Best hotels in Morocco

An intriguing history? Check. Criminally opulent design? Check. And those one-of-a-kind details that really make a hotel sing? Check! Known as the most storied hotel in Marrakesh, the gardens at La Mamounia began as a royal wedding gift in the 18th century and during the 'Roaring 20s', the palace was turned into a hotel that sets the standard. Its backstory is told throughout the salons with tubular glass chandeliers and ornate hammams, and a decor that blends Berber tapestries and Moroccan accoutrement with an Art Deco style. It's rather easy to see why La Mamounia inspired some of the greatest musicians of the 70s!

After sitting dormant for over a quarter of a century, this splendid 17th-century palace has opened its doors to share its story with the world. Restored to former glory, the interiors tell quite the history, not unlike the lineage of Fez itself. From the Iraqi stained-glass windows to the delicate Moroccan tiling, from the Fassi cuisine served under citrus trees in the courtyard to the storytelling evenings, the whimsical mystery and charm of Fez is ever-present. Then, one step outside the grand, cedar doors will have you in the middle of soaring minarets, tanneries and all the street food you could ask for.

There's something alluring about the Sahara Desert that has attracted visitors for centuries, with an aura that is both timeless and fleeting. If you're on your way to Merzouga, you'll travel across the sand sea of Erg Chebbi to the fluttering, white camp, surrounded by pure silence and packed with whimsical charm. Wake at sunrise for a lilting wander amongst the dunes on camelback, take your lunch in a lush oasis, and, as night falls, lie back on a plump cushion to gaze at the stars - the in-house astronomer will give you plenty of interesting tidbits.

Veiled from the world by swathes of palms and miles of dunes, Dar Ahlam is a 200-year-old kasbah, which was brought back to life in order for the owner to live his dream of sharing the 'old' Morocco with guests. A well-hidden getaway between the Sahara and snowy mountain peaks, the hotel centres every day around you. Meals take place wherever you'd like: breakfast in the Berber ruins, lunch beside tranquil Ouarzazate Lake, or dinner in the candlelit gardens. With its high turrets of champagne-coloured earth, dreamy suites and views of the far-away Atlas Mountains, it's easy to see why Dar Ahlam means 'House of Dreams'...