Morocco, EssaouiraNovember 8, 2019, by flowererman

On the Moroccan tour: road trip through Morocco

Lists
Morocco, Essaouira, November 8, 2019, by flowererman

On the Moroccan tour: road trip through Morocco

Anyone who follows Barts Boekje, even sporadically, will know that Team Barts Boekje is a big fan Marrakech. But besides Marrakech, Morocco has so much more to offer and a road trip through the country is highly recommended. High time to develop one of those. The road trip below is not a bizarre undertaking at all and you can also choose to have a driver drive you around: that won't break the bank. What are you paying attention to? Let's go.

We start the trip at Marrakech airport. You land, you pick up your bags and get in the car, with or without a driver, and you're on your way. The journey leads you to Essaouira. Essaouira is just under a 3-hour drive from the airport and you can see Essaouira as a 'Marrakech-light'. 

The Moroccan beach city has a beautiful and picturesque center where you can shop extensively (the souk is significantly quieter than the souk of Marrakech, which is often experienced as intense). The city is considerably smaller and as a result there are fewer tourists, so the chance of negotiating well, scoring the nicest things and lugging a very heavy suitcase home is also quite high.

If you are in Essaouira and you only have time for one restaurant visit (we wouldn't know why, but suppose) choose Adwak. We haven't had such a good meal in a long time. Adwak feels like you have ended up in a Moroccan living room. Small and cozy. There is only room for (did we count correctly?) 12 guests and there is always a line of hungry people at the door. And rightly so. The cuisine is, surprise: Moroccan with plenty of tagines and couscous dishes on the menu. Tip: choose a tagine and couscous with the same main ingredient. We went for chicken. This way you can combine the two. Really. At. Tasty. A three-course meal will cost you about 10 euros, there is no wine so just buy a bottle of water from a good year, and you will have a great evening. Don't skip it!

More good food in Essaouira? Voila: 5 x the tastiest food in Essaouira

You also sleep Les Jardins de Villa Maroc. The distance Essaouira – Villa Maroc is approximately the distance Haarlem – Zandvoort. So it's a short distance and here too a driver is ready to shuttle you back and forth at any time of the day. The resort that is Les Jardins de Villa Maroc covers quite a bit of land and offers a modest four rooms: from patio to suite. There is a place for every type of company. From couple to family. As a romantic couple, you will not be bothered by a family with a crying baby (or a laughing one like our very own Vito, which we would love to see) because you can settle in several places throughout the site. As mentioned, there are two spacious swimming pools, of course with accompanying oh-so-relaxing sunbeds including feather-soft cushions and fluffy towels. Luxury. Here you can read our full report on Villa Maroc 

If you really want to take some rest, you can of course stay in as long as possible Essaouira. To recover a bit and discover Essaouira, we recommend 3 days with the following format: day number one discovering Essaouira, day number two a tasty tan day at the pool/beach and day three to discover/relive some things. 

After Essouira it is time to travel again. On to the Atlas Mountains. A journey that takes you about 3,5 minutes by car. The Atlas Mountains is highly recommended because of the beautiful nature for a walk (or hike as hip people call it), the off the beaten track restaurants and shops and the very nice people who live here. Enough reasons to travel to this part of Morocco. Go on a voyage of discovery or book a day trip at your hotel.

Kasbah Bab Ourika

Kasbah Bab Ourika

You then add accommodations Kasbah Bab Ourika. That is not a choice, it is a must and we take every opportunity to praise Kasbah Bab Ourika because Kasbah Bab Ourika is and remains the most dazzling hotel we, or at least I, Bloeme, have ever been to. I can't emphasize it enough: this is where you have to go! Immediately upon arrival there are a lot of oohs and aahs. So beautiful. That environment! The mountains! The view! The hotel! The feeling of a 'discovery spot'. Being 'a bit alone in the world', but not because the people of Kasbah Bab Ourika are already waiting for you to take your bags, pour you a drink and, if you want, give you to guide them on a discovery tour of their place. The large whole seems to have been dipped in a sunny, terracotta-colored pot of paint, with the exception of the radiant green trees. Although the hotel is dead quiet on the one hand, the rush of the wild river in the valley is immediately noticeable. And no, dear city people, that is not the sound of a highway... (which we also thought for a split second).

Then the hotel. Splendor and splendor. There are only 26 rooms and they are all equally beautiful. Understated luxury and fully equipped. We slept in the 'deluxe room', just not the cheapest of the bunch, and there is nothing wrong with that, to say the least: an incredibly spacious room, fantastic beds, a large bath and a separate rain shower, a small balcony and a fireplace . If you upgrade yourself a bit, you can have your own private swimming pool. We could go on about this for hours and hours and we have. Read more about the dream hotel.

At Kasbah Bab Ourika we slept for two nights and stayed for three days. We continued with pain in our hearts en route.

There are of course many options to travel further and Morocco has so many beautiful things to offer, but in this road trip we will mention two more stops before the return and final stop is made in Marrakech.

The better unplugging can be done with one or two nights in the beautiful Stone Desert glamping of Scarabeo camp. You drive from the Atlas Mountains into the Agafay's Stone Desert for about 1,5 hours until a white tent camp appears out of nowhere. A film set: so chic and timeless that you expect to see a young Ingrid Bergman dressed in white at any moment. Serene Scandinavian class in the mix with the traditional Morocco of the traveling Berbers and the ancient Africa of David Livingstone. Neutral colors and Beni Ouarain rugs, Moroccan accessories and vintage finds such as atlases, globes, binoculars and travel-sized board games. Book with us and settle down in one of the many comfortable seating areas, with the tent canvas flapping in the background. Until it's time to make your way through a candlelit path to the fairytale restaurant tent. You can stay at the Stone Desert Camp of Camp Scarabeo from mid-September to mid-June, after which it becomes too hot.

The Beldi Country Club

The Beldi Country Club

To offer a little transition from the tranquility of tranquil Essaouira, the intoxicating splendor of the Atlas Mountains and the total unplugging at scarab we recommend that you first book one or two nights with The Beldi Country Club. The Beldi Country Club just outside Marrakech IS a wedding. IS a party. IS everything. Every corner is beautiful, the staff treats you like royalty and the twenty-minute drive from the medina, which will cost you about ten euros in a taxi, is no problem at all. Book a night or 2 there and you will never want anything else. Or at least go there for an extensive lunch, relax by the pool and end the day with a shamelessly lengthy spa visit.

Do you want to know everything, absolutely everything, about where to go in Morocco? We got it

And then last but not least: Marrakech. As mentioned, Team Bart is complete op Morocco and we regularly visit Marrakech. The best time to travel to Marrakech? NOW! (or you should read this article sometime in the summer months, July or August, then we wouldn't do it but move on: GO!) Especially in spring and autumn. May and November, for example, are when the Moroccan city is at its best.

The riads of Marrakech make us foam at the mouth with enthusiasm every time. Our last one on the wish list is Riad Kitula but be sure to check out our list hotels in Marrakech and riads: riad top 7 Marrakech and also forget Riad Kasbah not.

We know, we have a lot on offer and that is why you might find yourself suddenly staying there for two weeks instead of a few days in Marrakech. Where are you going to eat then? Here: Where to eat in Marrakech? Check the food guide! 


Love, Bloeme

More tips