Le Jardin des Douars - An independent hotel in Essaouira with soul
– Refurbished with Moroccan and African furniture and art
– New outdoor bar for all day drinks and sunset celebrations
– Sandrine and Rudy van Dongen manage this unique property
– Essaouira now with year-round flights to London twice weekly
The 2023 season at Le Jardin des Douars started with the unveiling of a refurbished corner of paradise in Essaouira on Morocco’s Atlantic coast. With the arrival of Sandrine and Rudy, the new directors at Le Jardin des Douars, a fresh look was unveiled with new pieces of furniture and art, outdoor areas upgraded and the launch of a new outdoor bar. The botanical gardens continue to flourish and truly stand out around the property.
Experts in hospitality, Sandrine and Rudy joined Le Jardin des Douars in 2022 and are now shaping the future of this unique, independent property. Sandrine and Rudy started their career at Club Med followed by many years within the events industry for large European companies. Their professional career with the Châteauform Group has taken them to France, Belgium, Germany, Italy and now they have started a new journey in Morocco at Le Jardin des Douars.
Essaouira is sometimes described as a ‘boho-chic / hippie bohemian’ destination which depends on ones style. But what Essaouira can certainly claim to be is undiscovered, certainly compared to other Moroccan destinations including Marrakech.
Ryanair offers year-round twice weekly flights that connect London and this unique port town on Morocco’s Atlantic Coast. Essaouira is like nowhere else in Morocco and remains crowd free.
Le Jardin des Douars is a destination hotel offering individually designed bedrooms (19), suites (6) and private villas (6). During the lockdown and at the end of 2022, Le Jardin des Douars refurbished all bedrooms and unveiled new luxury villas. The bedrooms and villas all feature locally designed furniture which has been created alongside colourful fabrics and unique pieces of art that best represent the breezy and spacious atmosphere. Rooms also feature furniture sourced from other African countries showcasing the uniqueness of this continent. All bedrooms feature Wi-Fi, hidden mini bars with local and international products and coffee and tea making facilities.
Le Jardin des Douars is also home to two outdoor heated swimming pools, one for families and one for adults only. Dining is taken seriously at Le Jardin des Douars with three individually designed dining areas including a vibrant open plan restaurant, a ‘couples’ dining room and alfresco dining on the terrace. On Sundays guests can enjoy an extensive barbecue lunch. A new outdoor bar was unveiled in 2023 featuring a creative light installation and lounge area for guests to enjoy drinks and light meals throughout the day and of course sunset drinks alfresco as the stars appear. The hotel is also home to its own hammam and spa where qualified therapists perform the traditional hammam ritual and various body and face spa treatments using argan oil, produced in this part of Morocco.
What makes this hotel truly unique is its lush botanical gardens. These gardens alone draw guests to explore the vegetation and tropical plants and trees. Those with garden knowledge may spot the various phoenix canariensis or the butia capitata, callistermon linearis or the sabal pamettos. If these are hard to find just ask one of the many gardeners who enjoy interacting with guests as they maintain these gardens. The resident tortoises, frogs and chameleons are sure to also highlight hidden parts of the gardens as they roam freely, adding to the charm of this property with views of argan-studded hills.
If guests can draw themselves away from Le Jardin des Douars, located in the Essaouira hills overlooking the Ksob River, then a shuttle service offers beach, dunes, medina, hills and surrounding countryside expeditions. The two most famous shuttle destinations are Essaouira’s main beach and Essaouira’s medina, both around 12 minutes from Le Jardin des Douars.
Essaouira’s walled medina is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Here visitors will discover the most laid-back medina in Morocco, compared to larger towns and cities. Fans of both ‘Game of Thrones’ the television drama and ‘Othello’ the film, may recognise the labyrinth of streets.
Close to the medina is the famous port. Essaouira’s outdoor fish grill stands are a lively option for lunch. Located here at the port, the laid-back stands sit side-by-side and offer a truly unique dining experience.
Visitors simply select from a selection of freshly caught fish, this is then cooked on the grill and served with salad and bread.
With around 320 days of sunshine per year, Essaouira is an ideal year-round outdoor destination. Guests can head to the beach to relax or enjoy surfing and kite surfing. Ocean Vagabond on the beach is one of the coolest and most affordable places to dine whilst watching the waves. The laid-back terrace is the perfect backdrop after a day learning to surf or kite surf with an instructor. The winds that blow on Essaouira bay provide the ideal atmosphere for beginners.
Nature may not be the first thing that springs to mind when planning a visit to Essaouira. But, Essaouira is home to the famous Argan trees found across forests just inland from the Atlantic coast. The Argan is a true symbol of the region surrounding Essaouira. Southwest Morocco produces this highly prized oil which is extracted from nuts and these have been used across the world in beauty products and spa treatments. How about finding out about the origins of the Argan tree and exploring the Moroccan countryside? Jardin des Douars can organise guided tours with an expert.
With years of local relationships working with the very best people in Essaouira, Le Jardin des Douars can organise additional active experiences in Essaouira including camel rides, horse riding, quad biking and cookery classes.
The hotel truly has soul and offers a picturesque setting for memorable holidays.
B&B priced from around £140 per room, per night or £530 per villa, per night
Le Jardin des Douars Video: https://youtu.be/psQBdneUxp4
Notes to editors:
Le Jardin des Douars is home to 19 bedrooms, 6 suites and 6 luxury villas each with their own private heated swimming pool and a dedicated personal maid service.
London – Essaouira flights with Ryanair from London Stansted twice-weekly. Le Jardin des Douars organises airport transfers to the hotel which is a 15 minute journey time.
Marrakech airport is 2.5 hours by car from Le Jardin des Douars and is served from several UK airports by airlines including BA, easyJet, Ryanair and Tui Fly. Airport to hotel transfer services are available for a fee and must be booked in advance via the hotel’s reception. Otherwise Supratours offer each and efficient coach journeys in 3 hours.
