Perfect Pairings: Marrakech & Oualidia

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 center 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!