Activities

Things to Do in and Around Essaouira

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Les artisans d'Essaouira

A visit to Essaouira wouldn’t be complete without wandering around the souks and stalls in the medina. The North medina wall is called “Le Scala” and there is a nice promenade along the fortified wall where you can catch some lovely sunsets as well.

Visit the Artisans Court

This quiet shopping area supports the local community by giving apprenticeships to young people who source local materials and make crafts on site.

It’is a great place to watch the jewellers, carpenters and weavers at work, or even have a personalised Thuya wood box or colourful throw made to your specifications.

Visit the Essaouira Music Festival

The annual “Gnaoua Music Festival” takes place in Essaouira every June and attracts visitors from all over the world.

The four-day festival is a feast for the eyes and ears, with a mixture of sub-Saharan African, Berber and Arabic religious songs and rhythms, combined with acrobatic dancing.

Get pampered at a hamman

Get thoroughly scrubbed and gommaged and leave sparkling line a new penny! Latifa can recommend you the best local hammams.

Le surf à Essaouira

Kitesurfing, windsurfing and surfing

The town’s long sandy beach boasts world-class windsurfing and kitesurfing conditions, perfect for learning a new sport or simply catching some of the action. With waves in the vicinity as well, the town is a firm favourite with water sports lovers and sun-seekers alike. Listed as one of the world’s best beaches, Essaouira’s water sports conditions are world-class with consistent wind, shallow water on the inside and a combination of flat water, chops and waves.

More wave spots are just a 20 minutes’ drive away and the town is home to several centres where you can learn and rent equipment.

Visit a local winery

A 20-minute taxi ride out of town will take you to Ouirgana where you can visit “Le domaine du Val d’Argan” for free wine-tasting and a tour. It is worth staying for a delicious 4 course lunch), including wine testing. During the winter, the lunch takes place in a panoramic restaurant with a view on the vineyard while, during the summer, it is under the olive-trees around the swimming pool.

We can arrange for a taxi to take you there, wait while you have lunch and bring you back to Essaouira for 300 dirhams (a little less than 30 euros).

Le surf à Essaouira

Visit the countryside souks

Visiting the big contryside souks where farmers exchange cattle, plants and materials is an experience that will bring you back to the early centuries of Antiquity. You can ask Rachid to book a taxi that will drive you to these souks.

Souks of Chiadma
(North of Essaouira):

  • Monday : Taftachte
  • Thursday : Hanchan/Sidi ali Lakrati
  • Wednesday : Nairate
  • Tuesday : Meskala
  • Friday : Aam
  • Saturday : Akermoud
  • Sunday : Had Dra

Souks of Haha
(South of Essaouira):

  • Monday : Imintlite
  • Thursday : Taskra
  • Wednesday : Idaougourd
  • Tuesday : Tidzi
  • Friday : Aidaoud
  • Saturday : Neknafa (sidi Aljazouli)
  • Sunday : Sminou
Autres activités a Darlazuli

Other activities

Watch boats being built and fishermen coming into the port.

Go for a swim in the sea.

Go for a camel or a horse ride;

Play a round of golf at the Mogador Golf Club.