Swap the city for the Atlantic: an argan cooperative on the way, then about five hours of free time in Essaouira's UNESCO-listed medina, ramparts and fishing port.
Essaouira is the antidote to Marrakech's heat and bustle. This walled port on the Atlantic, around 190 km west of Marrakech (roughly 3 hours by road), has a laid-back medina of whitewashed houses with blue shutters, a busy fishing harbour and a steady sea breeze that keeps temperatures mild even in summer. Its medina, laid out in the 18th century by Sultan Mohammed ben Abdallah with the help of a French engineer, has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2001.
The route crosses the flat Chiadma plains, dotted with argan trees, which grow almost nowhere else in the world. We stop at a women's argan oil cooperative to see how the kernels are cracked and pressed. Along this road you may also see goats standing in argan trees; be aware that these are often placed there by herders who expect a tip for photos.
You have around five hours to explore at your own pace. Walk the Skala de la Ville, the sea ramparts lined with old bronze cannons, browse the thuya-wood workshops and galleries, and head to the port to watch fishermen repair nets beside rows of blue boats. For lunch, many visitors choose fish grilled to order at the stalls near the harbour; agree the price per kilo before it goes on the grill. The long sandy beach south of the medina is popular for walks and, thanks to the wind, for kitesurfing.
Your driver will suggest a meeting point and share tips on arrival. For more about the town, see our Essaouira destination guide. If you prefer mountains to the sea, the Ouzoud Waterfalls day trip is a similar-length day out.
Pickup from your hotel or riad and drive west across the plains towards the Atlantic coast.
Short break followed by a visit to a women's cooperative producing argan oil and cosmetics. Look out for argan trees and grazing goats along the road.
Your driver points out the meeting point and suggests a route through the medina, ramparts and port.
Explore the Skala de la Ville, craft workshops, galleries and the harbour at your own pace. Have lunch wherever you like.
Meet your driver at the agreed point for the return journey.
Drop-off at your hotel or riad in the early evening.
Pickup from your hotel or riad in Marrakech. For medina riads without car access, we meet at the nearest accessible point and confirm the time and place by WhatsApp.
No reviews yet — travelled with us? Be the first to share your experience.
A practical guide to surfing in Morocco: the best spots from Taghazout to Essaouira, when the waves are best, water temperatures, lesson prices and how to get there from Marrakech.
From the Skala ramparts and the blue fishing boats to grilled sardines, windsurfing and thuya-wood workshops, here are the best things to do in Essaouira.
Top seller
Top seller
Popular
