How to keep your body and mind healthy in Essaouira

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Essaouira isn’t just a holiday destination, it can be somewhere to slow down and switch off for a few days. To help you relax as soon as you arrive, follow these tips to keep your body and mind healthy throughout your stay.

Essaouira is a place that knows its strengths and has spent decades welcoming visitors who are looking for something slightly different to a normal getaway. Of all the things it does well, arguably its most appealing attributes are the calm and relaxing vibes that drift in from the ocean and across the ancient medina.

If you’re looking for a place to relax and rejuvenate, Essaouira is safe place to visit where the pace of day is dictated not by stress and routines but by sunsets on the beach, quiet coffees on a riad rooftop, and gentle strolls around the medina.

This all help create an oasis on the Atlantic coast that is increasingly being thought of as a wellness destination. To help you arrive here in a relaxed state of mind, we’ve gathered together a few thoughts and suggestions so you can maximise your time in Essaouira and keep your body and mind healthy.

1. Eat well

First things first: to get yourself in the best frame of mind to enjoy your visit, you need to prioritise how you’re fuelling your body. There are a wide range of restaurants in the medina and beyond, with freshly caught (and cooked) seafood available at the fishing port.

As a general rule, the food served around Essaouira is safe, healthy, fresh and delicious. As long as you choose a busy place, ideally popular with locals, you’re usually guaranteed a safe and tasty meal. We’re not always the best at following our own advice though and, even when staying for months at a time, we have succumbed to food poisoning on the rare occasion.

Our weakness is the salads and roasted chickens which are sold along the main boulevard and look so appealing but are often left out in the open for hours on end in the afternoon sun. The salad is particularly risky and our advice (which we intend to follow from now on) is to avoid these stalls and eat in one of the busy restaurants nearby. A few days confined to your riad’s bathroom is not the route to wellness.

2. Don’t drink the tap water

In the hot Moroccan sun, it’s essential to stay hydrated and that means drinking plenty of water. The majority of locals (and many longer-term visitors) do drink the tap water but, if you’re only visiting Essaouira for a short time, you don’t want to play bacteria-roulette and risk a stomach bug. It’s advisable to stick to filtered or bottled water, and ask for no ice in your drinks.

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3. Embrace the hammam

READ OUR GUIDE: Experiencing a traditional hammam in Essaouira

Long before spa weekends became the must-do wellness activity in the rest of the world, Morocco was leading the way with their traditional hammams. The streets of Essaouira’s medina are dotted with these atmospheric places, often hidden behind beautiful stone archways. If you’re looking to rejuvenate the skin and revitalize your body, the first step is to experience a traditional Moroccan hammam in the heart of Essaouira’s medina.

In case you didn’t know, a hammam is a tiled, hot room, where you strip down to your underwear and enjoy a good scrub and soapy clean. Be prepared that if you visit a public hammam, all inhibitions need to go out of the window as everything is on display.

Many visitors choose a private hammam that is more expensive but means you’ll have the hammam all to yourself and is a gentler introduction than heading straight into the public version (which is shared with other people but is a more authentic experience).

If you’re going to a public hammam, it’s important to remember that they’re segregated by gender, with separate male and female hammams. Unless you know some Arabic phrases, it can be difficult to know which is which, so it’s best to get some directions from your accommodation host before you wander in.

Whichever version you choose, you’re in for a memorable and cleansing experience. Once you get over your initial inhibitions, it’s an amazing feeling, especially if you’ve braved a public hammam. As this is a tourist town, the public hammams are used to tourists popping in, and you’ll be given some leeway before you pick up on all the etiquette and rituals. In the private hammams, you’ll usually be offered a massage after the hammam.

Alternatively, if baring all in a hammam isn’t quite to your fancy, how about trying a Berber massage instead? This is offered at all of the Essaouira spas in the medina. A Berber massage is similar to a standard, relaxing massage, except that it includes some light tapping with cupped hands.

