Part of the magic of a journey through the South is where you sleep: thick earth walls that keep the room cool, a rooftop terrace facing a ksar, breakfast under the palms, a tent in the dunes. Knowing where to stay in southern Morocco — and what to expect from each place — helps you choose the right comfort level and the right rhythm for your trip.
Here is our guide, stage by stage, based on the circuits we organise from Marrakech.
The main types of accommodation
- Riads: traditional houses built around an inner courtyard, common in Marrakech, Taroudant and Essaouira, and increasingly in Aït Ben Haddou.
- Kasbah hotels and guesthouses: restored earth fortresses or new buildings in traditional style, typical of Skoura, the Dades, N'Kob and the Draa valley.
- Family guesthouses (gîtes): simple, warm and welcoming, often in mountain villages, with home-cooked dinners.
- Hotels: more standardised, found in Ouarzazate, Agadir and the larger towns.
- Desert camps: from simple tents to luxury camps with private bathrooms. See our desert camp guide.
Where to stay in southern Morocco, stage by stage
High Atlas: Imlil and the Asni valley
Mountain guesthouses and lodges with valley views, open fires in winter and hearty breakfasts. Some can only be reached on foot, with luggage carried by mule. See our Imlil guide.
Agafay desert
Camps of every level, from Berber tents to designer lodges with pools. Choose one with heating if you travel in winter. Read our Agafay desert guide.
Aït Ben Haddou and Telouet
Riads and guesthouses facing the ksar, many with terraces where you watch the sunset light up the earth walls. Sleeping here lets you visit the ksar early in the morning before the crowds — that is what our 7-day grand tour does.
Ouarzazate and Skoura
Ouarzazate has practical hotels with pools and restaurants. For more charm, continue to the Skoura palm grove, where kasbah guesthouses sit among palms and olive trees, often with gardens and pools. See our feature on the road of a thousand kasbahs.
Dades valley and Todra gorge
Family-run guesthouses and small hotels line the Dades river, with terraces facing the cliffs; near Tinghir, some hotels stand right at the mouth of the Todra gorge. Rooms can be cool in winter, so ask for extra blankets. See our guides to the Dades valley and the Todra gorge.
Merzouga and Erg Chebbi
Two options: a camp in the dunes, reached by camel, or a kasbah-style hotel at the edge of the sand with real rooms and a pool. Many travellers combine both: one night in the camp, one in a hotel. See our Merzouga guide.
Zagora, N'Kob and the Draa valley
Guesthouses in the palm groves and restored kasbahs, especially in N'Kob and around Agdz, where you fall asleep to the sound of the oasis. Near Zagora, camps among the dunes offer a desert night on shorter tours. See our Draa valley guide.
Taroudant, Agadir and Essaouira
On the way to the coast: riads with orange-tree gardens inside Taroudant's ramparts, beach hotels in Agadir, and riads in Essaouira's medina, a few steps from the ramparts and the port. Our Essaouira where-to-stay guide helps you pick a neighbourhood.
What to expect: honest tips
- Heating and hot water: essential from November to March in the mountains and the desert; we check it for you.
- Half board is common: in remote areas, dinner at your guesthouse is often the best (or only) option, and it is usually excellent.
- Wi-Fi: available almost everywhere except in camps, but sometimes slow.
- Pools: many kasbah hotels have one, but they may be unheated in winter.
- Alcohol: not served everywhere; ask if it matters to you.
- Cash: useful for drinks, tips and small extras in remote places.
How we choose your accommodation
When we suggest where to stay in southern Morocco, we look at more than photos. We favour places run by families or small local teams, with hosts who take care of their guests; we check recent reviews for cleanliness, food and heating; we pay attention to the setting — a terrace over the palms or the dunes makes a real difference — and to the logistics, such as parking close to the door and the distance from the next day's sights. And we listen to your feedback after every trip, which is how our list improves season after season.
Standard, comfort or charm?
On our circuits, accommodation is selected to match your budget:
- Standard: clean, welcoming guesthouses and standard camps with shared or private bathrooms.
- Comfort: a step up in space and amenities, with private bathrooms everywhere.
- Charm: the most beautiful riads, kasbah hotels and luxury camps, chosen for their setting and atmosphere.
You can also mix levels — a simple guesthouse in the Dades and a luxury camp in the dunes, for example. Couples will find our favourite romantic addresses in our Morocco honeymoon itinerary.
Plan your stay
Choosing where to stay in southern Morocco is part of designing your circuit. Tell us your budget, your priorities (views, quiet, pool, private bathroom in the desert) and your dates on WhatsApp, and we will build a proposal around them. Start with our guide to multi-day tours from Marrakech or see how tailor-made tours work.
