Sawadi Ecolodge — Hotel in caïdat de Skoura

Our stay at Sawadi was magical. The hotel and gardens are stunningly beautiful. The food is delicious with everything that possibly can be, being sourced from the garden. Breakfast included cereals, fruit, home made yoghurt, eggs, pancakes, Moroccan crepes, French toast, home made jams, fresh fruit juice, tea & coffee. Just incredible! The evening meal was equally wonderful with each day bringing a freshly made soup, salads, tagine and dessert. We particularly loved that each day was a surprise. It was so liberating. All diets were catered for. Our whole family, including two 16 year olds and an 11 year old ate like royalty and loved the food. |And then there are all the fabulous people who really make Sawadi the special place it is. Everyone was so kind and helpful. The men and women working at Sawadi always appear with a smile and make you feel so welcome. It’s like a family. And everyone fully embraced our family too. Our boys had their 16th birthday while we were there. They were given a cake and everyone celebrated with us. A real moment to remember. Said and Kadar took time to help us organise trips, tell us stories and help us in any way they could. Ahmed took us into the laboratory and showed us how rose water is made. The Hamam and massage was also a real treat. We felt like we were floating afterwards. |Our trip to Morocco really was magical and we feel so lucky to have found Sawadi - an oasis...

Wonderful little place tucked away in a labyrinth of narrow streets and olive groves. Feels more like a back-to-nature retreat center than a hotel, while retaining as much modern convenience as you can expect in Morocco.

We ended up here somewhat unexpectedly when my mother suffered a bad injury on our trip and had to be off her feet for a few days. The charming staff were incredibly helpful and accommodating. The food was excellent, all organic local fare, with plenty of fruits and vegetables grown onsite, homemade jams and so on, served in a cozy and casual dining room. There is also alcohol available to purchase if you need it (not common in Morocco. And, as elsewhere in the country, drinking water is charged by the bottle).

The buildings are modest but very beautiful, the plumbing is quite functional (not always the case in Moroccan hotels!), and our room had multiple electric outlets (also not a given!) and a heating/air conditioning unit. The bathroom, while small, was stocked with little luxuries like local rose water and artisan soaps. No bathtub, but a pleasant shower at a reliable temperature.

It was a peaceful place where we felt safe and didn't have any unexpected problems. They even take credit cards! (Another relative rarity). Most of all, it was the kindness of the people there that made our stay so relaxing (Merci à tous! Vous êtiez très gentilles). I wish we could have...

Sawadi is an idyllic place to unwind, especially after exploring the hectic medina life of Marrakech. Situated in an oasis in Skoura, Sawadi is rich in greenery and hospitality. Kader and the rest of the crew go out of their way to ensure a comfortable and welcoming visit. Ryka's breakfasts are a treat and Said's infectious giggle and top-notch service will have you immediately smiling. Kader gave me a nice tour of the grounds and we picked the tastiest apricots from the small orchard. The rooms are beautiful and the common area features an amazing table and chair set that could easily be in the set of a rock and roll video. This place is beyond beautiful and I recommend staying a few nights to soak in the tranquil setting and explore nearby sights like Kasbah Amridil. Thank you for an enjoyable stay, Sawadi.

P.S. I didn't realize Sawadi offered filtered water to guests until reading a response from the owner to another reviewer about the subject. This is fantastic as I saw so much plastic rubbish from tourists on my trip. I wish more guest houses would invest in this. My small filter canteen was impractical and I wish I had invested in a steri-pen as I contributed to several plastic bottles going to the dump. Thanks for...