Essaouira or Marrakech: which suits your yoga retreat?
By Charlotte Schoeters · · 6 min read
The sea or the mountains, a relaxed medina or bustling souks. How the two cities where we host our retreats differ, and how to choose.
We host our retreats in two places in Morocco, and guests often ask which one they should pick. Both are beautiful, but they feel very different. Here is how they compare.
The short answer
Choose Essaouira if you want the sea, a calm medina and a slow pace, with surfing and beach walks on the side. Choose Marrakech if you want more warmth and bustle, the souks and the Atlas mountains within reach. In Essaouira you stay in our six-bedroom riad, in Marrakech in our five-bedroom villa.
Essaouira: the sea, the wind and a relaxed medina
Essaouira is a small walled town on the Atlantic coast. Its old medina is on the UNESCO World Heritage list, but it feels lived-in rather than touristy: blue fishing boats in the harbour, artisans in the alleys, and you can walk from one end to the other in twenty minutes.
The town is known for its wind. That keeps the temperature pleasant, even in summer, and makes it one of the best places in Morocco to learn to surf or kitesurf. Essaouira is also known as one of the most relaxed towns in the country, which is why it is a good first trip to Morocco, also if you travel alone.
Our riad in Essaouira
Our riad sits on the edge of Essaouira, 10 minutes from the beach and 15 minutes from the airport. It has six bedrooms, each with its own bathroom, room for up to 12 guests, an open courtyard with a fountain and an infinity pool looking out over the Atlas foothills.
Marrakech: palm gardens, souks and the Atlas
Marrakech is bigger, louder and warmer. The souks, the square Jemaa el-Fna and the gardens make it one of the most striking cities in North Africa. It is also the gateway to the Atlas mountains, perfect for a day hike.
The city can be intense on a first visit. That is why our villa is not in the medina but in a quiet garden outside the centre: you visit the bustle when you feel like it and come back to calm.
Our villa in Marrakech
Our villa is 30 minutes from Marrakech airport. It has five bedrooms, each with its own bathroom, room for up to 10 guests, a large garden of palms and olive trees, a big pool and a private chef who cooks three meals a day.
Side by side
- Atmosphere: Essaouira is calm and laid-back, Marrakech is lively and intense
- Nature: Essaouira has the ocean and the beach, Marrakech the palm groves and the Atlas mountains
- Climate: Essaouira stays mild all year thanks to the sea breeze; Marrakech is warmer and often above 35 °C in summer
- Activities: surfing, beach walks and the medina in Essaouira; the souks, gardens and an Atlas hike in Marrakech
- Getting there: direct flights to both, with more connections to Marrakech
So which one suits you?
Want to slow down, breathe sea air and spend your afternoons on the beach or in the medina? Essaouira. Want a bit more comfort and warmth, a private chef and the mountains on your doorstep? Marrakech. Can't decide? The drive between the two takes about two and a half hours, so you can easily add a few days in the other city.