Ksar Sania - Merzouga — Hotel in Caïdat de Taouz

A Hidden Gem in the Heart of the Sahara – Ksar Sania, Merzouga||||Tucked away in the golden dunes of Merzouga, Ksar Sania is more than just a hotel—it’s a sanctuary, a home, and a testament to time, culture, and sustainability. If you are looking for a place that blends authenticity with warmth, then this is where you need to be. It is a place where stories live in the walls, where every sunrise over the dunes feels like a fresh beginning, and where hospitality comes straight from the heart.||||A Story in Every Corner||||What makes Ksar Sania truly special is not just its breathtaking location at the edge of the vast Sahara but its history and soul. Built over 33 years ago by the remarkable Françoise, this stunning adobe-style kasbah is an architectural love letter to the desert and its traditions. With a passion for recycling and preservation, she used dry mud and straw, incorporating plastic bottles into the walls for insulation, proving that sustainability and beauty can coexist. The kasbah is adorned with antique doors and furniture sourced from old buildings in Rissani, giving each room a unique character that whispers tales of a time long past.||||To stay here is to feel connected—not just to the desert, but to a deeper history, to the people who lived here centuries before, and to those who built and cared for this place with love and devotion.||||The People Who Make It Home||||A hotel can have all the charm in the world, but without warm and welcoming hosts, it’s just a building. Ksar Sania is alive with its people. Clotaire & Ann are the beating heart of this place, ensuring that every guest feels like family from the moment they arrive. Their warmth is not forced, nor is it scripted; they genuinely care. You arrive as a guest, but you leave as a friend.||||Then there’s Ayoub, who seems to be everywhere at once—helping guests, sharing stories, and making sure everyone has what they need with a smile. His kindness and generosity of spirit make an already welcoming space even more inviting.||||And we mustn’t forget the incredible hostesses and cooks who prepare meals that taste like comfort and tradition all in one. The food at Ksar Sania is something truly special—local flavors, fresh ingredients, and a level of care that turns each meal into an experience of its own. Whether it’s a perfectly spiced tagine, fresh bread baked in the traditional way, or the ever-refreshing mint tea, each bite and sip feels like it was made just for you.||||A Location Like No Other||||Ksar Sania is nestled right at the doorstep of the Erg Chebbi dunes, where the golden sands stretch endlessly toward the horizon. The Sahara Desert is not just a landscape; it’s a living, breathing presence. The light here changes throughout the day, from soft pastels at dawn to fiery reds at sunset, and at night, the sky is a masterpiece of stars, undimmed by city lights.||||But the magic of this place extends beyond the dunes. The region is rich in history, home to ancient villages and ksars, where Berber culture is still deeply woven into daily life. Just a short drive away is Rissani, a historic town that was once an important stop on the trans-Saharan trade routes. Walking through its markets, where spices, textiles, and traditional crafts are sold, feels like stepping back in time.||||And for those fascinated by the passage of deep time, the surrounding desert holds a secret beneath its surface—fossils. This region is famous for its prehistoric treasures, with fossilized remains of marine life dating back over 500 million years, a stark reminder that this vast, arid land was once a thriving ocean.||||A visit to Ksar Sania isn’t just about checking into a hotel—it’s about experiencing a way of life. It’s about slowing down, feeling the desert breeze against your skin, sipping tea as the sun sets over the dunes, and hearing the echoes of history in the ancient walls of the kasbah. It’s about the people who welcome you in and make you feel at home, the simple yet profound joy of sharing a meal, and the stories that linger long after you’ve left.||||For those who seek a genuine, unforgettable experience, one that is both tranquil and deeply connected to the land and its culture, Ksar Sania is the place to be. It is a home in the desert, a retreat from the noise of the world, and a reminder of the beauty that exists in simplicity, tradition, and heartfelt hospitality.||||When you visit, you’ll understand why people return again and again—because some places are not just meant to be seen; they are meant to be felt. And Ksar Sania, with all its history, charm, and warmth, is one of...

This place has so much potential. It is a beautiful area and the huts are so quirky however we did not have a great stay due to some issues that are pretty simple to fix. Firstly I cut my leg and my trousers on the bed (see attached photo) you can see the bed is broken and it has a sharp edge this could be fixed by wrapping tape around it to smooth it down or by cutting and filling the broken wood. My partner also cut his head on the door by banging it on the low frame - we understand this isn’t such an easy fix but the leg and bed incident shouldn’t have happened. Secondly the bathrooms were not cleaned at all in the time we were there - skid marks on both toilets. There was plenty of toilet roll which is always good but the soap was basically empty. We also experienced virtually no hospitality from the host which is a shame when you compare it to the brilliant Moroccan hospitality we have experienced everywhere else on our 6 week trip here. The location is brilliant and the grounds are beautiful. The pool was not clean so it is at your risk to swim in it but the sun loungers are a nice touch. It would be lovely to see this place living up to its...

Stayed here the first time in 2002, when it was good. The hotel has been completely rebuilt about 8 years ago (after floods), and now it is excellent, with spacious stylish common areas and a restaurant. We had a large family room (double bed + single bed) with air-conditioning (unnecessary in April) for two nights. Great breakfast, good dinner (included in room rate.) Dunes start right behind the hotel. There are now hotels on both sides of Ksar Sania, but the atmosphere was still almost as good as back in 2002 (although I could not see the Milky Way the same way I could in 2002, due to light pollution.)||The location is excellent for travelers with own transport (rental car), as you get to avoid the touristy, restless Merzouga village.||We booked a 3-hour 4x4 tour from the hotel, visiting the other side of the dunes and some local sights (including the seasonal lake close to Merzouga village), and otherwise walked the dunes on foot. Very...