Checking in to Royal Mansour Tamuda Bay

With the Rif mountains behind, and the Mediterranean Sea stretching out in front, the architectural approach to Royal Mansour Tamuda Bay immediately draws you in as individual sand-coloured stucco buildings, sit comfortably within the landscape. The suites have all been carefully positioned to maximise the striking sea views and the surrounding gardens, creating an immediate engagement with the landscape, while including subtle references to the region’s traditional building styles.

In a similar fashion, the interiors are a seamless and layered combination of the surrounding  natural world and local craftsmanship. Inspired by Mediterranean gardens, the sea, and local artisanal traditions, the spaces feature soft, organic materials and intricate, hand-crafted details. Stepping in to the lobby you are greeted by an exquisite statement custom seashell mural in the reception area, designed by Muza Lab in collaboration with BKI. This mural immediately connects you to the sea, only a few steps away as it has transformed thousands of shells gathered from the beach into a contemporary interpretation of traditional patterns.

Image credit: Royal Mansour Tamuda Bay

“On our very first site visit, we walked along the shore and the beach was covered in these beautiful shells that had a unique palette of warm terracottas and soft yellows,” explained Inge Moore, Founder, Muza Lab. “These colours really inspired us and played a defining role in the design vision”.

What really stood out to me, was the controlled and curated approach in combining contemporary luxury with traditional and authentic Moroccan charm, without any of the cliches! And the layers are everywhere, tactile and drawing everything together. Traditional elements like carved wood panels, ornate plasterwork, and mosaics have been paired with sleek, contemporary furniture and plush modern fabrics. It feels both sophisticated and grounded in local heritage. Walking though the property, I had to restrain myself from touching surfaces, and stroking textiles…

Image credit: Royal Mansour Tamuda Bay

There is an overriding residential feel to the resort – a sense of shared and understated luxury, with the ultimate luxury perhaps being in this space, is the opportunity to slow down and feel like you are in your own private Mediterranean hideaway, where, as explained by the team at Muza Lab, each villa and suite has been thoughtfully designed to capture different elements of the local landscape – like the sea, sand, land, shade, horizon, sunrise, clouds, and sunset.

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There is a plethora of beautiful spaces, both public and private, to be explored running through this property, and so many details to consider that it is impossible to list them all – from bespoke tiles to jewelled curtains, incredible lighting and handwoven textiles, but the beating and regenerative heart of the resort is unquestionably the Wellness Centre and Medi-Spa.

The property has discreetly swung open the doors to Morocco’s first Medi-Spa, with treatments underpinned by an immersive Longevity Programme – a seven-day/eight-night immersive experience designed to optimise health and promote well-aging. The programme combines medical assessments, advanced therapies, and holistic approaches, including Ayurvedic medicine and rebalancing activities, to stimulate the body’s natural longevity mechanisms.

Image credit: Royal Mansour Tamuda Bay

Unfortunately I wasn’t there long enough to slow down the aging process in pursuit of longevity, but I was able to spend more than my fair share of time immersed in the sanctuary of the spa – a beautiful and tranquil setting, which although it might not have turned back time, it certainly felt like it slowed it down a little, as I shifted leisurely between the rejuvenating heat of the salt room, to a few laps in the mineral enriched waters of the indoor pool!

From the moment you enter into the light-filled atrium, open to the sky and filled with planting, you are taken on a journey of discovery through a maze of spaces, pools, and treatment rooms. Each tells its own story while remaining part of the whole. The design references nature all the way through, with layers of pattern, surface design and texture, all in the signature green and ivory colour palette. The large moon-inspired pendant light suspended over the Quiet Pool, adds an ethereal and very visual sense of tide and rhythm to the space. The design not only complements the wellness process, but amplifies it.

Image credit: Royal Mansour Tamuda Bay

Continuing the conversation with the design team gives a little more insight into some of the conceptual themes behind the design: ” Nature and the moon,” asserted Moore. “The gardens, of course, were always present – so we used greens and ivories as our foundation. But we were also fascinated by the idea of the moon influencing tides and energy. The spa is full of water – so we thought, what if we made the moon a central feature?”

“That became both symbolic and literal,” added Nathan Hutchins, Co-Founder, Muza Lab. ” There’s a large pendant light above the main pool that represents the moon. It hangs low, and when you swim beneath it, you feel its presence. Around that, we used materials that reflect – soft stone, resin, pale surfaces – to catch light in a way that feels lunar. There’s this very calm rhythm to the whole space.”

Image credit: Royal Mansour Tamuda Bay

Royal Mansour Tamuda Bay, like its siblings in Marrakech and Casablanca, manages to be both deeply rooted in its Moroccan identity and refreshingly modern in its design approach. Every detail, from the positioning of the suites to the materials used in the spa, feels intentional and meaningful. It’s not just a place to stay – it’s a place to slow down, to reconnect with nature, and detox on so many levels.

Wandering through the gardens, admiring hand-carved panels, and finally floating under the glow of the ‘moon’ in the spa, the experience is rich, layered, and quietly luxurious. I left feeling restored, inspired, and maybe just a little more youthful?

Main image credit: Royal Mansour Tamuda Bay