Riad Akabar Merzouga

Forty metres from the rust-red dunes of Erg Chebbi, Riad Akabar Merzouga places guests at the literal edge of Morocco's Sahara without sacrificing comfort. Free parking and room service suit self-drive travellers arriving from Erfoud or Rissani, while families benefit from dedicated family rooms well away from the desert heat.

The indoor pool is a rare find this close to the dunes — cooling respite after early camel treks when afternoon temperatures climb hard. The on-site restaurant draws on Saharan tagine traditions and handles breakfast through dinner without guests needing to venture out.

Merzouga village runs along a single main street of carpet shops and café terraces; the great dune face at dusk is a fifteen-minute walk east, best reached before the tour groups arrive.