Hotel Details
Auberge Derkaoua
| Region: | Beyond Atlas to the Desert |
| Location: | Erfoud |
| Season | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accomodation Type | Low | Mid | High | |
| Bivoiac Berber Tent |
Single bed underneath tent
|
n/a | 62 € | n/a |
| Standard |
Double room with en-suite
|
n/a | 98 € | n/a |
| Bungalow |
Double room with sitting area, en-suite
|
n/a | 133 € | n/a |
| Apartments |
Two rooms with double beds, suitable for family groups, en-suite
|
n/a | 195 € | n/a |
| Please note: All prices are per room per night | ||||
Check Availability
Special Offers
Room discounts in 2010
10% discount of all listed room prices
Facilities
Swimming pool
Air-conditioning
Spa on site
Sunbathing area
Internet connection
Disabled friendly
Vegetarian food
Smoking
Child-friendly
Bar and drinks
In-house restaurant
OtherA laundry service is provided.
Description
Auberge Derkaoua Desert Inn (often just known as the Desert Inn) is situated between Erfoud and Merzouga in Southern Morocco and has been receving guests since 1988 and, under the watchful eye of its owner Michel, is well experienced in taking great care of guests. Located at the edge of the barren rocky desert and half an hours drive from the famous Erg Chebbi sand dunes, the hotel is a well known destination for travellers hoping to explore the desert as well as those just wanting a peaceful break in an undisturbed landscape.
The Desert Inn appears as a Kasbah, constructed with mud walls, which enclose the guestrooms which it offers. A choice of standard double or twin rooms, nomadic tents, bungalow-suites and a small apartment for families comprised of two separate rooms is provided. The interiors at Auberge Derkaoua are restrained - pastel-painted walls, berber rugs and solid wood furniture decorate each room. Fortunately the traditional style of Auberge Derkaoua does not interfere with modern comfort - the hotel is equipped with air-conditioning and en-suite facilities throughout.
The indoor lounge areas provide a warm space if the weather turn cold, and supplies a library for guests’ use. Auberge Derkaoua’s restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner every day of the week of a surprisingly high standard given its remote location. Breakfast consists of eggs, Moroccan crepes and breads served with jams or honey. Lunch is usually a light salad and dinner offers a range of Moroccan and international cuisine, allowing guests to choose from a traditional tagine or a burger made from ingredients bought from a local farm. Meals can be served indoors, in the cosy restaurant, or outside on a terrace complete with tables and chairs.
During the day the ten hectares of land promise several spots of shade under the specially planted trees, which form an oasis and grow around the hotel. A tennis court is also provided for guests wishing to work up a sweat and the hotel’s large swimming pool welcomes guests to cool-down. Many of the travellers stay at Auberge Derkaoua’s Desert Inn to take advantage of the near-by sand dunes, activities and wildlife. The Auberge can arrange overnight trips to a bedouin bivouac camp located deeper within the desert. They are also delighted to host wedding ceremonies, honeymoons, anniversairies and birthday celebrations for guests hoping to spend a special occasion in this exotic desert setting.
Where is it?
If travelling from Marrakech by hire-car, Auberge Derkaoua is a 7-8 hour journey (480km) along the Nationales N9 and N10 to Erfoud and then on to the village of Taouz from where the Auberge is signposted. A shorter journey involves flying into Ouarzazate airport and driving a 5 hour journey. Detailed directions are available upon booking and the Auberge is happy to drive to meet guests in Taouz.
Travel Times
| Airport | 5 hours drive from Ouarzazate airport |
| City | 5 hour drive to Ouarzazate |
| Beach | n/a |
Other useful information
Special occasions catered for such as honeymoons, birthdays and anniversaries.
The hotel scores are aggregated individual user scores which have been audited as authentic and accurate through due enquiry by Morocco Gateway.