Ladies, we recommend advising your masseuse whether or not you would like your chest and stomach massaged. Otherwise, you may receive a chest massage towards the end of your massage.

Recommended spas to try are Spa Cocooning, and Azur Spa Essaouira for a bit of well-deserved pampering.

4. Take a yoga class

READ OUR GUIDE: Yoga in Essaouira

Considering the laid back, hippy vibe of Essaouira, you won’t be surprised to hear that a number of yoga studios and classes have popped up over the years. Usually taking advantage of the natural location and views, a yoga class in Essaouira very much feels on-brand. Don’t worry if you’re only in Essaouira for a few days; many of the yoga schools offer drop-in classes, ideal if you can’t commit to a long-term pass or schedule.

Some hotels and riads, such as Riad Dar L’Qdima and Les Jardins De Mogador yoga et SPA, offer free yoga classes to guests. Otherwise, check out Swiri Yoga or Moga Yoga Studio who schedule regular drop-in classes. For those who have time for a more immersive yoga experience by way of a retreat, La Vida Surf offer four and seven day yoga retreats at Villa Dar Zitoon.

5. Enjoy morning runs or walks along the beach

There’s no better way to start your day than a restorative walk, jog or run along Essaouira’s main beach. Early mornings are the quietest part of the day in these parts so, aside from a few dog walkers and fellow endorphin seekers, you’ll have the long stretch of beach to yourself.

When the tide is out, a wide compact avenue of sand is left behind, or you can head closer to the sea and feel the cooling saltwater under your feet. From Bab Sbaa, it’s a 4 mile (6.5km) walk/jog/run westwards to the former watchtower at Borj El Baroud, which can be explored during low tide.

If you continue another few hundred metres, you’ll reach the path leading towards Diabat and Dar Sultan Palace, which form part of our Diabat to Essaouira walking tour.

The medina is also at its quietest during the morning. Although most of the cafes and shops will still be closed, it’s an ideal time to do our Essaouira walking tour.

6. Feel the power of the ocean

The combination of the wind and ocean make Essaouira a popular destination for kite surfers and wind surfers from across the world. Even if you’re not an expert yourself, it’s a quintessential Essaouira experience to get out onto the water and try your hand at some form of surfing (be it wind, kite, or on a surfboard).

Once you get the hang of it, the freedom of being out on the waves is sure to release those endorphins and help you appreciate the city from a different perspective.

There are several places along the main promenade where you can book lessons for surfing, with high-levels of instruction and low-levels of pricing (at least compared to Europe).

However, you don’t need to be on a board to enjoy the rejuvenating power of the Atlantic Ocean in Essaouira. A swim, or even dip, in the sea works wonders for the mind and body. Just be prepared that the ocean water here can be a little on the chilly side.

7. Get up for sunrise

Sunset often steals the show in Essaouira, but actually we’d argue that sunrise is even more special. We love setting the alarm early and heading up to the rooftop for sunrise with just the seagulls for company, although often the call to prayer wakes us up before our alarm.

The medina is so still and quiet at this time of day and the contrast between the whitewashed buildings and rays from the rising sun creates such a beautiful light. It’s the perfect way to start the day with a sense of renewal and accomplishment. Plus, this morning ritual is perhaps the best free activity in Essaouira.

The best sunrise spot in Essaouira is from a rooftop. However, at this time of day, none of the rooftop restaurants or cafes will be open, so make sure your Essaouira accommodation has access to a the roof so you can take in the full experience.

8. Switch off with a day pass

For the ultimate in relaxation, you can take a break from the city and drive out to one of the luxury hotels on the outskirts of the city and enjoy use of their pools and restaurants on a day pass. This is a great way to experience a five-star resort for a fraction of the price.

If you visit on a quiet day (e.g. not on a weekend or public holiday), you might have the place to yourself, ideal for switching off and letting an afternoon pass slowly by.

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