The Oberoi Marrakech is a palatial hotel that has been causing a sensation since it opened during the pandemic. It has just been ranked among the world’s top 20 hotels by the prestigious Travel & Leisure magazine. Pascal Languillon, director of Luxe Wellness Club, had the pleasure of staying there and following a wellness program built around elaborate treatments, dietetics and personal development. He returned both amazed by the hotel and transformed by this extraordinary experience.
An architectural marvel worthy of UNESCO listing
I’m not going to beat about the bush: the Oberoi Marrakech is undeniably the most impressive hotel I’ve seen in my life from an architectural point of view . Where can you admire a building whose decoration mobilized more than 200 craftsmen over 7 years to produce beautiful handwork? Such a marvel could never have been built in Europe in the 21st century, as it would be the equivalent of building a cathedral from scratch!
Imagine: the courtyard of the main building takes the shape of one of Marrakech’s most famous monumentsthe Medersa Ben Youssef Koranic school, only better. Twice as big, more beautiful, newer too… and offering a majestic view of gardens inspired by the Alhambra, with the Atlas Mountains as a backdrop.
The owners were wildly ambitious when they conceived this project, and the majesty of the site is immediately apparent on arrival. In my opinion, it’s the most beautiful monument in Marrakech today, and a hotel that creates a rare emotion. I spent hours marvelling at the finesse of the details, the beauty of the arabesques, the geometric perfection, especially as you can dine amidst all this splendour at the Siniman restaurant (see below).
Although I could write more about the splendor of the palace, I’ll have to tell you about the rest of the hotel… I’ll be honest, there’s something a little surprising when you leave the main building, with its distinctive Moroccan architecture, to find yourself by the large outdoor swimming pool, whose parasols come from India!
What can I say, the Oberoi group is Indian and it took pleasure from all the owners. Once I’d got over the surprise of this slight delay, I was able to swim in this beautiful pool where there weren’t many people, because to tell the truth, the majority of our guests tend to enjoy their private pools…
A word about the park too. The 11 hectares, with 2,500 olive and 3,000 orange trees, can be explored on foot or by bike, and are home to the 78 villas that make up the hotel. Let yourself be enchanted by the scent of rosemary and lavender, and stop to observe the grand canal, basins and fountains…
Last but not least, the Oberoi offers a Kid’s Club, so that grown-ups can enjoy their vacation in complete peace of mind.
Magnificent villas with private pools
Open the door to one of our private villas, and you’ll enter a world of refinement and elegance that you’ll find hard to leave! The decor is very international, with a style that’s meant to please everyone, oscillating between Moroccan and Indian touches. It’s worth noting that the private villas don’t have a separate living room, but they make up for it with a large terrace and a private, heated, nine-meter-long swimming pool. Trees and plants protect you from the outside world, so you can bathe in your simplest clothes without fear of being seen.
The room is beautiful, spacious and contemporary. I noted the extreme comfort of the bed and its delicious pillow menu, also accompanied by its “Caresse de côton” essential oil mist from Moroccan brand Maison d’Asa, for soothing sleep. However, my big favourite is the immaculate, bright bathroom. Double basins, bathtub and, above all, a gigantic shower that opens onto the private garden. The villas also feature a large dressing room.
I’ve found that the Oberoi Marrakech sets the bar very high when it comes to accommodation. It’s true luxury, with exceptional service to boot. Every day, I found a little frame with a different photo of me, which the staff had found on the Internet, as a friendly little wink. I didn’t try the in-room breakfast, which I probably should have done to take even greater advantage of the terrace and private pool… However, it was a pleasure to jump into the deep blue pool as soon as I got out of bed each morning.
A luminous spa of great purity
During my stay in Marrakech, I visited all the spas in the most beautiful palaces in the ochre city. They’re all wonderful, each with its own charm, but I have a soft spot for the Oberoi Marrakech spa. It’s a little different from the others in that there’s no marked Moroccan decoration. We could be in Asia here. Set in the middle of a lake with reeds, fish and frogs, it has a modern design. What I loved about it was the clean lines, the immaculate white marble, and above all the light – the light that streams in from everywhere through the huge bay windows.
The treatment rooms are among the most beautiful I’ve seen to date. Each room is huge, with a terrace overlooking the lake, a bathtub and a high golden ceiling. Japanese doors allow you to shower in privacy, or leave them open to admire the view. What a pleasure to be massaged while listening to the sounds of nature. The yoga room and fitness room give off the same impression of light and serenity.
The spa uses the Alqvimia skincare range, a fine Spanish brand of 100% natural organic cosmetics.
