Why This Trip?
I’ve lost count of the group chats I’ve watched die slow deaths. Someone drops a Marrakech photo, everyone writes “OMG yes,” and then nothing. Five days in Morocco fixes that. You land in Marrakech, let the chaos slap you awake, then trade the drum circles of Jemaa el-Fnaa for Essaouira’s salt-tinged breeze. Two bases. One easy transfer. Zero rushing. I first did this route with two friends who hadn’t travelled together in years, and by day three we were arguing over who got the last bit of bread to mop up a tagine — the good kind of argument. You’ll drink mint tea on rooftops, haggle terribly and laugh about it, and come home with a camera roll that’s 40% blue fishing boats.
About Essaouira
Essaouira sits about 190 km west of Marrakech on the Atlantic, and the first thing you notice is the wind — a steady, insistent thing that bends the palms and keeps the air cool even in August. The walled medina is UNESCO-listed, and once you’re inside the ramparts you’re walking through layers: Phoenician trading post, Roman outpost, Portuguese fortress. The Portuguese built the Castelo Real in the early 1500s. Then in the 1760s Sultan Mohammed III brought in the French architect Théodore Cornut to design a proper fortified port, and the city became Mogador, a major link in trans-Saharan and Atlantic trade. Those ramparts — the Skala de la Ville and Skala du Port — still face the ocean, lined with Portuguese bronze cannons that local kids climb when no one’s watching. The medina blends Amazigh, Arab, Jewish, and European threads; the old Jewish quarter, the Mellah, is a quiet reminder of a community that once thrived here. And the wind that defines the place? It’s why kitesurfers from all over the world descend on this coast. If you’re here in late June, the Gnaoua World Music Festival fills the squares with spiritual rhythms that you’ll feel in your chest before you hear them. Stand near the port at dusk: blue-and-white boats knocking against each other, sardines hitting the grill, gulls screaming overhead. That’s Essaouira in one breath.
Your 5 days Itinerary
Day 1 — Marrakech arrival and medina orientation. Land, drop bags at your riad, and take a gentle late-afternoon walk through Jemaa el-Fnaa as it shifts from daytime market to evening food stalls. The smell of cumin and charred meat hits you before you see the smoke. Dinner on a rooftop overlooking the square — order the tanjia if it’s on the menu — then an early night.
Day 2 — Marrakech highlights. Morning at Jardin Majorelle and the Yves Saint Laurent Museum, booked in advance. Afternoon in the Bahia Palace and the Saadian Tombs, then a hammam and scrub at a local spa before dinner in Gueliz. The hammam will leave you feeling like a new person — or at least a slightly pinker one.
Day 3 — Marrakech to Essaouira. Morning drive (about 2.5 hours) or Supratours bus from Marrakech station. Afternoon walk the Skala de la Ville ramparts and the fishing port, then watch sunset from the beach with a fresh
sardine grill nearby. I still think about the sardines I ate there — grilled on a makeshift grate, squeezed with lemon, eaten with my fingers while the sun melted into the Atlantic.
Day 4 — Essaouira slow day. Morning wander the medina’s craft workshops — thuya wood, marquetry, silver. Afternoon optional camel ride or kite-surf lesson on the beach, or simply read on a rooftop. Evening at a Gnaoua music spot if you are lucky with timing.
Day 5 — Last swim and return. Early beach walk and breakfast, final shopping in the souk, then transfer back to Marrakech airport or city for departure. If your flight is late, leave bags at the riad and squeeze in one last mint tea.
Where to Stay
Prices vary by season; high season (March–May, September–November) and holidays push rates up. Book riads directly or through MoroccanChapter for the best availability.
| Option | Area | Vibe | Price per night (MAD & EUR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional riad | Marrakech medina | Courtyard, rooftop, intimate | from 600–1,200 MAD (~EUR 55–110) |
| Design hotel | Gueliz, Marrakech | Modern, pool, quieter streets | from 900–1,800 MAD (~EUR 80–165) |
| Riad or guesthouse | Essaouira medina | Coastal, windy terraces, artistic | from 500–1,000 MAD (~EUR 45–90) |
| Beachfront hotel | Essaouira beach | Sea views, spa, easy parking | from 800–1,600 MAD (~EUR 75–145) |
Getting There & Around
Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK) is the main gateway, with direct flights from many European cities. Essaouira has its own small airport (ESU) with limited routes, so most travellers arrive via Marrakech and transfer by road.
| Route | Best option | Duration | Approx cost (MAD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casablanca to Marrakech | Train (ONCF) | 2.5–3 hours | 90–150 |
| Marrakech to Essaouira | Bus (Supratours/CTM) | 2.5–3 hours | 80–100 |
| Marrakech to Essaouira | Private transfer or grand taxi | 2.5 hours | 600–900 per vehicle |
| Within Marrakech | Petit taxi | 10–20 min | 20–50 |
Budget Estimate
Here’s the honest version: Morocco can be cheap or it can be not-cheap, and the difference is mostly about how much you care about pools and wine lists. The figures below are per person and assume shared accommodation, mid-range choices, and two people travelling together. Solo travellers pay more for rooms; couples per person means two sharing. My advice? Splurge on the riad — it’s where you’ll spend your best hours — and save on lunches, which are often best from a street stall anyway.
| Item | Solo (MAD / EUR) | Couple per person (MAD / EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | 2,000–3,500 MAD (~EUR 180–320) | 1,200–2,200 MAD (~EUR 110–200) |
| Food & drink | 1,000–1,800 MAD (~EUR 90–165) | 800–1,500 MAD (~EUR 75–140) |
| Getting around | 700–1,200 MAD (~EUR 65–110) | 400–800 MAD (~EUR 35–75) |
| Activities & tours | 800–1,500 MAD (~EUR 75–140) | 700–1,300 MAD (~EUR 65–120) |
| Total | 4,500–8,000 MAD (~EUR 410–735) | 3,100–5,800 MAD (~EUR 285–530) |
Book Your Stay on MoroccanChapter
Ready to turn the group chat into boarding passes? MoroccanChapter curates riads, guesthouses, and boutique stays in Marrakech and Essaouira that suit groups of friends — from courtyard hideaways to sea-view terraces. You can compare real options, check availability, and book with local support in one place. Visit moroccanchapter.com to build your girls trip Morocco 5 days exactly as you imagined: two cities, one rhythm, and no wasted hours. Your only job is to pick the dates and pack light.