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Last updated:

29 July 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Things to do in Essaouira ...

 

ARCHITECTURE

One of the most enjoyable ways of spending time in Essaouira is to wander round its historic medina (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) enjoying the photogenic architecture and soaking up the atmosphere. Its small size and logical grid of main roads mean that you can't get seriously lost and, as motorised traffic is not allowed inside the walls, it is safe and peaceful to walk around:

 

The ramparts: The medina is enclosed by terracotta-coloured ramparts which are entered by four imposing gateways - Bab Doukala, Bab Marrakech, Bab S'baa and Bab El Menzah. The sandy pink of the walls makes and attractive contrast to the town's blue and white buildings. The best place for a photograph is near Bab El Menzah or the collection of gardens to the south of the medina.

 

The main streets: The gateways lead to a network of straight, relatively wide, pedestrian streets from which you can get your bearings.  The widest of these, which is decorated with several imposing carved archways, bisects the town from all the ways from Bab Doukala, where it is lined with traditional local shops, down to Bab El Menzah where you will find most of the town's more imposing buildings. 

 

The souks: About a third of the way along this street from Bab Doukala are the souks (markets). The cloistered fish and vegetable souks retain their original function selling wonderfully fresh local produce. By complete contrast, the blue and white tiled jewellery souk is a cool and peaceful place with glass-fronted shops selling fine silver jewellery. The former grain souk, Place Marché Aux Grains, no longer sells grain - it is now a peaceful little square lined with pleasant outdoor cafés and interesting little shops.

 

The back streets: Beyond the main streets is a labrynth of narrow lanes and mysterious covered alleyways whose authentically shabby buildings are full of surprises. Behind elaborate doorways you may catch glimpses of all sorts of intriguing interiors - dilapidated churches and synagogues, artisans workshops, stylish hotels, quirky galleries - all existing happily alongside traditional family homes and businesses.

 

Skala de la Ville: At the westernmost part of the ramparts you can climb up to Skala de la Ville - a 200m long combined artillery platform (complete with decorated cannons) and defence against the Atlantic breakers. The views are spectacular, especially at sunset when the walls are often bathed in a pinkish light. Locals tend to watch the sunset from the crenellations, whereas tourists usually prefer a beer on the surprisingly-sheltered third floor terrace at Il Mare.

 

Piazzas: The hub of Essaouira is the tree-lined Place Moulay Hassan which is situated between the medina and  the harbour. Its many outdoor cafés are a great place to sit and watch the world go by. At the top of Place Moulay Hassan, if you head to the right through the carpet-lined alley you will come to shady Place Chefchaouni which is overlooked by l'Horloge - a tower whose four clocks all tell different times. Other cafe-lined squares are Place Chrib Attai (often referred to as El Khaima (The Tent) on account of the large Moroccan restaurant tent) and Place Marché Aux Grains.

 

The harbour: Essaouira's little harbour is home to Morocco’s third largest fishing fleet. It is very photogenic and fascinating at any time of day but especially in the late afternoon when the catch is landed and sold.  From the medina you enter the harbour via the imposing Porte de la Marine, which dates from 1769. To its right is the Skala de la Port, an old Portuguese sea defence from where you can get a get a good view of the port and the medina (there is a small entrance fee) and take a cheesy photo of the medina through its porthole. On the southern side of the harbour you can learn how boats are crafted using centuries-old techniques – there is usually someone who will show you in return for a tip.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ART

There are many artists in Essaouira and you will find artwork for sale all over the medina, plus occasional street art. There are several distinctive local styles and the town is particularly is famous for its colourful naïve school of painting and sculpture which combines influences from local gnawa traditions and the psychedelic paintings of the town's hippy era. Its champion is Danish expat Frédéric Damgaard, whose gallery is the best place to see good examples.  Some of the better galleries are:

 

L’Arbre Bleu 233 Rue Chbanat Tel: 0 (0 212) 6 78 57 39 42 Website: www.moniquefaviere.com

