Must-see hotels in Central Morocco

  • Riad Kasbah Oliver

    Central Morocco

    Owned by Tighza native Mohamed El Qasemy and his British wife Carolyn, Riad Kasbah Oliver is a labour of love. Built by hand from stone and earth by local…

  • Kasbah Bab Ourika

    Ourika Valley

    Occupying an outstanding hilltop location in the Ourika Valley, this rammed-earth kasbah provides understated luxury, including uninterrupted views of…

  • Ali & Sara's Desert Palace

    Merzouga

    Make friends with Romeo, George and Casanova – no they aren’t cheeky local lads, but your trusty dromedaries – as you head out from Merzouga nomad-style…

  • Erg Chigaga Luxury Desert Camp

    Draa Valley

    A pebble's throw from Erg Chigaga's highest dune, this luxurious tented camp has 13 sumptuous tents furnished with wall-to-wall carpets, handcrafted beds…

  • Dar Ahansal

    High Atlas Mountains

    Atop Amezray the impressive rock-hewn dar (small house) of mountain guide Youssef Oulcadi rises organically out of the tough mountain landscape, its…

  • Riad Dar Sofian

    Zagora

    This super-stylish desert oasis exudes understated luxury. The fabulous pisé (rammed-earth) edifice was constructed by a team from Skoura, while craftsmen…

  • L'Ma Lodge

    Skoura

    This gorgeous lodge has seven spacious, light-filled rooms and suites, decorated with antiques, elegant furnishings and artwork from Morocco and beyond…

  • Chez Youssef

    Merzouga

    Affable Youssef's simple pisé (rammed-earth) home offers four rooms arranged around a courtyard shaded by a single palm. The oasis-inspired decor is spare…

  • Merzouga Luxury Desert Camp

    Merzouga

    Surrounded by towering dunes a mere 10km from Merzouga, this luxury desert camp offers spacious safari tents, complete with carved-wood furniture, top…

  • Chez Pierre

    Dadès Gorge

    At this chic retreat, 11 light-filled rooms and two, two-bedroom apartments are notched right into the gorge wall, with contemporary Moroccan decor, plant…

  • Azalai Desert Lodge

    Zagora

    On the edge of the palm grove, the eight super-stylish rooms at this modern-Moroccan lodge are all individually decorated – think Paul Bowles’ battered…

  • Kasbah Timdaf

    High Atlas Mountains

    This stone and mud-brick kasbah is built in the traditional local style with artful rooms warmed by vintage wood-burning stoves. It may seem palatial, but…

  • Maison Merzouga

    Merzouga

    Guests receive a heartfelt welcome at this lovely family-run guesthouse that focuses on Amazigh (Berber) hospitality and not just desert-themed decor…

  • Camping Zebra

    High Atlas Mountains

    This welcoming places mixes tent sites alongside four garden rooms with shared bathroom and a mini kasbah with four en suites. Brightly painted rooms and…

  • Kasbah Azul

    Draa Valley

    Ensconced in lush greenery, this contemporary kasbah has nine beautifully furnished bedrooms, with art-filled walls and colourful polished plaster…

  • Auberge Le Festival

    Todra Gorge

    Get back to nature in romantically lit cave rooms dug right into the hillside and finished in moulded tadelakt (waterproof plaster), or rock-walled, solar…

  • Camp Al Koutban

    Draa Valley

    Wild Morocco's secluded desert camp is just a 90-minute round-trip hike from Erg Chigaga's tallest dune. Hike – or let a camel take the strain – sandboard…

  • Ouirgane Ecolodge

    High Atlas Mountains

    For a peaceful escape from the Marrakesh bustle, it's hard to fault this environmentally minded retreat. Rooms boast a warm Berber design, and the lounge…

  • Riad Atlas Toubkal

    Imlil

    This appealing guesthouse has eight cosy rooms with large picture windows that catch mountain breezes and boast views as fine as those at the kasbah;…

  • Auberge Bagdad Cafe

    Ait Ben Haddou

    The friendly Bagdad Cafe is well known for its good food – a few, simple home-cooked dishes done to a high standard and complemented by a well-stocked bar…

