Perfect Pairings: Marrakech & Oualidia

Your exclusive Moroccan adventure starts from the off, arriving at your luxurious hotel, Royal Mansour. Boasting a selection of luxurious riads, each with its own private terrace and plunge pool; this is the ultimate in lavish luxury owned by the King of Morocco. The best way to start your time in Morocco is to use the Royal Mansour’s Spa - the talk of the town! A sanctuary completely devoted to your senses. The options are abundant for an elegant dinner at the iconic Royal Mansour. On either side of the iconic blue patio and gardens, promising an unforgettable sensory experience, orchestrated by its creative chefs. 

Your first experience takes you on an exclusive private tour of Villa Oasis, Yves St Laurent’s magical Marrakech home. Most visitors can only see the gardens, you will enjoy exclusive access into his home. You will be blown away by the myriad of colour that oozes from his villa, every room bursting with vibrancy, texture and life. Yves Saint Laurent travelled here each year to gain inspiration for the design of his collections. Some of these are now on show at the new YSL Costume Museum which you can also visit nearby. Relish in an afternoon at leisure, for lunch we recommend the vibrant +61, located in the heart of the new city. 

The next morning you can choose to explore the Berber village of Imlil either on foot or by mule. You will be met by your Berber hiking guide, serving as a translator between you and the local women to explain their involvement with the working co-operatives. Devour a traditional picnic lunch in the vastness of nature overlooking the Berber Village of Tizi Oussem, with stunning views across the deep valley. 

Bid farewell to Marrakech and travel towards the Atlantic coast of Morocco. With its peaceful beaches and 11km stretch of lagoon, Oualidia is a little-known paradise here. Debut surfers can learn to surf in the calm of the lagoon before taking to the crashing waves of the Atlantic. A haven for seafood lovers as this is the centre of oyster production, also offering a daily supply of shellfish. On the journey you can stop at Safi, known for the quality of its pottery.

You will be staying at the stunning boutique hotel, La Sultana Oualidia. The isolation of this hotel and its location just yards from the lagoon is absolutely stunning. Boasting a lavish Arabian Nights feel, with glorious gardens blending into the lagoon and ocean beyond. The lagoon is home to a variety of bird life like egrets, herons and flamingos. The overall scenery is pretty breathtaking. La Sultana’s own restaurant offers delicious world-class seafood dishes that are sure to impress.

The following day another culinary experience awaits you. Relish locally grown oysters from Oualidia’s unique lagoon. Your guide will take you out on a traditional fishing boat to explore the lagoon farms and introduce you to the harvesters who will allow you to join in with harvesting and shucking your own lunch! After lunch journey to El Jadida, a stylish and beautiful town offering a superb example of the interchange of influences between European and Moroccan cultures. Take in the surviving Portuguese buildings. The Medina is the most European-looking in Morocco: a quiet, walled and bastioned seaside village with a handful of churches scattered on its lanes.  

Your final day brings the option to relax in the outstanding hotel facilities, with a 40m outdoor pool overlooking the water, along with a stunning spa, massage rooms and relaxation areas. Or try the plethora of activities on hand, such as yoga, paddle boarding, riding, bird watching, fishing, swimming or surfing. Paradise is found!