Camels stand on the sun-soaked sands of Essaouira beach. Their handlers compete for my attention with crashing waves as a horse gracefully gallops through the Essaouira surf. We came for windsurfing lessons on this stretch of Morocco’s Atlantic coast, most famous for being windy.
Essaouira kitesurfing in the background.
It’s a beach that is home to many international surfing and windsurfing competitions. Essaouira kitesurfing is also becoming popular. Our first day was too windy for beginners to windsurf Essaouira, so our girls opted for surfboarding lessons. They enjoyed it enough to stick with it during the week. I was happy to be an observer, an Essaouira surfing photographer.
Essaouira beach is not a place for sun bathing as the wind blows fine sand everywhere. There are plenty of beachside cafes, and we enjoyed Moroccan mint tea from one of them. If I focus only on the sun, sand, and waves, Essaouira beach could almost be anywhere. Aside from the wind, what makes it unique are horses, camels, birds, and wildly colourful sunsets every night.
I have been to cleaner, more beautiful beaches on tropical islands like Aruba, Samoa, or Fiji so why is Essaouira beach one of my favourites? Most likely it is because our visit to Morocco stayed with me. I think it changed me more than any other country we visited. Here we got to know people, to learn about culture and history from them, and to see the world from a different perspective.
When we go back to Morocco, the Essaouira beach will be on the top of my list. It made us feel at home and welcomed. Take a look at the rest of my Essaouira photos and see for yourself:
Birds fly around the old guard tower.
Cannons facing out to sea.
Fishing boats docked here for the night, and ready to head back out in the early morning.
A coastal community in North Africa, Essaouira is a mix of exotic aromas, cobblestone streets, and some of the friendliest people we have met anywhere.
More Tips and Practical Information for Visiting Essaouira Beach
- Windsurfing, kitesurfing, and surfboarding are all available as lessons in the famous Essaouira surf, or as board hire from several spots along Essaouira beach. We took lessons from Ocean Vagabond.
- Horseback riding and camel riding are popular with tourists and are available on the beach. For us, camel riding in Oman fulfilled our need for this once in a lifetime experience.
- We saw several tourist women in western swimwear. Our girls needed to be in wetsuits to stay warm enough in the water. While less seemed okay on the beach, women are recommended to cover at least shoulders and cleavage in the older parts of town. Otherwise, expect stares.
- There was plenty of free street parking near the beach when we were there.
- Take caution when drinking water in Morocco.
- Carry toilet paper with you.
- If you prefer a tour with a company you know, Viator offers several affordable options.
- We stayed at Riad Watier in the old medina and recommend it. Check for current prices at Booking.com.
- If you are heading to Morocco, don’t forget to pick up a copy of Lonely Planet’s Morocco Travel Guide.
There is more to Essaouira than just the beach. We stayed for five days and could have stayed much longer. Here are some of the medina highlights.
(This is another post in my throwback series encouraged by moving all my photos to Lightroom. Most of these photos have never been published before today. We visited Morocco in 2012. Fes was our first stop in the country followed by Chefchaouen, Rabat, Marrakesh, Essaouira, the Sahara, and Casablanca.)
If you enjoyed this photo tour of Essaouira Beach, please pin this on Pinterest:
Have you been to Morocco? Did you dip your toes in the Essaouira surf, or try your skill with a wind-based sport on Essaouira beach?
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Oh, your photos are gorgeous. I’ve never been to Morocco, but would love to one day. The beach photos are just perfect… love them.
Thanks Tania. Morocco is fascinating. And so different geographically from beach to the Sahara.
Nice post and those beach photos look fantastic what a perfect way to spend time on, that last photo is lovely isn’t it 🙂
It was really cool to see all those birds.
Rhonda, what gorgeous photos! I have not been anywhere outside the USA. Travel is expensive, but even if I had the money then I’d be too much of a scaredy Cathy to do it. Just call me chicken! lol It’s really fun to visit exotic destinations through the eyes of others such as yourself. I imagine it’s awesome to see things like a camel on the beach or sand dunes of dessert countries. These are elements totally foreign to my part of the world. Thanks for sharing!
