Essaouira excursion

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About 2h30 driving from Marrakesh on the Atlantic coast there is a fascinating little town formerly known with the name of Mogador while it was still occupied by the Portuguese. The Alaouite Sultan Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah rebuilt it in the 18th century.

Essaouira is famous for its fortifications, its white houses with blue shutters and its wind which attract many windsurfers but it’s maybe more known for its Gnaoua Music Festival which takes place in late spring of each year.

Before arriving in this city you will enjoy a few stops along the way to visit a cooperative that produces Argan oil and you will see how women are extracting this oil which is produced only in Morocco. You will also have the opportunity to see and to take pictures of goats climbing on top of argan trees.

 

Upon arrival in Essaouira you will visit the port, one of the busiest places in the city. The end of the afternoon is a moment not to be missed when the fishing boats return to the harbor. You can also enjoy grilled fish near the port.

The scala once served to protect the harbor and the city that’s why it contains bronze cannons pointing towards the ocean until today. The Scala offers a nice panoramic view of the harbor and the sea.

 

At the harbor entrance you will notice a portal carved stone, this is the gate of the navy that was built in 1769 by Sultan Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah.

Going to the Medina from there, you’ll pass by the Place Moulay Hassan, a pleasant place to enjoy a glass of mint tea. The Medina is formed by narrow streets always animated and containing bazars, restaurants and shops of all kinds.

You will have to visit the Kasbah, it was a neighborhood for accommodating operators of the port, the Mellah, it was the Jewish quarter and the Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah Museum which displays a collection of musical instruments especially Andalusian, Berber and Gnaoua musique.

 

On the beach watersports fans especially windsurfers find their paradise to practice their favorite sports in Essaouira water while others like to spend beautiful moments taking a sunbath or contemplating the sea.

 

• price: $100

• Includes:Transportation and Visits

• Doesn't include: Lunch + Water falls guide + tips