Tamuda Bay is where Morocco’s smart set spend their summers. Looking out over the calm waters of the Med, it’s easy to see why. Just a 90-minute drive from Tangier on Morocco’s Riviera, it is the greenest part of the country, flanked by the Rif mountains which keep the coastal strip lush. On this part of the Moroccan coast, facing the Med, there is no battling with Atlantic-sized waves. And, what’s more, it’s next door to the summer palace of Mohammed VI, the King of Morocco.
The 55-room hotel is part of the Royal Mansour hotel group established by the king in 2010, which explains the palatial size of the rooms. In summer, it’s used as overflow accommodation for the royal compound with which it shares the private beach: a glorious 700m long sweep of sand. In low season, there’s a solitary guard staring out to sea where the hotel ends and the compound begins, right by the boathouse for the hotel’s two Riva yachts.
One of the palatial suites available at the hotel
The rooms have a modern Med aesthetic
My room has a modern Med aesthetic, a pretty garden and a muted palette, and is also extremely high-tech. At the end of a long day, I have to summon a member of staff to help me order my supper via an iPad and turn down the air con — but he is charm personified.
My addled brain is in the right place because the Royal Mansour Tamuda Bay has a fantastically beautiful and pristine medi-spa, which opened on March 1. I am trying its new Longevity programme, so have checked in for four days (usually it’s 7, 10 or 14 nights) for a range of assessments, exercise classes, aesthetic treatments and holistic health consultations.
The medi-spa curates a personalised programme of treatments
My first session is with the bracingly straight-talking Dr Aya Benzouina, who oversees my medical check-up, comprising a battery of blood tests, a physical examination and a chat about my specific worries (disrupted sleep and a frozen shoulder, for starters). She then draws up a timetable of sessions for me, while emphasising (three times, actually) that I need to do more exercise. Oui, docteur.
Later that day, my personalised programme begins with a stream of appointments with a nutritionist, an holistic medicine specialist (for stress and emotional wellbeing), physiotherapist, personal trainer and acupuncturist (and three nurses). Sandwiched between these there are some heavenly treatments — and a particularly good massage team. They are all Balinese and masters at what they do — every guest I speak to sings their praises.
The moon-inspired giant globe suspended above the heated “quiet” pool
The spa is spacious and cocooning
The spa itself is spacious and cocooning, with a pool, hydrotherapy suite, hammam, sauna, pink salt room, gym and treatment rooms. Arguably the star of the show is the separate heated “quiet” pool, which has a spectacular moon-inspired giant globe suspended above it and a twinkly universe of stars inlaid into its floor (coming soon to an Instagram post near you). There’s also a third beachside pool, chic as a Parisian with pink and white striped umbrellas and neatly trimmed palm trees ranged like a guard of honour.
The longevity programme has special menus to help kick-start a new regime, served in one of the hotel’s three restaurants, which major in French, Italian and Spanish cuisines. (There’s also a sushi menu at Royal Mansour Tamuda Bay, but a curious lack of Moroccan food. I find a tagine on the room service menu but that’s about it.) The programme starts with a two-day liquid fast, based on herbal teas and bouillons. I skip that phase (phew) but do sample a 340-calorie dinner from the 850-calories-a-day menu that follows the fast. My carrot salad followed by wood-fired grilled prawns, avocado and mango are as fresh and tasty as I’d hoped (but do leave me dreaming about a supplementary order from room service).
Coccinella restaurant, serving Italian cuisine
Le Méditerranée restaurant, offering a Spanish inspired menu
I don’t manage to lose any weight during my stay; the restaurants’ offerings are uniformly delicious and they have a baker whose bread and patisserie are simply too tempting. But it appears I’m healthier (and a bit fitter) than the team thought when they first clapped eyes on me. No cholesterol problem, high blood pressure or pre-diabetes. However, they do unearth a chronic vitamin D deficiency. Since returning home, I’ve secured some mega-dose supplements from my GP (and also endeavoured to cook from scratch more; ready meals are banned) and now feel like my batteries have been recharged. I’m due a follow-up phone consultation with the team a month after leaving the spa. I only have good news to report. Thanks, Royal Mansour Tamuda Bay.
Royal Mansour Tamuda Bay’s seven-day Longevity programme starts from 55,000 MAD (£4,500), inclusive of all assessments and treatments but not accommodation. Deluxe suites for two from 7000 MAD (£560) B&B (royalmansour.com)