Travel to Morocco: Essaouira

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Essaouira

			DAYS: 4 GRADE: I define HIGHLIGHTS: ACCOMMODATIONS: Hotels/Lodges MEALS: As noted  [B-Breakfast, L-Lunch,   D-Dinner] SEASON: Year-round Prices, Departure Dates and Included Services Send to a Friend Print this Itinerary

Extend your trip to visit Essaouira, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This coastal city welcomes travelers to explore its beaches, walk the old city's ramparts, visit the many artists' shops, and to indulge in the delicious seafood offerings. The town's relaxed atmosphere offers up yet another side of diverse Morocco and is the perfect place to relax at the end of your travels.

DAY 1 :  ESSAOUIRA
Today we drive to Essaouira (2.5 hours from Marrakech), one of the loveliest coastal towns on the East African coast. Famed for its windsurfing, seafood, and artist colony, Essaouira's whitewashed and blue shuttered houses are greatly distinctive, and the town is filled with art galleries, craft and woodwork shops, narrow alleys and cafe meeting places. Along the battlemented harbor walls, fishermen squat sewing bright ochre-red nets shaded by the ribs of the framed and brightly painted half constructed wooden boats. Just off the coast lie a group of rocky islands, once protection for the Portuguese pirates who dominated the town, then called Mogador, a name which comes from the Berber word amegdul meaning "well-protected." During the 8th century ACE, the Phoenicians settled Essaouira as a trading post and were trading as far afield as St. Ives in Cornwall (UK), from which they purchased tin, as well as trading with Alexandria, Athens, Sidon and Tyre. More recently (circa 1430 -1541 ACE), Essaouira was famously home to Portuguese pirates who survived by preying on shipping as the colonial expansion of the Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch and British forced shipping down the African coast en route to the spice markets of Asia and slave markets of Brazil. In 1765 ACE the Alawite sultan Sidi Mohammed Ibn Abdellah revamped Essaouira into a commercial port, and since the 18th century, Essaouira has drawn poets, scholars and craftsmen from all over Morocco. Today the traditions of Essaouiran craftsmen, artists and poets thrive, and visitors have a great range of hand made artistry to choose from. The afternoon is at leisure and the evening is free to eat at Chez Sam harbor restaurant or another of Essaouira's many eating houses. Overnight at Riad Les Terrasses d'Essaouira or similar. [B]

DAY 2 :  ESSAOUIRA
Today is entirely at leisure to walk the ramparts that protect most of the town, bristling with cannons and hinting at Essaouira's turbulent past, or to walk through the souk and the old Mellah district. Mellah means salt in Arabic and was often the term applied to the Jewish quarters of North African cities, as Jews were often involved in the salt trade. Visit the harbor and watch the catch come in. Eat fresh sea food just caught. Lose yourself in the alleys and narrow streets and meet the gentle and confident population. Overnight at Riad Les Terrasses d'Essaouira or similar. [B]

DAY 3 :  CASABLANCA
Transfer from Essaouira to Casablanca by private car. Free PM. Overnight at Ramada Les Almohades Hotel or similar. [B]

DAY 4 :  FLY
Transfer to airport. Services end. [B]

Questions? Ask Our Program Directors.

. C o n t a c t Adrian Chalker 1(800)345-4453