Essaouira

Essaouira is a fortified port city on Morocco's Atlantic coast, roughly 185 km west of Marrakech. Its medina and ramparts are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the city has long attracted artists, musicians, and travellers seeking an alternative to the intense heat and energy of Marrakech. The blue-and-white medina, bustling fishing harbour, and wide sandy beach backed by constant Atlantic winds create an atmosphere found nowhere else in Morocco.

The city has a rich cultural heritage shaped by Berber, Arab, Sub-Saharan African, and European influences. This mix gave birth to Gnaoua music, a hypnotic spiritual tradition celebrated every year at the world-famous Gnaoua World Music Festival held in June. The beach stretches for miles south of the ramparts and is one of the best windsurfing and kitesurfing spots in Africa, attracting professionals from around the world.

The most comfortable and direct way to travel between Marrakech and Essaouira is by private transfer with KechGo. The journey takes approximately 2 hours 30 minutes on the A7 motorway, passing through argan tree forests where you can sometimes spot goats perched in the branches — a classic Moroccan roadside sight.