It was pitch black when we arrived under a brilliant starlit sky. The metalled road already covered in sand. We gingerly turned left, turning onto the soft sand road that lead to the huge entrance – Chez Francoise and Ksar sania the sign read in the headlight from our car. On either side of the road was soft sands which we had to avoid at all cost.
Location
Located in Merzouga, Morocco, next to the 150m tall Erg Chebbi sand dune is Ksar Sania. Tonight, the temperatures were sub-zero as we arrived to a very friendly welcome. The vivid starlit sky needed no long camera exposure to capture the night sky. Around us was complete darkness.
Ecolodge construction and facilities
The next morning, we had time to explore our surroundings. Ksar Sania is a small complex of locally sourced straw-bale designed rooms. It uses adobe plaster on the exterior and lime rendering on the inside. The climate inside the room is maintained to ~20ºC ingeniously using the stable air temperatures below ground. Moreover, this technology works both for the extremes of winter and the stifling summer heat.
For a more rustic experience stay in nomad tents with hot water supplied using solar panels. There is a pool, restaurant and activities on offer. One is assured a friendly welcome from highly knowledgeable Francoise. Having lived here for over 25 years she can provide information from faux poivre to camels.
Nangle angle
Set at the foot of Erg Chebbi this is the perfect location to explore the sand dunes.
Nangle facts & tips
More information and to book contact Ksar Sania directly via their website https://auberge-ksarsania-merzouga.com/.
Book Camel treks,vhikes and other activities via Ksar Sania. In addition, there are also plenty of independent guides who will assist. Finally, quad biking and 4WD bashing on the dunes is also on offer.
Finally, for information on this region check out blog – from Merzouga to Zagora.
