The Moroccan city of Marrakech has been mentioned for years as the best city of the moment for a city trip, so the bar is set quite high when you go there for the first time. Marrakech certainly lives up to those sky-high expectations. What an energy that city has and gives, a few days are really not enough here. And yet it is a pity to only stay in Marrakech when you travel to Morocco. There is so much more to see. The best way to see some of Morocco is a mini road trip, where you start in bustling Marrakech and then take the car to the beautiful port city of Essaouira on the coast!
Vibrant Marrakech
Upon arrival you immediately realize that you have entered another world. It is warm, the sun is shining and everywhere you look you see those terracotta-colored buildings, which are typical of Marrakech. It is the color of the city, the house style, all buildings should be given the same color. This city has you covered in just a few hours. Drink mint tea, eat tajine, stroll around Djemaa el Fna in the evening and you’ll be sold. It is a city where you could stay for at least a week without being bored for a second. I have already listed the 10 best things to do in Marrakech for you.
Off to Essaouira
If you want to see more of Morocco, Marrakech – Essaouira is the perfect combination. Two completely different cities: one vibrant and full of energy, the other serene and relaxed. And in between lies the calm Moroccan countryside. The roads don’t lend themselves to high speeds, but all the more time there is to let your eyes enjoy the view along the way.
It is more than 180 kilometers from Marrakech to Essaouira, and even though Google Maps indicates that you can drive that within three hours, allow at least four hours. And maybe even longer if you want to stop in a small village along the way for a cup of mint tea. Along the way you will also come across several plantations where care products based on argan oil are produced and sold. Argan oil is also called the liquid Moroccan gold, it is a miracle cure for skin, hair and nails. Argan oil is scarce and the manual harvesting and production is an intensive process, making it quite a costly product. Hence the nickname. Nice to take a look!
Essaouira
As soon as you enter Essaouira you realize that this place is the opposite of Marrakech. Perhaps it is the sea and the wind that make Essaouria so calm, or it is the white house style of the city. Life seems a little less rushed here and yet this is really Morocco. So the two are a perfect combination.
Essaouira once had a different name: Mogador. There was a lot of fighting here and in the end it was the French who gave the town its current name. In any case, the history goes back to the Middle Ages and fortunately a lot from that time has been preserved. Partly because UNESCO placed the medina, the old center, on the World Heritage List, a lot of tourists want to visit Essaouira. And that is absolutely right, it is a picture to see.
Before the Port of Casablanca was built, the Port of Essaouria was an important international trading center. That has changed, of course, but the port is still the city’s main source of income, in addition to tourism. It is mainly sardines where money is made with this. And so the best thing to eat in Essaouira is fresh sardines! Buy them at the market, have them grilled fresh for you on the barbecue with just a little salt and enjoy!
Gnaoua Festival
If you are planning to make this mini road trip from Marrakech to Essaouira, choose the month of May. Then you have an extra reason to visit Essaouira: the Gnaoua (or Gnawa) Festival takes place here. It is a festival for Gnaoua and world music. Although you may not have heard of it – and with you even a lot of Moroccans – it is a hugely popular festival internationally, attracting thousands of visitors every year.
The first edition of this festival took place in 1998, with the aim of bringing people together through Gnaoua music to celebrate the famous motto of the French: freedom, equality, brotherhood. The festival put Essaouira on the map forever: every year music lovers from all over the world come to this place on the Moroccan coast to experience the Gnaoua Festival. In various places in the city you will find stages where artists from all over the world take you with their dance and song. You hear music you’ve never heard before, see people dancing in a way you’ve never seen before and see people enjoying themselves. Because that is fortunately universal: music makes people happy and brings body and mind back into balance. And even though these mostly African sounds are new to you, it’s quite impressive to experience. The Gnaoua Festival is also free: you don’t need any tickets.
© Zakaria Latouri
© Zakaria Latouri