I am glad that I can share the world with you. We generally find the biggest expense of travel is getting there – as we live in New Zealand now, we are far from everywhere. I think that is why we stay away so long once we go. We don’t do organised tours, we travel on our own, and we found Morocco to be quite inexpensive in comparison to daily life in the US. You need your wits about you, but don’t need to be afraid.
This must have been during your almost year trip around the world. I’m glad you enjoyed being here so much. Perhaps you can return someday.
Yes, we spent a month in Morocco in 2012. We only planned to stay 7-10 days, but really loved it.
Awesome pics! Morocco is definitely high on my list, though I’ve never thought of going to the beach there. I always envisioned the exotic marketplaces and such. Now I’m extra excited!
I think Essaouira is a bit off the tourist path as the trains don’t go there, so it’s a bit more effort to get there. I also love the markets and the interior. Our time in the Sahara was one of the highlights.
Would love to go to Morocco and to see Essaouira, particularly the camels on the beach. That is unique for me.
That was unique for me as well. You are not too far now if you are still in Southern Spain.
Sigh. This blog is extremely damaging to my imaginary riches. Just added Morocco to places I must see.
I am having the same problem, my bucket list keep growing.
That looks like a terrific vacation destination!
It was a fascinating place to be.
I’ve never thought of the beach when I think of visiting Morocco. The mix of camels, the water, and the medina are so enticing. I’ve always wanted to visit Morocco, but the images that usually flash through my brain are of the delicious food, the streets, and the bazaars. You’ve just added some new images to my mental slideshow.
Yes, I have all those images too. One of my favourite restaurants around the world is located in Essaouira.
I adore the photo of the half naked man on his horse, it’s just perfect. I’ve been to Morocco but only to Fes not the coast. I’d certainly like to explore some more.
I am glad someone else noticed the guy on the horse. It was my favourite of the series. As for Fes, it is possibly my favourite town in Morocco. We went back for a much longer visit we liked it so much.
What beautiful photos! Have never been to Morocco. However, your pics are calling to me.
Thanks. I really did enjoy Morocco.
Looks like an amazing place. I mean, it has to be cool if there are camels around the beach! When I think about my favorite summer vacation spot, I think about my childhood summers in Puerto Rico.
It is a very cool place, but remember the camels are commercial not wild (but still pretty interesting)
You totally inspired me. As for the birds, I am sure it was evening, as I am nearly always asleep at dawn 🙂
I hope New Zealand is near the top of your bucket list.
I love your shot of the birds around the medina. Would you horse ride on the beach? I’d love to but I’m a real novice and I’ve heard that it’s more tricky than regular horse riding, don’t know why that is though
Personally, I wouldn’t ride a horse unless it was necessary, but I sure like looking at them run. My girls would, if they could. I hadn’t heard the beach was difficult.
Nope. I haven’t made it there, but I think I should based on your post. Thanks for all the great pictures.
Thanks Lee
I’ve heard many good things about Morocco, and you’ve just added to my impression. Maybe someday.
We have been to a lot of countries, but Morocco is a personal favourite destination.
The beach, really nothing quite so relaxing. Could use one now , but that would be Ocean City, Maryland not Morocco. Unless wishes suddenly come true. 🙂
Morocco is more of an activity beach. I don’t remember seeing any sunbathers, or people just lying around. Or people in bikinis either. I wonder what it would have been like in the heat of the summer, we were there at the beginning of the season.
Essaouira was nice, way to much wind though. It’s always windy and man it’s blows! There’s lots of activities to do like horse back riding, ATV adventures, Kite surfing and so on. For us when we were just there the water was way to cold so Kite surfing was canceled.
It wasn’t too bad when we were there, a few super windy days, but more nice ones. I guess that’s why it is so famous amongst windsurfers. Our girls were fist time surfers and the wind wasn’t too high. Sorry your kite surfing was canceled.