Little French-run gallery exhibiting a good range of European and local painting and  sculpture

 

Espace Othello 9 Rue Mohammed Layachi (behind Hotel Sahara) Tel: 0 (0 212) 5 24 47 50 95

High quality modern and traditional paintings and sculpture by local and West African artists

 

Galerie Damgaard Ave. Oqba Ibn Nafiaa Tel: 0 (0 212) 5 24 78 44 46

Famous gallery with top quality paintings and sculpture in the local naïve style

 

Galerie Bab S'baa Bab S'baa, Rue du Caire

Little gallery occupying both sides of Bab S'baa archway. Has mixed exhibitions of good original artwork

 

Galerie Bouafia Rue de la Skala (Opposite Skala de la Ville) Tel: 0 ( 212) 6 68 87 91 43

Has a good selection of paintings in a range of media, mostly painted by its French proprietor

 

Place Moulay Hassan

The giftshop opposite Café de France sells reasonably-priced artwork and will organise commissions

Disabled mouth painter Mustapha is usually in the square sellings his naïve-style postcard-sized paintings for 20 DH each

There are occasional exhibitions in the Palais de Justice (next to Café de France)

 

Taros Gallery 2 Rue Skala (just off Place Moulay Hassan) Tel: 0 (0 212) 5 24 47 64 07

Has a small selection of paintings by popular local artists

 

 

 

 

 

 

AUCTIONS

Place Joutiya (next to Place Marché aux Grains) comes to life every day between 4 and 5 pm when locals auction anything from teapots to trousers. The Time Out Guide describes it as being like a demented Moroccan version of the Generation Game! 

 

BEACHES

The main beach curves about 2 miles to the south of the town towards the former hippy village of Diabat (now being turned into a luxury golfing resort). Along its length you will find cafés, football games (including league matches at weekends), sunloungers, watersports and, near the sand dunes, horses and camels for hire.  At low tide you can cross the Ksob river estuary (Oued Ksob) to the romantic fort of Borj El Barod which is crumbling into the sea. Local legend has it that this inspired Jimi Hendrix to write ‘Castles made of Sand’ - though this is unlikely as the song was recorded two years before Jimi visited Morocco!

 

Safi beach, which is to the north of the town, is less crowded and considered to be better for surfing than the main beach. It is about a half hour walk through an unattractive industrial part of the new town, or you can take a caleche (horse drawn carriage) from just outside Bab Doukala.

 

 

BIKE HIRE

You can hire cycles or scooters from a shop near the Supratours kiosk (just outside the medina between Bab S'baa and Bab Marrakech). About 100 DH per day for a bike or 250 DH for a scooter.

Moga2Roues Jardins bin al Aswars  Tel: 0 (0 212) 6 70 57 13 47 Email: moga2roues@live.fr

 

 

 

   

BIRDWATCHING

The best place to see birds is at the south end of the beach, around the the mouth of the Ksob river estuary. The Isles de Mogador, which are just opposite the Essaouira’s main beach, are  one of the world's largest (and Morocco's only) breeding sites for the endangered Eleonora's falcon which resides here from late April to the end of October. You can take a boat round the islands (see below) but are not allowed to land.

 

BOAT TRIPS

Fishing trips and boat tours around the Isles de Mogador are available from a kiosk at the port. If you  go when it isn’t busy you may be offered a small boat which can get much closer to the islands than the main tourist boat. Formerly known as the Isles Purpuraires, the islands were famed as the source of the murex mollusc which was used to make purple dye for Roman robes. You are not allowed to land but there are good views of birds, attractive rock formations and the the ruins of fortifications, a mosque and a prison.

