Riad Madu

Who they are

Riad Madu is a family house in Hassilabied, the village at the foot of the Erg Chebbi dunes, a few kilometres north of Merzouga and away from the hotel zone. It was founded by the four Anaam brothers, and is part of what they call the Madu group: the riad, two camps in the dunes and the excursions. The website does not give the year it opened. It is open all year.

The riad

It is a kasbah built with local techniques and materials, with tadelakt walls, the polished Moroccan lime plaster, in ochre tones. It has 10 rooms and 8 suites, single, double (with a large bed or two beds) and double suites for families, all with a full bathroom, air conditioning, heating and wifi, spread around their own courtyards away from the common areas. There is an outdoor pool with sun loungers, a lounge with divans and reading corners, and gardens. The restaurant cooks traditional dishes of the region with fresh produce daily and a seasonal menu, and caters for allergies and intolerances. You can book with breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The camps and the excursions

In the dunes they have two camps, Madu Premium Camp and Madu Luxury Camp. The Premium has six tents decorated, each with its own bathroom, heating and air conditioning, a large dining tent and a lit outdoor area; in the evening there is local music and, weather permitting, dinner is served outdoors. The website does not explain how you get to each camp or how far into the dunes it is; ask when booking.

The camel excursions are always guided, lasting a few hours or a full day, and the family adjusts the route and timing for each group; they have plenty of camels for every outing. They also organise quad and buggy outings and 4x4 trips, and suggest visits around the area: the traditional market, a nomad settlement, the market and kasbah of Rissani, the old M'Fis mines and the Saf Saf oasis. They put on weddings, parties and corporate events in the desert.

The website does not publish prices, group sizes or a minimum age for the camel or the quad. With children, the family suite and a short camel ride at sunset are the best fit; confirm ages when booking.

Getting there and booking

The nearest airport is Errachidia, 120 km away; Ouarzazate is 330 km away, Fez 420 and Marrakech 530. The website does not mention transfers: if you are not going by car, ask about pick-up. You book from the contact form on the website, by email at [email protected] or by phone on +212 535 578 740 or +212 661 352 895. They do not publish cancellation terms. The website is in Spanish, English, French and German, and among the customer reviews it carries there are Spanish travellers.