5. Add a Trip to Essaouira to Your Holiday
Essaouira, 173 kilometers north of Agadir, is one of Morocco’s most popular seaside towns, and its preserved 18th-century seafront fortifications have been stamped with a UNESCO World Heritage Site listing.
Inside the medina, it’s all about aimless strolling while admiring the preserved architecture and browsing the many small art galleries and souq streets selling local handicrafts.
The medina’s western wall looms up over the crashing waves of the Atlantic. For the best photos of the ramparts, head to the Skala du Port. This tower sits on the southern edge of the western wall, overlooking Essaouira’s fishing harbor.
You come to Essaouira for the atmosphere more than for individual tourist sites, but the Museum of Sidi Mohamed ben Abdullah within the medina is an attraction that is definitely worth checking out.
Located in the former residence of a pasha, the museum houses regional art, a fascinating ethnographic collection, and a history of the local musical traditions.
6. Day Trip to Paradise Valley
This pretty gorge, about 60 kilometers north of Agadir, is a great destination to sample a taste of Moroccan rural life.
Day hikes here along marked hiking trails pass by orchards of almond trees and olive trees and small villages along the way, all backed by views of the western edge of the Atlas Mountain peaks rising up in the distance.
Locals come here on weekends to picnic, so for a quieter experience head to the valley during the weekdays.
It’s also a great place to pick up local produce. Plenty of small stalls in villages along the way sell local honey and argan oil.
