Riad Villa Amood

Three kilometres from the Erg Chebbi dunes — Morocco's tallest at roughly 150 metres — Riad Villa Amood is a five-star guesthouse in Merzouga, the Saharan village that serves as the eastern gateway to the dunes for travellers arriving from Rissani or Erfoud.

Family rooms, a terrace with dune sightlines, and an outdoor pool make it a practical desert retreat for those wanting comfort between camel treks and sunrise quad rides. A bar and dining area handle meals on-site, sparing guests the search for restaurants in a village with limited options after dark.

Check-in opens at 14:00, suited to the long southern drive from Marrakech — roughly seven hours by road.