Essaouira Citadel

Your trip starts with pickup at approximately 8:00 AM from your accommodation in Marrakesh. In a new, comfortable, and air-conditioned car, start off for your unforgettable day tour to Essaouira, known for its beauty and serenity. During the 2-hour ride, make a stop at the "goat tree", an unforgettable Argan tree with goats perched in it. Once in Essaouira, discover this charming and musical city which will surprise you with its straight streets, designed by the French. Enjoy free time walk to visit the old ports and the local seafood markets. Your driver can suggest the perfect place for lunch, where you can have a delicious seafood meal in front of the sea. Visit a co-operative of Berber women who produce Argan oil, and learn more from them about this wonderful product. See the old bronze cannons facing the Atlantic Ocean and wander through the markets and cedar woodworking shops. After you finish your free time by yourself in Essaouira, your driver will take you back to Marrakesh for a 6:30 PM arrival.

Visit the city of Essaouira and start off by the small fishing port of the city where you can marvel at this historical place.  See an old watchtower and get an impressive panoramic view of Essaouira. Stop at the main square to taste a real Moroccan tea before continuing to visit the most important monument of the city, the scala of the medina. Admire the location where several films have been shot such as the famous film of Orson Welles Othello, or the Game of Thrones TV show. Continue the visit in the old medina, the kasbah, the mellah, the old Jewish quarter. See the synagogues, the souks of the medina, and the fish market which is full of people who buy, grill, and eat the day's catch.

Discover the relaxed, bohemian seaside resort of Essaouira on a full-day guided tour from Marrakech. Following pickup from your accommodation in Marrakech, cross Morocco in an air-conditioned vehicle to the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. On the way, take in views of the arid landscape, stop to take pictures of goats climbing argan trees, and visit an argan oil cooperative to learn how this healthy oil is produced. Upon arrival at Essaouira, follow your English-speaking guide and explore Essaouira’s most important monuments, such as the old fish market and seaport. Watch silver craftsmen and wood carvers at work in the old medina where the labyrinth of streets is lined with heavy wooden doors and whitewashed houses. See the 16th-century ramparts of Essaouria from where you'll be able to see astonishing views of the Atlantic Ocean. After the guided tour of the city, have lunch in one of the local restaurants serving delicious fish and seafood. Before heading back to Marrakech, enjoy a camel ride with a panoramic city view.

Depart from your Marrakesh accommodations at 8:00 am and enjoy the sights on the way to Essaouira. Your friendly and knowledgeable tour guide will provide opportunities for beautiful photo stops along the way. Visit one of the local female co-operatives to see the production of the famous Moroccan Argan oil. On arrival to Essaouira, your guide will choose the best surf spot for your ability. After a lunch break, you get to explore the city with your guide and check out the fishing port, Scala and the old town with its Thuya wood workshops.  Depart Essaouira at approximately 4:00 pm and enjoy the beauty of the drive back to Marrakesh.

Take a 10-hour trip to Essaouira from Marrakech and spend time in the laid-back fishing town. On route, stop to visit an Argan Women’s Co-operative to see the women at work extracting oil from argan nuts, and then continue your journey westward. Essaouira is fortunate to have an excellent climate, with cooling sea breezes in the summer (also good for water sports) and warming lowland air in winter. This lovely climate, together with its beautiful Portuguese architecture, has always attracted artists and poets, but it continues to be a traditional fishing port at its heart to this day. Essaouira is the perfect destination for a day trip away from the hectic activity of Marrakech, with a vast array of things to do and try including: shopping in the souks for leatherwork, metalwork, glazed pottery, jewelry, brightly colored carpets, original art, olives, spices, rare argan oil and more. Visit the port and watch fishermen landing their catch, or learn how boats are crafted using centuries-old techniques, then eat fresh grilled fish or shellfish at one of the seafood stalls, visit Place Joutiya between 16.00 and 17.00 to watch locals auctioning everything from teapots to trousers, walk 2 miles along the beach at low tide to see the romantic fort of Borj El Barod crumbling into the sea, or the ruined sultan's palace at Diabet, take a boat to the Iles de Mogador, breeding ground for the rare Eleanora’s falcon, try some watersports (surfing/kitesurfing/windsurfing/bodyboarding/kayaking), or just sit at a beachside café. Relax and watch the world go by with coffee or mint tea, and maybe a Moroccan pastry, in one of the cafés on Place Moulay Hassan.

