Azalai Desert Lodge

Location: Desert Morocco | Morocco

Price guide: $$$$$ Less than $100 per person per night

Flanked by a mountain, hemmed in by the Draa River valley and surrounded by a date-palm oasis, the Azalai Desert Lodge is a small, boutique hotel set magnificently in the town of Zagora, right on the edge of the Sahara. The hotel is an enticing collection of colonial-themed bungalows and cosseting facilities and is the perfect prerequisite pit stop before venturing into the vast desert.
Perfect forA delightful escape pod close enough to the desert for day trips yet far away enough to offer sophisticated luxuries.
In the know
  • A perfect base for exploring the desert & Draa Valley.
  • Has a hammam and outdoor swimming pool.
  • Can combine with a few nights at the Azalai Desert Camp

Recommended for...

  • Cultural Immersion
  • Peace & Quiet
  • Hideaway
  • Lodge

Hotel Overview

Sense of place

Only five minutes’ drive from Zagora yet wonderfully hidden away from the town’s main drag. Zagora is a former French colonial outpost and the ancient caravan gateway to the Sahara.

Rooms at Azalai Desert Lodge

Decorated with period furniture, the eight private bungalows are dotted around the property, between the palm and fruit trees, bougainvillea and various vibrant flora. Each room is inspired by a historical figure who explored Africa and its deserts, including Lawrence of Arabia and Karen Blixen, and has air conditioning, either an Italian shower or vintage cast iron bathtub and opens out onto the gardens.

Food & drink

Overlooking the gardens and swimming pool, breakfast and dinner can be had in the restaurant or on the patio. Breakfast is a selection of Moroccan pancakes and pastries, while dinner is usually very traditional and rich in both choice and flavours – expect tasty couscous, slow-cooked tagines and fresh salads.

Facilities

Enjoy some time in the magical gardens, whether resting in a hammock tied to the tall date trees, sleeping in a four-poster sunbed or catching up on some reading on one of the well-placed benches. Play a game of boules, do a few laps in the swimming pool and then head straight for the spa for a well-deserved massage.

Activities at Azalai Desert Lodge

You can be as active as you like during your stay here - you can venture into the sweeping Sahara for a day of desert intensity, riding a camel, rolling over the landscape in a 4x4 and climbing the towering dunes for superb views across the country. Alternatively, you can take it down a notch and stroll around the palmery to the river bank or take a tour of the nearby Kasbah Tissergat and the authentic Berber museum.

Hotel location

Zagora Airport is only a 20 minute drive from Azalai Desert Lodge while Ouarzazate Airport is 155km away.

More places to stay in Desert Morocco

YOUR JOURNEY STARTS HERE

call us on +91 11430 15414 to start planning your perfect trip

Make an enquiry