  • La Kasbah du M'Goun

    High Atlas Mountains

    The large size of this newly constructed kasbah, especially when seen from the main road, belies smallish but stylish rooms inside – but given the…

  • Hotel Amlal

    Ouarzazate

    With its zigzagging tilework and cool terrazzo floors, Hotel Amlal is an atmospheric option. Its 28 air-con rooms feature simple wood and wrought-iron…

  • Maison d'Hôte Zouala

    Ziz Valley & the Tafilalt

    An icon of rural tourism, this welcoming family-run guesthouse has traditional mud-brick rooms, Berber throws and ceramic lampshades, and makes a great…

  • Palmeraie Guesthouse

    Todra Gorge

    Just inside the palmeraie (palm grove), this delightful guesthouse has a series of pretty terraces draped with flowering vines and attractive rooms set…

  • Bab El Oued

    Draa Valley

    In a palm-shaded, walled organic farm, these ecofriendly bungalows rock hand-carved wooden doors, carpets from nearby Tazenakht, palm-beamed ceilings and…

  • Les Jardins de Skoura

    Skoura

    Low-key, high-romance, Skoura style: this garden guesthouse offers eight intimate rooms and three spacious suites, all with nooks carved from rammed-earth…

  • Gîte-Restaurant El Khorbat

    Dadès Valley

    Seasonal meals of garden-grown pumpkin soup and beef tajines with dates (Dh80 to Dh100) are served in the walled garden, a regular stop for 19th-century…

  • Auberge Restaurant Chez Ali

    Zagora

    The peacocks stalking around the gorgeous garden may be aloof, but otherwise the welcome here is warm. Sky-lit upstairs rooms have simple pine furnishings…

  • Kasbah Timidarte

    Draa Valley

    Live like a kasbah dweller has for centuries. Seven rammed-earth rooms ring a central sky-high courtyard, with smooth tadelakt (waterproof plaster) walls…

  • Auberge Amazigh

    Todra Gorge

    Located 17km past the gorge in the village of Tamtetoucht, Auberge Amazigh has just four cosy rooms, each with traditional pisé (rammed-earth walls)…

  • Kasbah Itran

    Dadès Valley

    This striking clifftop perch is a maze of terraces and salons, with nine simple rooms, most of which are en suite, three with air-con. There's music after…

  • Casbah d'Hôte La Jeanne Ecolodge

    Dadès Valley

    This family-run guesthouse gets full marks for its spacious traditional rooms, complete with pisé (rammed-earth walls), beamed ceilings and juniper wood…

  • Dar Sofar

    Draa Valley

    This bijoux guesthouse has just four spacious rooms, all brightly decorated in local crafts and fabrics. They lead on to a pretty patio garden with plenty…

  • La Dune Blanche

    Draa Valley

    Surrounded by low dunes 20km south of the village of Tagounite, accommodation here is in pisé (rammed-earth) cottages dressed with fabric to mimic the…

  • Kasbah Petit Nomade

    Dadès Valley

    North of town, Lahcen and Mouna's restored kasbah is a find amid Tinerhir's bleak hotel scene. Three simple rooms decked out in bold colours sit around an…

  • Kasbah du Toubkal

    Imlil

    This converted historic kasbah, at 1800m, lords it over Imlil with grand views over the mountainous landscape. The 11 bedrooms range from quaintly cute to…

  • Tizouit

    High Atlas Mountains

    Set into the hillside overlooking Demnate and shaded by flourishing gardens filled with banana, pomegranate and olive trees, Tizouit is a labour of love…

  • Auberge Le Maquis

    Ourika Valley

    A warm welcome awaits at this 11-room, family-style getaway and launching pad/finish line for bikers and trekkers. The local management makes meals (mains…

  • Dar Kamar

    Ouarzazate

    Once a stern 17th-century Glaoui courthouse, this cosy pisé (rammed-earth) guesthouse has a sense of humour: upturned tajines serve as sinks and sewing…

  • Riad Cascades d'Ouzoud

    High Atlas Mountains

    This stylish mud-brick guesthouse located on the parking lot at the top of the cascades offers the best accommodation in Ouzoud, along with quality meals…