How many days for an Essaouira desert tour from Marrakech?

Two days is the comfortable minimum: one to drive over and explore the medina at sunset, one for the ramparts, port and a long seafood lunch before heading back. Add a third night to truly slow down.

What's included in this 2-day Marrakech desert tour to Essaouira?

Hotel pick-up and drop-off in Marrakech, a private air-conditioned vehicle, an English-speaking driver, fuel and one night in an Essaouira riad. Meals and entry tickets are not included so you can pick freely.

Is pick-up from my Marrakech hotel included?

Yes — pick-up and drop-off are at any Marrakech hotel or riad inside the medina, the new town or the Palmeraie. Just send us your address when you book.

When is the best time for this Marrakech to Essaouira trip?

Essaouira is comfortable year-round thanks to the Atlantic breeze. April to June and September to October are the most pleasant; the famous Gnaoua music festival usually falls in late June.

2-Day Marrakech Desert Tour to Essaouira

English / French / Spanish Meet with guide 2 days

Marrakech, Morocco (48 Reviews)

2-day private tour from Marrakech to Essaouira — Atlantic ramparts and seafood

Overview

This 2-day private Marrakech desert tour swings west from the Red City to capture the best of Essaouira — historic Mogador, the fishing harbour and the UNESCO-listed medina, about three hours away. You will enjoy the Atlantic coast town of Essaouira and visit its port, ramparts and historical landmarks. To pair this Atlantic break with the Sahara dunes, see our 3-day Sahara desert tour from Marrakech or request a tailor-made quote.

Highlights

Ancient Mogador fort Argan oil cooperative UNESCO Essaouira medina Moulay El-Hassan Square Private driver-guide

Day-by-day itinerary

Day 1

Marrakech → Essaouira

Local Morocco Tours is your private tour company for trips departing from your hotel or riad in Marrakech. We drive from Marrakech to Essaouira, where you will see ancient Mogador — an excellent destination for a coastal escape. After pick-up at your hotel or riad, we make our way west, stopping at an argan oil cooperative on the road. On arrival in the city, our first stop is the medina, followed by the port. The afternoon is yours to explore at your own pace, with an overnight stay in a local hotel or riad.

Day 2

Essaouira → Marrakech

You will spend the day in Essaouira relaxing on the beach and taking in the city's main historical attractions, including the medina. We walk along Siaghine Alley to the ramparts and then on to Moulay El-Hassan Square. After exploring the highlights, we drive you back to Marrakech. At Local Morocco Tours, we will do everything we can to tailor a holiday in Morocco that is perfect for you, your family, your friends or your group.

What's included

All hotel pick-up transfers
Comfortable, private travel in an air-conditioned vehicle
Experienced local tour guide
Dinners and breakfasts
Drop off at your accommodation at the conclusion of the tour

Not included

Lunches and soft drinks
Admission fees and gratuities

Guide languages

English, Spanish, French, and more languages are available upon request.

Departure

We depart from your hotel at your requested time — usually at 8:00 am. Let us know how many people are travelling, your travel date, and the accommodation category: standard or luxury.

Departing from Marrakech

Essaouira is 190km due west of Marrakech — a two and a half hour drive across the Haouz Plain and through the argan forest, one of Morocco’s most distinctive landscapes (UNESCO biosphere reserve, only found between Agadir and Marrakech). A two-day private tour is the most relaxed way to visit: you arrive before lunch, spend the afternoon and evening in the medina at your own pace, and have a full morning in the port before returning to Marrakech.

The drive from Marrakech to Essaouira is pleasant in itself — flat, easy, and lined with argan trees where goats famously climb to eat the fruit. Your driver-guide will stop at a women’s argan cooperative if you wish, where you can see the traditional oil extraction and purchase genuine cold-pressed argan oil direct from the source. Arriving in Essaouira, the wind from the Atlantic hits the ramparts and the temperature drops five to eight degrees compared to Marrakech.

Essaouira’s blue-and-white medina, the Portuguese-era sea walls, the fishing harbour and the Gnawa music scene make it the natural counterpoint to Marrakech’s intensity. One night in a sea-view riad is included. Request a quote or browse all Marrakech tours.