14 Best Hotels in The Great Oasis Valleys, Morocco

Movie stars and magnates tend to stay at Ouarzazate's only five-star hotel when working on location. The pool, the gardens, the public rooms—everything about it is impeccable. The elegantly furnished rooms and bungalows, the personal service, and the level of poolside chic are the best in town. The Moroccan cuisine served on-site is on a par with the hotel's high standards. It has stunning gardens where you can spend a happy half hour lounging under the trees.

Brothers Ismail and Lahcen Sabiri have opened a stunning five-star boutique hotel in their hometown that's a design lover's dream. All of the gorgeous wood and metalwork is done in-house and there's even a studio on-site where you can take a peek at what the artisans are making. The hotel also has an infinity pool overlooking the rugged landscape, securing its status as the only luxury property in this part of 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.

A delightful and original hotel set in the small village of Aït Isoul, Casa Juan offers the best of both worlds here: the palmery and the desert, splendid in their green and gold, but there's not much nearby. Rooms are individually themed and decorated with treasures like rugs, antiques, pottery, and textiles from the host's travels to far-flung places like Rajasthan. Excursions can be arranged from the hotel.

Hotel Cafe Du Sud provides traditional, simple, and calm desert living with all the luxuries of the modern world such as plentiful hot water and a strong shower. Hand-woven rugs, antique pottery, and fretted ironwork all add to the charm. There's also a pool and restaurant on-site. All tours and overnight desert stays can be booked from here. If you're looking for a more intimate experience, Hotel Cafe Du Sud has a separate private riad that can be booked for exclusive use. It contains four individually designed rooms set in a fabulous location on the dunes.

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.

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 only luxurious lodging actually in the village of M'hamid is this Spanish-owned kasbah hotel at the edge of the palmery. Named after the camel caravans that once passed through M'hamid, Kasbah Azalay has boldly colored tadelakt rooms with enormous bathrooms finished in traditional tiles. There is a courtyard garden, a roof terrace with expansive views, and a bar serving possibly the last cold beer for miles. The cavernous hammams and huge indoor swimming pool with domed ceiling and mosaic-tiled pillars are architectural wonders worthy of a royal palace.

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.

In a desert town that lacks any character-filled boutique accommodations, the rambling Kasbah Xaluca is the best choice available and offers a sense of authenticity combined with luxury facilities. Constructed using traditional methods, the hotel possesses rustic charm—picture wood-framed four-poster beds, earthen walls, zellij-tiled bathrooms, and wash basins made from 350-million-year-old fossilized marble. The evening buffet has a tempting range of Moroccan and international dishes. In addition to camel treks and four-wheel-drive journeys into the desert dunes, you can rent quad bikes and motorbikes here.

The most upmarket accommodation in the village, Ksar Ighnda stands on the grounds of an old mud-built ksar—though only the original olive trees remain in the garden near the pool. The hotel has excellent facilities including a hammam and spa, a funkily designed bar (also open to the public), a restaurant, and a huge function room. The rooms and suites all combine traditional features, such as date-palm ceilings and tadelakt walls, with modern Moroccan furnishings.

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.

One of the higher-end hotels in the area, Oz Palace has stunning Moroccan architecture, lush gardens, and a large pool. During the day, sunlight streams through rainbow-hued glass windows to give the entire space a magical feel. The polite staff go above and beyond to make you feel at home.

This desert oasis is decorated in the style of Saharan kasbahs and adorned with stunning tilework and handwoven carpets. There's also a pool on-site. Many guests opt to book a night at Riad Serai's camp, Caravanserai, in order to experience both the desert village and the dunes. Transfer between the two is provided free of charge.