Hi,
My girlfriend's joining me in Casablanca for the last week or so of my trip to Morocco in early September. I was planning on travelling down the coast to Essaouria/Safi and then to Marrakech where we fly home from. I think it's unlikely we'll be able to fit in both Essaouria AND Safi due to the short time we'll have left so I was wondering what which of the two you guys and gals would recommend??
We're looking at spending time surfing, sightseeing, relaxing etc. Having spent the previous two weeks trekking and travelling I'm quite keen for this to be a chilled out kind of week for her and me. I've heard that Essaouria's not quite so good for surfing as Safi, but that it's a prettier place to visit.
Or does anyone have any other suggestions for a trip to do in a week around the coast (must start in Casa and end in Marrakech though!)
Cheers in advance for any help you might be able to throw my way. I'm off myself this weekend and am obscenely excited!!
Nick
There is a very big difference between Essaouira and Safi. I am nor a surfer, so I can't jugde the waves. Essaouira is a very beautiful city and also very touristic. A lot of different acco available. But I guess the surfers don't stay at Essaouira, they stay at Sidi Kaouki, a few kilometers outside the town. There are surf stations, you can rent material and find nice acco at all prices.
Safi is not touristic at all. The medina is small, but nice. The potery is something very special. ca. 2 km from the center is the beach Sidi Bouzid, there is a hotel and a camping, and there is a nice spot for surfing. They say it is something for beginners and and for professionals. But I don't know if you can rent material. Except this 2 accos there is only the possibilty to stay in the center, and I think it is not so nice to walk each day with the surf board. If you can pay it I would recomment the nice hotel at the beach.
But one thing is quite sure, you will not fall over many LP tourists.
I don't surf either but if you're more focused on wanting a nice place to visit then on the surfing, I would definitely go with Essaouira. It is definitely prettier, with a more open feel. Although there is a lot of pottery in Safi. (Mind you I'm a bit biased because we had an unpleasant incident with a pottery maker in Safi but I really wasn't that impressed with Safi even before this happened.) Essaouira is one of my favorite towns!
Safi has a very nice portugese castle that has been restored. It is pretty interesting last time my wife and I were the only people in the whole place. It is the last stop for the train and I do not think you will see other tourist there 1 day is enough for Safi. It is inexpensive has good fried fish and herrara after that you are pretty much done. Essaouria is a lot more touristy and bigger has more resturants,hotels,etc and more expensive
Taghazoute north of Agadir is a good place to surf. There's a great beach south of the town - much, much better than Essaouira - the town in very laid back and friendly, Hotel Taghazoute overlooks the bay and is really good for 100DH, lots of good cafes plus surf shops. The Essaouira/Agadir bus will drop you off, then there are plenty of local buses into Agadir to get the bus for Marrakech. If you take a grand taxi out to Inezgane bus station, there should be plenty of buses to Marrakech from there.
I don't rate Essaouira that much myself. It's got too touristy and the beach is crap.
Thanks for the tips so far everyone! Pretty much confirmed what I thought about the two already.
Nusnus - I'd looked quite seriously at Taghazoute - it would be my destination of choice I think - but was worried it's a little too far south to be convenient to get back to Marrakech. However, if the buses between Essaouria and Agadir are good then it would certainly seem like an excellent idea.
The trouble is, a week just isn't nearly long enough!!
You will be able to get a Casa/Agadir bus that will drop you off in Taghazoute. Getting from there to Marrakech is easy. The local buses from Taghazoute to Agadir are very frequent. (It's half an hour). Inezgane/Marrakech is 4 hours? Casa 1 night, Taghazoute 3, Marrakech 3.
But realize that Taghazoute has nothing but the surfing and beach, but what a wondrful beach. It's strictly a surfing village. Essaouira has many much more attractive areas to explore--markets, the fishing port area, restaurants, the beach. It's a place where you can walk everywhere, just poke around, watch the woodworkers at work, check out the little shops. It's on your route, and if you don't like it, then consider moving further south to Taghazoute. Give Safi a pass.
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