4.5-Star Lakeside Resort with Mountain Views

In the High Atlas Mountains north of the Sahara Desert, winds whistle through dusty, scrub-covered crags. But down by the banks of Bin el Ouidane, the arid breeze is mostly blocked by a valley, creating a sheltered environment from which to take in the deep blue water and dramatic landscape. Along this shoreline, the 4.5-star Widiane Suites and Spa boasts a glittering oasis of its own—a broad, circular infinity pool that seems to meld with the lake below. The resort's castle-style buildings, seemingly hewn out of the same red rock of the mountains, surround the pool.

Upon arrival in your classic room, decorated with gilded brocade and satin curtains, you’ll receive a basket of fresh fruit, a bottle of Moroccan wine, and colorful cocktails. Later on, during a one-hour cooking class in the main kitchen (held three times per week at 5 p.m.), don a chef uniform and learn to prepare tagine, a blend of meats and veggies slowly cooked in cone-shaped earthenware. After revealing the secrets of regional culinary history and the characteristics of native spices, a Moroccan chef serves a three-course dinner in the main restaurant, which fuses Western, Asian, and North African influences.

In the elegant onsite spa, filled with elaborately carved hardwood and freshly plucked blossoms, two 60-minute massages banish tension. During the traditional hammam ritual, steep in a steamy sauna before an attendant scrubs you clean of dirt and oil. Each morning, a lavish international breakfast buffet on the terrace includes dishes such as croissants and spongy Moroccan pancakes.

Province d'Azilal, Morocco: Lakefront Valley in High Atlas Mountains

The hotel, tucked away in the middle of Berber country, is surrounded by snow-capped alpines. A local guide leads two-hour treks through nearby slopes, pointing out rare migratory birds from vantage points overlooking the sparkling expanse of Bin el Ouidane. A guided half-hour boat tour skims through canyons and inlets of the lake itself.

The High Atlas Mountains stretch across the middle of Morocco like a belt, and the 11th-century citadel of Marrakech, about three hours from the hotel, marks the eastern edge of the range. In the Marrakech Souk, a legendary bazaar, spices, leather goods, and handicrafts come with an extra helping of friendly price haggling. Nearby, guided tours explore the fortified medieval city, and camels break dance for dirham, the local currency.

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