Tangier, Tamouda Bay & Chefchaouen
After breakfast we were whisked off past the royal palaces and villas, through the pine-covered headland to Cap Spartel, the north-western extremity of Africa’s Atlantic coast, at the entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar. Underneath are Hercules Caves where Hercules is said to have rested during his labours. No stalagmites or stalactites but a sea window, the shape of Africa, with waves crashing through.
Le Mirage hotel, practically next door to the caves, is simply gorgeous and dramatically situated where the Atlantic and Mediterranean meet, one each side of the hotel! With fabulous and varied accommodations to match its location it’s an ideal place for rest and relaxation.
Next stop the beachfront Sofitel, Tamouda Bay. Another wow from me! This is a superb hotel with a great choice of rooms, villas, dining and entertainment. We enjoyed a superb seafood lunch before getting ready to head over to the luxurious Banyan Tree for (too many!) cocktails and dinner.
Banyan Tree, Tamouda Bay is the epitome of private luxury with its fabulous pool villas, gardens, spa & wellness and dining choices. We weren’t there for long enough (a fortnight would have been ideal!) but were treated as all their guests are, just like royalty.
Back at the Sofitel we hit the dancefloor at their nightclub So, with foot tapping rhythms and a great atmosphere, everyone had a great time – except me, the lightweight, who hit the sack after too many cocktails!
En route to our return to Tangier and the Movenpick we visited the stunning town of Chefchaouen, an otherworldly place nestled in Morocco’s Rif Mountains. This was the highlight of the trip for me and I could have spent many more hours wandering its steep and narrow blue alleyways, truly mesmerising!
Auberge dar Dardara was the venue for lunch, delicious, simple food in a family-owned auberge, the order of the day after so many fancy meals. They have a few rooms to stay in, beautiful gardens and even a large swimming pool.
O’Saveur proved an excellent choice for a more French influenced dining in the evening, all the dishes were scrumptious, and the busyness of this restaurant was testimony to its popularity. We rounded off the evening in the fab upstairs bar and just a bit too much wine!
Our final day was a bit more relaxed with a guided visit to Tangier medina in the morning. Tangier medina is situated within the walls of the 15th Century Portuguese fortress and is much less frenetic than Marrakech, but you’re still expected to haggle for anything without a price tag! Still labyrinthine, as is wont with Moroccan medinas, but definitely not as ancient as Fes or Marrakech.
Lunch at Villa Josephine was a fabulous finale to this trip. Built in the early 1900’s it has a distinctly Colonial look with beautiful gardens, public areas and bedrooms. The pool area, a few steps down from the hotel, has far-reaching views along the coast. Needless to say, the food was divine!
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about my latest trip to Morocco. Please do get in touch if I can help with your plans to visit this magical country.