Few countries in the world command the same allure as Morocco. Tell people that you’re travelling to the North African nation, and the inevitable response would be “ooh, exotic” – their mind’s eye, no doubt, filled with images of vibrant spice markets and camels traversing the Sahara.
Yes, Morocco is all that and much, much more: Picturesque, white-washed villages piled high on hillsides; sophisticated beach towns along the Mediterranean that easily rival those on the Costa del Sol or the Côte d’Azur; ancient cities with their medieval ramparts; and thriving metropolises that seem to shout, “We’re blazing a trail for the rest of the continent”.
Indeed, in 2024, the country welcomed an unprecedented 17.4 million visitors – 20 percent up from the previous year – making it Africa’s top travel destination, surpassing even Egypt. Meanwhile, tour operator Trafalgar identified Morocco as the fourth most sought-after destination for Singapore travellers, based on data from 1,000 booking trends for 2025 travel.
All of this shouldn’t come as a surprise, really; Morocco offers a panoply of experiences and a real sense of discovery. Across the country, there’s been a raft of new luxury hotel openings, from the Royal Mansour’s new properties in Casablanca (Apr 2024) and Tamuda Bay (Dec 2024) to Nobu in Marrakesh (Jan 2023), and the Four Seasons (Oct 2024) in capital Rabat.
Djemma El Fna, Marrakech (Photo courtesy of Scott Dunn)
“Royal Mansour delivers an extraordinary level of privacy, sense of heritage and place, and attention to detail that is rare even among luxury hotels,” says Gwen Ho, Scott Dunn's Team Lead and Africa Specialist. “Other luxury hotels in the country, like Amanjena, The Oberoi, or Mandarin Oriental are also excellent, but Royal Mansour feels like a real Moroccan palace with its grandeur, hidden riads, and private butlers.
“Guests from Singapore and Southeast Asia appreciate the mix of attentive service, elegant style, and excellent food, which includes halal options across numerous cuisines. Also, the fact that it is owned by the Moroccan royal family adds a layer of cultural authenticity and prestige that is hard to replicate.”
The three Royal Mansour properties make great starting points or stops for a Moroccan sojourn. Here’s what we suggest.
- CASABLANCA
- TAMUDA BAY
- MARRAKECH
CASABLANCA
With around four million inhabitants, the country’s most populous city serves as a convenient (and cosmopolitan) gateway to the kingdom. Flights from Singapore require a stopover; we flew Turkish Airlines, transiting in Istanbul.
Casablanca – or Casa, as locals call it – is like any big city: Loud, chaotic, fast-paced, and unforgiving, but also romantic at times. The city’s main train station, built in 1923, is named Casa Voyageurs – surely an invitation for adventure.
Then there’s the faded beauty of the Art Deco district with its sublime buildings dating to the 1920s and 1930s. From our 24th storey perch in the Royal Mansour’s Le Rooftop restaurant, we admired sunsets as fog rolled in from the Atlantic, lending a dreamlike quality to the Hassan II Mosque silhouetted in the distance.
As the economic engine of Morocco, Casa works hard and parties harder. And when Casblancans do, they do it at buzzy nightclubs in the ritzy Anfa district or at the Royal Mansour: We chanced upon a decadent, boisterous childbirth celebration in the hotel’s ballroom one evening.
“In Casablanca, we drew from the city’s Art Deco heritage and its role as Morocco’s economic heartbeat,” explains Jean-Claude Messant, Group Managing Director of Royal Mansour Collection. “The Royal Mansour Casablanca delivers a contemporary reinterpretation of the golden age of luxury, glamour, and enchantment through the rebirth of an emblematic palace.”
The palace in question was the El Mansour (no relation), which opened in 1953. That property was demolished and reconstructed. The current property houses 149 rooms, suites, and apartments, as well as four restaurants and a bar. A meal in the private room at La Grande Table Marocaine was a highlight; for the uninitiated, let the chicken tagine and couscous serve as your introduction to Moroccan cuisine.
Ask the concierge to arrange a guided private tour of the city; you’ll be glad you did. Visit Casa’s number one site, the Hassan II Mosque – it’s the second largest mosque in Africa and the only one in Morocco that permits non-Muslims to enter. Admire its immense scale, its sacred geometry, its intricate interiors, and the fact that it took only six years to build (1987–1993).
Elsewhere, it’s worth poking around the Habous district and its Jewish quarter, as well as the Art Deco district, imagining its elegant hotels, cinemas, and shopping arcades in its heyday. Or hit the upscale Morocco Mall to shop up a storm, before strolling along La Corniche, the seafront promenade that stretches for miles.