Balade en Mer BP 1344 Port de Peche (near Chez Sam Restaurant) Tel: 0 (0 212) 5 24 47 46 18 / 0 (0 212) 10 63 24 39

One hour trip around the islands: about 80DH

 

COOKERY COURSES

Next to Aprés Cinq restaurant, a former almond warehouse is now a stylishly decorated room offering daily cookery courses.  Courses for up to 8 people take place daily, except Sunday. The morning workshops include lunch in the comfortable lounge. Private classes can also be arranged. All courses are supervised by an experienced chef and a bilingual French-English presenter.

Atelier Madada 5 bis Rue Youssef El Fassi Tel: 0 (0 212) 5 24 47 55 12 Website: www.lateliermadada.com

Moroccan cooking workshop (10:30 - 14:30) 450 DH (lunch included); Pastry workshop (15:00 - 17:00) 200 DH (Mon - Sat)

 

FESTIVALS AND EVENTS

Essaouira is best known for its Gnawa (Gnaoua) world music festival but there are many other festivals and events throughout the year. However, they are not widely publicised and dates vary from year to year (and sometimes change at the last minute!) so it can be difficult to find out when and where events are happening. In the list below, where future dates have not been posted, we have given dates of previous events in brackets as guide. 

 

Chrib-Atay Festival (17 January or 8 March 2009) In the 'Tea Drinking' festival, families sit on carpets strewn around Place Le Mechouar to listen to poetry, recitals and music whilst being served with mint tea and pastries.

 

Maroc Classic  12 - 19 March 2011 Car rally - Casablanca to Marrakech via Essaouira in classic or prestige cars

 

Aïcha des Gazelles Rally 19 March - 2 April 2011 This unique all-female motor rally has taken place in Morocco each year since 1990.  For 10 days about 100 teams from all over the world compete to reach a network of checkpoints in the shortest possible distance without GPS, mobiles phones or any other electronic guidance. Whatever the route, the event always ends with a festive parade along Essaouira beach followed by an exciting 'fantasia' (display of Moroccan horsemanship).

Website: www.rallyeaichadesgazelles.com

 

Regraga pilgrimage (2- 3 April 2009) Each spring, the brotherhood of the Regraga, descendents of those who who introduced Islam to the region, make a 38-day pilgrimage around local shrines. Their visit to Essaouira begins on the first Thursday in April with a procession from Bab Doukala to the central mosque. This is led by 'Laaroussa'  (the fiancée or bride) - a man dressed in white riding a white mare - and accompanied by gnawa music. For the next two days there are traditional celebrations, a market with a quirky funfair to the north of the medina  and, on the Friday, a lively procession round the town's shrines.

 

Le Printemps Musical des Alizés (29 April - 1 May 2010) A four-day festival of classical music featuring artists from all over the world. Takes place at  a range of venues around the town, including some free open-airconcerts.

Website: www.alizesfestival.com

 

Gnaoua Music Festival (24 - 27 June 2010) By far the largest and best-known event in Essaouira in which many thousands of people converge on the town to hear top class Moroccan and World music. There are several large stages around the town and most events are free. Recent stars have included Toumani Diabate, Bassekou Kouyate and Justin Adams.

Website: www.festival-gnaoua.net

 

Prokitetour (7 - 11 July 2010) The Moroccan leg of the Professional Kiteboard Riders Association (PKRA) World Tour. The website  includes some good videos of the 2010 event.

Website: www.prokitetour.com

 

Festival des Jeunes Talents Gnaoua 4 - 7 August 2010 The junior gnawa festival gives young Moroccan musicians and local bands a chance to show off their talent.

 

Festival des Andalousies Atlantiques (28 - 31 October 2010) Every autumn since 2003 Essaouira has celebrated the Andalucian contibution to the music and culture of Spain, North Africa and Latin America.

 

Kiteboard Pro World Tour  (5 - 13 December 2009) About 50 professional kiteboarders representing 30 different countries converge on Essaouira for the culmination of their  world tour. As well as the kiteboard 'world cup' there are other events such as 'fantasia' (displays of Moroccan horsemanship).

