best seaside town in Morocco (not touristy tho)

[ozhanu]

hello all,

i am still doing route planning for my morocco trip. i wont spent to much time in coast road, however, one or two i would like to spend in one of the seaside towns. i've heard that Essaoira is good small town. is there any other town which you folks can recommend me? i dont want too touristy place..

thanks

[Caminando]

Hi Oz; I can confirm/agree that Essaouira is well worth a visit. You can stay at the Hotel des Remparts, and put your bike inside the central courtyard. It's a cheapie hotel, so don't expect much more than the basics. Nice roof to sit and listen to the sea. Eat grllled sardines near the sea front.

Away from the coast, I have previously recommended Hotel CTI, on Djemaa el Fnaa in Marrakesh. You can watch the entertainment from the hotel roof (also a budget hotel, about 8 euros a night). There is parking beside this hotel, guarded and supervised.

A Moroccan colleague says that Algeciras is the best crossing; I did Alg- Cuets and it took about 3 hours of paper shoving. I have done it to Tangiers but not with the bike; however it does seem easier.

I assume you have read Tim Cullis's Morocco Info site.

[Tim Cullis]

From north to south...

Asilah: friendly and clean. Originally Portuguese. Has an international arts festival each year in which the whitewashed walls of the medina are used as canvases.

Larache: also Portuguese I think.

Oualidia: below El-Jadida and is situated on a lagoon inland of a narrow opening to the sea. At high side people surf inside the lagoon. Lovely area.

Mirleft: quiet town with Spanish fortifications overlooking

Legzira: between Mirleft and Sidi Ifni has some fabulous sea arches.

Sidi Ifni: Spanish influenced with Art Deco buildings.

El Ouatia: previously known as Tan Tan Plage. Laid back.

Tim

[ozhanu]

thanks for the rapid responce. i am still reading tim's morocco knowledgebase and doing a doc file like quick start cards that come with laptops etc. i think i will prefer essaouira as i read a lot of good things about it.

i am also recording all the hotel names and gps poins if available. i am into cheap accomodation. they seems more friendly to me.

thanks a lot again, i may have some more question later.

[TT-Kira]

Larache - fantastic, Spanish though ... very laid back

Sidi Ifni or Mirleft, Sidi is a beach 'town' whereas Mirleft is quieter, but Sidi has it all, good food, cheap eats & great architecture! Also originally Spanish

Tan Tan plage - or El Outaia (spelling's gone wrong there) laid back, good food at Anaj Mat in Tan Tan itself

Tarfaya - off the beaten track heading south, worth a visit, an aviation 'hotspot'!!!

Kira

[airamerica]

Essouira is a great place, but depend of sesson you can find a lot of tourist there!
Try ELarache, El Ouatia, Sidi Ifni or, why not Dakhla. You can find in this cityes prety nice hotels, at about 20-35 euros.
Have a nice trip.

[Matt Cartney]

I really like Asilah. It's at a great location on the north atlantic coast that you can get to easily the same day you cross on the ferry if you come in at Ceuta or Tangiers. I've stopped there a couple of times on my first night, its a good introduction to the country and quite chilled out compared to some places. I think you are right about not spending too much time on the coast though, the Atlas/Saharan fringes are much more interesting!

Matt