What To Do in Essaouira
COOPÉRATIVE FÉMININE MARJANA
(00 212 664 69 87 82) Buy culinary or cosmetic argan where Moroccan women make it, just 15 minutes by car from Essaouira.
LES DOMAINES DU VAL D'ARGAN
(00 212 524 78 34 67; www.valdargan.com) Enjoy a meal in the bodega or buy a bottle to take away (from €5) at southern Morocco's only vineyard, a half-hour drive from Essaouira.
MUSÉE SIDI MOHAMED BEN ABDALLAH
(00 212 524 475300) A former pasha's palace, filled with Roman ruins, Jewish artefacts, Moroccan costumes and musical instruments.
FESTIVALS
Essaouira also plays host to a number of festivals, the best-attended of which is the Gnawa and World Music Festival (www.festival-gnaoua.net) in June.
HAMMAM MOUNIA
Rue Oum Rabii (00 212 24 78 42 47) is the most accessible public hammam for foreigners, offering a combined modelage (soapy scrub), massage and ghassoul (clay, seaweed or argan paste wrap).
LAND ACTIVITIES
If you'd prefer to stay on land, Cap Sim Trekking (00 212 62 20 18 98; www.capessaouira.com) can arrange outings for hours or days on foot, quad-bike, camel or horse.
L'HEURE BLEUE PALAIS
The spa here (see Where to sleep) is the best in the medina. But if you want the full treatment, head for the hammam and thalassotherapy centre at Sofitel Thalassa Mogador (see Where to sleep), which is open to non-guests.
SURFING
Océan Vagabond, plage d'Essaouira (00 212 524 78 39 34; www.oceanvagabond.com). This is one of the better surfer hang-outs, with a beachfront café. You can rent surfing, windsurfing and bodyboard equipment and be taught how to use them.
TAKE A WALK ON THE BEACH
If you want to do something more energetic, take a stroll. This is particularly recommended in the late afternoon, when the town's youth are out playing football.
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