Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
small fishing boats to negotiate the trip out there. If you want to stay a few hours, fix a
time for the boat to come and pick you up.
Sidi Mohammed Ben
Abdallah Museum
MUSEUM
( 0524 47 53 00; Rue Laâlouj; adult/child Dh10/5)
Essaouira's beautifully refurbished museum
in an old riad has a small but interesting collection of jewellery, costumes, weapons,
amazing musical instruments and carpets of the region. There's a section explaining the
signs and symbols used by local craftspeople and some interesting photographs of Es-
saouira at the turn of the century. Note also the Roman and Phoenician objects found in
the bay.
Activities
Organised horse- and camel-riding is based a few kilometres south of Essaouira in Diabat
(
Click here
)
.
Beach
Essaouira's wide, sandy beach is a great place for walking, but the strong winds and cur-
rents mean it's not so good for sunbathing or swimming. Footballers, windsurfers and
kitesurfers take over the town end of the beach, while fiercely competitive horse and
camel owners ply the sands further on. They can be quite insistent, so be firm if you don't
want to take a ride (and bargain hard if you do).
If you're walking, head south across the Ksob River (impassable at high tide) to see the
ruins of the
Borj el-Berod
, an old fortress and pavilion that's partially covered in sand.
Local legend has it that this was the original inspiration for the Jimi Hendrix classic
'Castles Made of Sand' (
Click here
)
. From here you can walk inland to the village of
Diabat or continue along the sands to the sand dunes of Cap Sim.
BEACH
Océan Vagabond
( 0524 78 39 34;
www.oceanvagabond.com
; 9am-6pm)
This outfit gives two-hour surfing
lessons (adult/child Dh385/330), as well as longer kitesurfing (Dh2310, six hours) and
windsurfing (four hours, Dh1000) lessons. It also rents out equipment for all three. It has a
cool cafe-restaurant on the beach, with a laid-back terrace.
WATER SPORTS
