Day Trip to Essaouira from Marrakech

Day trip to Essaouira, located 175 km from Marrakech; it is a coastal medieval city with an ancient Portuguese port. Essaouira, formerly known as Mogador, is famous for its annual “Gnaoua Music” festival, and its medina is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The modern name means “the small wall,” a reference to the walls that still surround part of the city. A day trip from Marrakech to Essaouira is one of the most popular ones so far, where you can relax from the hustle and bustle of other cities in Morocco like Marrakech; and discover the beauty of its medinas and alleyways.

The journey takes only 2h40 each way. The roads are mostly straight, the weather pleasant, and the variety of things to see and do make Essaouira a must-visit day trip. You will have free time to explore this peaceful city at your own pace and meet your driver around 3 p.m. to return to Marrakech. You definitely won’t need a tour guide to venture around the small city.

Day trip to Essaouira
You will be picked up at 8 a.m. from your hotel/Riad in Marrakech by one of our colleagues, an English-speaking driver, and travel in an exclusive licensed air-conditioned vehicle. On the way to Essaouira, you will pass through the Haouz plains until you reach the village of Chichaoua, where you can make a stop to rest, stretch your legs, have a coffee, or visit one of the Argan cooperatives a little further away. If you’re lucky, you might see goats climbing trees in the last 40 km to reach Essaouira.
Once in Essaouira, you can stroll through the city at your own pace and visit many of Essaouira’s highlights, such as:

Moulay El Hassan Square

The impressive Sqala, a kind of defensive bastion with 19 bronze cannons lined along the wall.

Art galleries, Thuja woodworkers, or shops in the souk

The walls of Essaouira; where the medina meets the Atlantic; there are great views from the walls, especially at sunset, when you can see the sun sinking into the sea if you have the opportunity to spend the night there.

The Jewish district called Derb Lealouj

Enjoy fresh seafood at selected small restaurants in the fish market.