Charming Essaouira is a wonderful destination for a day trip from Marrakech. Located 200km west of the city on the Atlantic coast, it is approximately 2.5 hours away by car, along an easy road with beautiful scenery.

Essaouira is far more than a simple fishing port. It’s a delightful seaside town with a bustling harbour, a long sandy beach and a white-and-blue walled Medina full of vibrant artisan shops and hassle-free souks. Prices are lower than in Marrakech, and the pace is more relaxed, making it a good place to barter for pretty ceramics and handwoven throws.

The windy climate of the Atlantic coast means Essaouira is popular spot for windsurfing and kitesurfing. We also love watching the surfers at Cape Slim, 2km further south. You can try these sports yourself or go quad biking in the sand dunes (extra cost).

Suggested itinerary

• – Departure from Marrakech at 9am, after breakfast.
• – Arrival in Essaouira at 11.30am or a little later if you’d like to stop and visit the Argan oil farms on the way.
• – Watch the fishing boats unload their nets before lunching in the port adjacent to the Medina. There are numerous stalls grilling fresh seafood: choose which fish you’d like, watch them prepare it, then eat on the go. Fantastic value for money.
• – If you’d prefer to lunch in a restaurant, we’d recommend Chalet de la Plage, facing the beach with the ramparts in the background. It is a bit more expensive but well worth it; we will happily book this for you before you depart from Marrakech, as it’s a popular venue (https://www.lechaletdelaplage.com; Blvd Mohammed V).

• – After lunch, you can visit the Medina and souks. There are some great little shops, including Mashi Mushki, a small contemporary gallery featuring local artists (91 Rue Chbanat) and Galerie Jama, which sells fabulous vintage rugs and kilims (galeriejama.com; 22, Rue Ibnou Rochd).
• – Later, walk on the beach or have a drink in one of the seafront cafes.
• – You should be back at L’Orangeraie around 7:30pm for dinner.