Best Shared Day Trip To Essaouira From Marrakech

Marrakech to Essaouira Full Day Tour

Take a day trip to Essaouira from Marrakech to discover one of the hidden gems of the Atlantic coast. Essaouira or Mogador is famous for its Medina fortification and fishing port. The artsy and hippy atmosphere of Essaouira, the cool weather all year long, and the easy 2 hours and 30 minutes drive from Marrakech make Essaouira a very popular day trip. This excursion departs every day, and only one person is required per booking.

Price per person:	Days of operation:	Number of participants:
19 €	Daily	17 Max

Day Trip to Essaouira from Marrakech - Highlights:

Walk to the fishing port of Essaouira and watch the blue boats.
Visit Skala Kasbah, which was a citadel in the times of war.
Explore some of the beautiful Essaouira art galleries scattered in the Medina.
Stroll in the Medina of Essaouira, which can be explored at ease.
Treat yourself to a seafood lunch at a local café terrace.
Sunbathe at the 6 km long sandy beach.

Shared Marrakech to Essaouira Day Tour Itinerary:

Day 1: Marrakech - Essaouira

Your day trip to Essaouira from Marrakech will begin with driving along the Haouz plains. Once in Chichaoua village, located halfway, stop for a cup of coffee before you continue your journey. Upon approaching Essaouira, you will cross the Argan trees forest, where you will spot some goats climbing the trees. Stop and take some photos before you carry on to Essaouira.
To watch how the Argan oil (also called the liquid gold or Moroccan oil) is extracted, you will visit a local ladies’ cooperative to learn how some fine cosmetic products are made locally out of the rich Argan oil.
From here, we will carry on to Essaouira. Upon arrival, you will explore the beautiful city at leisure. Out of experience, Exploring Essaouira is easy on your own: Locals are very friendly, the Medina is pretty small (compared to other old towns in Morocco), and its streets are in order.
You definitely do not need a guide for the tour of the city. You can easily explore the Medina on your own as its streets are aligned opposite each other, unlike every other maze-like Medina in Morocco. Should you insist on one, your driver will help you hire a local guide.
First, you can visit the harbor with its fishing port and old Portuguese fortifications. You can still see medieval war cannons aligned in order and overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Please continue to the Medina ( old city ) with its well-kept fortification dating to the 18th century. The major landmark of the Medina is La Scala, which was built against foreign attacks from the sea. You can continue to Bab Laalouj ( One of the main gates of Essaouira, then to the Mellah ( the old Jewish quarter.
Various art shops, galleries, souvenir shops, and Thuya wood craft shops are aligned in order. Choose one of the local cafes for a delicious seafood lunch and head to Kasbah, famous for having served as a military bastion.
If you are a beach lover, enjoy a walk along the sandy beach of Mogador and maybe watch locals playing beach ball. If you are brave enough, why not join a game for a few minutes. People from Essaouira are amicable!! If not, you can sunbathe while watching waterspouts, amateurs kitesurfing, or windsurfing.
Late in the afternoon, drive back to Marrakech, and your full-day tour to Essaouira will end with a drop off at your hotel or the nearest car-accessible point to your riad.

(5 hours Drive)

What is included in this Day Trip from Marrakech to Essaouira:

Pick up from your hotel or the nearest car accessible point to your Riad in Marrakech.

A/C modern minibus (no more than 17 passengers) driven by an English/French speaking driver.

Drop off at your hotel or Marrakech city center.

Not included

Lunch & beverages.

Local guide in Essaouira.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far is Essaouira from Marrakech?

The distance between Marrakech and Essaouira is 190 Km (118 Miles) via R207. The driving time between Marrakech and Essaouira is 2 hours and 40 minutes.
Is your shared tour to Essaouira a guided one?

Our Shared Marrakech to Essaouira tour is not a guided tour. You will have an English-speaking driver until Essaouira; then, you will visit the city independently. Your driver can recommend a local guide if you wish ( fees to agree with him directly ). Honestly, Essaouira is easy to explore independently, and there is no need for a local guide.
Do you stop to take pictures of goats climbing Argan trees on the way?

Yes, we do. on the way to Essaouira, there will be an opportunity to take pictures of goats climbing Argan trees. Please kindly note that the person herding the goats is expecting a tip.
Do you visit an Argan oil cooperative on the way to Essaouira?

