11 Best Hotels in The Great Oasis Valleys, Morocco

Set in the heart of the Palmery amid lush gardens (the owners planted 2,500 different plants), L'Ma Lodge is an exquisite escape from modern life. Rooms are simply decorated using local materials and infused with the owner's considerable sense of style to add the chic factor. There are no TVs or Wi-Fi in the rooms (there is Wi-Fi in the communal areas) as the owners wanted to create the feeling of a haven and place of rest. Adding to the sense of retreat, there is no car noise or pollution, and food is clean, organic, and mostly grown on-site. The lush gardens encourage lingering with hammocks, piles of cushions, and petanque areas around every corner. There are only seven rooms so book early and for a few days for the full effect.

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 handsome eco-lodge is constructed in the typical mud-built style, tastefully mixing African and Moroccan decorative elements and equipped with modern showers and reversible air-conditioning—all of which are solar powered (though somewhat dark). Other environmentally friendly details include natural soaps in the bathrooms and toilets with a water-saving flush option (this is the desert after all). In addition to a pool, the property has a shaded pergola salon and meandering gardens. Meals, which make use of locally grown organic produce, are available for a fixed rate; no alcohol is served, but guests may bring their own. Guided excursions by foot, donkey, camel, or car are also available.

Part of the Group Xaluca chain, this vast hotel offers high-quality accommodation in a region that generally lacks luxury. The complex was originally built in the 1960s by the Moroccan state-owned hotel company; now revamped, it's kitted out entirely with an African flavor, from printed textiles to dark wooden masks. Facilities include a large pool overlooking the town below, a bar, and a restaurant. Mountain biking and mule trekking can be arranged; the hotel also makes a good base for day hikes in the gorge, although you'll require transportation to reach it. Rates include breakfast, but half-board is recommended as there are few local dining options.

The aptly named "House of Peace" is tucked away in the palm groves outside Agdz. Built using traditional methods, this 21st-century kasbah is an art-lover's paradise: vivid abstract paintings decorate the walls, eclectic music wafts through the air, and tasteful furnishings lend rooms a genuine Moroccan vibe. The gardens are a delight as well, with aromatic herbs, fruit trees, cool lawns, and shaded seating areas around a swimming pool. There's even a pet donkey if you fancy exploring like a local. You could lose yourself here for a few days just listening to the birdsong and hiking in the Drâa Valley. Guests can order an excellent dinner for 270 DH.

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.

A popular pit stop on the way to the desert, Kasbah Sirocco has clean, functional rooms; all have air-conditioning, and most have views of the relaxed pool terrace. An atmospheric restaurant with a tented ceiling and fireplace serves standard Moroccan fare at lunch and dinner. As with most places around here, you'll be offered any number of desert expeditions and excursions; afterward, you can relax with a drink at the poolside bar and shaded beer garden.

Another of the Xaluca luxury hotels, this rather ostentatious faux kasbah rises from the sand like a mirage; crenulated turrets and inner corridors lead to attractive, air-conditioned rooms with huge en suite bathrooms finished in colored tadlak. The property gets a lot of complaints for being big and noisy, but the fact is that the facilities here are excellent. Desert outings depart right from the door—including camel rides, quad-bike trips, and nights in private bivouacs. The huge pool is popular with nonguests, as is the restaurant, which serves passable buffet-style meals. Rates include breakfast and dinner. To find the hotel, look for the sign with two enormous kissing camels.

Between Kelaâ M'Gouna and Boumalne du Dadès, this restored riverside kasbah is an ideal base for exploring both the Valley of Roses and the Dadès Gorge. Rooms are individually decorated with paintings, textiles, masks, and furniture collected by the owners during their years of traveling in West Africa; a Mongolian yurt and bewitching underground cave rooms (hacked from the rocky crags where nomads once lived) offer unique alternatives. Ample outdoor space, a pool, plus a broad range of games and activities give this spot family appeal.

Styling itself as a "maison de repos" (house of rest), this restored farmhouse casts such a spell over guests that many of them find it difficult to leave, staying on for days in its warm, lazy embrace. The laid-back feel disguises an incredible attention to detail; each room and suite was individually designed. All have heating/cooling systems, and suites have fireplaces as well. Extensive gardens, dotted with the odd hammock and Amazigh tent, offer unlimited distraction for younger visitors, while for adults doing nothing has rarely felt so good. The rate includes breakfast; delicious evening meals are also available.

Originally built as a family home, this rambling three-story riad is full of over-the-top Moroccan decor, with stucco plasterwork, colorful mosaic tiling, ornate ceilings, and antique furnishings competing for attention. Ten spacious, air-conditioned guest rooms have wrought-iron beds topped with quality linens; some have a private terrace overlooking the pretty pool and garden. There are plenty of communal spaces for relaxing, including a bar.