9 Best Hotels in The Great Oasis Valleys, Morocco

Made from the same mountain rock that surrounds it, this quirky eco-hotel is owned and operated by the charming Addi Sror, who speaks excellent English. It's best known for its atmospheric cave rooms carved from the mountainside, as well as its "tower rooms." The site has a splash pool for children; donkey rides and wonderful hikes through the nomadic lands provide further recreational opportunities. Rates include half-board, and you can bring your own wine or beer.

This small hotel is a worthy choice for budget accommodations at the far northern end of the Todra Gorge. The restaurant serves creditable tagines, lamb, and other specialties if you order ahead. There is a pool on-site, and they can organize hiking and four-wheel-drive excursions to interesting destinations off the well-trodden path, including salt mines, caves, and waterfalls.

A charming guesthouse in the Dadès Valley, Chez Ichou features modern, minimalist style with beautiful views of the gorge. A small pool area provides opportunities to sunbathe; in colder months head indoors to the sitting area with a fireplace. Beds are all dressed with Egyptian cotton sheets and all rooms have private bathroom areas. 

Enter this warm and intimate guesthouse on the outskirts of Agdz through two Amazigh doors that lead into a courtyard with a swimming pool and the sound of birdsong. Rooms are simple with an elegant, local design and overlook the pool. A three-course prix-fixe dinner is an excellent value; don't miss the cinnamon-infused milk pudding. Tours of the palmery and the local kasbah can be organized by the hotel.

This pretty guesthouse sits at the edge of the river amid fig trees, olives, and date palms with the walls of the Todra Gorge towering above. Rooms, though on the snug side, are comfortable and nicely outfitted with rustic furniture, wrought-iron bedframes, and woven mats; all have air-conditioning and heating, and some have a private terrace with views of the gorge. An on-site restaurant prepares a mix of Moroccan and French cuisine; breakfast is served on the terraces, where you can stretch out on handmade cushions under an Amazigh tent, listening to the chatter of birds. Rates include breakfast and dinner.

What it lacks in amenities and decor this no-frills hotel more than makes up for in affordability and location near the bus stops in the center of town. Rooms are spacious and clean; some have balconies and you can pay a little extra to have integral a/c and heating. In winter, the staff may also be able to provide you with a small heater. There is plenty of hot water and there are en suite rooms available. While technically a hotel, the property has the feel of an adult hostel. Expect some noise as it is so centrally located.

The premier address in the village of Nekob, this old family kasbah has been lovingly restored to high specifications. Elements of traditional design—such as magnificent keyhole arched doorways and rammed-earth walls inset with Amazigh motifs and mosaic tiling—are carefully combined with modern elegance; European finishing touches include specially imported bed linen and high-grade mattresses. Lodging options are divided into simple rooms and comfortable apartments scattered between the main kasbah and the small kasbah ("basement" rooms in the latter are cheaper, costing around 400 DH). Roof terraces, pretty courtyards, a playroom, restaurant, and swimming pool complete the picture. There is also a room that is wheelchair-accessible; a rare find. It's a great base for exploring the region, and the owners can set up guided hikes into the Djebel Sarhro mountains.

Hidden in the palm groves of Bounou, this guesthouse has simple en suite rooms set around a central patio, plus nomad-style tents and self-contained pisé bungalows in the garden. Meals are served in the small Moroccan salon or outside on the canopied terrace, which doubles as a spot for relaxing and stargazing. Le Drom' Blanc has a traditional tiled hammam for guests to use; camel trekking through the palmery can be arranged, too. Price includes breakfast and dinner.

Run by an English-Moroccan couple, this guesthouse in a residential neighborhood on the outskirts of Ouarzazate has huge rooms with traditional decor, air-conditioning and heating, and en suite bathrooms that could use some updating. A lovely roof terrace, overlooking the palm groves, is where dinner is usually enjoyed in summer; in winter, meals are served in a typical Moroccan salon with an open fire. The food is good and you’re far from any other restaurants, so book the half-board option.