Website: www.kpwtessaouira.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

FICUS REMARQUABLE

At the top right hand corner of the Ensemble Artisanale  (just inside Bab Marrakech, opposite L’Heure Bleu Palais Hotel) a gap in the wall leads to a mysterious little square dominated by an enormous ‘remarkable fig’ (Phytolacca dioca). This strange legacy of the town's colonial past was reputedly brought to Essaouira from South America by the Portuguese around 500 years ago.

 

GOLF

A 36-hole Gary Player-designed golf course is being developed at Diabet, on the Atlantic coast about four miles to the south of Essaouira medina. The first 18 holes opened in May 2009. For reservations contact:

Golf de Mogador Tel: 0 ( 212) 5 24 47 92 30 Website: www.golfdemogador.com

 

HAMMAMS, SPAS AND MASSAGES

There are plenty of hammams (steam baths) in the medina. Most have set times of the day reserved for either men or women; some are unisex. The dress code for both men and women is pants only. It is a good idea to take water to drink, some dry underwear to change into and, in the more traditional ones, a towel.

 

Hammam Mounia Rue d’Oum Rabbia (off Rue Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdallah) Tel: 0 (0 212) 24 78 42 47  Website: www.moroccan-link.com

Women 11:00 – 18:30, Men 18:30 – 21:30  Prices range from 75 to 1075 DH (2h Arab/Berber massage ~ 425 DH)

 

Hammam Pabst Rue Enasr (near Miyame Rresto)

Traditional hammam made famous by Orson Welles who used it regularly between 1949 and 1952 and featured it in his classic film of Othello.

 

Lalla Mira 14 Rue d’Algerie (off Avenue El Qouiri) Tel: 0 (0 212) 5 24 47 50 46 Website: www.lallamira.ma

Women 09:30 – 19:00, Men (must prebook) 19:00 – 22:00.

The oldest hammam in town.  About 75 -180 DH for 1 hour

 

L’Heure Bleu Palais 2 Rue Ibn Batouta (next to Bab Marrakech) Tel: 0 (0 212) 5 24 78 34 34 Website: www.heure-bleue.com

Hammam/spa in the medina's most upmarket hotel

 

Hotel Atlas Essaouira & Spa Boulevard Mohammed V Tel: 0 (0 212) 5 24 47 99 99 Website: www.hotelsatlas.com

Luxurious new hammam and spa offering a wide range of treatments. Sample prices: 30 minute hammam, 150 DH,   60 min massage 800 DH

 

Les Massages Bérbères 135 Ave Mohammed El Quorry (near l’Heure Bleu Palais) Tel: 0 (0 212) 5 24 47 31 30 Mobile: 0(0 212) 6 61  08 23 16

2h argan oil massage about 350 DH

 

Mogador Zen 42 Rue Enasr (next to Hammam Pabst)  Tel: 0 (0 212) 6 63 60 28 57

Shiatsu and other massages

 

Riad Al Madina 9 Rue Attarine Tel: 0 (0 212)  5 24 47 59 07

Full Moroccan hammam treatment about 350 DH

 

Ryad Mogador On the main road to Marrakech Tel: 0 (0 212) 5 24 78 35 55 Website: www.ryadmogador.com

Spa in large modern hotel with swimming pool

 

Sofitel Boulevard Mohammed V Tel: 0 (0 212) 5 24 47 90 00

Hammam/spa in large modern hotel. Range of treatments from 160 to 1000 DH

 

Villa Maroc 10 Rue Abdellah Ben Yassin Tel: 0 (0 212) 5 24 47 61 47 or 0 (212 0) 5 24 47 61 47 Website: www.villa-maroc.com

Hammam in Morocco’s original riad hotel

 

MARQUETRY

Essaouira is famous for its marquetry using local thuya wood. The best place to see craftsmen at work is under the ramparts at Rue de la Skala. You can buy pieces all over town, but the largest outlet is:

Afalkay Art 9 Place Moulay Hassan Tel: 0 (0 212) 5 24 47 60 89

 

MUSEUM

The museum is in a renovated 19th century mansion which was used as the town hall during the French protectorate. The collection includes weapons, woodwork, carpets and  local musical instruments.

