instantly part of the Scarabeo family. The hospitality of the staff and owner Vincent made our stay such a relaxing getaway. Their energetic and caring attitude made our trip so much more enjoyable. Any challenges we faced were gone before we knew it. After a few successful seasons Vincent and his wife are opening a second campsite this summer, between Agadir and Essaouira. We can’t wait to visit!

Written by Moniek Kuipers who joined me on this trip to Morocco. She will be one of the writers of Unfolded.

More info about Scarabeo Camp on scarabeocamp.com