About this hotel
General information
La Sultana Oualidia is an intimate hotel of 12 rooms and suites on a hillside above the Oualidia lagoon, on Morocco's Atlantic coast. Its carved-stone buildings, with terraces, fountains and flowering balconies, sit within botanical gardens of palms, agaves, prickly pears, aloes, yuccas and euphorbias, alongside orange, olive and jacaranda trees. The interiors are conceived as a private home, filled with collected pieces, market finds and contemporary paintings.
The hotel lies within a nature reserve and is run with a light footprint: it is entirely self-sufficient in water through a natural cycle, and an organic garden supplies the kitchens. Facilities include an infinity pool above the lagoon, a heated indoor pool, a stone-built spa with hammams, a gym and a padel court, three restaurants and an oyster bar, plus a private jetty and beach. Sheltered from the wind by the lagoon, the climate stays mild all year, from around 12 °C in winter to 26 °C in summer.
Location
The hotel stands in the small fishing village of Oualidia on the Atlantic coast between Safi and El Jadida, inside a nature reserve on the shore of a 12 km lagoon lined with oyster beds, salt marshes and market gardens. Casablanca airport is about 2.5 hours away by car and Marrakech Menara Airport about 3 hours; Marrakech itself is some 194 km away. The hotel arranges car transfers from both airports, as well as fast-track passage through security and immigration on request.
Spa
The spa is built entirely of stone, its vaulted ceilings open to the sky in the manner of a cathedral. It has an indoor pool, a jacuzzi, hammams, a sauna, a relaxation area and a fitness room. Treatments draw on Moroccan tradition: hammam with black soap and the kessa glove, ghassoul clay or argan body masks, rituals pairing hammam with argan-oil massage, four-hands massage and an argan-oil candle massage. Facials use Darphin products, and manicures, pedicures and hair care are also offered.
Sports & leisure
- a padel court with its own lounge area, a gym, yoga and Pilates on the beach or in the garden, and personal training
- surf lessons in the lagoon, where the swell rolls in through a narrow opening, for beginners and improvers; experienced surfers head to ocean breaks 15 km south and near Safi
- stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, windsurfing, beach volleyball, and fishing from the beach, the cliffs or a small boat
- a guided birdwatching safari by boat or kayak: the lagoon is a Ramsar-listed wetland of international importance and a stopover for flamingos, storks, grey herons, spoonbills and cormorants
- horse riding along the beaches and through open countryside, and fat-tyre bikes for rides across the peninsula to the salt marshes
- outings on a traditional fishing boat to the oyster beds with a picnic, sunset cruises on the lagoon, and oyster and wine tastings
- Moroccan cookery classes centred on the tagine, lunch in the organic garden and a guided walk through the hotel's gardens and vegetable plots
- trips to the Wednesday souk, the Portuguese fortress town of El Jadida and the potteries of Safi
- a library, billiards and a pétanque court at the hotel
For children
Children can join a complimentary walk through the organic vegetable garden with the gardener, picking vegetables that the chef then cooks for their next meal. The calm lagoon also suits surf lessons for children from six years old.
Restaurants & bars
The cooking centres on fish, shellfish and oysters from the lagoon and on vegetables from the hotel's organic garden, backed by a cellar of more than 3,000 bottles and some 250 labels from Morocco, France and beyond.
- La Table de La Sultana — dinner around two seasonal menus, one French-inspired and one Moroccan; for hotel guests only
- The Jan Janz — cocktails spiced with Moroccan flavours and Far East-inspired dishes built on local seafood, served in a thatched pavilion overlooking the lagoon; for hotel guests only
- La Table de La Plage — lunch from the garden and the local catch: salt-crusted sea perch, lobster, oysters, bouillabaisse and grills
- The O Bar — an oyster bar at the end of the pier, pairing local oysters with Moroccan wines
Hotel guests can also book a dinner in a Berber tent on the beach, a picnic by the ocean and a seafood barbecue on the 20-metre private jetty over the lagoon.
Swimming
The 45-metre infinity pool looks straight over the lagoon; its water is specially filtered, and five seawater jacuzzis are set around it. The spa adds a heated indoor pool. The hotel has a private beach and a 20-metre wooden jetty reaching out into the lagoon.
Rooms
Each of the 12 rooms and suites is individually designed, with oleander-wood ceilings, stone and tadelakt walls, painted wooden furniture and aged marble floors. Every one has a private terrace with a seawater jacuzzi.
Every room has a king-size bed with a mattress topper, a marble bathroom with bath and shower, a separate WC, bathrobes, organic argan-oil toiletries, an espresso machine, a selection of Moroccan teas, a minibar, a safe, air conditioning, satellite TV, Wi-Fi, twice-daily housekeeping and a personal host available around the clock via a mobile phone given to each guest.
Panorama Room
A light-filled room overlooking the countryside and the hotel garden, with a king-size bed and a marble shower room; the private wooden-decked terrace has a jacuzzi, sun loungers and an outdoor bathtub. For two adults.
Panorama Suite
A spacious suite looking over the garden and countryside, with a king-size bed, a bath and separate shower, and a private terrace with jacuzzi and sun loungers. Sleeps two adults and a child.
Lagoon Suite
A suite facing the protected lagoon, with a king-size bed, a marble bathroom with bath and shower, and a private terrace with jacuzzi and sun loungers. Sleeps two adults and two children.
Treehouse Suite
A suite set in a tree facing the lagoon: one of its main branches runs through the room, and a full-height window frames the lagoon; the generous terrace has a seawater jacuzzi. For two adults.
Ocean Suite
A top-floor suite with private lift access: entrance hall, lounge, a bedroom facing the lagoon, a bathroom with bath and shower and two separate WCs; its terraces hold a jacuzzi, an outdoor bath and shower, with views over the lagoon and the ocean. For two adults.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.