Musée Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdullah Rue Derb Laâlouj Tel: 0 (0 212) 5 24 47 53 00

 

MUSIC AND NIGHTLIFE

Essaouira is a very musical place and a number of bars and restaurants have live music on at least one night per week. The most popular styles are the local Gnawa music, Arab-Andalusian, reggae and Moroccan/western fusion. Some of this can be very good indeed, though it isn't always that easy to find out who is on where or when. For suggestions see restaurants the ones which have late night music also tend to double as nightclubs.

 

Several cafés occasionally show films or have other events, especially Coin des Artistes, La Triskalla and La Tête dans les Etoiles.

 

The town is full of shops which sell CDs (just follow your ears!) - they are very cheap but not particularly good quality. There are also several shops selling traditional musical instruments. Some of these also offer lessons.

 

 

 

NEWSPAPERS, MAPS AND POSTCARDS

You will find day-old European newspapers for sale in and aroundPlace Moulay Hassan. This is also the best place to buy detailed maps of the town, guidebooks and postcards. 

 

QUAD BIKES

You may find quad bikes for hire near Ocean Vagabond beach cafe or try:

 

Essa Evasion Quad-raid Tel: 0 (0 212) 6 18 66 13 13 Website: www.essa-evasion.com

1 hour to 1 day. To find where to book look for the yellow posters around town

 

Essaouira Quad 280 Qt. Azlef Tel: 0 (0 212) 6 72 15 32 95/ 0 (0 212) 6 72 15 32 95 Website: www.essaouiraquad.com

3 hours to 10 days

 

Palma Quad 70 Boulevard Mohammed V Tel: 0 (0 212) 6 66 70 99 99 Website: www.palmaquad.com

1 hour to 1 day

 

Ranch d’Essaouira Tel: 0 (0 212) 6 76 92 52 11/ 0 (0 212) 6 14 84 39 14 Website: ranchdessaouira.org

1 hour to 1 day. Also has horses and camels

 

 

RIDING

You will find horses and camels for hire about a mile along the beach, near the sand dunes and Ocean Vagabond café. The horses are well cared for Berber stallions and the owners will try to match you with one to suit your ability for a cost of about 150 DH per hour.

 

If you would prefer something more organised, longer treks, or are a beginner or nervous rider, Ranch de Diabat hires horses and camels from 1 hour to several days. It is a pleasant 1 hour walk along the beach (look for signposts on the Essaouira side of Diabat) or a 10 min ride by petit taxi.

 

Ranch de Diabat Tel: 0 (0 212) 6 62 29 72 03/ 0 (0 212) 6 70 57 68 41 Website: www.ranchdediabat.com

Horses and camels from 1 hour to 6 days

 

Ranch d’Essaouira Tel: 0 (0 212) 6 76 92 52 11/ 0 (0 212) 6 14 84 39 14 Website: ranchdessaouira.org

Horses, ponies and camels from 1 hour to 1 week. Also has quad bikes

 

 

SHOPPING

Essaouira is absolutely packed with characterful little shops selling pretty much everything that you can get in Marrakech (leatherwork, metalwork, lampshades, pottery, jewellery, fabrics, carpets), but at a much more laid back pace. There are also a few local specialities such as argan oil products and exquisite marquetry articles made of thuya wood. Apart from the spice souk, you won’t normally be hassled, although you will be expected to bargain unless you are in a shop with marked prices. Unlike Marrakech there aren't any main areas dedicated to a particular product - the whole medina is like a huge colourful craft market. The best way to find what you want is to just wander around - there are surprising discoveries to be made in unlikely areas or behind narrow unassuming doorways. If you can't see exactly what you want and have a few days to spare, ask if the shop will accept commissions. The shops listed below are just a very small selection, chosen for price, quality or because they sell things which are slightly out of the ordinary:

