Kanz Erremal

Rooms

In the main kasbah, 14 rooms lead off the first- and second-floor landings; and there are also 8 newer rooms in the leafy Garden, housed in separate bungalows. All come with traditional plaster and mud walls, cane ceilings, woven rugs and wine-red throws for colour: a rustic yet comfy vibe which suits the location.

In terms of comfort, you get wall-mounted air-con units to keep cool at night, reliable electricity (24-hour mains with generator back-up), and decent ensuite bathrooms with showers (don't expect high water pressure: this is the desert).

Rooms are priced by number of guests rather than category so - availability permitting - you can take your pick. Traditional rooms are on the first floor of the kasbah, with 1 double bed - perfect for a couple. Dune rooms are similar, but with more windows, and a sofa that can become an extra bed if needed. For families, the two Balcony rooms come (as expected) with a balcony overlooking the desert, and 2 single beds in addition to the double. Up at the top of the kasbah are two Tower rooms, also with 2 singles and 1 double bed; these are larger again, but can also get a bit hotter. Finally, the separate Garden rooms are the newest and, we think, the most stylish: if you're not set on sleeping in a kasbah or having dune views from your window, these are probably the most indulgent option.

Features include:

• Fan
• WiFi

Eating

Dinner is very laid back, sitting at low alcoves around the main hall and taking pretty much what you get (there's no menu, so warn them in advance of any dietary requirements). Fresh supplies are bought from Erfoud's kefs (markets), cooked by local women in the kitchen, and served with by cheerful young men in full length blue tunics.

When we visited, we started with a comforting bowl of warm chickpea and noodle harira soup, and a platter of 'salads' including aubergine paste, cooked courgettes and carrots. Then came a modern art installation of chewy lamb brochettes skewered into a half cabbage, and surrounded by mounds of chips and rice-filled peppers. On another day you might get tagines: chicken, fish, beef or lamb slow-cooked in clay pots with prunes, sesame, orange, aubergine and other herbs or fruit. Or you could request a 'Berber pizza', a round kesra bread stuffed with mince, spices and almonds; or, for larger groups, mechoui, a whole lamb cooked in a wood-fuelled, mud-and-straw oven and served with couscous and dates. Wines and soft drinks are available, but no beer. Given the remoteness, it's a respectable menu, but don't expect much western fare or variety.

Breakfast is superb: steaming pancakes with all manner of jams (including a chocolate spread), a bowl of Spanish 'flan' (like crême caramel), crunchy swirls of honeyed pastry, yoghurts, fresh orange juice, and mint tea or good strong coffee (with hot milk). You can take it outside on a tray for a tea-in-the-Sahara moment.

Features include:

• Bar
• Restaurant
• Vegetarian options

Activities

• If you really want to get a feel for the Sahara, take an overnight camel trek. From the hotel you spend 2 hours lolloping on camel-back over Martian-red dunes, led by a bare-footed, blue-tunicked Berber guide (who speaks limited English). As the sun sets, you descend into a secluded valley with tamarind trees and jaimas (big, carpet-roofed tents). The luminous night sky fills with stars while your guide rustles up mint tea, sets up your comfy bed and cooks a simple but finger-licking dinner (flame-grilled meat and salad). After a deep sleep, rise at dawn for mint tea, before returning to the hotel for breakfast
  
• For a more bite-size dunes experience, opt for a short camel ride (sunset or sunrise), a half-day Land Rover trip or try your feet at sand-boarding (hard work but very satisfying when it gels)
  
• The adventurous can try their hand at quad-biking in the Merzouga dunes. Our 3-hour trip was exhilarating (but not cheap), using comfy 330cc buggies complete with helmet, gloves and basic insurance. Top tip: be sure to brake at the crest of each dune in case it falls away behind
  
• Alternatively, simply hike directly from the hotel into the dunes - once you've got past the inevitable trinket-selling touts, you'll find beautifully contoured valleys of wind-sculpted sand
  
• Longer desert trips are on offer (lasting 2-15 days). You'll take in the great sand dune of Merzouga, plus nomad settlements, river oases, stone and galena quarries
  
• Back in civilisation, learn how to cook Berber-style, take a trip to the hammam, unwind in the massage parlour, bird-watch in the palm groves, relax by the swimming pool or enjoy an evening of Berber drum music

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Birdwatching
• Cooking classes
• Horse riding
• Private guided tours
• Quad biking
• Swimming
• Trekking

Kids

Children are very welcome but some treks might not be suitable for very little ones

Family friendly accommodation:

The best options are the Family Rooms, with a double bed and space for 2 single beds plus a baby cot.

Extra Beds Available, Family Rooms

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Kanz Erremal is right on the edge of the desert, at the Erg Chebbi dunes in eastern Morocco. It's 3km from the settlement of Merzouga, 50km south of the town of Erfoud, 450km (6-8 hours) south of Fez, and 500km (8-10 hours) southeast of Marrakech.

By Air:
Errachidia (130km - 3 hours in a 4x4) has occasional domestic flights; Ouarzazate (350km - 5 hours drive) has some international flights. But most visitors fly into Fez or Marrakech, which have regular flights from around Europe and Africa.

By Car:
The hotel can arrange private 4x4 transfers from Errachidia, through the stunning scenery of the Ziz valley and palm groves - you can stop en route as you wish. And, using a Land Rover or grand taxi and making only short, necessary stops, from Fez or Marrakech or from Ouarzazate.

If you want to hire a car or jeep see our car rental recommendations.

Detailed directions will be sent to you once your booking is confirmed.