Main Info
Essaouira, or Mogador is an old fort and fishing port located within 2 hours drive from Marrakech,
and considered one of the most popular excursions out of the busy and bustling Marrakech.
A day trip to Essaouira from Marrakech is by far the most appreciated day tour by our clients:
Many of them discover that hidden gem for the first time and decide right away they will come
back for sure to a short break in the peaceful and artsy and hippy town of Essaouira.
HIGHLIGHTS
● Visit the fishing port of Essaouira and watch the local fishermen returning back inland
with their catch
● Visit Skala Kasbah, which was a citadel in the times of war
● Visit some of the beautiful Essaouira art galleries scattered in the Medina
● Stroll in the Medina of Essaouira, which can be explored easily as the streets are aligned
opposite to every other Medina streets in Morocco, which look like a maze
● Shop at leisure for some local souvenirs
● Have a seafood lunch in the harbor stalls or at a local café terrace
● Walk down the beach and watch local boys playing football
● Sunbathe at the 6 km long sandy beach
Itinerary
Your day trip to Essaouira from Marrakech will begin with a drive along the Haouz palnes to
Chichaoua village where you will stop for a cup of coffee before you continue to Sidi Mokhtar. On
your way, you will cross the Argan trees forest, where you will spot some goats climbing the
trees. Stop and take some photos before you carry on to Essaouira.
To watch how the Argan oil (also called the liquid gold, or Moroccan oil) is extracted, you will visit
a local ladies’ cooperative and learn how some fine cosmetic products are locally made out of the
rich Argan oil.
From here, we will carry on to Essaouira. Upon arrival, you will explore the beautiful city at
leisure. Out of experience, Exploring Essaouira is easy on your own: Locals are very friendly, the
Medina is pretty small (compared to other old towns in Morocco), and its streets are in order. You
definitely do not need a guide for the tour of the city. You can easily explore the Medina on your
own as its streets are aligned opposite to each other unlike every other maze-like Medina in
Morocco. Should you insist on one, your driver will help you hire a local guide.
First, you can visit the harbor with its fishing port and old Portuguese fortifications. You can still
see medieval war cannons aligned in order overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Continue to the
Medina ( old city ) with its well kept fortification dating to the 18th century. The major landmark of
the Medina is La Scala, which was built against foreign attacks from the sea. You can continue to
Bab Laalouj ( One of the main gates of Essaouira), then to the Mellah (the old Jewish quarter).
Along the way, various art shops, galleries, souvenir shops and thuya wood craft shops are
aligned in order. Choose one of the local cafes for a delicious seafood lunch and head to Kasbah
famous for having served as a military bastion. If you are a beach lover, enjoy a walk along the
sandy beach of Mogador, and maybe watch locals playing beach ball. If you are brave enough,
why not join a game for a few minutesPeople from Essaouira are very friendly!! If not you can
sunbathe while watching waterspouts amateurs kitesurfing or windsurfing.
Late in the afternoon, drive back to Marrakech, and your full day tour to Essaouira will end with a
drop off at your hotel/riad or Jemaa el-Fnaa Square