Is Sidi Kaouki Morocco’s best kept secret?

As tourism continues to spread, it becomes increasingly difficult to find somewhere new, which has not yet found its way into the mass market brochures – enter Sidi Kaouki.

Sidi Kaouki is a tiny Berber village on Morocco’s Atlantic coast, 10 miles south of Essaouira. The village was named after a 19th Century marabout (a wandering holy man or teacher), and the shrine dedicated to him by the sea still attracts pilgrims to this day.

The one group of people to whom Sidi Kaouki is no stranger is the surfing community. Essaouira is renowned as a watersports destination but the real hard core surf dudes know that Sidi Kaouki is better, because it has both beach and reef breaks and the famous Cap Sim point break, which is known as one of the best waves in Morocco.

The village itself is comprised of a small main square, where local Berbers sell traditionally made dishes from stalls, a few basic restaurants and a couple of small hotels – plus a golden beach which stretches as far as the eye can see.

The most recent development in Sidi Kaouki, and the best place to stay, is the newly-opened luxurious boutique hotel – Rebali Riads – which has a choice of suites and private villas. The centre has its own on-site Hammam (traditional Moroccan sauna/steam complex), and various size swimming pools (the larger villas have private pools).

The Riads are traditionally designed to blend in with the village, but with modern touches such as remote controlled sliding glass roofs. They also have large double showers and four poster beds (with imported Egyptian cotton bed linen and towels). The on- site chefs will prepare meals to order and deliver them to the riads.

There are plenty of activities to do in the area including camel picnics (90 minutes on a camel followed by a Berber picnic), horse riding, quad-biking, tennis, cookery-lessons and watersports instruction (surfing, kite surfing, wind surfing etc.) – all of which can be arranged by Rebali.

Staying in Sidi Kaouki provides the perfect, peaceful escape, but with Essaouira just 20 minutes away, the hustle and bustle of the souks can also be enjoyed – then left behind…

Stays at Rebali cost from £40 pp per night (B&B). A week’s B&B costs from £475 pp, including flights and transfers from Marrakech and can be booked through Fleewinter - fleewinter.com.