Morocco Gateway reserves the right to exclude any reviews submitted by users which cannot be validated as authentic and accurate. Equally we will resist any request from any hotel to delist any negative review.
| Condition of rooms and the hotel | 6.5 | Food and drink | 7.8 | |
| Overall cleanliness | 7.3 | Relaxation | 8.0 | |
| Pool and facilities | 6.3 | Value for money | 8.3 | |
| Quality of staff | 8.0 | Overall rating | 7.5 | |
| out of 10 | out of 10 | |||
User Reviews on Auberge Derkaoua
Below you'll find reviews written by our users, that have stayed in this hotel. The reviews are vetted and verified by us and may have been summarised by our editor to give you a meaningful summary.
The Editor's Summary
Auberge Derkaoua has received positive reviews from recent guests who have found the hotel to be “very impressive”. The rooms have been described as “clean and comfortable” and the guests have been “very relieved to find a large swimming pool” within the facilities at the Desert Inn. Guests have commented on the “superb restaurant” and its “lovely” Moroccan tagines in particular. Staff have also been awarded praise for being “helpful and attentive”. Successful overnight excursions have been arranged through the hotel. Overall Auberge Derkaoua had helped guests witness a “true desert experience” in Morocco.
We found this Desert Inn very impressive. Taking a transfer from the airport (rather expensive but necessary), we found ourselves in a small oasis surrounded by desert. The place itself is very traditional; the interiors aren’t particularly elegant, but are clean and comfortable. We stayed for a total of four days, two of which we spent taking a trip to the sand dunes with the 4x4. The camp included in this was quite modern indeed and we would recommend other visitors of Auberge Derkaoua to do the same. Also, taking a camel-ride was pretty good fun. At the end of our stay we felt we had had a true desert experience and would love to come again.
| Condition of rooms and the hotel | 6.0 | Food and drink | 8.0 | |
| Overall cleanliness | 7.0 | Relaxation | 8.0 | |
| Pool and facilities | 6.0 | Value for money | 8.0 | |
| Quality of staff | 7.0 | Overall rating | 7.1 | |
| out of 10 | out of 10 | |||
We stayed here in one of the cooler seasons but still found the three days exceedingly hot. We couldn’t believe there was a tennis court, but were very relieved to find a large swimming pool, which we used throughout our stay. Shortly after we arrived we were served dinner. It was a lovely meal of Moroccan tagine (lamb) and the meals we had on the subsequent days were also top notch. Travellers around these parts may expect to find a hotel that scrapes acceptable, but Auberge Derkaoua verges on luxury. All staff are very kind, and speak English well (which was a bonus), moreover the room we stayed in (a standard double) was extremely comfortable, but quite dark, which I expect is due to the strong sun and the traditional style of the building.
| Condition of rooms and the hotel | 7.0 | Food and drink | 8.0 | |
| Overall cleanliness | 8.0 | Relaxation | 8.0 | |
| Pool and facilities | 7.0 | Value for money | 9.0 | |
| Quality of staff | 8.0 | Overall rating | 7.9 | |
| out of 10 | out of 10 | |||
Came here with my girlfriend last spring. I enjoyed my stay at this hotel: had a number of good points; helpful and attentive staff, very nice room and superb restaurant. I’d recommend it to other travellers.
| Condition of rooms and the hotel | 8.0 | Food and drink | 9.0 | |
| Overall cleanliness | 7.0 | Relaxation | 8.0 | |
| Pool and facilities | 6.0 | Value for money | 8.0 | |
| Quality of staff | 9.0 | Overall rating | 7.9 | |
| out of 10 | out of 10 | |||
We came here in February two years ago for four nights. Perhaps our stay was slightly too long but generally our stay here felt rather disappointing. The rooms are pretty rough- though the more expensive rooms are probably better. We also were not incredibly impressed by the food. However the location IS amazing, and we had some memorable trips out to the desert etc.
| Condition of rooms and the hotel | 5.0 | Food and drink | 6.0 | |
| Overall cleanliness | 7.0 | Relaxation | 8.0 | |
| Pool and facilities | 6.0 | Value for money | 8.0 | |
| Quality of staff | 8.0 | Overall rating | 6.9 | |
| out of 10 | out of 10 | |||
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