15 Best Hotels in Ouarzazate, The Great Oasis Valleys

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.

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.

This restored pisé home maintains an aura of authenticity thanks to typical architectural features, like carved Berber motifs and ceilings woven from reeds and date palms. Clean, cozy, en suite rooms are simply decorated, and most have a private terrace overlooking the valley with the kasbah in the distance. The warmth of the French-Moroccan hosts makes up for the lack of heating in winter. Book the half-board option as the guesthouse is outside the village.

A rustic farmhouse about 7 km (4½ miles) outside Skoura, Chez Talout is worth the trek for its warm welcome, wonderful food, and roof-terrace views across the palmery to Skoura's kasbahs. The rooms are rustic in style, with traditional Amazigh clay and fossil sinks. Excursions to learn more about village crafts, such as pottery and basket weaving, are also available.

Poised on the outskirts of town, Dar Chamaa is a boutique riad that offers a contemporary take on traditional design. Rather small but spotlessly clean rooms are arranged around a cool, central courtyard; their neutral decor palette is punctuated by dark polished tadelakt walls, bright cushions, and modern furnishings. The on-site restaurant is renowned for its excellent food. Outdoors you'll find a gorgeous pool and a garden that overlooks the palm groves flanking the riverbed.

For anyone seduced by tales of Glaoui wealth and influence, this 17th-century pasha's courthouse has magisterial appeal. Filled with artifacts from all over Africa, the dark, lantern-lighted courtyard envelops with its dusky grandeur. Rooms are effortlessly chic, with wrought-iron beds, Amazigh rugs, inventive lanterns, and bathrooms as smooth and polished as the service. The hotel can also arrange a variety of excursions, including four-wheel drives, quad biking, mountain biking, camel riding, trekking, and overnight bivouacs.

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.

Next to the old kasbah of Tamdaght, the rustic Kasbah Ellouze (Kasbah of Almonds) is brimming with character, though rooms are a bit dated. To find it you have to walk into the heart of this tiny village, which overlooks the Ounila Valley and the almond orchards below—a delight to behold in the spring. Rooms are scattered between terraces and turrets; all have tiled floors, Amazigh rugs, earthen walls, and en suite bathrooms. The inviting restaurant and “Jazz” salon are decorated with photos of the French owner's musical heroes. The property also has a small pool (heated March to October) and several sun terraces.

Teetering on the edge of a precipice with stupendous views over the Valley of Roses, Kasbah Itran offers quirky, colorful accommodation inside its high stone walls; tasteful rooms all have open fireplaces (recently modernized to reduce fumes) and are suffused with incense and cinnamon from the kitchen. With its dramatic mountain location and rustic charm, this spot could be compared to the High Atlas's luxe Kasbah du Toubkal—but the similarity ends there: Kasbah Itran is a far more affordable option that attracts arty, independent travelers, yoga groups, and trekkers. The Taghda brothers, whose knowledge of the Rose Valley is legendary, can organize all manner of tours, on foot, four legs, or four wheels. Rates include half-board meal plan.

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.

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.

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.

Influenced by the fashionable interiors of Marrakesh's hip riads, Riad Caravane has stylish rooms, a roof terrace looking out to the kasbah, and a small dipping pool. There is plenty of local charm in the traditional furnishings and architecture, yet features like beige tadelakt flooring, quality bed linens in neutral tones, and woven basket lampshades lend a welcome air of casual elegance.

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.