We get asked lots of questions about Morocco and Essaouira in terms of is it safe to travel by myself? I really want to come to Essaouira, but my friends / family are worried as I am traveling on my own, what do you think?
Our answer is always the same, yes of course it is safe, I have lived on and off in Essaouira for the last 15 years, from when Nasser first invited me to come to his home town and meet his family.. gulp was it really that long ago. I have never felt uneasy or nervous in Essaouira, I have worked in our shop until late at night or walked home from the media after a team dinner with our guests and never felt unsure about heading home on my own. Yes of course there are places that you shouldn’t go, but that is the same with every town or city.
However, I get that it is easy for me to say, I am after all married to a Moroccan and I am known in Essaouira due to Explora Watersports. Therefore, I thought I would ask Marta, our new team member who has not only just joined our team but has also just moved by herself from Spain to Essaouira, what her tips and surprises are from being a solo traveler in Essaouira.
So Marta …
What made you decide to move to Essaouira?
For me I have always wanted to live somewhere where I could be just me. I first visited Essaouira 3 years ago and was immediately shocked by how accepting the town is of anyone and everyone regardless of your background, status or culture. Nobody judges you by what you look like or what you are wearing, friendship is based on who you are as a person.
I also love the vibrant mix of the hustle and bustle of the old medina and harbor on one side, to the huge expanse of beach on the other where watersports be that surfing,kitesurfing, windsurfing and now wing foiling thrive.
I also love my dog and horse riding, here horse riding is about being at one with nature so we can ride along the beach with a free spirit, and my dog running happily behind me.
How do you feel about living on your own in Essaouira?
Honestly, I love it, when I first arrived the Explora team welcomed me into the fold. I felt I immediately had a support network of people to not only invite me for tea or dinner but also who I could ask the random silly questions to. They also walked me around the town to give me the insider's perspective of the medina, where to go for my morning coffee, to buy my fruit & veg, and also to introduce me to various people along the way. To even ensure the guy on the fish stall knows I am part of Explora so he gives me a special price!
I have a lovely rhythm here, have made some amazing friends and get to balance my work life and my hobbies to suit me.
Like Sara I never feel nervous if I am walking home on my own at night. Yes, I am aware of my surroundings and walk through the tourist part of the town and along the beach, but that is the same in every town there are certain streets to be avoided.
Overall, I am very happy I made the decision to come here. The pace of life, the people centric culture and the raw beauty of the place makes me feel exceptionally lucky to call it my home.
Any tips that you would give solo travelers if they want to head to Essaouira?
If you book in advance, it removes the stress so you can focus on your holiday? For me I am not the most confident traveler so for my first visit to Essaouira, I wanted to know I had a clear plan to avoid any stress. I contacted Sara at Explora Watersports to see if she could help me with my accommodation and any travel tips.
She immediately gave me some advice on how to travel from Marrakech, whether that is a private transfer service (which is actually good value) to the bus timetables and how to get to the bus station from the airport.
She also organized my accommodation in Riad Bianca their own riad, which is perfectly set up for solo travelers as is has a home from home feeling, everyone has breakfast together on a big, long table, as well as a weekly BBQ dinner on the roof terrace so as soon as I walked in I felt I had 10 new friends.
This made me feel secure and confident that although I was traveling on my own I was not alone. Therefore my advice would be to book in advance, make the trip as easy as possible for you to ensure you get to enjoy every moment of your holiday and not get bogged down in the stress of the admin.
There are more solo travelers than you think so why not you?
There are more people than you might think traveling on their own, therefore don’t stress about it, just do it. Traveling to Essaouira and exploring the medina, harbor and eating at various restaurants on my own has made me realize I actually like my own company, I am happy on my own, and there is nothing wrong with that. Essaouira is a medina that you can explore on your own. The guys in the various shops or stalls might say a friendly hello, but there is no pressure to buy from them or any meaning behind their hello, you can just nod and keep walking. I am not sure if it is the sea air that makes Essaouira such a chilled place, but the easy relaxed friendliness of the town makes it easy to explore and soak up the atmosphere.
What to wear? My advice is be respectful but don’t change who you are?
Clothing: This is for sure something that crossed my mind the first time I headed to Essaouira, Morocco is a Muslim country, my view is to be respectful, therefore on the beach or if you are at Explora waiting for your surf or kite lesson then of course shorts and a vest top is fine, however when I walk around the media I will be more conservatively dressed, this can simply mean ¾ length leggings and a t-shirt or shorts and a long sleeved t-shirt.
Shared activities create connections?
If you want to meet up with other people, then the best way to do this is book a surf or kite lesson or any other activity you might be interested in before you come here. Meeting people over a joint activity is the easiest way and immediately gives you a connection point. I booked a surf lesson prior to my first trip to Essaouira, I was put in a group of 4 other people, 2 of whom were staying at the Riad Blanca with me. Immediately we connected over our success and let’s be honest slight failures at popping to our feet. We then sat and had lunch together and then rented the surf boards from Explora for the afternoon to keep practicing.
Alternatively, just sitting for a coffee at one of the beach side cafes, or chatting to the other guests over the breakfast table is a great way to meet other people.
Explora also organizes team dinners for all their guests once or twice a week which is a great way to meet a variety of different people.
Finally, I have only really been to Essaouira, I have traveled from Tangier on the overnight train to Marrakech and then jumped on the bus to Essaouira so my experience of traveling on my own is mostly in Essaouira. I know that Marrakech is a more intense experience in the medina than that of Essaouira, however I believe the majority of people are good, but an awareness of our surroundings and doing research beforehand to build your knowledge will also build your confidence and enable you to get the most from your trip.
Remember we are here to help you book your trip or simply to answer any questions, however random they might be, or to just be a sounding board of advice as you start to plan your holiday. We are happy to help you get the most out of your experience in Essaouira and Morocco.
We look forward to you joining us soon.
Email or whatsapp or call me for more info.
marta@explorawatersports.com | + 34 682 807244 (WHATSAPP) | + 212 6 11475188 (BEACH CENTER)
Marta
