Find out how to Plan a Absolute best Day Shuttle From Marrakech to Essaouira

Find out how to Plan a Absolute best Day Shuttle From Marrakech to Essaouira

One of the vital highlights of our Morocco itinerary used to be an afternoon travel to Essaouira – a port town within the western area of Marrakech-Safi. This stress-free and laid-back the town at the coast of the Atlantic stole our hearts proper from the beginning! Blessed with a phenomenal sea coast, various tradition and thrilling attractions, Essaouira has one thing for everybody. From surprising seashores and a bustling fishing port, to a walled Medina with colourful bazaars, putting artwork galleries and tiny eating places, you’ll to find various issues to do in Essaouira to stay you busy for an afternoon.

taking Day trip from Marrakech to Essaouira, Morocco
View of the citadel of Essaouira, Morocco

However earlier than I let you know what to peer and do in Essaouira – Morocco’s Windy Town – let me provide you with some perception into its historical past.

A Transient Historical past of Essaouira

Positioned at the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, Essaouira (pronounced ‘essa-weera’) is certainly one of Morocco’s maximum captivating cities. Its historical past is going again greater than 2500 years. The town’s preliminary identify used to be Mogador, after the Muslim saint Sidi Mogdoul, a spiritual chief from the Center Ages whose tomb is in Essaouira.

visiting the port on a day trip to  Essaouira, Morocco
The fishing harbor of Essaouira

The Bay of Mogador has been a relaxed harbor at the Moroccan coast since earlier period. Within the sixth century BC, the Phoenicians based right here a agreement and named it Migdal (Migdol that means “watchtower“). However the port itself used to be established a lot later, within the fifth century BC, through Hanno the Navigator, a Carthaginian explorer.

the fortification walls of Essaouira
The fortification partitions of Essaouira

The fortifications and partitions that encompass Essaouira lately had been constructed through Mohammed III in 1767. The sultan wanted to show this small Atlantic the town right into a royal port and world industrial heart. And Mogador remained crucial port of the Moroccan kingdom till the nineteenth century, when Casablanca and Agadir evolved into higher ports for contemporary ships. After 1956 the port of Essaouira started loosing its significance.

As of late Essaouira is a Unesco International Heritage website and a phenomenal instance of a late-18th-century fortified the town. Despite the fact that its significance as a port has diminished, the town remains to be a world buying and selling seaport, linking Morocco with Europe and the remainder of the arena.

Entrance to the Medina
Front to the Medina

Find out how to Get from Marrakech to Essaouira

Essaouira may be very simply available through airplane from many Eu airports that perform direct flights to this town seasonally. Alternatively, most of the people consult with Essaouira as an afternoon travel from Marrakech, which is positioned best 190 km (119 miles) away. You’ll do the travel it both through automobile or through bus, as there are not any trains between Marrakech and Essaouira.

Through Automotive

Visitors in Morocco turns out very chaotic, particularly across the large towns, which is why you received’t see many vacationers using right here. Should you come to Essaouira through automobile, essentially the most direct highway from Marrakech is by means of R207 which takes about 2.5 hours. In Essaouira you received’t be wanting the auto, so you’ll be able to park it in large automobile park subsequent to the fish marketplace, proper out of doors the Medina.

Car park next to the Medina
Automotive park subsequent to the Medina

The good thing about coming through automobile is that you’ll be able to prevent at some fascinating issues alongside the way in which. Like seek for the the mysterious tree-climbing goats that made Morocco well-known lately.

Non-public Excursion

Should you don’t need to do the using your self, you’ll be able to e-book a small staff day travel from Marrakech to Essaouira. Costs in fact range in keeping with the extent of convenience you select. An alternative choice is to hire a automobile with a motive force. This can be a nice choice for those who like privateness and need to go back and forth at your personal tempo, with out the trouble of using the auto your self. Hiring an area motive force is at all times a good suggestion while you consult with Morocco and it’s now not at the same time as dear as you might imagine.

Through Bus

Bus go back and forth is the most affordable technique to get from Marrakech to Essaouira, so the majority of guests use the Supratours Bus. The adventure takes 3 hours, with a 20 minute convenience ruin enroute. There are six buses in line with day between the 2 towns and the fee is 80-100MAD/particular person.

Supratours Bus to Essaouira
Supratours Bus to Essaouira (Photograph credit score: Antonio Vera)

Making plans a Day Shuttle from Marrakech to Essaouira

If you select to consult with Essaouira independently, believe permitting some overtime to forestall alongside how to take footage, or consult with another small points of interest within the Souss-Massa-Draa area. You’ll need to arrive in Essaouira earlier than the bus excursions arrive. The using takes more or less 3 hours and despite the fact that we left Marrakech very early within the morning, we best arrived in Essaouira round 11:30 a.m.

Should you e-book a excursion, you can be given the selection to consult with the town with an area information, earlier than having some loose time. The excursion information will take you to peer the highlights of Essaouira and likewise will give you some insights into its historical past, which may be very helpful.

wandering through the Medina
Wandering during the Medina

Usually the strolling excursion in Essaouira is integrated in the cost of your travel from Marrakech. Alternatively, if it’s now not integrated don’t pay further for a guided excursion. Essaouira’s Medina is far smaller and friendlier than the medinas of the large towns in Morocco. Without a doubt extra a laugh to roam!

