Marrakech is one of the top touristic cities in Morocco. Essaouira is a classic tourist getaway along the Moroccan coast. Located 2 hours from Marrakech, the coastal city (Essaouira) boasts of beautiful sights, breathtaking ocean and beach views, lots of water activities to participate in as well as tasty cuisines to eat. This laid-back tourist destination is a well-planned city with inter-linked streets that are clean and well-lit even at night. June is the best month for excursions Marrakech Essaouira as the weather is relatively warm and dry thus providing a great environment for outdoor activities.
How to get to Essaouira from Marrakech
The distance between these two touristic cities is 55 miles and a road trip between the cities is fun, thrilling and full of amazing sights to see. The road trip to the city begins along Haouz Palnes in Marrakech to Chichaoua village for a stopover to sip some of the finest coffee brands in the world. You will then proceed to Sidi Mokhtar. When crossing the Argan tree forest during your excursion, be on the lookout for tree climbing goats. You will also get a chance to see the extraction of the Argan oil; the liquid gold of Morocco. Additionally, you can consider visiting the ladies’ cooperative to learn how Argan oil is used in making some fine local cosmetic products. From here, you can then proceed to Essaouira.
What to see and do in Essaouira
Once you have taken one of the best Morocco excursions to Essaouira, you can enjoy exploring the beautiful city to your own satisfaction. There are unlimited things to see and visit in this touristic city. The first stop in the city should be at the fishing port where you will see fishermen coming back ashore with their catch. While at the port, be sure to learn more about the different types of fish and other sea animals in the Moroccan part of the Atlantic. Head on to Sidi Kaouki to the open beach and enjoy a peaceful time on the beach away from the noise of the main town. You can hop on a camel to wander along the beautiful beach. There is a small cafe on the beach from where you can see exciting views of the coast while enjoying a mouth-watering cuisine.
If you want to indulge in a Moroccan shopping spree when in Essaouira, visit the local souvenirs spread all over the vast city. The locals in the city are friendly and will therefore be of great assistance when deciding on the best items to buy. It is worth noting that despite the city being vast and with several streets and walkways; it is easy to navigate on your own without needing to hire a local guide.
When in Essaouira, be sure to take the interesting walk along the walled city that is exceptionally cozy and refreshing. There is always something new to see and a sight to behold in the medina.
Affordable ways to get to Essaouira from Marrakech
For tourists who do not have much to spend on day trip to essaouira from marrakech, it is recommended to use public transport. There are several bus services in the city with the best being the CTM buses. There are two buses that leave Marrakech for Essaouira daily; at 9 o’clock (morning) and at 12.30 o’clock (afternoon). From Essaouira to Marrakech, you can catch either of the two buses that service the return trip at 12.30 pm and 4 pm in the evening. Single bus tickets cost roughly 70 dirham every person ($8). If you want a more comfortable ride than the bus, you can consider using a taxi. The best thing about taxi fares is that they are not fixed. As such, you can negotiate the fare with the driver. On average, taxi fares to the coastal city of Essaouira from Marrakech range between 600 dirhams and 1000 dirhams. You can share the taxi fare with other tourists visiting the city. Ideally, you should use the means of transport that is readily affordable to you so that you can spare some money to use when in Essaouira.
It is worth noting that you cannot exhaust watching the beautiful sites in Essaouira in two or three hours. As such, you should plan your day trips from Marrakech to Essaouira to last a few hours or even a whole weekend so that you can enjoy a tourist getaway like no other.
