- Round trip as described, in the comfortable SUV 4x4, or minibus
Our excursion heads west towards the Atlantic Ocean and the enchanting little port town of Essaouira. On the way we cross the valley with the Argan forests. From the nuts of the Argan tree, the famous Argan oil is extracted in a long-lasting procedure. Today, Argan trees only grow to about 820,000 hectares in southwestern Morocco – an Area that was declared a biosphere reserve by UNESCO in 1998 along with other land. The centuries-old knowledge and practices of using the tree and its fruit were recognized in November 2014 as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
We visit an Argan oil women cooperative and during a guided tour you will receive a descriptive explanation of Argan oil production. Then we arrive in Essaouira. Attractions include the fishing port and the fish market, where every day small fishermen offer their fresh catch for sale and you can see the abundance of fish and the biodiversity of the area. The old fortifications, the city walls and above all the impressive, Andalusian influenced Medina are worth a visit. Strolling through the narrow streets with the picturesque white houses, the blue-painted windows and doors and many small details catch your eye. Since 2001, the Medina of Essaouira is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After lunch in a beautiful restaurant, you can go for a walk on the beach, swim in the Atlantic, or you can, for example, take a quad tour in the small sand dunes. Return to your Riad in Marrakech, towards evening.
