It is the coastal wind – the beautifully named alizee, or taros in Berber – that has allowed Essaouira (essa-weera, or es-sweera in Arabic) to retain its traditional culture and character.
For most of the year, the wind blows so hard here that relaxing on the beach is impossible, meaning that the town is bypassed by the hordes of beach tourists who descend on other Atlantic Coast destinations in summer.
Known as the ‘Wind City of Africa’, it attracts plenty of windsurfers between April and November, but the majority of visitors come here in spring and autumn to wander through the spice-scented lanes and palm-lined avenues of the fortified medina, browse the many art galleries and boutiques, relax in some of the country's best hotels and watch fishing nets being mended and traditional boats being constructed in the hugely atmospheric port.
| Day Trip |
Departure from your hotel at 8H00: Essaouira known by its old Portuguese name « Mogador », you will drive for about 170 kilometers. There are vast landscapes during the trip, with a few villages, sheep and goats' herds grazing in peace the few dry and seldom herbs. The vegetation then changes to argan trees which only grow in the wild and on which the goats climb to eat berries. If you wish, it is possible to stop for argan oil tasting in a small cooperative totally ran by women, where the argan oil is extracted. This oil is very famous for its uses in cooking and especially in cosmetics. A few kilometers further away, there is a panoramic view on Essaouira, a small blue and white town which reminds us of breton port towns. Once you arrive in the port, you are free to make your own moves. You can have a stroll on the ways which are full of life, where you can watch fishermen unloading their catch of the day, fishing boats coming back to the port and all the activities linked with the work of fishermen. Lunch can be taken in a restaurant where it is possible to choose all the seafood or fish you want to eat. The visit of the town is pleasant and varied : the ramparts, the Medina which is the place where you will see a number of local artists and lots of craft shops, a lot of exhibiting craft objects made of thuya wood. Marquetry remains the speciality of Essaouira . If you feel like it, you can spend part of your day at the beach, and it’s optional either riding camels or horses before returning back to Marrakech.
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No tours available for booking.