The ten Very best Issues to Do in Essaouira on a Day Shuttle

Against this to Marrakech, which is loopy and chaotic, your travel to Essaouira will appear to be a calming ruin. It’s calm and non violent, with gorgeous seashores, blue and white properties, and colourful stalls full of a wide variety of souvenirs. Simply highest for a lazy summer time day!

The gate to the old Medina of Essaouira
Bab El Mersa, the magnificent gateway of Scala du Port

Alternatively, for those who best have at some point in Essaouira, my recommendation is to skip the seaside and head immediately to the port and the Medina, the place the entire motion is!

Outdated Fishing Harbor

The primary position that you just’ll come throughout in Essaouira is the previous fishing harbor, so you’ll be able to’t omit it. Wandering during the harbor is sort of a travel again in time, when fishermen lacked the fashionable generation. You’ll see those onerous operating males mending their nets, development or repairing their boats, and bringing their day-to-day catch ashore.

Fisherman repairing their boats in the harbor
Fisherman repairing their boats within the harbor

The port is extremely picturesque, full of small blue wood boats, so far as the attention can see. You’ve got never-ending alternatives for images within the port – other people, boats, fish and different creatures – all at the background of the traditional citadel partitions.

Boats in the harbor of Essaouira
Boats within the harbor of Essaouira

Essaouira Fish Marketplace

Proper subsequent to the fishing harbor is certainly one of Essaouira’s maximum colourful (and pungent!) points of interest: the fish marketplace. Early within the morning, this position bustles with native fish fans and consumers. Take time to flick thru stands piled prime the entirety from fish, shrimp and lobster, to eel, squid and octopus.

image depicting the Fish Market
Fish marketplace in Essaouira

The fish marketplace is an overly animated position! Rather pungent, grimy and slippery from fish residue even though, so dressed in sandals or turn flops round right here isn’t a good suggestion.

Skala du Port Ramparts

One of the vital first issues that may catch your eye in Essaouira is the Skala du Port fortification, an army platform constructed to shield the town in opposition to invasions. The fortress used to be extensively utilized to retailer guns and ammunition.

visiting the Skala du Port ramparts on a day trip from Marrakech to Essaouira.
Skala du Port ramparts

Perched at the ramparts you’ll be able to nonetheless see the centuries previous cannons stating to sea. The cannons in Essaouira had been a present of the Eu traders to the Sultan Mohammed Ben Abdallah of Morocco.

visiting the ramparts in Essaouira on a day trip from Marrakech
Visiting the ramparts in Essaouira

There are many lookout issues up at the town partitions, so on a sunny day you’ll revel in nice panoramic perspectives of the Bay of Essaouira and the Medina. From a particular level, it is possible for you to to peer the island of Mogador. 

visiting the ramparts of Essaouira on a day trip from Marrakech
The ramparts of Essaouira

Should you climb the ramparts early morning, you’ll listen the sound of waves crushing into the partitions. And for those who don’t have to go back to Marrakech within the night, you’ll have the ramparts all to your self after those that got here to Essaouira for an afternoon travel have left the town.

the ramparts of Essaouira Morocco
Ramparts of the Medina within the afternoon

And in case you are partial to the “Sport of Thrones,” you are going to more than likely be mindful those unbelievable partitions as of certainly one of Khalessi’s fortresses. 

Get right of entry to to the Skala prices 10 dirham/particular person, which is more or less €1.

Outdated Medina

Surrounded through the 18th-century ramparts, the previous Medina of Essaouira seems like one thing out of a storybook. At all times humming with task, that is the very best position to look at the tradition of Morocco. Getting misplaced within the slender labyrinth of streets with tiny retail outlets and aromatic stalls is without doubt one of the highest issues to do in Essaouira.

strolling the Colorful street in the Essaouira Medina on a trip from Marrakech
Colourful side road within the Medina

In contrast to the Medina of Marrakech, the place you’ll be able to’t take two steps with out being harassed to shop for one thing, the non violent and comfortable environment in Essaouira lets you stroll round with out feeling that you just should prevent to buy so as to make your travel profitable.

On account of its original environment, Essaouira’s Medina used to be used as a filming location for lots of motion pictures, similar to Gladiator, Lawrence of Arabia, Hanna, or Othello.

The Artwork Scene in Essaouira

Essaouira is referred to as a meeting position of artwork and artists. So now not strangely, you’ll to find artwork galore far and wide you flip on this town. From fantastically painted partitions and doorways, to side road artwork distributors and artwork retail outlets, there may be various artwork to respect right here.

Street art in Essaouira
Boulevard artwork in Essaouira

However we didn’t anticipate finding subtle artwork galleries on this small port the town at the Atlantic Ocean. A few of these galleries are housed in difficult to understand retail outlets, at the slender streets of the Medina. However others are positioned in huge halls and spacious riads with distinctive architectural designs.

