Riad Hassilabied

A riad on the edge of the desert

Hassi Labied lies at the northern exit of Erg Chebbi, where the village gradually gives way to the sand. Riad Hassilabied sits there, a few minutes' walk from the first dunes. To organise the rest of the trip, tours included, the Excursion Merzouga home page lists the packages available from Marrakech or Fès.

The welcome is over mint tea, often accompanied by Tafilalet dates. The building plays the local materials card — terracotta, rammed earth, palm wood — and is arranged around a shaded patio that cuts the heat of the day. The terrace, for its part, looks straight out towards the Erg Chebbi sand ridges.

The advantage of this location in Hassi Labied rather than Merzouga Centre: less traffic, more quiet. At the end of the day, when the light grazes the dunes and tints them orange, the terrace becomes the place to pause for a moment before dinner.

The rooms

The thick walls typical of local building naturally limit the temperature swings between day and night at Riad Hassilabied. Individual reverse-cycle air conditioning adds to this comfort on the hottest nights.

The decor leans on regional craftsmanship: hand-laid zelliges, tadelakt in ochre tones, Berber rugs, copper light fittings. The private bathrooms have walk-in showers and argan oil toiletries.

Rooms range from the simple double, for a couple, to family suites sleeping up to five people, some with a private terrace facing the dunes.

The table

The cook at Riad Hassilabied buys his produce each morning at the Rissani souk, about thirty minutes' drive away. The menu stays rooted in southern Moroccan recipes rather than aiming at a tourist compromise.

Dinner regularly features Madfouna — that bread stuffed with meat and spices — lamb tagine with prunes, harira and Friday couscous. Meals are taken under the caidal tent or on the terrace, depending on the season.

Breakfast holds a special place: fresh-squeezed orange juice, msemen and baghrir, eucalyptus honey, local olive oil. Vegetarian or gluten-free options are prepared on request the day before.

What to do nearby

From Hassi Labied, several excursions set out without having to cross Merzouga Centre:

The absence of nearby urban lighting makes the nights particularly dark — a real plus for anyone who wants to watch the sky without specialised equipment.

Families and practical services

Riad Hassilabied happily welcomes families: extra beds and high chairs are provided free of charge on request. The team speaks French, English, Spanish and Arabic.

Wifi covers the common areas and rooms, laundry is available on request, and the private parking is watched overnight — useful for hire cars or tour minivans. The riad can also host private events.

What travellers say

Reviews of Riad Hassilabied often come back to three points: the cleanliness of the rooms, the home-style cooking and the welcome from the staff. The average rating stands at ⭐ 4.9/5 from 102 reviews, making it one of the best-rated addresses in the village.

Its proximity to the dunes suits both a one-night stop and a longer stay for those who want to take the time for sunrise and sunset without a long journey. To compare with other addresses in the area, see Excursion Merzouga.

GPS location & interactive Google Maps

To easily reach Riad Hassilabied, use the Google Maps map below.