# Palais Rhoul Dakhla A 12-room luxury guesthouse in Dakhla's oldest house, a 1920s spiny-lobster store on a rocky outcrop facing the lagoon, restored over eight years, with a private beach, spa and three boats. For couples and families who want a house of character, good food and the lagoon, with kitesurfing within reach. Source : https://sabaro-travel.com/en/hotels/palais-rhoul-dakhla/ ## A lobster store turned guesthouse The house was built in the 1920s as a spiny-lobster store, on a rocky outcrop on the front line, its feet in the lagoon. It is the oldest house in Dakhla. Facing due south, it looks over the desert, the sea and the lagoon with nothing opposite, a few minutes from the town centre and the airport. Its restoration took eight years, made harder by the rocky foundations. Carpenters, zellige makers (zellige is glazed terracotta mosaic), ironworkers and plasterers came from all over Morocco; a master craftsman spent eight months on some of the carved plaster friezes. The stones were brought one by one from the desert, nearly 230 km away; many carry fossils. Some rooms rise more than 8 m to the ceiling. The decor brings together fabrics found in Morocco, Italy and France, Asian influences, auction-house finds, family pieces, and works by Moroccan and African artists, including old paintings. The house was recognised by *Condé Nast Traveller* in 2025 and rated 9/10 by *Le Figaro*. On Tripadvisor it ranks first among Dakhla's hotels and eighth among Africa's small boutique hotels, with the Travellers' Choice Best of the Best 2026 award. ## A table that catches what it serves The house has its own fleet: the kitchen depends on the day's catch, spiny lobster and organic vegetables from its greenhouses. At lunch, Rachida cooks Moroccan food, with a sourdough starter more than sixty years old; in the evening, Fayz serves international cuisine. Wood-fired grills, grilled fish, lobster: the menu follows the catch and the seasons. Aperitifs are taken on the wooden terrace facing the sea; at nightfall, dinner is served at the Paillote, facing the water, by candlelight, with African and Oriental music on some evenings. Outside guests should book their table in advance. Rachida also runs a cooking workshop for two to four people, to be booked 24 to 48 hours ahead: filleting a fish, balancing a chermoula (a herb and spice marinade), mastering a wood-fired grill, then sitting down to eat facing the lagoon. ## The spa The spa is part of the house: a traditional hammam in tadelakt and zellige, with black soap and ghassoul (a washing clay), massages, yoga, a gym and "Happy Detox" weeks (movement, breathing, Nordic walking, rest). According to the house, its team includes the only practitioner in Morocco certified in the Massage Authentique method and a specialist in Laotian Wat Pho massage. The hammam costs 700 Moroccan dirhams (MAD) per person, and the yoga class, in the late afternoon, 150 MAD. ## Lagoon and desert from the house The house's three boats, moored on site, head to the lagoon's coves, the White Dune or the desert; an outing can end with a lobster picnic. The White Dune can also be reached by private 4x4, on a route set by the tide, wind and light, with a swim when the tide allows. On the water: paddleboarding, kayaking, wakeboarding, surfing, jet-skiing. On land: quad bikes, land yachting, e-bikes and horse rides at sunset. For kitesurfing, the house refers guests to instructors or a partner school and to the spots of the day, PK25, Speed Spot or Lassarga. If kitesurfing is the main purpose of your stay, say so when booking and arrange lessons in advance; to ride every day straight from your room, a beach kite camp is a better fit. ## Which room to choose No two rooms are alike: hand-worked wood, chosen fabrics, terraces over the sea and the desert. Depending on their position, they look onto the pool, the sea, the lagoon or the desert. A couple should ask for a room with a south-facing terrace, where you wake up to the sea and the desert, or a suite with a living room; a family, for the family suite, two bedrooms around a shared living room. The Superior Single room, pool side, is made for a solo traveller. The house itself assigns each guest a room according to dates and party: state your view preferences when you enquire. ## Sabaro's view **Who it suits**: couples and families looking for a quiet house of character, with boat trips and kitesurfing nearby. **Strengths**: Dakhla's oldest house and its restoration; the day's-catch table; the private beach and pool; the fleet of three boats; a Tripadvisor score of 4.8/5 from more than 450 reviews. **Good to know**: bookings are by email only, with a deposit by payment link, bank transfer or cash, and American Express is not accepted; at the rate checked, the minimum stay was three nights; the tourist tax is paid on site. ## Frequently asked questions ### How do you get to the hotel from the airport? Dakhla airport is a few minutes from the house. A private transfer can be arranged on request, at 150 MAD per trip, paid at check-out. ### How do you get to Dakhla from Europe? Dakhla is a few hours' flight from Europe's main cities, direct or with one stop. The airport has direct flights to Paris and Las Palmas all year, to Marseille and Bordeaux in winter, and to Madrid in season. Royal Air Maroc checks in kitesurf equipment free of charge. ### What if you arrive before 3 pm? Rooms are available from 3 pm and must be vacated before 11 am, local time. If you arrive early, you can use the common areas while your room is prepared; the front desk speaks French, English and Spanish. ### Can you come for dinner without staying? Yes, by booking your table in advance.