Essaouira is an eighteenth-century walled port laid out by a French architect for Sultan Mohammed ben Abdallah, and it feels quite unlike anywhere else in Morocco. The ramparts are Portuguese in character, the medina is a grid rather than a labyrinth, the fishing harbour still works for a living, and the wind almost never stops.
That wind is the whole point for Gulf visitors travelling in summer. It holds the town near 22C while Marrakech sits above 40, and the Atlantic here is cold enough to be startling. For anyone spending a week inland, a day or two on this coast is the standard relief.
The road out runs through the argan forest, where goats genuinely climb the trees, and it is good tarmac the whole way. Every booking is private, so you can stop for the goats, stop at a co-operative, or drive straight through. The rate is agreed in advance and covers fuel, tolls and the driver.
Why hire a driver here
- Two and a half hours from Marrakech through argan country
- The medina is walled and pedestrian - vehicles stop at the gates
- The town runs around twenty degrees cooler than Marrakech in summer
- The grid layout makes it far easier to navigate than Fes or Marrakech
- The coast road south to Agadir is worth driving for its own sake
Included in every booking
- Fuel, tolls and the driver's fee for the agreed route
- Marrakech hotel, riad or airport pickup
- Arabic and English-speaking drivers as standard
- Photo stops at the argan trees and co-operatives
- Extra luggage and equipment space on request, at no charge
