A ravishing & under-the-radar (long may it last) beach town on Morocco's Atlantic coast.
Leave behind the clatter of Morocco's cities, follow the lure of softly-lapping waves and tranquillity in its purest form, and you'll arrive at Oualidia. Protected from the crashing Atlantic, the Oualidia lagoon is a crescent of gentle, turquoise water, making it the perfect spot for surfing lessons, not to mention a bevy of other water sports. Breezy restaurants and beach shacks serve up drool-worthy platters of seafood, including Oualidia's specialty of freshly-shucked oysters. You can also putter along the coast towards the wetlands, where hundreds of migratory birds gather in a flurry of colour. We'll just be over here, daydreaming...
It's hard not to love Oualidia whilst strolling along seven miles of caramel sand and pausing as the sunset turns the water pearly-pink. It'll come as no surprise that Oualidia is beloved by Morocco's royalty too!
Off the beaten track
If you can muster the energy to leave your corner of the beach, why not take a day trip to Safi, the 'land of potters', and see how their beautiful earthenware is made.
Something to think about
Around two-and-a-half hours drive from Casablanca and Marrakesh, Oualidia is a popular getaway for locals. While it remains blissfully quiet most of the time, we would avoid a visit during the August rush.