Kasbah Casa Khamlia

The house itself is nice, but I wouldn't trust the owner or the helpers. They charged me 2500% of the normal electricity price, which is twenty-five times as much. There are plenty of friendly, honest people at other places in Morocco, so I'd suggest skipping this one.

I never got as far as checking in, even though I'd paid for the booking in advance. When I reached Khamlia, I stopped to ask a local for directions to Khasbah Casa Khamlia. He kept pushing me to follow him to his B&B and Cafe in Merzouga. When I explained that I already had a reservation, he called someone and said he'd spoken to the owner, an English lady, who would be waiting just up the road. Nobody was there when I drove up. I asked a teacher at the local school for directions, and he came outside and pointed out Khasbah Casa Khamlia. Then the same man from earlier showed up on a bike, saying he was the Khamlia B&B owner, or at least claiming to be. I said I knew where the place was and didn't need help, but he insisted I follow him. He told me the owner was Iranian, not English, and said people in the community had to take visitors to each other. I followed him in my car around the backs of some buildings. He went inside, came back out, and told me nobody was there when I tried to enter. He called again, and a few other men arrived. He then said one of them was the owner, though that man clearly wasn't. The story about the owner had changed from an English woman to an Iranian woman and then to a man, so I got back in my car and chose a motel up the road. The man who turned out to be the owner later phoned, said he'd been waiting inside, and asked me to return. By then I was already back on the N13 and had decided to stay at a motel. I can't say what the hotel service would have been like, and I still don't know what was going on. I just wanted to check into the B&B without all that nonsense and lying.

Excellent.

The Ouzina dunes are right beside Riad Kasbah Casa Khamlia, so it's easy to head out for a walk or take photos. Abdlah, the owner, is a wonderful host and helps make a stay in Ouzina memorable. It's a charming spot for getting a feel for the Moroccan Sahara. Highly recommended if you're traveling through the desert.