Yes, we stop to visit a ladies' Argan oil traditional factory. Please note that every cooperative has a showroom where they tend to sell their goods. There is no obligation to buy at all.
How long do we spend in Essaouira?

You will arrive around noon and depart Essaouira to Marrakech around 16h00.
Can we swim in Essaouira?

Yes, you can swim on the beaches of Essaouira, but most of the year, it is windy. Sometimes, you will be surprised by how warm, and sunny Essaouira is in the winter. Just take your bathing suit and towel. You never know.
Are seafood restaurants in Essaouira safe?

Mainly they are. Please beware of the scam practiced by some food stalls near the port. Make sure you agree to what you are paying in total first.
Can I join your day trip to Essaouira but spend a night there? can the price be lowered?

You can join a one-way transfer to Essaouira if you wish, but the tour price doesn’t change: You still pay the total tour price.
Is hotel pick up and drop included?

Yes, provided your hotel is car accessible and centrally located ( Medina, Gueliz, L’hivernage ). If your riad is not car accessible, a location next to it will be communicated by mail the day before your trip to Essaouira. If your hotel is located outside the above areas, we will kindly ask you for an extra fee or meet us in front of Cafe de La France in Jamaa Elfna Square.
Is Essaouira worth visiting?

Yes, Marrakech to Essaouira tour is worth it. If you are based in Marrakech, Essaouira is one of the best day trips. Sometimes, many visitors tend to stay there for a few days to enjoy the beauty and relaxing hippy atmosphere of Essaouira.
What is Essaouira known of?

Essaouira is famous for: the windy beach Windsurfing/kitesurfing It's easy to explore Medina Essaouira harbor Medina ramparts seafood restaurants Fortified citadels full of war canons dating to the 18th century Art galleries Gnaoua music Argan oil
What does Mogador mean?

The former name of the Medina of Essaouira is Mogador. It is an extraordinarily built town surrounded by a Vauban model wall, constructed according to contemporary European military architecture principles.
Is there a train from Marrakech to Essaouira?

There is no train going from Marrakech to Essaouira as there is no rail station near Essaouira. However, you can travel between Marrakech to Essaouira by car or shuttle.

Reviews

Wonderful Marrakech to Essaouira day tour

Ahmad F – Nov 2021:

Wonderful journey! Although one day is clearly insufficient in this lovely coastal resort-city, the journey will not disappoint. Following a visit to an all-women cooperative where we learnt how Argan oil is created. Before arriving to ESSAOUIRA, the driver pulled over to the side of the road to show us the goats on the Argan tree from which the oil is produced. Once there, we hired a local guide (recommended by our driver) expert He took us on a tour of the harbor and the medina. (Walled City, in Arabic) leaving us with little time to go shopping! The city is a jewel, the merchants are considerably less pushy, and the product is much cheaper than in Marrakech; this is the spot to get your mementos. At the end, we realized there was no need to hire a local guide in Essaouira, we could have explored it our own at our pace.

amazing scenery of Argan tree climbing goats

Maria A – Nov 2021:

This was the trip we had been looking forward to. It was essentially self-contained, with three or four stops. The first and last stops were at huge convenience shops with restrooms. The second stop was at the goat-climbing trees. The last trip was at an Argan oil cooperative, where they demonstrated how they manufacture argon oil and convert it into various items for sale. Then you're dropped off at Essaouira, where you have around 4 hours to stroll about and explore. I thoroughly loved this trip and thought it was adequately described as a driver to get you from point A to point B and back. Not much else to say. I believe it was worthwhile. The bus was fairly new, clean, and air-conditioned, and the driver was responsive to requests and queries but not overwhelming or excessively chatty. Would I make this trip again or recommend it to friends and family who are self-sufficient and don't mind going on their adventure: Yes.

best value for money tour to Essaouira from Marrakech

Julia D – Nov 2021:

This trip is an incredible deal! (We paid 22 Euros per person.) Seeing and photographing goats in Argan trees was incredible; there were twelve of us on a a van in total, and it was always exciting to meet new people. Essaouira itself was pleasant to roam around, and we had four hours to eat, drink, and rest. It's a 5-hour round drive, but it's a good value for money. If you want to see goats in the trees, this is a must-do day trip from Marrakech. (Be prepared to tip the man herding the goats!)