Loading...
Loading...
Essaouira, Morocco
Essaouira is one of Morocco's best walking tour destinations thanks to its compact, grid-like medina — unusually ordered for a Moroccan old town because it was designed in the 18th century by a French architect for the Moroccan sultan. An Essaouira walking tour begins naturally at the Skala de la Ville, the sea-facing ramparts lined with bronze cannons where you can watch Atlantic waves crash below. Inside the crenellated walls, the streets are lined with thuya woodworking shops, art galleries, and seafood grills. The harbor is still a working fishing port where brightly painted blue boats bob alongside the fortifications and fishermen mend nets on the quay. Walking south along the beach stretches for miles toward the ruins of the Borj el Berod watchtower, half-buried in sand. The town's famous trade winds make it a kitesurfing capital, and the relaxed bohemian atmosphere that attracted Jimi Hendrix in the 1960s still draws artists, musicians, and travelers seeking a slower pace of Moroccan life.
explore by interest
The alizee trade winds can be fierce, especially from June through August — bring a light jacket and be prepared for blowing sand on the beach walk. Mornings are typically calmer.
September through November offers warm weather with calmer winds, ideal for an Essaouira walking tour. The Gnaoua World Music Festival in late June is worth braving the gusts.