Day tour of Essaouira from Marrakech
Excursions & day trips

Day tour of Essaouira from Marrakech

from
$80.00
Free cancellation
Language: English
Availability: Monday, Wednesday, Friday
Mobile voucher accepted
Duration: up to 24 hours
Why you’ll love this…
  • Beautiful fishing Port and Medina
  • See Moulay El-Hassan Square
  • Grand Mosque and the Jewish Quarter
  • Museum Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdallah
What to expect

Spend the day exploring Essaouira from Marrakech. Formerly known as Mogador, Essaouira is reminiscent of an age when Spain, Portugal and England struggled to control their coasts. It is home to a traditional Portuguese harbor with fine examples of Moorish and Portuguese art. Famous for its fine wood-work, Essaouira is also home to the silver souk (commercial quarter), art galleries and islands.

Essaouira was discovered by the Phoenicians who settled there. Afterwards it was conquered by Rome and Portugal. By the end of the 15th century, the Portuguese had built the commercial and military port of Mogador (Essaouira today). This port is built at the foot of the city's ramparts. In 1769, the Navy built o door to connect the loading docks of the port to the city. From this door a small bridge leads to Skala Port and the ramparts that cut the old city into serveral districts.

In the medina, see Moulay El-Hassan Square, the Grand Mosque and Siaghine Alley. From the terrace of the north Bastion you can access the marquetry, where the Morocco's best marqueteurs work on cedar.

As you leave the confines of Skala, you will follow Derb Laalouj street to the Museum Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdallah. Here musical instruments, local Andalusian songs, Berber Imazighen documents, weapons, costumes, carpets, and more is displayed in the former residence of the Pasha. Located in the north of the city is the “Mellah”. This Jewish Quarter is crossed by the traditional Rue Mohammed Zerktouni. It is bordered by a market that extends to Bab Doukkala. During your stay, you will also be able to enjoy beautiful beaches full of sun year-round!

Read more
What's included
  • check Hotel pick-up from centrally located hotels in the Gueliz and Hivernage areas
What's not included
  • x_not_included Lunch (Available at own cost)
  • x_not_included Admissions
  • x_not_included Gratuities (optional)
Where

L'horloge, Rue Abdellah Chefchaouni, Essaouira, Morocco

Meeting point:
See email confirmation. Hotel pick-up is organised from centrally located hotels in the Gueliz and Hivernage areas.
What to remember
  • Hotel pickup is included for hotels located in Marrakech. Please make sure you are at the reception at least 30 minutes before scheduled departure time. For all other customers outside the hotel pickup area, departure point is in front of the Grayline office (Residence Yasmine, Majorelle, Boulevard Moulay Abdlah, Mag n 5, Marrakech). Please be at the departure point at least 30 minutes before scheduled departure time
  • A valid passport or other identify card is required
  • Please confirm your tour 48 hours prior by calling or emailing
  • Mobile vouchers are accepted on smatphones or ipads as well as printed vouchers. Please make sure you have a valid ID with you on the day of the tour
  • As a general guideline your shoulders, chest, and knees should be covered at all times. Wearing shorts (men or women), low-cut tops, and showing midriff is not recommended as it will restrict your entry into buildings of a religious nature and family homes. Covering these parts of your body will be considered as respectful amongst the locals
Read more
Provider
Utess Voyages
Booking fee
Good news! No extra fees are applied to this booking.
Cancellation policy
Receive a 100% refund if you cancel up to 24 hours before the experience begins.

What people say about this experience

0%
0%
0%
0%
0%

You might also like

1001 Nights dinner show in Marrakech
Activities

1001 Nights dinner show in Marrakech

Buy your Fantasia 1001 Nights Dinner Show in Marrakech with Musement and enjoy the Moroccan authenticity in the heart of Marrakech.

free cancellation
Available in:

en 

Private Middle Atlas tour of Ouzoud Falls and Imin Ifri with lunch
Activities

Private Middle Atlas tour of Ouzoud Falls and Imin Ifri with lunch

You'll spend this full‑day tour roaming the Middle Atlas, the mountain region just beyond Marrakech, visiting Ouzoud Falls, Berber villages and the natural bridge of Imin Ifri. After leaving Marrakech, you'll settle in for the drive as the scenery shifts from city bustle to mountain greenery. You'll also stop at Boughlou, where pottery lines the roadside and craftsmen shape clay in the sun. Hassan, one of our local expert guides, says, “The waterfalls wow everyone, but it's meeting the potters and seeing these little mountain corners most travellers miss that really sticks with people.” When you reach the Ouzoud Falls, you'll see why they're considered one of Morocco's most photogenic spots. The falls plunge more than 100 metres into a misty gorge, sending up a spray that hangs in the air. You'll have free time to wander the paths, capture the rainbow that regularly forms in the mist and look out for Barbary apes relaxing in the trees. Lunch is served in a local restaurant nearby, where you can try dishes like fine‑grain couscous drizzled with olive oil and topped with toasted almonds. The route then leads to Imin Ifri, a natural bridge carved over centuries by a slow‑moving river. Here, your guide shares the local folklore – a romantic Berber tale of two lovers said to have reached across the gorge and turned to stone. There's time to take photos, browse local crafts and soak up the scenery. After that, you'll begin the return to Marrakech, rolling back into the city in the early evening.

