ESSAOUIRA MOROCCO | THE ALTERNATIVE MOROCCAN DESTINATION

15 May ESSAOUIRA MOROCCO | THE ALTERNATIVE MOROCCAN DESTINATION

Posted at 11:35h in City Trips, Off the Beaten Track by Wander-lust 1 Comment

Get away from the hustle and bustle of Marrakech and find yourself in the most magnificent hotel in the argan-tree hills of Essaouira.

Even though it’s “only 3 hours” drive away, with a 60/80 kph allowance and flat landscapes, the road to Essaouira can be experienced as quite long and boring. Although this may be true, wait until you get there! Located on the Atlantic coast of Morocco, we want to tell you about this special region and a magnificent hotel by the name of Jardin des Douars.

Jardin des Douars

We stayed in the most amazing hotel secluded from the city. An otherworldly escape with brilliant terra-cotta buildings with rough lush greenery, with more than 100 various types of plants and trees. There are two amazing infinitely pools with pool bars where you can order drinks and finger food during the day. Even more, you can have dinner on the amazing terrace outside where they serve Moroccan dishes with French influences. At winter time when it gets cold in the evening you can have dinner inside right at the fireplace in their very cozy spaces.

Each morning a beautiful peacock welcomes you around the property

The stunning Jardin des Douars terrace, in Essaouira

Total relaxation

Very special for this region is the Argan oil. The Berber women use Argan oil for culinary and cosmetic purposes. At Le Jardin des Douars they use it in the treatments in their spa. Likewise, the rooms in the hotel are just perfect! With the most comfortable king-size beds, white soft linen, and a private outside terrace with a stunning pool view. All rooms have private sun beds, a bathroom with separate shower and bath with a mini hammam kit. Nothing makes a room feel cozier than a fireplace. Our room had two! Don’t forget to treat yourself to discover the night skies which are some of the clearest in the world up here. Would you like to explore this amazing hotel yourself, book here.

Essaouira

Only 15 min away from the hotel you reach Essaouira, a great alternative to Marrakech. The pearl of the Atlantic Ocean is very famous for its windsurfing, surfing and Kitesurfing thanks to the strong winds. It is a Mediterranean style fishing port.

Women walking in Essaouira

There was a time when Essaouira was a popular destination for Orson Welles, Jimi Hendrix and Cat Stevens. Locals tell you with proud that Jimi has spent part of his time at a beachside hotel next to Essaouira’s old medina. Take a stroll in the city and visit the bustling medina where you can buy lots of local treasures, like colourful blankets and rugs. Would you like to have some fun in the sand dunes and small desert, ride a camel, quad bike or horse.

Horse riding in Essaouira

Squad ride in Essaouira

Essaouira is easy accessible from Marrakech, Casablanca and Agadir

Eat & Drink in Essaouira

First of all, Medina isn’t as difficult to navigate as Marrakech for example. It’s less busy, less streets, so it’s easier to find your way around. Similarly, is the amazing cuisine you’ll find here. Maybe some places are less “trendy” than you’ll find in Marrakech, but you will find some amazing local spots. Places like Tara Cafe, Taros and Triskala Cafe, Ocean Vagebond, La Table de Madada are favourites.

Lively cafe & bar Taros

Delicious fish platter at La Table de Madada

How to get from Marrakech to Essaouira

Although it takes a little longer, it’s quite easy to get around by bus that departs to and from Marrakech. It takes around 3 hours including a 20 minute stop. Check the bus times and fares. Additionally, you can also rent a car and drive around the region yourself. This gives you the freedom to explore and enjoy the magical landscapes and stop wherever you want. It’s also a bit faster, plus you can listen to the Moroccan radio, which adds to the experience of a road trip.

In short, there’s just something so special about visiting Morocco. It’s unlike so many places you can visit which offer so much diversity. If you are in the neighbourhood, go visit Essaouira and explore it yourself.

Love,

Sarah