1 day

Small Group

Instant confirmation

About this activity

The hustle and bustle of Marrakech quickly slips away as you enter into the peace and beauty that is Essaouira. This ancient citadel on the West Atlantic coast of Africa literally means “wall” in the Berber language, and you’ll soon discover why. Travelers from all over the world come here to experience the very special weather, and explore its diverse and unique history.

The vegetation changes to Argan trees that only grow in the wild and which provide berries for local goats to eat. These special trees are valued for their nutritive, cosmetic and numerous medicinal properties. The tree, a relict species from the Tertiary age, is extremely well adapted to drought and other environmentally difficult conditions of southwestern Morocco, and while now endangered, they are under protection of UNESCO.

Gaze at the panoramic views of Essaouira as you drive into town. The charming and artistic blue and white town has been a favorite amongst barefoot travelers for decades. In Essaouira, you can explore its peculiar wonders at your leisure. Stroll along the quays, where you can watch fishermen unloading their catch of the day and fishing boats coming back to shore, or enjoy the many restaurants at the port and dine on fresh fish and seafood.

Wander through picturesque streets, explore the historic ramparts and visit the Medina, full of local artists selling their crafts made of Thuya wood. The ramparts will give you an insight in to how this old seaport village was armed against the threat of invasion. Marquetry still remains a traditional specialty of Essaouira. Another beautiful attraction of the region is its tranquil beach, where you could easily spend a relaxing and peaceful time

After a full day of sightseeing, return to your hotel

Read more Show less

Included

Transport by air-conditioned minivan
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Driver/guide

Not included

Food and drinks

Additional

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
May be operated by a multi-lingual guide
Minimum age is 8 years
Not wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Near public transportation
Infants must sit on laps
Infant seats available
Most travelers can participate

Features

Tourism

95%

Cultural

60%

Sport

25%

Reviews

3.4

6

m

michael d

2 | 2018-03-14

Essaouira is a must see, I just wish I went a different way. This isn't a tour, it's a long, crowded bus ride. The driver was very old, and not very considerate. I asked him several times to put the air on. It was very hot in the back, and the bus was full. He was speeding down the road, not speaking, and he flew right past the area where the goats sit up in the trees. The whole bus started screaming to stop, but he just kept going. The seats are tiny, I'm not a big guy, but my arms and legs were touching the woman next to me for the entire ride. She was friendly, but she must've had onions for lunch. I think it's better to stay overnight in Essaouira anyway. If you do a day trip there, you spend more time on the road

j

jaugstman

3 | 2018-03-06

The trip there made a lot more stops than we had expected: we stopped first at a rest stop within 45min of departure, and then at an argan oil co-op where we stayed for 30min and the driver had indicated another stop to take some photos which the whole bus vetoed.. the way home there was only one stop, thankfully. it was a much longer drive there than it needed to be, but we made it and enjoyed our time in Essaouira. the meeting location was easy to find, but we only had about 4.5 hours to explore the city. An actual earlier departure we were told between 8-830, but it was 930 when we actually left Marrakesh and no organ oil co-op would have made this a much better experience. but for the price, it was what it was.

C

Cromaris

5 | 2017-12-14

Nice trip. Friendly staff.

Collections This experience is part of these collections