Riad Akabar Merzouga

Forty-eight hours is the minimum most guests end up staying at Riad Akabar Merzouga, a five-star desert riad pressed against the base of Erg Chebbi's orange dunes on the edge of the Sahara. The terrace faces the dune wall directly — sunrise here turns the sand from grey to deep amber in under ten minutes.

An indoor pool offers a cool retreat after dune excursions, unusual for a riad this deep in the desert. The restaurant serves Moroccan set menus drawing on local tagine traditions, with room service running around the clock.

Merzouga village sits roughly 50km south of Erfoud along the N13 route. Camel trekkers depart from the riad's own parking area into the Erg; the nearest significant dune crest is a ten-minute walk from the front gate.