Fez → Rabat → Essaouira → Taghazout — Self-drive tours in Morocco

Heads up: the longest leg takes about 5 h 30 of driving. Leave early in the morning and do not overload the schedule.

Leave Fez for Rabat for a first cultural immersion, then fall for the ramparts and coastal charm of Essaouira. Continue to Taghazout, a village known for its beaches, sunsets and relaxed atmosphere. Mix visits, tasty breaks, seaside walks and relaxation for a trip that combines discovery and freedom.

24-26 · 06 · 2027

Essaouira Gnaoua and World Music Festival

Next edition: 24 to 26 June 2027 in Essaouira. Book your accommodation and your car as early as possible.

Official festival website

Day-by-day programme

Day 1

Fez el-Bali, World Heritage

Spend the day in the medina: Bou Inania Madrasa, Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque and the Chouara tanneries panorama. Sleep in a traditional riad to soak up the Arab-Andalusian architecture.

Day 2

Fez → Rabat

Hit the road after breakfast. In Rabat: Hassan Tower and the Mohammed V Mausoleum, then the blue-and-white lanes of the Kasbah of the Udayas facing the ocean. Leave the car in a guarded car park near the medina overnight.

Day 3

Rabat → Essaouira

The longest driving day: leave early (around 8 am) to bypass Casablanca without traffic. Lunch facing the Oualidia lagoon (grilled seafood), then arrive in Essaouira in the late afternoon, when the sea breeze brings the town to life.

Day 4

Gnaoua vibes and ramparts

Explore the Skala ramparts. Essaouira is the cradle of Gnaoua culture: even outside the festival, the town lives to the rhythm of guembris and qraqebs. Dine in the medina with a Lila (an intimate live Gnaoua performance) and taste the fresh fish from the port.

Day 5

Essaouira → Taghazout

Coastal road through the argan forests: with luck you will see the famous goats perched in the trees. Approaching Taghazout, the landscape turns arid and the waves grow. Settle into a surf camp or an ocean-facing hotel.

Days 6 & 7

Surf & chill

Taghazout is a world surfing paradise: rent a board and take a lesson at Panoramas or Anchor Point depending on your level. At the end of the day, enjoy the laid-back village, sunset yoga and trendy cafés of the international digital-nomad community.

Stops and rest points

1
Fez
Start
2
Rabat
2 h 15 drive · 1 night recommended
3
Essaouira
5 h 30 drive · 1 night recommended
4
Taghazout
2 h 20 drive · 2 nights recommended

Must-sees

The Fez el-Bali medina and the Chouara tanneries
Hassan Tower and the Mohammed V Mausoleum
Stop in Oualidia: oysters and seafood by the lagoon
Essaouira’s Gnaoua culture
The goats perched in the argan trees
Surf and relaxation on Taghazout's beaches

Route map

Open in Google Maps

Practical tips

Best time to go : April to October on the coast (cool Atlantic wind)
Use the guarded car parks near the medinas and visit on foot: leave the car at your hotel.
Book your accommodation in advance in high season (spring, autumn and school holidays).
Refuel before long stretches (mountains, desert) and keep some change for tolls.
Indicative budget: car rental from €18/day, plus fuel, tolls, accommodation and meals.

Tips →