An Enchanting Day Trip to Essaouira

A full day visiting the enchanting Atlantic coastal town of Essaouira; enjoy a complete change of pace and scenery!

Historic, characterful Essaouira has taken elements of many influences over the centuries, from Romans to Portuguese, French & Dutch. A drive along the Hadouz plain from Marrakech brings you to this traditional village, once the main port of Morocco, now mainly relying on fishing, tourism, and artisans. Walk through the unspoiled Medina to discover the craftsmen, wood-carvers & artists and sample the amazing seafood in the harbor restaurants.

Abandoned by the Portuguese in 1541, it was not until 1765 when the Alaouite Sultan Sidi Mohammad Ibn Abdullah transformed Mogador, as it was known, into a fortified city but the ramparts were never that effective in keeping out the marauding tribesmen! It is now a charming artists’ town with its old port and cannons overlooking the fishing fleet. Essaouira invites you to wander through the narrow alleyways that make up the Medina, to witness artisans at work making their wooden tables, boxes, and sundry items in lemon or briar wood inlaid with mother-of-pearl-purple dye, produced by the crushed shellfish, which was exported in ancient times by the conquering Romans to color the togas of the rich.

Duration: 1 Day

At around 8:30 am, your tour begins with a drive towards the west, to the Atlantic coast and the ancient Phoenician town of Mogador – a corruption of the Berber word Amegdul, meaning ‘well-protected’ – and now, since independence, called Essaouira – ‘Little Picture’.

Perhaps a dip in the waters of the ocean before returning to the bustle of Marrakech? A camel ride along the beach? Lunch is not included, but we are sure you’ll enjoy Essaouira’s famed seafood, either on the quayside or in one of the several quaint cafes that decorate this charming historical town before returning to Marrakech by late evening.

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  • star rating  Family fun in Morocco  - I could not be more delighted with the service that we received from this company from the day we booked it to the day we were dropped at the airport.... read more We were a party of 12. Nine of my grandchildren plus their partners (all in their 20’s) plus 3 other family members.
    We were met on time by our fantastic driver Ibrahim who stayed with us all week. Our vehicle was a brand new Mercedes mini-bus. We also had different guides to some of the more historic places. Our travels took us from Marrakech to The Atlas Mountains, Sahara desert, Casablanca, Fez and Essaouira. We have unforgettable memories of camel riding into the sunset and dancing to Berber musicians infront of a fire pit late into the night.
    The accomodation was outstanding in old, picturesque Riads everywhere (except luxury tents .with proper bathrooms . in the desert).
    I cannot recommend this company too highly. We received exactly what was promised and they were always flexible if we needed to make a change.
    Ofcourse, it’s helpful to have words of warning. There were some very long days of driving as we covered a lot of territory. This is not a choice for the less fit. Lots of steep stairs, not always with hand rails. . But I am 84 and I made it.
    Also, don’t travel with checked in luggage. You don’t need many clothes and it’s easier to carry small cases.
    This is our experience of just one of the many tours run by this excellent company. Good luck.

    avatar thumb Judy C
    12 April 2025

    star rating  Great way to see the beautiful country of Morocco!  - Incredible opportunity to see everything Morocco has to offer in just one week! Tour guides and our driver, Ibrahim, were very knowledgable about different cities and towns. The minibus was... read more comfortable and we were accommodated well with our lunch stops and tour breaks on each drive. Would highly recommend to anyone who is looking to be fully immersed in Moroccan culture.

    avatar thumb Molly S
    14 April 2025

    star rating  Exploring Marrakech  - I had a great experience with this company. We used their services for airport pick-up and drop-offs as well as tours/excursions. Drivers Mohamed and Yasser made us very comfortable and... read more are safe drivers on the busy streets of Marrakech. Musafeh, our tour guide was a wealth of knowledge, knew his way around town and very patient as we explored the souks, museum and garden. He guided us safely through the souks. He was very interactive with us through conversations and helped us with the merchants. Top 10 service.

    avatar thumb MillieJ1327
    17 April 2025

Itinerary on the Map

1 Day Trip to Essaouira
  • All Days Comfortable, Air Conditioned and Wifi-Equipped Private Vehicle
  • Professional & Multilingual Private Local Driver
  • Multilingual & Knowledgeable Private Local Guides
  • Refreshing Drinks ( Mineral Water & Mint Tea)
  • Monuments Fees, Museums & Gardens Tickets
  • Private Pick up from & Drop off at the Airports
  • VAT, Regional Taxes & No Hidden Fees
  • 24/7 Customer Care & Support
  • Airline / Ferry /Cruiseline Tickets
  • Travel Insurance ( We strongly recommend the purchase of insurance)
  • Lunches
  • Drinks
  • Tips

POLICIES & PAYMENT

Certified checks, Bank wire transfers, Credit / Debit cards, or PayPal are accepted forms of payment at any time.  We use the Pay Pal company as our credit/ debit card processor. You do NOT need a PayPal account to use this service.

Personal checks are acceptable if received more than 45 days before the departure date.

Apply your deposit to a future tour if you need to cancel for any reason!

Reservations are confirmed upon receipt of the applicable deposit, which must be paid at the time of your reservation for all travelers on the booking unless expressly waived by Morocco Private Trip in writing.

Easy & Smooth Planning Process!

4 Steps to Your Perfect Trip

1 – Request a quote today and tell us what will make your trip unique.
2 – Our Local Morocco Experts craft the itinerary that’s right for you.
3 – We keep working with you to perfectly customize your itinerary; and work out the details together.
4 – You easily book through our secure and user-friendly payment solutions.

Experiences & Activities:

We provide unique cultural experiences and memorable adventures

Cooking Classes

Handcraft Workshop

Baking Classes

Yoga Retreats

Authentic Hammam & Wellness

ATV Adventures

Tasting Food Experience

Horse-Ride Adventure

Photography

Hot Air Ballon

Argan Oil Workshop

Arabic Calligraphy
Workshops

Picnics

Water Activities

Henna Art Discovery

Talk to a Morocco Travel Expert Today:

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Apply your deposit to a future tour if you need to cancel for any reason !

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