Riad Aarab

Riad Aarab is the creation of Helen & Kosovo, a couple, who hail from Liverpool & Essaouira. We live in North Wales with spells in Essaouira, our parallel universe. Our Riad and its garden was birthed from an uncultivated, unloved sandbank, that was once agricultural land on the edge of an Argan forest, a few kilometres from the surf village of Sidi Kaouki in the province of Essaouira. Helen visited for the first time in June 2007. Inspired by the setting & energy she felt there, she bought the land (& sand) a month later! With few inhabitants in the area, there was no water & no electricity infrastructure. But Helen had a dream … The rest is history, herstory and our story. Conceived as a Berber country riad with 4 en suite bedrooms, indoor courtyard, salon, kitchen, roof terrace, water tower with small apartment, & large garden the place has a calm energy, and offers simple affordable luxury in a rural setting. We are in a fabulous location, surrounded by stunning scenery offering 360 degree views: a valley where the sun rises; views and sounds of the Atlantic, beach and setting sun; a clifftop Berber village in the distance, and an Argan forest that stretches as far as the eye can see. Our Riad reflects our shared passion for the place that is our spiritual home. The Riad takes its Berber name from Kosovo's family whose roots are in the area. Over the years we have employed several local people & artisans as we built and developed our handmade home. With help from friends & family, we have slowly transformed the arid landscape into a lovely country garden attracting wildlife. Our garden is brought to life by birdsong. Goats, camels & donkeys are close by. Rocky 2, the resident dog cohabits peacefully with 5 cats. Mohammed, a Berber, is the custodian of the space, living in a small apartment on the land. He keeps the animals well fed, the garden nurtured & everything else ticking over. Marhaba! Welcome to www.riadaarab.com & book your visit!