Essaouira Day Trip from Marrakech

After having breakfast in your Riad/hotel in Marrakech, your private driver/guide will pick you up from your accommodation at 08 am. You will escape the hassle of the Marrakech Medina by heading west to the Atlantic Coastline. Have a drive through the fertile plain in the outskirt of Marrakech where many farmers that grow oranges, grapes and vegetables are located. After crossing the vibrant Sidi Mokhtar Village, you will see the Argan Trees, which is for most Moroccans the tree of life because of its precious benefits for the health and a good source of income to the locals.

You will have the chance to take pictures of the goats climbing the Argan Trees along with the option to make a visit to a local women cooperative of Argan. The girls will share their knowledge of how the process of extracting Argan oil from the kernels and how they turn into a wide range of products including perfume, cosmetics, lotions, creams and much more.

Now, it is the time to explore the mysterious city of Essaouira that was once called Mogador by the Portuguese. The Sultan Sidi Mohammed Ibn Abdallah decided to turn it into an economical center in the 18th century by appointing the captive French engineer to design the fortress following the French Architecture. The strongholds, the Skalas (bastions), the harbour along with the ramparts you can see today remain a depiction of how prosperous the city was during the reign of the Sultan.

The Sultan decided to give Essaouira an economic boost by encouraging the Jews to settle in and in return to be given taxation decrease along with other incentives. Your tour of Essaouira can start from the traditional harbor where you can see fishermen put fresh fish for sale. Meander around the ramparts, bastions (Skalas) before getting into the heart of the Medina where you can enjoy the unique ambience of the small shops selling souvenirs. Visit the fish market and after lunch you may want to stretch your legs by the sandy beach of the Atlantic that has been an ideal attraction for surfers, kitesurfers and sun lovers. 

In the late afternoon, you will drive back to Marrakech.