CHEZ MANAR

Sixteen rooms make up Chez Manar, a kasbah-style guesthouse in Ait Ben Haddou, the fortified ksar 30 minutes from Ouarzazate that has featured as a backdrop in numerous film and television productions. Thick pisé walls and rooftop terraces keep the interior cool through desert afternoons.

Meals are taken communally, often tagine served on the terrace facing the Ounila valley and the old ksar across the river. The setting suits travellers touring southern Morocco's kasbah route rather than those wanting resort amenities.

Ouarzazate's airport and film studios lie a short drive east, making this a practical stop between Marrakech and the Sahara gateway towns.