Day trip to Essaouira: coast, harbor and argan on the way

Essaouira is on the Atlantic Ocean, about two and a half to three hours' drive away, and it is the opposite of Marrakesh. It is windy where Marrakesh is hot, and the streets are straight where the medina of Marrakesh is a maze. You slow down there without trying. With Soukayna at the wheel, the drive is part of the day: on the way you stop at a cooperative where women make argan oil, and you see the first goats in the argan trees.

What the day looks like

We leave early, around eight. After an hour of driving the landscape changes and the argan trees begin. At a cooperative you see how the women crack and press the kernels. You can buy oil there at a fixed price, so there is no need to bargain.

Around eleven you are in Essaouira. The medina is small and easy to find your way in. We walk past the workshops where thuya wood is worked and climb the Skala, the city wall with the old cannons and a view over the sea. We have lunch in the harbor. You pick your fish at one of the stalls, it is grilled, and you eat at a wooden table among the blue boats.

The afternoon is free. You can walk along the wide beach, sit on a terrace on Place Moulay Hassan or go back into the medina for a while. Around half past four we drive back, with the sunset behind us.

Who it's for

For anyone who, after a few days in Marrakesh, needs sea and space. Shopping here comes with little pressure, because vendors in Essaouira are less pushy. On the way you also see how argan oil is really made. If you have more time, stay a night: the town is at its best in the evening and early in the morning. That fits well in a tailor-made trip.

Good to know

It is almost always windy in Essaouira, even when there is no wind at all in Marrakesh. Bring a cardigan or a scarf, even in summer. On the beach you can rent camels and horses; Soukayna knows which owners take good care of their animals. What the road is like and why having your own driver is so pleasant here is on our page about getting around in Morocco.

Bring cash for lunch and any purchases. The fish in the harbor is priced by weight. Ask the price before you order.

If you want to stay a night, mention it when you book through the contact page.