Top 5 Resorts in North Africa and the Middle East for 2025 Selected by GoTravelDaily Readers

Summary

How Voting Works
What Readers Loved
The Winner
The Full List

The Middle East and North Africa is a region known for its enchanting cities, both ancient and modern. However, travelers may wish to balance their longer itineraries between urban destinations and those that offer a more secluded experience. The best resort hotels in North Africa and the Middle East, as voted by GoTravelDaily readers, serve as ideal starting points to explore pristine beaches, exhilarating desert drives, scenic mountain hikes, and captivating mule-trekking adventures.

How Voting Works

Every year, for our World’s Best Awards survey, GoTravelDaily asks readers to share their experiences and opinions on top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Notably, nearly 165,000 GoTravelDaily readers completed the 2023 survey, marking a significant 25 percent rise compared to pre-pandemic voting levels. Overall, more than 685,000 votes were cast across over 8,500 unique properties.

Hotels were classified as resort hotels, city hotels, or safari lodges according to their location and amenities. Additionally, they were rated based on the following criteria:

Rooms/facilities
Location
Service
Food
Value

For each characteristic, respondents selected ratings ranging from excellent to poor, with the final scores calculated as averages of these responses.

What Readers Loved

This year, two resorts that GoTravelDaily readers ranked among the top five in the region are located in Egypt, a destination that has captivated travelers since the inception of modern tourism. At No. 5 is the Four Seasons Resort Sharm El Sheikh, situated in the vibrant Red Sea resort town. Moreover, in the historically rich city of Aswan, you’ll find the Sofitel Legend Old Cataract (No. 4), a renowned establishment housed in a 19th-century Victorian palace and described by a reader as “an excellent historic hotel at a reasonable price point.”

The top two resorts on this year’s list are nestled in Morocco, a favorite destination for millions of travelers each year. The runner-up, Kasbah Tamadot, offers “an amazing location with great views,” as noted by one respondent, requiring a winding drive up into the majestic Atlas Mountains.

However, the first-place resort on the 2023 list is conveniently located just a taxi ride from a bustling urban center, which readers also identified as their favorite city in the region.

The Winner

The Oberoi, Marrakech: Marrakesh, Morocco

Alan Keohane/Courtesy of The Oberoi Marrakech

For the second consecutive year, this stunning estate located just outside Marrakesh secured the top position. One respondent expressed that, “The hotel was beyond beautiful, better than any photograph could do justice.” The property spans 28 acres of landscaped gardens and pathways, featuring an intricately designed main building that mirrors a 16th-century courtyard at the UNESCO-protected Medersa Ben Youssef. Moreover, the exceptional craftsmanship of the mosaics and wooden carvings involved over 250 artisans and craftsmen. With a drive of approximately 25 minutes to the city center, guests can enjoy both long afternoons at the hammam or pool—many of the 84 rooms and suites are equipped with private plunge pools—and ample time exploring the vibrant town. “Absolutely the best hotel or resort we have been to,” remarked another reader. “As you leave, you’ll be planning your next stay here.”