Private Day Trip from Marrakech to Essaouira

Marrakech is a beautiful city with lots of things to see. However, you might want to explore more of Morocco during your trip. Luckily, Marrakech is a fantastic base from which you can explore the surrounding areas during day trips.  

One of my favorites is to take a private day trip from Marrakech to Essaouira. Here, you will discover a completely different side of Morocco – one that you will surely fall in love with!  

My company offers a fantastic private day trip from Marrakech to Essaouira, carefully crafted to make you try the culinary delights of the Moroccan coast while following an expert guide around the town.

An Overview of Essaouira

Located on Morocco’s west coast, Essaouira feels a world away from frenetic Marrakech. However, don’t expect to find Essaouira empty; on the contrary, this port town is lively, especially in summer, when tourists and locals flock to its shores to enjoy the sun and surfing-perfect waves. 

A walled town with a bohemian vibe, Essaouira holds awesome surprises. You can spend hours strolling through its UNESCO-listed Medina, with its souks selling everything from tagine pots to musical instruments to fragrant spices. 

Another unmissable part of the town is the port, with rows of small blue boats and fresh fish stalls busy with locals buying their groceries.  Seafood is among the specialties you will enjoy during my private day trip from Marrakech to Essaouira.

Beautiful Essaouira is also featured in HBO’s massive hit series, The Game of Thrones, as the setting for the city of Astapor. So if you are a fan of the series, this is an additional reason to discover this compelling gem.

Things to Do in Essaouira

If you need more convincing to take into consideration making a day trip to Essaouira, here are some of the things you can do in town in more detail.

Strolling the Medina

Formerly known as Mogador, Essaouira’s Medina was built in the late 18th century. Much smaller than the one in Marrakech, it’s a perfect spot in town for a leisure stroll since it’s car-free. 

You will surely enjoy browsing the souks, taking a break at cafes for a mint tea, and admiring the charming doorways.

Wander the Town’s Ramparts

One of the great attractions of Essaouira is its fortified walls. Built around the Medina to protect Essaouira from sea attacks, the ramparts are a perfect viewpoint to admire the Atlantic Coast and the town from a different perspective. 

If you are a GoT geek, you will recognize these ramparts as the location of the famous scene ‘The Walk of Punishment’ from season 3.

Admire the View from Sqala du Port

Another part of Essaouira that is television-famous is the Sqala du Port, the castle-like entrance to the town’s port. Featuring beautiful stone arches, it was built by the will of Sultan Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdallah in the 18th century.

The Sqala du Port is a perfect sunset-view spot and boasts a gorgeous vista over the port and across to the Purpuraires Islands.

Marrakech to Essaouira Foodie Day Trip

What You Can Expect from This Tour

This private day trip from Marrakech to Essaouira is the perfect way to experience everything Essaouira has to offer.

All tours depart from Marrakech at 8 a.m. You will be picked up at your hotel in Marrakech, and in approximately a two-and-a-half-hour drive, you will arrive in the seaside town of Essaouira. 

As soon as you arrive, the food tour will begin! Meet a licensed local guide and embark on a walking food tour to try local specialties like ma’akouda, sfinge, or nougat. You will also taste fresh grilled fish in Essaouira’s charming port.

Following your guide, you won’t only eat delicious food but also learn more about Essaouira’s history and culture. 

Before returning to Marrakech, you will have free time to wander the Medina and make additional guided stops at our favorite patisserie in Essaouira to buy pastries to enjoy on the road.

Tour Availability

Who’s This Tour For?

My company’s private day trip from Marrakech to Essaouira is ideal for everyone who wants to embark on a food adventure with all the comforts. 

Since Essaouira is a coastal town, its cuisine is heavily based on seafood. However, my food tour is specifically designed to accommodate the dietary needs of vegetarians, gluten and dairy intolerants, pescatarians, and children.

But if you have a seafood or shellfish allergy, I do not recommend this tour as it is impossible to avoid cross-contamination (despite our best efforts).

Additional Information

Since this is a private day trip from Marrakech to Essaouira, the tour will only be for you and your travel companions. While we usually offer the tour for 2 guests, we can always accommodate larger groups or solo travelers by customizing the experience accordingly. 

Something else to consider when booking this private day trip is that for the majority of the time you will be outside. However, the town of Essaouira is known for its wind, so we suggest preparing for colder temperatures if you book the tour in the winter months. 

The last point I would like to highlight is that we collaborate with locals, so the specific stops of the tour’s itinerary might change depending on their availability.

More Ideas for Your Trip to Essaouira

How to Spend a Long Weekend in Essaouira

Visiting Essaouira, Morocco? Get Started Here!

The Top 12 Things to Do in Essaouira

Simple, and Cheap Hotels in Essaouira for Your Holidays

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