Allow about three hours on the road, whichever option you take. The bus is the cheapest and the simplest, a hire car the most flexible if you plan to move around locally, a private transfer the most restful after a long flight. The shared taxi remains a local option, less comfortable.
The road is the same for everyone: the trunk road across the plateau, the argan trees, then the descent to the ocean. What changes is the comfort, the flexibility and the budget.
The four options
| Option | Journey time | Indicative budget | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bus | 3h to 3h30 | the cheapest | Travellers without bulky luggage |
| Hire car | 2h45 to 3h | mid range, plus fuel | Those who want to move around locally |
| Private transfer | 2h45 | the highest | Late arrival, families, heavy luggage |
| Shared taxi | 3h | very low | Travellers used to Morocco |
Budgets given as orders of magnitude, they vary with the season. To be checked at the time of booking.
What we suggest
If you are staying several days and plan to go to Sidi Kaouki or inland, take a car. The roads are good and parking is no trouble outside the medina.
If you arrive in the evening, after a flight, take a transfer. The last few kilometres to the house are on a poorly lit road, and it saves you searching.
Getting to the house
Les Jardins de Silona is at douar Laarab, at kilometre 7 on the Marrakech road. Coming from Marrakech, the house therefore comes before Essaouira: there is no need to drive into town and back out again.
Frequently asked questions
- Is there a train between Marrakech and Essaouira?
- No. Essaouira is not served by rail. The bus is the most common form of public transport.
- Is the road difficult?
- No, it is surfaced and in good condition the whole way. It climbs and drops, but presents no particular difficulty.
- Can you go there and back in a day?
- It is possible, but that means six hours on the road for a few hours on the spot. Better to stay at least one night.
More articles
Swimming all year round in Essaouira, what a heated pool changes
The traditional hammam, what to expect