Holidays to Oualidia, Morocco

The little coastal village of Oualidia (pronounced 'Walidia') is very different from the vibrant, bustling cities. It is charming - and situated in a beautiful spot around the southern shores of an 11 kilometre lagoon inset from the Atlantic Ocean. Oozing calm, relaxation and glamour, Oualidia's fine soft sandy beach and calm waters (protected from the Atlantic by a barrier of rocks) make it ideal for water sports and idyllic beach life. It has been nicknamed as the 'St Tropez of Morocco' - perhaps because of the wealthy Moroccan and French tourist taking refuge from the busy cities during hot summer months. Rugged natural beauty surrounded by the largest bird habitat, Oualidia offers the different side of Morocco without noise, medinas and donkeys. The migrating elegant pink flamingos land there in the spring and autumn on their way from Spain to Sahara. Oualidia is home to the first royal beachside residence; Mohammed V built a once magnificent palace at the entrance of the lagoon. It has now been empty for over 50 years, but still guarded.

The culinary choices are fairly limited with the number of restaurants, but the few restaurants that are there serve fabulous seafood with fresh oysters, mussels and calamari. Oualidia is all about re-charging batteries and taking in the beauty of the lagoon and its surrounds.