Itinerary

1. Marrakech to Essaouira

   • Meet your tour guide at the agreed-upon location and begin your day trip to Essaouira from Marrakech. 

   • Drive along the Haouz plains to Chichaoua village where you will stop for a cup of coffee before you continue to Sidi Mokhtar.

   • 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.

   • Visit a local ladies’ cooperative and learn how some fine cosmetic products are locally made out of the rich Argan oil.

   • Watch how the Argan oil (also called the liquid gold, or Moroccan oil) is extracted.

   • Explore the beautiful city of Essaouira 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.

   • Visit the harbour 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.

   • Head to Bab Laalouj (one of the main gates of Essaouira), then to the Mellah (the old Jewish quarter).

   • Halt at the various art shops, galleries, souvenir shops and thuya woodcraft shops. 

   • Choose one of the local cafes for a delicious seafood lunch.

   • Head to Kasbah, famous for having served as a military bastion.

   • Enjoy a walk along the sandy beach of Mogador, and maybe watch locals playing beach ball. You can sunbathe while watching waterspouts amateurs kitesurfing or windsurfing.

   • Drive back to Marrakech.

   • Drop off at your hotel or the nearest car-accessible point to your riad.