 

Chez Aïcha Poterie Bérbère Place Marché aux Grains Tel:0 (0 212) 5 24 47 43 35

A cut above the average selection of pottery, homewares and argan oil products

 

Chez Aziz Km8 Route d’Agadir (8 km to the south of Essaouira on the Agadir road) Tel: 0 (0 212) 6 66 01 46 07

Palm-rope and wood furniture, terracotta lampshades etc.

 

Chez Maki No 221 Souk Laghzal (the fish and spice souk) Tel: 0 (0 212) 5 24 47 30 90

A good selection of marked-price pottery on two floors, plus spices and argan oil

 

Dar Zelliges Rue Mohammed Ben Abdellah (on the right at the end furthest from Place Moulay Hassan) Website: http://darzelliges.free.fr

Guesthouse with shop selling high quality zellige (mosaic) mirrors, tables fountains etc. Also has a little workshop opposite La Cantina restaurant.

 

Décor Bérbére Rue Boutouil (next to La Cantina)

Designer lamps, candles and other decorative items

 

Ensemble Artisanale Bab Marrakech (opposite L’Heure Bleu Palais)

Rather sleepy collection of craft workshops and galleries

 

Espace Afoulki 33 Rue d’Agadir (along the lane from Elizir restaurant) Tel: 0 (0 212) 6 66 16 65 17 Website:  www.ass-afoulki.org

Lampshades in original designs

 

Fortune Bérbère Place Marché aux Grains (next to Au Bonheur des Dames) Website: www.arganbiohouse.com

High quality argan oil products

 

Galerie Aïda 2 Rue de la Skala Tel: 0 (0 212) 5 24 47 62 90

Berber jewellery and a range of items from all over Morocco, plus new and secondhand books.

 

Galerie La Kasbah 4 Rue Tetouan Tel: 0 (0 212) 5 24 47 56 05/0 (0 212) 6 61 20 71 45

Characterful old riad packed with architectural salvage, antiques, rugs, pottery

 

the Gallery 19 Rue Moulay Ismail Tel: 0 (0 212) 6 67 96 53 86

Out of the ordinary clothes, accessories and artworks. By appointment only.

 

Gipsy Surfer 14 Rue de Tetouan Tel: 0 (0 212) 5 24 78 32 68

Surf and beach wear

 

Iliass Aziz 8 Rue de la Skala (opposite Les Alizés restaurant) Tel: 0 (0 212) 6 70 72 46 53

Henna designs on goatskin and other original artwork.

 

the Jewellery souk On the junction of Avenues El Quori and L’Istiqal

High quality silver jewellery

 

Kifkif Place du Marché aux Grains Tel: 0 (0 212) 6 61 08 20 41 Website: www.kifkifbystef.com

Clothes, accessories and gifts

 

Poupa Litza 135 bis av. Mohamed el Qouri

Recommended in The Time travel supplement for 'beautiful & super-trendy hand-made bags & accessories from French fashion designer'

 

Taros Gallery 2 Rue Skala (just off Place Moulay Hassan) Tel: 0 (0 212) 5 24 47 64 07Website: www.taroscafe.com

Art, clothes and gifts

 

Villa Maroc Gallery 10 Rue Abdellah Ben Yassin Tel:0 (0 212) 5 24 47 61 47Website: www.villa-maroc.com

Art, clothes and gifts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SWIMMING

Apart from the sea, opportunities for swimming are rather limited. Ocean Vagabond Guest House has a pretty little pool which is open to non-residents provided they buy a meal. The Ibis Hotel on the southern outskirts of town (about an hour's walk from the medina) has a pleasant pool which you can use if you buy a meal and the one in nearby Ryad Mogador is sometimes be open to non-residents out of season. Non-residents may also use the pool at Hotel des Isles (near Bab Sbaa) but it is popular with seagulls so beware of contamination. 