Depart Marrakech in the morning and drive to the coastal resort of Essaouira to explore its rich culture and many art galleries. Admire the well-preserved buildings and get stunning views of the Atlantic coast. Experience the warm hospitality of the locals as soon as you arrive, and get an appreciation for their simple lifestyle. Stroll around the busy harbor and see the fishermen selling fresh fish direct from their traditional blue boats. Go to the fortified harbor Scala to take amazing photos of the monumental Bab al Mersa ("Door of the Port"). Then, explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the old seaside Medina. Wander the colorful souks and maze of alleys. Enjoy lunch at a traditional restaurant, and then go to the old Jewish district to see the synagogues. Marvel at the cannons on the city ramparts before heading back to Marrakech at around 4:30 PM.

Depart from Marrakech and travel through a breathtaking Moroccan landscape on the way to Essaouira. Look out for scattered villages and camels, and see sheep and goats grazing in the countryside. The vegetation will change to Argan trees, which only grow in the wild and provide berries for local goats to eat. You may even see some precariously balanced on the delicate tree branches. If you wish, it is possible to stop for some Argan oil tasting in a small cooperative run by local women, where the Argan oil is extracted from the trees. This multi-purpose oil is famous for its use in cooking and cosmetics. Gaze at the panoramic views of Essaouira as you drive into town. The charming and artistic blue and white town has been a favorite amongst barefoot travelers for decades. Once in Essaouira, explore its peculiar wonders at your leisure. Stroll along the quays, where you can watch fishermen unloading their catch of the day and fishing boats coming back to shore. Enjoy the many restaurants at the port and dine on fresh fish and seafood. Wander through picturesque streets, explore the historic ramparts and visit the Medina, full of local artists selling their crafts made of Thuya wood. The ramparts will give you an insight into how this old seaport village was armed against the threat of invasion. Marquetry still remains a traditional specialty of Essaouira. Another beautiful attraction is its tranquil beach, where you could easily spend a relaxing and peaceful afternoon if you prefer. At the end of your tour, you will drive back to Marrakech for your hotel drop-off.

Experience the city that has inspired artists and television producers across the decades. Immerse yourself in the singular atmosphere of Essaouira on this two-day guided tour. Peruse the winding sandstone towers, made famous by the show Game of Thrones, and look out over the aqua blue Essaouira sea. Named Astapor in the show, this is the site where Khaleesi first utters the word “Dracarys.” There is, of course, lots to see for those who haven’t seen the show, as Essaouira offers a calm, high-walled city on the Atlantic coast with a wondrous medina and artistic atmosphere. See the ruins that inspired Jimi Hendrix to write his famous song “Castles Made of Sand,” before heading for dinner in a local restaurant and settling down for the night. Before you leave the next day, enjoy free time to explore the city.

Departure is from Marrakesh at 08:00 to Essaouira. On the way you will stop at the small female co-op to see the production of Argan oil. On arrival to Essaouira you will hit the surf for your first 2-hour surf lesson. After that you will have a lunch break followed by a sightseeing tour of the Scala and old town with its Thuya wood workshops. After your busy day you will stay overnight and relax in a Riad. The next morning, after a hearty breakfast, you will head to Sidi Kaouki for the second lesson, another beautiful town just south of Essouria. Enjoy your lunch in a cozy restaurant with a panoramic view of the beach, and then head back to Marrakesh through Essaouira for a spot of shopping or a cafe break along the way. Departure to Marrakesh is at around 17:00.

Depart from Marrakech at 9:00 AM from your accommodation and enjoy the sights on the way to Essaouira. Your friendly and knowledgeable tour guide will provide opportunities for beautiful photo stops along the way. Visit one of the local female co-operatives to see the production of the famous Moroccan Argan oil. On arrival to Essaouira, your guide will choose the best surf spot for your ability and begin the 2 hour surf lesson. After a lunch break you can explore the city with your guide and check out the fishing port of Scala, and its old town with its thuya wood workshops. Depart Essouira around 4:00 PM and enjoy the beauty of the drive back to Marrakech.