The Gate House Studio Sidi Kaouki

A small stone house by the gate at Kaouki Hill, above Sidi Kaouki, built with the stone and lime of the region in the traditional Arabic way. Inside there's a double bed with hotel-quality linen, a tadelakt bathroom and a fireplace for cosy evenings. Outside, a terrace under the argan trees has sun loungers and a clay barbecue. Breakfast arrives at your door around nine. The beach is a 20-minute walk and Essaouira is 25 minutes by car. Sleeps 2, with a baby cot on request.

The house

Kaouki Hill Cottage is a small stone house by the gate, with a fireplace inside for cosy evenings. It's 16 square metres. We built it in the traditional Arabic way, with the stone, lime and techniques of the region, and it has the look of an old fisherman's cottage. Its thick walls keep you warm and cosy at night. Inside there's a double bed dressed in hotel-quality linen, a kitchenette with a marble counter and two cooking rings, and a spacious tadelakt bathroom. If you're travelling with a baby, we can set up a cot: ask us when you book.

The terrace

Just outside the door, a table and chairs stand under the argan trees, with sun loungers and a clay barbecue. The sun rises over the hills in the morning, and in the evening it sets over the garden, the valley and the distant ocean.

Breakfast

Breakfast arrives at your door around nine, in a guffa, the traditional basket. Inside you'll find sourdough and croissants from a bakery in Essaouira, eggs, and msemen with argan-flower honey from our neighbour. With them come amlou made with our own argan oil, local olive oil, fruit in season and coffee roasted in Marrakech. In the evening, if you'd like, we can prepare a barbecue basket with meat from the village butcher that we marinate ourselves, ready for you to grill on the terrace.

Guest access

The cottage and its terrace are all yours. You're welcome to explore the rest of Kaouki Hill too, including the shared gardens and the lounge under the pergola. There's free parking on site.

Good to know

Minimum stay is two nights, to make sure you really get to enjoy the place. Check-in is from 3 pm and check-out is by 11 am. The last two kilometres are a dirt track. Most cars manage it, but if yours sits low, message us before you set off. The village and the shops are a 45-minute walk, so bring a few things for the kitchen. We live on the hill with our two children, a dog and two cats.

The area

Kaouki Hill sits above Sidi Kaouki, 25 km south of Essaouira. The beach runs for ten kilometres between Cap Sim and the Sidi M'Barek waterfalls. From October to April there are waves for every level, and in summer the wind picks up and the kitesurfers arrive. You can ride horses or camels along the sand, and the fishermen sell their catch in the village. Essaouira is 25 minutes up the coast and Essaouira-Mogador airport is 20 minutes away. Marrakech is about three hours by car.

Getting here

We're 20 minutes from Essaouira-Mogador airport, so you can be at the door less than an hour after landing. Local buses run to Kaouki and stop at the bottom of our road, and taxis come out from Essaouira. The last two kilometres are a dirt track, but even a small rental car makes it up. For day trips, Marrakech is about three hours by car, and Agadir and Taghazout are about two hours south.