Located along the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, Essaouira is a beautiful city that, while only coming into existence as an official city in the 18^th century, has been occupied

at one time or another since prehistoric times.

 

Since then, the city has become a tourist magnet with several boutique hotels, a medina that is home to a vast array of shops that specialize in woodworking and cabinet making, and a bay that is world renowned for its strong trade wind and waveless waters that make it a premier destination for the world’s windsurfers.

The city is steeped in pop culture mythology, including a visit by legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix in the 1960s. Legend has it, Orson Wells, who often used Essaouira’s beauty in his movies, met Winston Churchill when both men were staying at the same hotel in the amazing little city. Cat Stevens also made a stop in the city, which like Hendrix, provided a deep influence on his music from that point on.

The city has a large number of patina-bronze cannons, which contrast with the white-washed buildings that dazzle the eye in front of the blue sky.

Where to go

When you are in Essaouira, it is all about the beach. Due to the strong wind and currents, it is absolutely perfect for windsurfing as we mentioned above. The best spots for this are Essaouira Bay, Sidi Kaouki, Cape Sim and Moulay Bouzertoune. Equipment for windsurfing can be found at the Windsurfing Club on the beach front.

One event to check out is the World Music Festival in June.

In Diabat, you can talk a walk down rock music history to the beach where Jimi Hendrix spent some spare time. Catering to this is an empty Berber village that houses the Hendrix ruin and Hendrix Café. The ruined fort along the beach is a must-see, and a walk on the beach can’t get more romantic when the sun is setting on the Atlantic Ocean.

In the medina, the craftsman are world renowned for their woodworking ability, creating intricately inlaid boxes, chessboard and other curios that can be found at good prices in literally hundreds of shops, which also have amazing artwork for sale.

Tours of Essaouira

Kite Surfing in Essaouira offers visitors the chance to experience some of the legendary kite and wind surfing that the bay outside of Essaouira has to offer. When visiting Essaouira, one day is simply not enough for kite surfing. With this tour you will receive lessons in kite surfing on the second day, along with three days of kite surfing. Guides for the kite surfing tour speak English and breakfast, international flights from London and transfers from Marrakech to Essaouira are included in the tour package.

The Gnaoua Festival Tour is a tour that should not be missed by anyone. While it occurs only once a year in June, the seven day adventure could prove to be the highlight of your stay in Morocco. The Essaouira Gnaoua and World Music Festival celebrates the mysterious music of the Gnaouas, and provides a mis of African magic, Islamic rituals, Gnaoua rhythms and other instruments that leave the audience wanting more. Festival performances are usually in the afternoons and evenings. The journey begins with your arrival in Marrakech, where you spend the day touring the markets, palaces and gardens of the city. The next day, you will depart to Essaouira, where you will stay for four days before returning to Marrakech. The price includes lodging at a hotel; government certified tour guides, an English speaking driver for an air-conditioned minivan, entrance fee for sightseeing, breakfast daily and one dinner, as well as a three percent Sahara Soul Travel credit upon your return that can be used by a friend or family.

Where to stay

If you are going to stay in Essaouira, then you might as well stay in a Riad, or hotel, that gives you an amazing view of the ocean. The hotel will allow you to take a trip back in time to the year 1896, when Ferdinand Sandillon built a windmill on the site of the hotel. Each room has a splendid view of the ocean and medina, along with wonderful salons, sunny terrace and everything else needed to make your stay at the hotel better. They offer 33 rooms with fireplaces and full bathrooms.

The Madada Mogador offers an interesting blend of Zen and orientalism that overlooks the Atlantic Ocean. Each room has a private bathroom, central heating, with walls of delicate beige to enhance the look of space. The hotel offers wireless internet, a full library with board games, massages and body care, as well as the organization of sporting activities among the guests.

The Villa Maroc offers a certain amount of 18^th century world charm as it nestled just inside the ramparts of Essaouira. The hotel offers an excellent restaurant that serves legendary ancestral family cooking, updated by the lady of the house, As well, the hotel offers a full Turkish steam bath, and along with everything else a visitor needs after a long day of discovering the amazing city of Essaouira.

The place to be

Essaouira is an amazing place to visit, which has inspired musicians as varied from Jimi Hendrix to Cat Stevens to The Rolling Stones.

If you want to windsurf, don’t pass up the opportunity here, but if you just want to relax, then there are plenty of hotels that can cater to your every whim.

Visit the large array of cannons along the walls of the city, or spend your day looking at the amazing work of the woodworkers and cabinet makers in the UNESCO World Heritage Site medina.

Come in June to see the World Music Festival, or wait until the off-season to see the city as it is, with less tourists.

No matter your reason for coming to the city, you will not be disappointed and you will take away, along with works of woodworking art, an experience that will stay with you for the rest of your life.