I love those pictures full of light, a wonderful place!
Thanks. Essaouira is wonderful.
So funny to see a the camel on the beach!! It reminded me the cows of India, I guess each country has its “typical beach animal” 🙂
The difference is these camels are commercial, there with their owners to sell camel rides to tourists.
I love your photos – especially the camel with the kite surfer in the background. It’s always good to reflect back on a favorite place we’ve been – and this sounds like one of yours.
Thanks Jill, and yes I really did love my time in Morocco.
I’ve also heard great things about Morocco! Did you hop on your camel and follow that guy? Lovely photos as always, Rhonda!
A camel wouldn’t be fast enough to catch that guy, He was moving.
Wow! What a wonderful place!
I agree.
Hi Rhonda, Morocco had changed me and my husband, too. By the end of our Morocco trip, we got engaged! We traveled to a lot of places in the country and loved each one of them, however, we regret not making it to Essaouira. Your photos show how different it is from all places we visit. There something very easy going about it. We’ve seen camels in the desert but seeing that photo of one in the beach is just awesome!! A camel on the beach with a kite on the background really makes a unique shot.
Wow, that is a big change. Morocco will always be really special to you. Essaouira was more relaxed than many of the places in Morocco we visited, but each city or town seemed to have it’s own personality. There are so many interesting things to see in that country, it’s hard to see them all. Maybe you will go back for an anniversary one year, and visit Essaouira then.
wow!! Fantastic captures and of course the beach.
I’d love to visit Morocco one day!
Thanks Amila, I hope you get to visit Morocco too. It’s so interesting.
Beautiful images.
Thanks.
That photo with the horse is amazing. They look so free! So many boats! What a site!
Watching him gallop across the beach was pretty amazing too.
What a fab place love the beach and the horses and camels lovely photos especially the waves and the boats docked 🙂
Have a humptastic day Rhonda 😉
It was pretty cool to see camels and horses on the beach.
I’d love to hear more about how Morocco changed you so much.
https://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/2017/08/a-peek-into-new-york-garden.html
It really opened our eyes to cultural differences and similarities.
great shots!
Thanks Tanja.
fabulous photos- I’ve always wanted to go to Morocco. It seems so exotic and interesting. Thanks for sharing these photos
It is both, exotic and interesting. Morocco is one of our favourite places.
Great photos here. It’s quite eye-popping for me to see camels on the beach!
Thanks for linking up at https://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2017/08/ready-to-go.html
It was pretty cool to see the camels on the beach.
That beach gallop brings back a fond childhood memory of reading Sham: King of the Wind! What a beautiful, exotic place. How I’d love to go some time.
I never read that book, but if the rider reminds you of it, it must be pretty special.
That mid-gallop shot and the one with the seagulls over the boats are just amazing! #OutdoorWednesday
Thanks Katherine. It was pretty cool to see him riding.
Very beautiful photos. Thanks for sharing them. You travel to the best places.
We do the best we can, we love going to new and interesting spots, off the beaten track.
Would love to go there someday!
I hope you get a chance to get there.
Morocco looks amazing and your pictures are, as always, stunning. I really love the 2nd on down of the rider
Mollyx
That rider was pretty amazing in real life.
Those photos are wonderful indeed, Rhonda..I have been to Morocco but not to this part..
Every part of Morocco was different from the others.
Beautiful. I love all your pictures. I would love to visit 🙂
I would love to get back there someday.
What stunning photos!
Thanks Lydia.
Your pictures from Morocco are stunning, Rhonda! I’d love to visit this country but I wonder how safe it is there these days. When where you there?
Thanks for the reminder that I need to add the date. We were there in 2012, and I wouldn’t hesitate to go back now if I had the opportunity.
Wonderful images of this fascinating place in the world, Rhonda!
Thank you for joining us at the Travel Tuesday meme, I look forward to your next contribution.
Essaouira is one of the fascinating places in the world, well worth a visit.