Essaouira

Essaouira is one of the famous moroccan cities, Essaouira is located in the western part of Morocco, the city is very known as a tourist resort and one of the top travel destinations in Morocco. Essaouira is known for it world sacred music festival, that takes place every year late June, Gnawa music festival and music of the world, Essaouira was formely known as "Mogador" , the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Listed city, as an example of a late 18th century fortified town, as transferred to North Africa. The port of Essaouira as not as imporant as so many neighboring ports, such as Safi port or casablanca port, the tourism activity is of a very growing importance, supporting boutique hotels established in traditional Moroccan riads, within the old town's ramparts, there is a lot of ancient houses transformed to riads and guest houses offering lodging for different budgets, and a number of modern purpose-built hotels, running along the beach. Essaouira is home to many small arts and crafts businesses, mainly wood crafts and notably cabinet making and 'thuya' wood-carving (using roots of the Tetraclinis tree), both of which have been practised in Essaouira for centuries. Essaouira is also renowned for its windsurfing, with the powerful trade wind blowing almost constantly onto the protected, almost waveless, bay. Several world-class clubs rent top-notch material on a weekly basis. Parasols tend to be used on the beach more as a protection against the wind and the blowing sand. Camel excursions are available on the beach and into the desert band in the interior.