 

WIND AND WATERSPORTS

Essaouira is famous for its world class wind and water sports including surfing, kitesurfing and windsurfing.  A number of places along the beach offer lessons and equipment hire.

 

Club Mistral Base Nautique Boulevard Mohammed V Tel: 0 (0 212) 5 24 78 39 34 Website: www.club-mistral.com

International organisation whose Essaouira base is next to Ocean Vagabond beach café. Offers surf, windsurf and kitesurf lessons and equipment hire. Typical price for a pre-booked 2 hour lesson: 35 € (surf); 50 € (windsurf); 60 - 150 € (kitesurf).

 

Essaouira KiteSurf Rue Amira Lalla Amina  Tel: 0 (0 212) 6 72 06 37 25 / 0 (0 212) 6 11 41 29 48 Website: www.essaouirakitesurf.com

Offers surfing, kitesurfing and equipment hire from a littleshop opposite Superette La Plage (off Boulevard Mohammed V, just after the Murex sign). Their informative website contains some great videos. Typical price for a 2h lesson: 30 € (surf); 50 € (kitesurf).

 

Kiteadventures Website: www.kiteadventuressaouira.com

Surf and kitesurf lessons and equipment hire. Typical price for 2 hour lesson: 30 € (surf), 45 € (kitesurf).

 

Tripkite Tel: 0 (0 212) 6 64 80 26 44 Website: www.tripkite.com

Kitesurfing lessons. Typical price for 2 hour lesson: 55 €.

 

 

WALKING

Essaouira is a great place for walking either in the medina, along the coast or in the surrounding countryside. The best country walks are to the south of Essaouira, along the beach. At low tide you can walk (or take a camel) across the Ksob estuary (Oued Ksob) to the romantic fort of Borj el Barod which is crumbling into the sea. When the tide is high the only way to get across the estuary is to walk along it towards the bridge at Diabat - a former hippy village where you can now watch the huge new Mogador golf complex take shape. Behind Diabat you can walk through woodland towards the tower on the hill for splendid views of the town and coast. The area around North (Safi) beach is also pleasant for walking but to get there you need to walk (or take a horse-drawn caleche) through the tatty industrial area. Guided eco-friendly walks of the countryside around Essaouira including the Argan woods and the Thuya forests are also available, with either French or English guides.

Ecotourism et Randonnées la Decouverte restaurant, 8 bis rue Houmman el Fatouaki

Tel:  0 (0 212) 6 10 63 83 99 (Frédérique Thevenet) or 0 (0 212) 6 18 13 24 80 (Todd Casson)

Email: ecotourisme-maroc@hotmail.fr Website: www.essaouira-randonnées.com

Half day: 200 DH per person, Full day: 450 DH (including a traditional meal)

 

 

 

WINE TASTING

The Val D’Argan winery at Ounagha (about 35 km from Essaouira)  produces some of the best wines in Morocco. It offers tastings of wine, olive oil and argan oil, accompanied by a Moroccan lunch.

Val d’Argan Tel: 0 (0 212) 5 24 78 34 67 / 0 (0 212) 6 27 90 24 (Halima Eddibi) / 0 (0 212) 6 60 73 88 86 (Ahmed Eddibi)

Email: d.valdargan@menara.ma Website: http://www.ras.ma/transitions/winery/index.html

Open 10:00 to 18:00.  No English-speaking guides available. Wine tasting and lunch about 200 DH.

 

YOGA

For yoga tuition in English (indivduals or groups) contact:

 

Karryn Croney Tel: 0 (0 212) 6 72 56 95 74 Email: kamalayoga@mac.com  - Individuals or groups (in English)

 

Laurence Tel: 0 (0 212) 6 55 58 51 88 - Classes at Dar Souiri about three times a week (in French)