free cancellation
Available in:

en, fr 

2-day Marrakech Medina cycling, Agafay Desert and Ourika saffron tour
Attractions & guided tours

2-day Marrakech Medina cycling, Agafay Desert and Ourika saffron tour

Explore Marrakech Medina by bike, spend one night in the Agafay Desert and visit Ourika Valley saffron estate on a 2-day guided tour.

free cancellation
Available in:

en, fr 

Moroccan beauty experience, tea ceremony and argan oil at Medina Mall
Activities

Moroccan beauty experience, tea ceremony and argan oil at Medina Mall

Dive into Moroccan culture with a traditional tea ceremony, argan oil extraction, and henna preparation. Book now for an unforgettable experience!

free cancellation
Available in:

en, fr, ar 

Authentic traditional Moroccan ceramics and jewellery workshop
Activities

Authentic traditional Moroccan ceramics and jewellery workshop

Dive into Moroccan culture with a tea workshop, ceramic painting, and jewellery making. Ignite your creativity on this guided tour.

free cancellation
Available in:

en, fr, ar 

Traditional Moroccan carpet weaving local workshop
Activities

Traditional Moroccan carpet weaving local workshop

Dive into Moroccan culture with an authentic Berber carpet-making workshop. Create your own masterpiece today!

free cancellation
Available in:

en, fr, ar 

Authentic Moroccan cooking class workshop at Medina Mall
Activities

Authentic Moroccan cooking class workshop at Medina Mall

Immerse yourself in Moroccan cuisine with a traditional tea ceremony, cooking workshop, and olive oil tasting. Book now for an unforgettable culinary adventure!

free cancellation
Available in:

en, fr, ar 

Authentic Moroccan tea and coffee ceremony experience at Medina Mall
Activities

Authentic Moroccan tea and coffee ceremony experience at Medina Mall

Immerse yourself in Moroccan customs with a tea and coffee workshop. Learn traditional brewing techniques and the history of these iconic beverages.

free cancellation
Available in:

en, fr, ar 

Private High Atlas Mountains and Ait Benhaddou Kasbah 4x4 dventure
Activities

Private High Atlas Mountains and Ait Benhaddou Kasbah 4x4 dventure

You're in for a real treat on this private 4x4 tour that shows off the very best of the High Atlas Mountains. You'll start by winding your way through tiny Berber villages and mountain scenery, stopping in Taddart for a quick break before climbing higher into the peaks. There's also a stop at Tizi n'Tichka, where the views stretch across the valley. Hassan, one of our local guides, says, “from up here you can trace the old caravan route that helped shape Marrakech. It's a reminder of why these landscapes are so unique to Morocco – you won't find anything like them in Europe.” From there, you'll carry on towards the village of Ait Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Morocco's most iconic kasbahs. Before exploring, you'll tuck into lunch right in front of the fortress, with views you might recognise from films like Gladiator and Lawrence of Arabia. After eating, your guide will lead you through the maze of earthen alleys, sharing stories of the families who once lived there – and the ones who still do. It's very much a living village, and your entrance fee helps to support the small community that continues to call Ait Benhaddou home. If you're up for it, you can even walk all the way to the top for desert views over the plains. Once you've soaked up the atmosphere, it's time to head back towards Marrakech, retracing the mountain pass and enjoying the scenery from a fresh angle. By the time you're dropped back at your hotel, you'll have had a day packed with off-road adventure, kasbah exploring and big Atlas-range panoramas.

free cancellation
Available in:

en, fr 

Private full-day tour of Essaouira with a local guide and lunch
Activities

Private full-day tour of Essaouira with a local guide and lunch

Arriving in the port city of Essaouira feels like taking a deep breath by the Atlantic. Inside its stone walls, life moves at a calm, relaxed pace. You hear gulls above you, see fishing boats moving gently in the harbour and listen to craftsmen working behind wooden doors. As local guide Youssef likes to say, “Essaouira has a rhythm of its own — once you feel it, you slow down without even noticing.” This is a place shaped by the sea, trade and creativity, where it's easy to lose track of time wandering streets that have barely changed in decades.With your local guide leading the way, you'll get to know the city beyond first impressions. You'll visit the busy port, the municipal market, the jewellers' quarter and the artisanal centre – each place helping you understand a different part of Essaouira's background. Your guide will share more insights along the way, bringing the medina's past and present to life.After lunch at a fish restaurant in the medina, the afternoon is yours to enjoy. You can browse small art galleries, watch artisans carving local thuya wood, or stop for a glass of mint tea at an argan cooperative, where you'll learn how the oil is made and how your visit supports local women and their families. By the time you leave, Essaouira won't feel just a destination you've seen, but a place you've genuinely spent time in.

free cancellation
Available in:

en, fr