Les Jardin des Douars, Morocco

Plush Life’s Fleur headed to Essaouira and discovered the perfect place to recharge, Moroccan-style

Morocco has always held a special place in my heart. When I first visited, I fell in love with Morocco’s interiors, craftsmanship, and wellness rituals. The Moroccan way of life is just so magical.

The best time to visit is in spring and autumn when the weather in the UK is a little cold and miserable, yet Morocco is just the right temperature. This autumn, I was very excited to visit Les Jardin des Douars - an enchanting hideaway in Essaouira, on the western Atlantic coast of Morocco.

The port city of Essaouira is laid-back, with its own Medina. Listed by UNESCO World Heritage, it’s a must-visit when visiting Essaouira. There’s plenty of culture and history to explore in Morocco, but it’s also a place of sunshine and relaxation, and we most certainly found that at Les Jardin des Douars, just a few minutes drive inland from the windswept city.

On arrival at Les Jardin des Douars, we were welcomed into a beautiful sanctuary, filled with fragrant and vibrant botanical gardens. Birds chirp from every corner, petals from the vibrant bougainvillaea trees fall like confetti, and the trees shimmer in the gentle breeze. It takes a day or two to find your way around the winding terracotta tiled paths, lined with beautiful flowers and palms, but that is simply part of the charm.

The rooms, suites and villas are spread throughout the ochre coloured buildings, each designed in a traditional Moroccan style with tiled floors, beautifully carved wooden antique furniture, berber rugs and throws.

The bathrooms are filled with Moroccan touches; dried rose buds that are thought to absorb the toxins in the bathroom, as well as to sprinkle in your bath for an added plush touch. There’s also orange blossom essence to add to the bath or to massage into your skin, and traditional pumice stones, crafted out of terracotta and palm wood wrapped with wool.

The hotel has two jade tiled heated pools, one for adults only and another for those travelling with little ones. We ordered a cocktail whilst lounging around the poolside bar, as cats snoozed in the gardens around us and sparrows fluttered overhead.

The food at Les Jardin des Douars has an emphasis on traditional Moroccan flavours, with a French twist. Breakfast is a buffet style, with a fusion of French and Moroccan specialties. The French toast with caramelised pear, and the Moroccan crêpe topped with the kitchen's own almond butter, blended with argan oil and honey, was simply delicious. There are also eggs to order and an array of dried fruits, yoghurts and cheeses.

Dinner is served al fresco on the terrace in the glowing evening light, or in an intimate dining room furnished with vibrant coloured furnishings, carved tables and soft warm lighting. Dishes such as lamb and pear tagine, with flaked almonds, or the sweet shallot, stracciatella and balsamic tarte tatin were a Moroccan delight. We had to remind ourselves to leave room for one of their French-style desserts.

On Sundays at Les Jardins des Douars, there’s a barbecue on the terrace. Vibrant bowls are laid out filled with delicious fresh salads, roasted vegetables, grilled meats and fish and local goat’s cheese from a cooperative of women in Meskala, a rural area in the region of Essaouira.

Happily, there is also a wonderful little spa situated in one of the domed terracotta coloured buildings. We booked a hammam for a traditional Moroccan experience. It’s similar to a Turkish bath, so best to book this at the start of your trip before any chance of sunburn.

We were led through the beautiful carved mahogany wooden door, into a candlelit heated room with star-shaped carvings in the ceiling filled with coloured glass to let through just enough glow. As I laid down on the warm red marble bed, I found myself beginning to relax.

I was scrubbed from head toe with scented black soap, exfoliating scrubs and argan oil. You will find argan trees all over Morocco. It produces the most wonderful oil that has been used for centuries by Moroccan women, rich in vitamin E and known for its antioxidant and anti-aging properties. It left my hair and skin feeling fantastically nourished and silky smooth.

Once I was fully recharged, I felt ready for something a little more fast paced. There’s lots of things to do at Les Jardins des Douars: horse riding on the beach (which is just 15 minutes away), quad biking in the dunes, Moroccan cooking classes among them (explore more here).  The hotel has also just launched the first private sports club in Essaouira. We enjoyed a game of padel on their new courts, and a yoga class in a serene setting on our final day.


The Plush Life Verdict: A beautiful place to stay full of warm, relaxed Moroccan charm. I left with an even greater appreciation of Moroccan cuisine, art and wellbeing rituals than I arrived with. 

The Details: Les Jardin Des Douars (jardindesdouars.com) offers double rooms from £170 per night - Douar Sidi Yassine, BP209 44000 Essaouira - Morocco +212 700 083 233 info@jardindesdouars.com

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