Mohamed AchhibatNational Kitesurf Champion · IKO InstructorEssaouira is small: a white-and-blue medina, ramparts sitting straight on the Atlantic, a working fishing port and a sandy bay several kilometres long. You can walk the whole thing in a day — and most travellers end up staying longer than planned. Here's what there is to do, from a school that's based here year-round.
Wander the UNESCO-listed medina
Essaouira's medina is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Unlike Marrakech or Fès, it was laid out on a grid: the streets are straight and wide, and you never stay lost for long. It's the easiest and most pleasant walk in town.
You'll find thuya wood marquetry workshops — a local speciality going back generations — argan oil cooperatives, and no shortage of small squares to sit in. Allow half a day to see it without rushing, more if you stop for lunch.
The port, the ramparts and the Skala
The fishing port and its blue wooden boats are the image everyone takes home from Essaouira. In the morning you can watch the boats come in; in late afternoon, the light on the ramparts is the best of the day.
The Skala de la Ville, the old artillery platform overlooking the ocean, takes fifteen minutes to walk and gives the best view over the bay — the one that explains, better than any description, why the wind never stops here.
Take a surf lesson
Essaouira bay is a gentle sandy-bottom beach break with consistent whitewater — an ideal place to learn. Surfing works year-round, with the best waves from October to March when the Atlantic swell comes in.
A surf lesson in Essaouira starts at €25 for 2 hours in a group, board and wetsuit included. Children can start from age 5 on foam boards — that's what our kids lessons are built around.
Learn to kitesurf where the wind never stops
Essaouira is nicknamed the Windy City, and that isn't marketing: the trade winds blow between 15 and 25 knots from March to October, almost every day. That's what makes it one of the best places to learn in Morocco.
Our lessons run mainly at Diabat, the second beach, eight minutes south of the medina: clean wind, shallow water, plenty of space. A kitesurf lesson starts at €65 for 2 hours with all equipment included. Most beginners get their first waterstart within 6 to 10 hours of lessons.
Go sandboarding in the Ouassane dunes
This is the activity nobody expects in Essaouira. About 25 minutes south by road, right next to Sidi Kaouki, the Ouassane dunes offer long sand slopes you ride standing up, exactly like surfing.
Sandboarding costs €25 per person (minimum 2 people), including board, wax, guide and mint tea. Two departures: morning or sunset, when the light is at its best. No experience needed, and children can ride with their parents at any age.
Escape to Sidi Kaouki
Twenty kilometres south, Sidi Kaouki is a seaside village with a huge beach, a handful of cafés and far fewer people than Essaouira. The waves are more powerful, and it makes an excellent second spot when Essaouira bay is too flat or too windy.
We run day surf trips there from €55 per person, transport included.
Imsouane, the longest wave in Morocco
An hour and a half south, Imsouane is a fishing village that became famous for its wave: on the Cathedral, rides regularly run past 300 metres. It's a experience in its own right, even for a guided beginner.
The Imsouane surf trip is €90 per person (€80 each for 3 or more), including transport and the day on site.
What to do in Essaouira when there's no wind
This is the question we get most often out of season. Short answer: plenty.
- Surfing depends on swell, not wind — a windless day is often a very good surf day.
- Sandboarding works without wind by definition: it's our favourite plan B.
- The medina, port and ramparts can be visited in any weather.
- The cafés on Place Moulay Hassan exist for exactly this.
Quick recap: what, when, from how much
| Activity | When | From |
|---|---|---|
| Medina, port, ramparts | Year-round | Free |
| Surf lesson | Year-round (best Oct–Mar) | €25 / 2h |
| Kitesurf lesson | March to October | €65 / 2h |
| Sandboarding (Ouassane) | Year-round, even with no wind | €25 / person |
| Sidi Kaouki surf trip | Year-round | €55 / person |
| Imsouane surf trip | Year-round | €90 / person |
How many days do you need?
Two days covers the town: medina, port, ramparts and one session of surfing or sandboarding. Three to four days lets you add Sidi Kaouki or Imsouane without rushing. A week is the right format if you actually want to learn to kitesurf or surf — that's the point at which real progress happens.
Where to stay
We work with Riad Baladin in the medina, rated 4.7 on Tripadvisor, and offer Villa Amwaj with a private pool for groups and families. Both can be combined with lessons as a kitesurf holiday.
Booking
The easiest way is WhatsApp on +212 762-466351: we answer in English, French and Arabic, and we'll tell you honestly which activity suits the day's forecast best.