The Serai: Slow luxury.

The Serai is all about health, well-being, inspiration and the best night’s sleep you can possibly have. Over 17-years, with their own hands, hosts Mark & Ayelen have designed, built and created a unique space dedicated to clean air, silence and the simple beauty of natural slow living. The space The Serai sits on a forested hillside between two small fishing communities, 30 min from Essaouira. There are tremendous views up and down the coast and the beach is 8 min walk away. The main part of the house is arranged around a central courtyard shaded by a vaulted roof of vines. This is the beating heart of the Serai, an interplay of light and sound. Frogs call from the waterfall that splashes into a small and cold, natural plunge pool, while birds fly in and out of their nests amid the rustling vines. Morning sunshine floods into this space through the dining room. The evening light fills it from the western arch, while in the heat of the day, beneath the dappled shade is the perfect place to eat lunch, with a view to the ocean. The reception areas and kitchen are open plan. Large windows everywhere flood the house with light. The dining room, and the living room with its spectacular vaulted brick ceiling enclose two sides of this courtyard. The western side of the courtyard features a bar area and a staircase up to the roof deck. Three double/twin bedrooms lie along the south side and also the family room, which has a mezzanine level and can be 4x singles or 2 x doubles). Each room has a French window looking out across the forest or down to the ocean, and a domed, turret bathroom of rich tadelakt plaster. The North Wing suite comprises, downstairs, a large bedroom with a king-size double bed and a single bed, with en-suite bathroom, and upstairs, the Tower Library, which is accessed by a staircase outside. The library, which has the best views of any room, can be set up as a double, twin or single bedroom or as a reading room/office. This room shares the bathroom below. Most of the books are in English. Beyond the dining room lies the kitchen with its south and east facing breakfast patio. A spiral staircase leads onto the roof. In the garden lies the 'temple', a beautiful vaulted space with wooden floor, for early morning yoga, meditation and more. Guest access Guests have access to all the areas described above as well as the garden, childrens' play area, the surrounding forest, secret valley with treehouse, and the beach. Use of the kitchen is restricted to house staff only. Other things to note All bedrooms can convert between single and double beds. House Staff x3 (cleaner, gardener, chef) The piste/track to the Serai is quite rough. With care it is accessible to most normal cars. Please contact the hosts if in doubt about your vehicle. The 'swimming' pool is 100% chlorine-free, naturally cleaned, cold-plunge pool (4m x 1.5m). It is unheated and partially shaded.