Itinerary:

Riad/hotel pickup at 9am and a two hour drive to Essaouira.

A day in Essaouira

Smaller and more laid back then Marrakech, Essaouira is definitely one of the most attractive of the Moroccan Atlantic coastal towns. So laid back is it that the likes of Jimi Hendrix and Bob Marley found it a perfect spot to unwind and absorb the mellow scene, making it a port of call, so to speak, of the hippy trail in the 1960s

One of the first places culture seekers should go is the Mogador Cultural Centre. Designed as a seagull flying over the town beach by Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer – described by the BBC as ‘one of the most innovative and daring architects of the last 60 years’, it’s home to regular musical and dramatic performances.

The narrow winding streets are filled with the sound of Gnaoua singing, women in white haiks weave their way through the alleys of the old medina, and palm trees cast their shadows across the walls of white-washed houses.

The best place to find examples of the city’s heritage is in the Medina. It is one of Morocco’s nine UNESCO World Heritage sites and if you step through one of the many gates in the old walls you’ll be transported back in time. Seek out the imposing kasbah with its nineteen bronze cannons, take in the ornate carvings on the doors and walls of every street, see the synagogues and church or visit the souk; it’s the best place for you to learn all about Essaouira’s heritage.

You can adventure a little further out and you’ll find wonderful walks, horse treks and quad biking.

Evening drop off back at the hotel/riad at around 5pm.