Travel Guide Saïdia

The last Moroccan town before Algeria, Saidia is nicknamed the "Blue Pearl" for its long golden sandy beach and turquoise sea. As part of a vast tourism development plan, a number of resorts dedicated to mass tourism have sprung up. This means you can easily find accommodation in apartments for rent or in hotels offering all-inclusive services for organized vacations. It also boasts a medina with some forty shops, an 18-hole golf course and one of the largest marinas in the Mediterranean. Nature lovers have criticized the project for damaging the ecosystem by destroying part of the dune cordon protecting the town from the beach. Wastewater treatment is also the subject of debate, although many are delighted at the number of jobs created by the project. However, the 18 km of beach remain very beautiful and will delight beach lovers. A dozen kilometers west of Saïdia, the mouth of the Moulouya is home to a magnificent bird sanctuary covering more than 4,000 hectares. Numerous species of migratory birds frequent the area. For those wishing to travel by coast, you can take the Tangier Mediterranean ring road. Allow around 7 hours for the journey. Alternatively, from Oudja airport, a national highway links the city to Saïdia in less than an hour, and numerous shared cabs make the journey. You can also reach Berkane and Oudja by bus.