Think Morocco’s coast is all about Casablanca? Think again. For years, the country’s jet-set crowd has been summering in Tamuda Bay – a quiet, sandy spot on the northwest coast, about 30km south of Spanish enclave Ceuta.
In comparison to the cacophonous chaos of Marrakech or Fez’s culture-crammed corridors, Tamuda Bay feels relaxed and exclusive, with little to do aside from eat at beachside restaurants and visit the nearby UNESCO-listed towns. But thanks to a handful of luxury hotel openings (most notably, the recent arrival of Royal Mansour’s third property), the area is rapidly making its way onto many luxury travellers’ must-visit lists. So, here’s how to spend one perfect day there.
Morning
Waking up at the shiny new Royal Mansour Tamuda Bay is an experience fit for a king – quite literally so, as the Royal Mansour brand is owned by Mohammad VI of Morocco. All its suites are decked in the brand’s signature opulent décor, but staying in a villa secures you a coveted beachfront location – meaning you can tuck into breakfast on your balcony whilst overlooking the waves and the hotel’s private stretch of sand.
You could simply sit and enjoy the view for a while, perhaps asking your butler to bring you another mint tea. Or, you could drive 25 minutes south to the town of Tétouan. Once the capital of Spanish Morocco, this pretty city is also known as ‘the White Dove’, thanks to its cascade of white-washed, colonial-style houses wrapped around the historic walled medina – itself a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Spend the morning wandering through its vibrant markets, perusing locally made goods and inhaling the scent of freshly tanned leather.
Afternoon
End your stroll at Restaurant Blanco Riad – a small, yet charming restaurant inside a riad-style boutique hotel just around the corner from Teéouan’s royal palace. Have lunch here, asking for a table on the outdoor terrace; sampling traditional dishes like seafood-stuffed aubergine and goat tagine with caramelised figs is all the more lovely when set against a backdrop of the plant-covered, sugar-white walls.
Then, drive back up the coast to Cabo Negro – a sea-swept, wild peninsula where the Rif mountains tumble down into the glimmering Mediterranean. It’s also where you’ll find Cabo Negro Golf Beach, an 18-hole, sea-adjacent course designed by Hawtree & Sons. While away the afternoon playing golf, perhaps pausing to admire the omnipresent ocean views.
Evening
It’s only a 15-minute drive back to your hotel, but ensure you make good time – one of the hotel’s sunset boat rides along the coast is not to be missed, and you also want to make good use of its sprawling medi-spa before the boat sets off at around 7:30pm.
After you’ve redocked, head for dinner at at La Mediterranée – an elegant dining venue poised on a private pier over the sea. Given its location, seafood is, obviously, a must, with everything on the menu plucked from the surrounding waves. And relax…
