Wake up at a leisurely pace and enjoy the warm hospitality and sunshine of Marrakech before we depart for the coastal city, Essaouira, on the Atlantic coast. Also referred to as Old Mogador, this well-preserved port city is protected by an 18th century wall named the Skala of the Kasbah. If wind surfing is your thing, you’ll love the fast winds that blow hard off the Atlantic. Essaouira is known all over the world and holds international surfing competitions.

The city looks like a cross between North Africa and the Mediterranean. White washed walls are a backdrop for blue doors and flowing djellabas and the smell of sweet spices. The sky above is more seagulls than clouds. You’ll want to climb the ramparts here for spectacular views and photographs and visit the handicrafts stalls built underneath.

Your camera will love the old blue fishing boats. Fishermen return after 3pm with their catch of the day. You’ll find them cleaning fish or repairing their fishing nets. The city is the heartland of Gnawa music that originated from Senegal, Sudan and Ghana. Slaves brought the music to Morocco. A mix of spirituality, rhytmn and wild dancing, it will leave you in a hypnotic trance.

If you visit the city in June you can attend the famous Gnawa Music Festival or visit the Gnawa Blues restaurant for a local taste of this unforgettable music. Our next stop is Onaga, where we go for lunch and a wine tasting at one of the best wineries in Morocco.