4 Best Hotels in Tafraoute, Agadir and the Southern Atlantic Coast

Nestled among the mountains and occasional almond blossoms of the Ammeln Valley 2 km (1 mile) from downtown, Chez Amaliya is a great base for hikers, climbers, and the less active. There are views straight onto the mountain face, and you can relax poolside with a drink as the sun sets and "Le Lion," a lion-shape rock formation, comes into focus. The excellent bar and restaurant are also open to nonguests, and the on-site shop sells handicrafts made by a local women's co-op. Two large family suites are available. Be sure to say hello to the friendly owner Liesbeth van Woerden if you see her on the property: She moved to Morocco from the Netherlands and is always happy to chat about her love for the country and what inspired her to move here.

Outside Tafraoute, this modern, kasbah-style guesthouse offers comfortable accommodation in a quiet rural setting. Built from local stone, it is decorated with style, incorporating local rugs and furnishings. All rooms are en suite, and there is a separate house that can sleep up to six. The pool is clean and inviting, and you can relax with views to the mountains. The restaurant menu fuses Moroccan and Mediterranean flavors, something a bit different from the norm.

This former officers' mess of the French protectorate is a piece of Moroccan postcolonial history as well as a hotel that dominates the town, providing panoramic views of the mountains that surround it. You can still find some original French Art Deco elements in the decor. Rooms are furnished simply and have spacious bathrooms, phones, and TVs, and many have views of the mountains or the ever-expanding town. The large pool with views across the town is one of its best features.

A favorite with groups and right in the center of town, the Salama overlooks the busy area around the market, where old men sell dates and local women bring their homemade argan oil. The comfortable public lounge on the roof has panoramic views of the town and rocky mountains beyond.