A wellness program that cares for body and mind
The “Saha” wellness program began with an interesting session with the nutritionist, who is also a GP, to look at the objectives and personalize my program. This was followed by an excellent hammam ritual with its black soap with essential oils, Moroccan kessa glove, thick steam and delicious scents. We’re definitely in Morocco.
The next treatment took me to Asia, with a reflexology and meridian massage with the excellent therapist Loubna. Painful at times, but so effective at releasing tension from the body!
The “Alqvimia experience” was undoubtedly my favorite treatment: salt scrub, body wrap, followed by an ultra-relaxing massage, again provided by the excellent Loubna.
Another treatment I’ve tried is Dhara, an Ayurvedic treatment. The therapist releases a gentle, warm stream of water onto the “third eye” on the forehead. This creates a vibration that soothes the nervous system. I still prefer Shirodhara with hot oil.
I loved the private yoga class, then the group yoga class in this beautiful room, the open doors to listen to nature. The teacher was able to guide me perfectly so that I could stretch from top to bottom, gently but working on my inner strength.
Fitness classes are also included in the SAHA program, depending on the client’s profile. I was offered a boxing class.
If I had to single out just one experience in the SAHA program, it was, against all odds, theexperience of connection to the horse, or “Horse Whispering”. An extraordinary moment. To do this, we had to join personal development coach Christophe Seguin 30 minutes from the Oberoi, in a charming bed & breakfast where his 4 horses live. What is horse coaching? It’s actually a personal development session that uses the horse as a mirror to understand your inner workings and awaken your inner resources. Horses are hypersensitive animals with an emotional intelligence that reacts instantly to the customer’s attitude, acting as an emotional barometer.
A session lasts about 3 hours. Christophe quickly determined that I’m a person he describes as “over-energized”. As if by magic, without him saying a word to me, I chose Frédo, a horse who was himself over-energized and difficult to channel. My challenge? Calming the horse, by placing my hands against him and breathing calmly. Only when the horse is deeply relaxed can he close his eyes… I was almost surprised to succeed in this exercise, as finding myself in a paddock with a huge horse was somewhat intimidating for the uninitiated. Afterwards, we did a very interesting exercise in visualizing my intentions, in which I had to make the horse walk to studs that symbolized my values. Another fascinating experience.
When practiced over several sessions, this method helps to free oneself of certain blocks and fears, and to regain self-esteem .
All in all, with its mind-body approach, I found the Oberoi SAHA program to be very complete. There’s huge potential ahead too, as the spa has just recruited a new director.
Indian or Moroccan cuisine in an exceptional setting
At the Oberoi Marrakech, culinary experiences are varied: between international cuisine, Indian cuisine, a Moroccan table, and a poolside restaurant. The icing on the cake for us wellness fans is the ” better plate” diet offer. Customers who purchase a “Saha” health program have priority access to this menu. For my part, I oscillated between this healthy offer and the delights offered by the local gastronomy.
As for the Indian cuisine, I was able to taste a superb “Thali” plate with multiple flavors. Mango lassi, Kerala-style shrimp curry, chicken tikka… all the classics are here.
However, it was the Moroccan cuisine that swept me away into a world of fantastic flavors. Dishes are prepared with local ingredients and seasonal produce from the hotel’s organic garden. The inner hall, with its high ceilings and finely carved pillars, is impressive. Even better, dine under the stars in the palace’s magnificent inner courtyard. A true privilege.
Dining in this magical setting is a privilege…
I also enjoyed lunch or dinner on the terrace of the “Vue” restaurant, with, as its name suggests, a breathtaking view of the gardens and the Atlas Mountains in the background. The breakfast is copious and varied, and I concentrated on the healthy selection, although I must admit to having tasted some very successful pastries.
We love the “Lobster Buddha Bowl”: quinoa salad, poached lobster, mango and pickled onion. Other special mentions for “Ceviche de bar” and “salade fatouah”.
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Our feeling
The Oberoi Marrakech is not just a hotel. It’s an architectural masterpiece, an 8th wonder of the world, and for that alone, the hotel is well worth the detour. Its splendor creates emotion. Add to this delightful villas with private pools, an exceptional spa on every level, and comprehensive, original treatment programs, and you’ll understand why we rank the Oberoi Marrakech among the world’s best places for a wellness cure.
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Rates : From around 400 euros per night in low season, or around 800 euros per night in high season. SAHA wellness programs from around 900 euros per day all-inclusive with private pool. Benefit from the best rates and a free spa treatment of your choice for any stay booked through Luxe Wellness Club.
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