From Tangier to Essaouira: Morocco’s Magical Atlantic Coast

Your guide for today knows the city like the back of their hand. This morning, they’ll lead you through Tangier’s maze of streets, showing you their favourite spots and tailoring the walk to what you’d most like to see and do. This is an opportunity to immerse yourself in history, in a place where artists and adventurers have long sought inspiration. From Barbara Hutton’s incredible palace to the Petit Socco, where the likes of Truman Capote and Elizabeth Taylor once lounged, your guide will reveal the secrets of the city to you one by one.

Tangier has seen novelists, artists and adventurers travel from far and wide to leave their mark and if you like, we can extend your tour so you can dive deeper into its artistic past and present. From the Villa de France to the places painted by Matisse, you’ll experience this city’s inescapable creativity through its unmissable cultural venues and artists’ studios.

Today you’ll pick up your rental car and drive on to the charming seaside town of Asilah, 45 minutes away. Surrounded by ramparts built by the Portuguese in the 15th century, Asilah is also close to beautiful sandy beaches; its medina and whitewashed houses sit at the edge of the Atlantic. As you wander its pretty streets, you might come across colourful murals painted by artists.

When you’ve spent some time walking the city walls and tucking into some fresh seafood, you’ll drive on to Moulay Bousselham. Your home for the night is a stylish guesthouse complete with a swimming pool, hammam and bar. Outside your door, the small town looks towards the Atlantic on one side and the Merja Zerga lagoon on the other, and owes its name to its patron saint. While travellers flock to this town’s endless beautiful beaches, it’s also perfect for wildlife enthusiasts who can spend time seeking out the many different species of birds that live here.

Your next stop is Rabat, about an hour and a half away. You’ll spend tonight in a charming Riad in the heart of the medina. When you’re not relaxing on the large terrace, lounging by the pool or taking a trip to the spa, there’s plenty to fill your time in this vibrant capital: visit King Mohammed V’s mausoleum; admire the Hassan Tower; browse the souqs in search of treasures and souvenirs; and stroll in the calm of the Jardins d’Essai botanical garden. This is your chance to get to know a city that’s often, but wrongly, overlooked in favour of Casablanca or Marrakech.

You’ll journey on towards Oualidia today, stopping at El Jadida on the way. This former Portuguese trading post was built in 1506, and its history is intrinsically linked to the sea. Here, you’ll find plenty of beaches and some charming architecture, including the minaret of the Great Mosque which once served as a lighthouse for ships. From here, it will then take around an hour and a half to reach Oualidia. You’ll spend two nights here in a house that immerses you in the world of great writers such as Hemingway, Marguerite Yourcenar and Jack London. Don’t miss a dip in the sublime swimming pool or a lazy few hours on a hammock as you listen to the sounds of the waves.

This charming fishing village is the perfect seaside destination. While you’re here, admire the sparkling crescent-shaped lagoon, chat to locals and Moroccan tourists or get out on the water to try surfing, fishing or sailing. Whenever you’re hungry, take a seat beside the ocean and enjoy some spectacular fresh seafood as you look out across the waves.

Your final stop is Essaouira, about two hours and 45 minutes away. When you arrive, you’ll drop off your rental car and begin to slow to the pace of this laid-back Moroccan city. Relax on the fine sand of the long beach, head out for some surfing, windsurfing or kitesurfing, and stop for some spectacular sardines on the pier. Known for its picturesque port and idyllic beach, this city also seduces with it bohemian spirit and the charming streets of its medina. You’ll spend two nights here in an elegant riad full of enticing patios, passageways and terraces.

For your final day in Morocco, we’ll arrange for you to take a walk through an argan forest. This species of tree is endemic to south-west Morocco and a true emblem of the Essaouira region. You’ll then visit an argan oil cooperative where you’ll see the meticulous work carried out by women to extract the precious oil. Finally, an Amazigh family will open their door to you so you can enjoy a cup of steaming mint tea in an authentic setting.