Azalai Lodge

There are just six rooms and two suites at Azalai Lodge. Above all, it makes for a perfect base from which to explore the Draa Valley, Zagora and the Chigaga Dunes. Not only can fly into Zagora from Casablanca, but you can also drive about 4-5 hours from Ouarzazate.

Sometimes the thought of a desert camp in the dunes might be a little bit too much for some people. Yet Azalai Lodge gives you a desert experience without feeling like you need to ‘rough it’. It’s an exceptionally relaxed place. For instance, period furniture stirs up images of the romance of the desert from Lawrence of Arabia to Wilfred Thesiger. It is situated in verdant palm groves and lush gardens, complete with a lovely swimming pool to cool off.

The rooms are lovely, the most importantly, air-conditioned and open out onto the gardens. Firstly, the Discovery Rooms are smaller, whilst the Travelling Room have a lounge area, and the Suites have a living room. Additionally, all rooms have either a shower or cast-iron bathtub and come with hairdryers and period furniture.

There is a small library, a small spa and a hammam. Azalai Lodge also works well in conjunction with their desert camp, about a three-hour drive away. Conversely, the lodge doesn’t serve alcohol, but luckily you can bring your own.