Essaouira to Agadir Route

Overview

Over more than 150 km, the road from Essaouira to Agadir largely follows the coast, especially as it approaches Agadir. It winds through argan trees, offering beautiful landscapes in a wild setting where the ocean meets the first foothills of the Atlas. This route is also a haven for surfing and beach lovers.

Key Details

Type of place: scenic route.

Tourist interest: (recommended).

Theme:

Location:

Local time: Heure : Essaouira to Agadir Route

Main towns:

Length: 175 km.

Altitude:

Website:

Climate and Weather

The Route

What to See and Do

The appeal of this route lies in its beautiful landscapes, but above all, its stunning beaches and excellent surf spots—more than enough to fill a full day between the two major cities.

Itinerary

The distance between Essaouira and Agadir is 175 km via the N1, which partly follows the coast. However, some points of interest are not directly along this road and require short detours on secondary routes, especially to reach the seaside. If you plan to visit all the stops, expect a journey of roughly 250 km.

km 0/km 175: Essaouira

Starting/ending point.

km 10/km 170: Diabat

A small village south of Essaouira. Until the late 1970s, it was a major hippie hotspot (Jimmy Hendrix and the Rolling Stones passed through here)... and now the site of the new Mogador-Essaouira seaside resort, which will one day include a complex of over 10,000 beds with a golf course, water sports center, and more. In Diabat, you can see the ruins of the Sultan’s palace and the remains of an old bridge that once led to Essaouira.

km 25/km 160: Sidi Kaouki

A beautiful, windswept beach with strong currents, ideal for experienced windsurfers and surfers. As you arrive, you’ll see the tomb of the marabout Sidi Kaouki by the roadside. The area has a few accommodation options.

km 50/km 140: Djebel Amsittene

Located inland near the village of Smimou, its summit reaches 905 m and offers hikers a stunning panorama.

km 65/km 140: Tafelney

A small port where fishermen return with their blue boats every early afternoon. Cap Tafelney provides a beautiful view of its beach and the nearby coast.

km 70/km 105: Tamanar

Almost halfway between Essaouira and Agadir, the small town of Tamanar has around 10,000 inhabitants. It’s home to a women’s cooperative for producing and selling argan oil, which you can visit. It’s part of the Targanime group, which brings together several similar cooperatives across the country.

km 100/km 90: Imsouane

A small bay famous among surfers for "its" wave. There’s accommodation and a surf school on-site.

km 155/km 20: Taghazout

This small fishing port is a well-known surf spot and also prized for its beautiful beaches. It’s a popular spot for retired campervan enthusiasts and... the planned site for what may one day become Morocco’s first seaside resort: Taghazout-Argana Bay.

km 190/km 50: Paradise Valley

About thirty kilometers inland, in the Agadir hinterland, a pretty valley along a wadi that can be explored on a short hike.

km 175/km 0: Agadir

Ending/starting point.

Transport

For those without a vehicle, even though this is the main route between Essaouira and Agadir, not all stops are easily accessible by bus—especially in the first part of the journey from Essaouira. Taxis may be an option for reaching certain beaches. Still, for convenience and freedom, having your own vehicle is ideal.

Sleeping and Eating

You’ll find plenty of places to eat and stay along the route, though accommodations can sometimes be more basic compared to Agadir.