9 Best Hotels in The Southern Atlantic Coast, Morocco

This luxury boutique hotel is a true eco-lodge, located in the countryside 8 km (5 miles) from Taroudant; it was built using local materials and traditional techniques but offers all the modern conveniences. The rooms are individually designed and decorated with local rugs, tapestries, and earthenware. The water from the bathrooms is recycled into the surrounding designer gardens with exotic plants from around the world. Two swimming pools, a spa, library, restaurant, bar, and sundeck with panoramic views of the Atlas Mountains add much to the comfort and pleasure. The hotel has been awarded a "Green Key" in recognition of its responsible and sustainable operations.

Tucked away south of the main square, Dar Dzahra is full of surprises, starting with the unassuming entrance that leads into a house that is in fact two separate buildings: one over 300 years old and the other just a few years old. The restoration was a labor of love, and owner Yves is happy to share his passion for Moroccan architecture and his expansive knowledge of Taroudant and local Amazigh culture with guests.

Hidden behind an unassuming door at the end of an alley, this unique guesthouse is an oasis in the bustling city. The design is inspired by traditional Amazigh dwellings, with pisé (mud) walls, little niches, traditional earthenware, rugs, and tapestries. There are lovely gardens, a Jacuzzi, and a roof terrace for relaxing, and only four rooms over the two floors, making it feel like a local home. The rooms share a bathroom on each floor, so it's more suitable for a group of friends or a family who don't mind the lack of privacy.

Located just outside Taroudant, Dar Zitoune is a wonderful retreat from the bustling town. Bungalow rooms are spaced out in a fragrant garden of roses and orange trees, with outdoor patios ideal for breakfast. An "Amazigh village" of 10 luxury tented rooms, with full bathrooms, air-conditioning, and Wi-Fi, has been added around one of the three pools (one of which is heated in winter). The breakfast and meal menus offer something different from the usual fare, and the service of the English-speaking staff is of a high standard.

This English-speaking, family-friendly guesthouse, which doubles as a cultural center, has been certified by Green Key for its sustainable operations and environmental responsibility. With rooms arranged over four floors, the accommodation can be split into small, self-catering family apartments and suites or up to nine separate bedrooms. The house is the focal point for U.K. tour company Holidays with Heart, which emphasizes responsible and ethical travel. The hotel arranges a variety of cultural activities in the region.

In the heart of Taroudant's medina, this luxurious boutique hotel has been beautifully renovated from an old riad. The interior decor has a colonial feel and features an elegant palette of dove gray, sage green, and beige. There's a cloistered patio garden with a swimming pool, a bar, gym, and Jacuzzi. Some rooms have fireplaces, and some bathrooms have full-size tubs. Excursions, guided walks, car rentals, tennis, and horseback riding can be organized.

This 18th-century pasha's palace hotel has seen better days, welcoming ambassadors and aristocracy, but still retains a sense of the grand, starting with the giant courtyard at the center and exotic gardens. With more than 100 rooms, it feels more like a village than a palace and is popular with large bus groups. Ask for the newly renovated rooms or one of the self-contained riads. There are also two swimming pools, a restaurant, and bar.

Taroudant's oldest family-run riad is inside an authentic Moroccan town house dating from the early 19th century and has many period features. Rooms are set around an inner courtyard shaded by old trees and fall somewhere between typically Moroccan and kitsch in design and furnishings. They are large, comfortable, and have air-conditioning and private bathrooms. Some can accommodate families. The service makes it extra special: Habib greets the guests; his wife, Latifa, works wonders in the kitchen. Indeed, this is one of the best places in town for a traditional Moroccan meal.

In a typical Moroccan neighborhood, this riad is the kind of place you could stay for a week and unwind, whether on one of several terraces, in the shade of the lounge, or by either of the two pools. Regardless of your choice, you'll have your every need attended to by enthusiastic manager Hassan, who speaks great English as well as French. Borrow one of the bikes at the house and explore the neighborhood.