- CASABLANCA
- TAMUDA BAY
- MARRAKECH
TAMUDA BAY
After the urban intensity of Casa, take a breather in Tamuda Bay, a stretch of northern Morocco that’s been earmarked for growth by the Moroccan Agency for Tourism Development. And who can fault them? Far less touristy than other hotspots, but with lots to offer, the region seems promising.
To be fair, it’s not the easiest to get to – we took a two-hour train ride from Casa to Tangier, followed by a 90-minute drive to our destination: Royal Mansour Tamuda Bay.
There, hugging the Mediterranean coastline, we were welcomed by a cluster of low-rise, adobe-style villas and public spaces. The property boasts 55 villas and suites, three restaurants and a bar, and Morocco’s, and Africa’s, first medi-spa facility.
“Royal Mansour Tamuda Bay celebrates the coast while delivering the elevated service for which the Royal Mansour Collection is known,” says Messant. “In this beachfront, Zen-like haven, guests can enjoy seaside leisure activities as a family, share the most delectable culinary delights and relax in the sublime spa.”
The new Longevity Programme, Messant adds, is “a personalised wellness retreat blending science and holistic care. Available in seven, 10 or 14-day stays, the programme is built around five pillars: Metabolic health, nutrition, fitness, sleep, and emotional balance. With advanced diagnostics and tailored treatments, it offers a complete reset for long-term vitality and well-being.”
The resort is remarkably self-contained: If you aren’t lounging around your villa taking in seafront views, you could be frolicking on the beach or dipping in the Med. Bicycles are thoughtfully located throughout the estate – great for leisurely rides as well as getting from point A to point B (the estate sprawls over 10 hectares, or about 14 football fields).
Wellness addicts will have a field day indulging in two heated indoor pools, a cold plunge, a Himalayan salt room and various spa treatments. Dining-wise, we recommend Le Méditerranée, where you can enjoy three Michelin-star chef Quique Dacosta’s signature paella right on the beach.
The resort is a great base for exploring the region. Twenty minutes away is Tetuoan, a 15th century fortress town that functions as the capital of northern Morocco. Past pretty whitewashed buildings, you’ll find the old medina (walled city) with its narrow, winding streets. Markets bustle with vendors hawking fresh local produce as women converge upon neighbourhood bakeries to bake their own bread.
Further afield (a 90-minute drive) is the iconic blue city of Chefchaouen, the subject of endless Instagram and Pinterest posts. If the mood strikes you, you can even hop across a land border to Ceuta (30 minutes away), a forgotten Spanish enclave located at the northernmost tip of the country. Locals enjoy excursions to Ceuta for its high street shopping.
- CASABLANCA
- TAMUDA BAY
- MARRAKECH
MARRAKECH
A 75-minute Ryanair flight from Tetouan takes you to Marrakech. The approach is dramatic: You glimpse rose-hued buildings rising from scorched earth. The colour is somewhere between millennial pink and sunset; a very inviting shade.
But then Marrakech has always been open and inviting. As an oasis town at the fringe of the Sahara, Marrakech once welcomed traders, merchants, craftsmen, and literati from Africa, Arabia, and Europe.
Just as the 12th century city provided reprieve for weary travellers, the Royal Mansour Marrakech now stands as an oasis for the soul. On a 3.5-hectare site, the property is designed to resemble a medina, with a labyrinthine network of alleys that connect the 53 riads (traditional Moroccan courtyard houses). You’ll get lost a few times, but that’s part of the fun.
Each of the riads, says Messant, is “a sanctuary crafted by master artisans, with one-of-a-kind architectural and decorative details.” He is not wrong; examine any corner of your riad or the property, and you’ll discover a wealth of painstaking detail. It’s comparable to, or, dare we say, even surpasses, the exquisiteness of the Alhambra in Granada.
Beyond the walls of the Royal Mansour, extraordinary levels of artistry abound in the city proper. This will be revealed on a wander through the city’s many souks (markets), its lush gardens (such as the Jardin Majorelle, lovingly restored by the late Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé), its monuments (such as the 12th century Koutoubia Mosque), and its endless riads with their fountain-studded courtyards.
After a day of exploration, refresh your senses at the resort’s splendid spa – the interior makes you feel like you’re inside a Moroccan lantern – and refuel at the Grande Table Marocaine (try the Pigeon Pastilla, a pastry delicacy) or go Italian at Sesamo (try the eggplant parmigiana).
“For adventurous travellers, I recommend they start in Marrakech to find their feet,” offers Ho. The Royal Mansour “provides the perfect home base to begin your journey before heading into the Atlas Mountains. There you’ll find the Olinto, which is tucked away in the foothills and offers breathtaking views of the surrounding peaks and lush valleys. This is also where you can visit traditional Berber villages to learn more about their way of life,” she suggests.
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