Sauce Communications To Handle PR for The Beldi Collection, Morocco
Introducing Nubia Desert Camp and Riad Louhou – coming soon
September 2018…/ Sauce Communications is delighted to announce it is handling the PR for The Beldi Collection, inspired by the Moroccan way of life and the nomadic people of the Sahara Desert. Nubia Desert Camp is at the heart of this philosophy, a space to explore the shifting sands of the Sahara from eight luxurious tented suites, set amongst the foothills of the high dunes of Erg Chegaga. From October 2018, The Beldi Collection will open a brand new Riad Hotel in the heart of the medina in Marrakech, Riad Louhou, created with the same ethos of celebrating the Moroccan way of life.
Nubia Desert Camp
Located in one of the most beautiful areas of the Moroccan Sahara, Erg Chegaga, Nubia Desert Camp is a place to reconnect with the self and experience the beauty and wonder of the desert. Eight hand-made Moroccan tents fuse contemporary comforts with traditional culture and design, with the option of king size beds or twin beds, each made up with cosy duvets and pillows with Egyptian cotton bed linen. In summer, sheets and throws provide cooler bedding. Each tent can sleep up to four people and includes private bathroom with toilet, sink and shower with hot solar-heated water, fresh towels and natural soap and shampoo. Every tent has electrical power sockets too. It’s also possible to request the team set up an outdoor bedroom to enable sleeping out under the stars. The tents sit around an atmospheric central camp fire area, laid with rugs and pillows for unforgettable evenings accompanied by traditional Berber music and song. Hammocks, loungers and sofa areas create a laid-back vibe for desert relaxation.
Location & Getting There
From Marrakech, Nubia Desert Camp can be reached by one full day’s drive of approximately 9 hours. Following the ancient caravan route from Marrakech, the journey winds its way through the Atlas Mountains, through Berber villages and passing ancient rock formations and landscapes. The route continues through the UNESCO World Heritage Berber Kasbah town of Ait Ben Haddou (the location for many films such as Gladiator and The Sheltering Sky), stopping here for lunch. Head through the lush green Draa Valley with its thousands of palm trees before reaching Zagora and the nomadic town of M’hamid El Ghizlane at the edge of the Sahara Desert. After an exciting off-road dunes drive, guests meet their camels to trek the final part of the journey to Nubia Desert Camp where a warm welcome awaits.
Guests can also choose to break up the journey by staying at a hotel along the way in Ait Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate or Zagora. Transport can be arranged from anywhere in Morocco by private air-conditioned Toyota Landcruiser 4×4 or by helicopter from Marrakech to Zagora, which is then a 3-hour drive from camp. The Beldi Collection uses only the most experienced English-speaking drivers and guides.
Dining
Dining at Nubia Desert Camp is a treat – guests choose between private dining in the dunes, a smarter setting within the dining tent, or a more casual affair under the shade of a Berber tent. The chef creates locally sourced, delicious Moroccan meals, catering for all dietary needs. Ingredients are bought daily from the nearest village and freshly prepared in a fully equipped kitchen. Dishes might include traditional lamb tagines with organic yogurt and aubergine salad with couscous. Sumptuous picnics can be prepared and eaten by a desert oasis under the shade of the Tamarisk trees whilst out on activities in the desert. Alcohol can be brought to camp for chilling and serving on request.
Activities
When visiting the desert, walking on foot or riding camels is an experience that encourages guests to reconnect with the natural rhythms of life and the traditions of the local nomadic people. Guests can experience this on a short trek, or over a number of days with wild camping along the way to make this an integral part of the visit. For others, riding down the high dunes on a sandboard is more their pace and is a fantastic activity for all ages! 4×4 tours and desert quad biking are also offered to adrenaline junkies. As the sun begins to set, guests can climb the top of the high dune with a guide for the most spectacular view of the undulating Sahara before heading back to camp for dinner.
Private Hire
Nubia Desert Camp is also available for private hire, a fabulous option for small weddings, birthdays, family get-togethers or other celebrations.
Nightly rates at Nubia Desert Camp start from £160 per person, including breakfast, lunch and dinner, with unlimited mineral water and soft drinks. Camel trekking trips, 4×4 visits to local sites, guided walks and sand-boarding also included. Children under the age of 12 sharing a tent with their parents from £60 per child. Nubia Desert Camp is open from 10th September – 31st June annually.
Riad Louhou – Opening October 2018
In the summer of 2017, the owners of The Beldi Collection bought a double fronted house, set on a peaceful square in the Kasbah quarter of the Marrakech Medina. After a 12-month renovation project, carefully preserve the traditional properties character, Riad Louhou will open in October 2018 as a brand new 5-bedroom boutique Riad Hotel, complete with a terrace pool and luxurious guest accommodation. Riad Louhou will offer two double bedrooms with king-size beds, and three suites. Each room has been lovingly designed to create a haven of tranquillity in the bustle of the medina, a place to relax in between adventures.
The interiors have been created to combine a harmony between indoor and outdoor spaces with inspiration taken from the Saharawi people and their culture. The central courtyard and water fountain sit at the heart of the property and provide a cool area to relax nomad-style with rugs and poufs, surrounded by pink bougainvillea and the Riad’s palm tree. The supporting columns, billowing with white curtains, frame the entrance to a large lounge furnished with hand-loomed rugs and chairs upholstered in traditional fabrics and a fireplace. A touch of glamour is added with velvet armchairs and large decorative mirrors. The terrace, set against a backdrop of one of the ancient palace walls, is the perfect sun spot with loungers surrounding the rooftop pool, shaded by simple, natural straw parasols. The terrace offers two dining areas where white tablecloths and luxurious tableware are set up in either the shaded area with comfortable sofas and chairs or the dining area for a more formal experience.
Riad Louhou is also set to become the gateway to the Sahara for those guests travelling onwards to Nubia Desert Camp from Marrakech. The Beldi Collection will also be running a series of wellness retreats in Marrakech and the Sahara Desert encompassing traditional spa treatments, yoga and reiki.
Nightly rates at Riad Louhou start from £140 per room per night in a Double Room and from £160 per room per night in a Suite, both based on two adults sharing, including breakfast. Children under 12 may join their parents in a Suite for £30 per night. Riad Louhou is available for private hire sleeping 12.
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For further media information on The Beldi Collection please contact the Travel team at Sauce Communications: Harriet Rowlinson Harriet@saucecommunications.com; Jessica Jackson Jessica.Jackson@saucecommunications.com and Emma Powell Emma@saucecommunications.com or call the office on 0208 600 3600.