The galleries in Essaouira show exhibitions of each overseas and native artists from Morocco. We had been in awe of those artwork items and wanted we may have purchased some. Sadly, what we appreciated used to be too large and hard to send in a foreign country.

enjoying the Art galleries in Essaouira on a trip from Marrakech
Artwork galleries in Essaouira

Le Souk

After wandering the streets of the Medina, head to Le Souk (Essaouira’s bazaars) to negotiate for jewellery, rugs, pottery, and different tempting crafts take house from Morocco. The small and compact house of the Souk is straightforward to navigate, so that you received’t have to fret about getting misplaced in it.

Shopping in the Souk of Essaouira
Buying groceries within the Souk of Essaouira

Jewish Quarter (Mella)

Mogador (lately’s Essaouira) used to be as soon as house to an important neighborhood of Jewish traders. They had been well-known for selling the trans-Saharan caravan business, so the King of Morocco inspired them to settle right here. At one level nearly 40% of Essaouira’s inhabitants used to be Jewish, residing both within the Mellah (Jewish quarter) or the Kasbah (the fort).

view of a building in the Jewish quarter of essaouira
Construction within the Jewish Quarter of Essaouira

Adjustments in business and the founding of the state of Israel in 1948 made up our minds the Jews to depart Morocco. As of late there are just a few Jewish households left in Essaouira.

Jewish Museum & Simon Attias Synagogue

If you have an interest within the significance of Jewish historical past and their coexistence with Muslims in Morocco, don’t omit this small, however fascinating museum in Essaouira. This position is a bright reminder that folks can reside in peace and team spirit even if they don’t percentage the similar non secular or political views.

visiting the Simon Attias Synagogue in Essaouira on a day trip from Marrakech
Bayt Dakira Jewish Museum in Essaouira

But even so the museum, which has a phenomenal choice of footage, books, tales and artifacts, you’ll be able to additionally consult with the tiny Simon Attias synagogue, which is a gem in itself. Sadly the entire explanations are in French, however the museum is loose and neatly price a consult with.

Outdated Jewish Cemetery of Mogador

This can be a historical relic neatly price a brief consult with if in case you have the time. The Outdated Jewish Cemetery is positioned out of doors the wall of the Medina. Since there are not any Jews left in Essaouira and only a few guests display hobby in visiting this website, the cemetery gate is closed more often than not. Alternatively, if you wish to acquire get right of entry to to the graveyard, there’s a touch telephone quantity simply above the doorway.

visiting the Old Jewish Cemetery in Essaouira on a day trip from Marrakech
Outdated Jewish Cemetery in Essaouira

The Outdated Jewish Cemetery isn’t a vacationer website, however fairly a work of historical past of Morocco and its tolerance for all religions. In the midst of the cemetery there’s a blue and white Mausoleum for Rabbi Haim Pinto.

Mulay el Hassan Sq.

Moulay Hassan Sq. is Essaouira’s essentially the most energetic and colourful sq.. Previously referred to as Position du Chayla, the sq. now bears the identify of the present crown prince of Morocco. Positioned between the port and the doorway to the Medina, the sq. gives scenic view of the sea in addition to plenty of cafés and eating places.

Mulay el Hassan Square
Mulay el Hassan Sq.

Everywhere in the sq., you’ll be able to see youngsters taking part in, musicians appearing, seagulls flying, and vacationers photographing. There’s a car parking zone close by and the sq. is totally pedestrian.

Consult with an Argan Oil Cooperative

One of the fascinating issues to do in Essaouira is consult with an Argan oil cooperative the place you’ll be able to witness how the well-known merchandise which might be so vital to Morocco are made. Maximum Argan oil is produced through native cooperatives of Berber ladies across the towns of Agadir and Essaouira, the place the Argan tree is commonplace. 

It’s very fascinating to look at those ladies use historical equipment handy press oil from the kernels and whole the flowery procedure of making Argan cream. You’ll additionally purchase a few of these merchandise of their retailer.

Check out the Native Meals

Essaouira is filled with side road meals stands, cafés, and eating places, all promoting scrumptious Moroccan dishes and seafood. Since we had been in Essaouira for just a quick travel, we best had the danger to devour right here as soon as earlier than returning to Marrakech. However one of the highest sea meals we ever attempted used to be right here, in Essaouira.


How A lot Time Do You Want in Essaouira

We best spent at some point in Essaouira, however I want we had extra time on this picturesque the town. An afternoon travel appeared too fast-paced and we ignored out at the seashores. Bearing in mind that the travel from Marrakech to Essaouira takes nearly 3 hours, I counsel spending a minimum of two days right here if you wish to benefit from the attractions at a comfortable tempo.

visiting the Alleyway in the Essaouira Medina on a day trip from Marrakech
Alleyway within the Medina

Having mentioned this, Essaouira is a small position so for those who merely plan to consult with the Medina and benefit from the coastal fortifications, a complete day is enough.

READ NEXT: The Magic of Chefchaouen, Morocco’s Blue Town

day trip to Essaouira, Morocco

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