A Day in Essaouira, the Former Mogador, from Marrakech
A day-long cultural escape to Essaouira, the former Mogador and its fortified medina.
Morocco1 dayEasy
Best time
March – May · Sept – Nov
Currency
MAD
Climate
Semi-arid
Flight
3h30
Language
Arabic & French
Essaouira, formerly Mogador, sits about two and a half hours' drive from Marrakech, on the Atlantic coast. The road crosses the Haouz plain and then the argan region, with a stop at a local argan oil cooperative to see the craft around this emblematic Moroccan tree.
On arrival the mood changes completely: the wind almost always blows over Essaouira's fortified medina, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the whitewashed façades stand in contrast to the ochre of Marrakech.
The visit continues along the Sqala ramparts, with their old cannon pointed out to sea, then into the fishing port where the blue boats land the day's catch. In the medina, the straight lanes alternate between small shops, art galleries and workshops turning thuya wood.
The day also leaves free time to wander the medina, have lunch facing the ocean or spend time on the beach, before heading back to Marrakech.
Good to know: the excursion is also available as a private outing, on request.
Highlights
UNESCO-listed fortified medina
Portuguese cannons of the Sqala
Fishing port and its sardines
Eighteenth-century lanes
Thuya wood marquetry
What's included
Air-conditioned vehicle with a French-speaking driver
A stop at an argan cooperative on the way
French-speaking guidance throughout the day
Itinerary
- 1
The argan road
Across the Haouz plain, with an optional stop at a women's cooperative.
- 2
The Sqala ramparts
Portuguese cannons and a head-on view of the Atlantic.
- 3
The fishing port
The morning's catch coming in, sold right on the quay.
- 4
The medina
Théodore Cornut's lanes, thuya wood workshops and art galleries.
- 5
Free afternoon
The bay beach, the corniche or a terrace facing the gulls.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure.
Local partner
Globeasy local partnerMarrakech
Runs the excursion on the ground
