Essaouira Trips & Tours

With a welcome as warm as its climate and an atmosphere as relaxed as the djellaba’d men sipping mint tea in shady courtyards, Essaouira is a bohemian haven of culture and character. Yes, it’s got all the elements that make up an iconic Moroccan city: the medina, walled and beautiful and jam-packed with donkeys and exquisite marquetry; the spice-scented alleyways, winding to nowhere and everywhere; and the craft stalls and cafes that provide the ultimate backdrop to daily life. But then there’s the beach, a sweeping, 10-kilometre swathe of sand that ends at the bobbing blue boats of the 18th-century harbour and provides the backdrop to much of Essaouira’s charm. Spend the day watching the windsurfers take on the waves and peek at the fisherman bringing in their wares – and then eat your fill at any one of the superb restaurants overlooking the water. Bliss.