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Essaouira is a Moroccan originality. Splendid fortified city clinging to the sea, it evokes the Breton Saint-Malo. A few degrees more! Warm and welcoming, it has a particularly authentic atmosphere.
Essaouira is at the same time a fishing port, a very active artisanal center and a seaside resort prized by water sports enthusiasts. Its fortifications, its narrow streets, its whitewashed houses with their blue painted doors and windows give it a particular charm that has no equal in the whole territory.
We take you to discover its colors and scents.
But first, on the way to Essaouira, we will take the opportunity to cross the country of argan oil to stop and admire fields of argan trees as far as the eye can see with goats climbing on them to eat their fruits.
On the program: the visit of a traditional argan oil cooperative managed by the women of the region.
You will discover the manufacturing and extraction process of the Moroccan elixir as well as its numerous cosmetic and culinary virtues.
Arriving in Essaouira the port, we promise you a refreshing wind. You are on the Atlantic. Lunch is free, perhaps you will go to the docks where you will enjoy fresh and grilled sardines. Then, your guide will lead you along the ramparts and in the medina.
He will reveal its unique charms. In particular, you will see how local artisans transform cedar root wood into beautiful decorative objects.
Your guide will also tell you about the ancient Mogador, the name of the city when it was a Portuguese outpost on the sea route to India. There will be time left in the late afternoon for a trip to the beach and a swim in the sea. It's up to you.
Carpenters build heavy fishing boats according to ancestral methods. At the time of the auction, there is a colorful and smelly animation. At siesta time, the piled up nets are used as mattresses by the sailors.
Pass under the Marine A2 gate, built by an Englishman in 1769, which once linked the port and the city. A staircase on the left leads to the Sqala of the port (entrance fee). From the top of the tower of this fortress the view embraces the city, the port and the islands.
This labyrinth of white and blue houses can be reached by the Moulay Hassan square. At the end of the square on the left, take the arched alley, then follow the ramparts along which the cabinetmakers work the thuya wood, a great specialty of Essaouira.
A ramp leads to the city's Sqala, whose crenellated wall beautifully overlooks the ocean.
The bronze cannons are Spanish. It was here that Orson Welles shot the main scenes of his Othello, which was to win the Golden Palm at the Cannes Film Festival in 1952. Below the platform, in the old arsenals where the pirates' boats were built and ammunition stored, The Sidi-Mohammed museum, on Laalouj street, gathers beautiful collections of musical instruments, carpets, weaving, marquetry and jewels as well as objects concerning the various brotherhoods of trance.
The beach of Essaouira stretches over 6 km, it is one of the most beautiful in Morocco, but also the windiest, which makes Essaouira a paradise for surfers.
The island of Mogador, which can be seen off shore, is not to be visited. The Phoenicians already occupied this island seven centuries before our era. Later transformed into a prison, then into a bird sanctuary, it is home to a few pairs of Eleonora falcons, a very rare species, and thousands of seagulls.
The lung of the city of Essaouira and a privileged gathering place, the square comes alive in the morning. Invaded by the terraces of the cafes, it constitutes the ideal stage for a refreshing halt at any time of the day.
A great specialty of the Essaouira region, the cedar tree, close to the juniper and cypress, provides the raw material for the city's many carpenters.
An important production of furniture, boxes, salad chests, chess boards and trinkets of all kinds invades the stalls of the medina. Masters in the art of marquetry, the craftsmen also use lemon, cedar and sometimes even ebony wood. However, remember to check the quality of the finishes, the locks, the clasps and the precision of the assembly.
Endemic to Morocco, the argan tree is a thorny tree growing in the arid regions of Essaouira and Agadir. From its olive-like fruit, a particularly fragrant orange oil is extracted that will season your salads wonderfully. Its high cost is explained by the incredible quantity of stones necessary to obtain only one liter.
We took a trip for one day tour from Marrakech to Essaouira stopping at the Argan oil cooperative for the 20 minutes We had a great meeting with the women who make argan oil ! Another stop to see goats for 5 mins.
When we arrived to Essaouira, our tour guide, told us about the history of the city and pointed out the filming locations for the city of Astapor in Game of Thrones.
We had some great seafood for lunch and then spent the rest of the afternoon wandering the many shops in town, Stopping for pics at all the must see sites around the city and telling us all kinds of interesting facts.
It was a great experience! Our tour guide and driver were amazing and made every possible to make our trip even more amazing!
Excursion to the top! A super pleasant journey with beautiful landscapes. Mohamed our driver was just brilliant. He answers all your questions and does the translation if there are several countries on the mini bus 🙂 We traveled by clean and confortable mini bus. The city of Essaouira is very beautiful and quieter! I recommend this company!
It's really worth it to visit Essaouira. Beautiful little streets and much more relaxed than Marrakech. Delicious seafood places. We were transported in a van, it had air conditioning and the driver drove totally safe. He was on time at the meeting spot close to our stay.
Essaouira was beautiful. The beach had nice waves and we had fresh caught seafood fest for lunch. It was yummy, messy and wonderful.
After such a day we mostly napped on the ride back with our bellies full and smiles on our sun kissed faces. We stopped at an argon oil co-op and shopped a little too.
