Camper vans and motorhomes between ocean, surf spots and argan forest
Compare the 2 campervan and motorhome rental companies in Essaouira to find the best price, and book at the price shown, mandatory fees included.
Hiring a campervan in Essaouira means setting off from the former Mogador, a fortified town on the Atlantic whose white medina with blue shutters is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. To the north, the coastal road runs to Safi, the Oualidia lagoon and the Portuguese city of El Jadida; to the south, the windswept beaches of Sidi Kaouki and the bay of Imsouane draw surfers and kitesurfers. In between lies the argan forest, a woodland of endemic trees protected as a biosphere reserve. 2 partner companies, Baba Camper and ZigZag Camper, hand over their campervans and motorhomes here.
Both depots are in Essaouira itself: you leave town within minutes, north along the coast or south through the argan trees.
Public ratings collected on October 28, 2026 from independent review sites.
| Vehicle | Winter January | Spring April | Summer July | Autumn October |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Campervan | from €97/day median €112/day | from €97/day median €112/day | from €96/day median €111/day | from €96/day median €111/day |
Daily prices observed on October 22, 2026 for a 15-day rental: CoolDrive selling price, mandatory fees included, 1 rental companies compared. 100% of offers with unlimited mileage. Median excess: €1,650.
The coastal road heads north past the beach of Moulay Bouzerktoune to Safi, with its potters' hill and its Portuguese fortress facing the waves. After the cliffs and lighthouse of Cape Beddouza, the Oualidia lagoon, famous for its oysters, makes for a peaceful stop. El Jadida, the former Mazagan, has kept its Portuguese city and its vaulted cistern. The way back follows the motorway to Safi, then the coast.
To the south, a small road runs along Diabat beach and the sand-swept ruins of Borj el Berod, then past the dunes of Cape Sim, before reaching Sidi Kaouki, with its white marabout shrine and its long beach. The N1 then crosses the Haha region to Imsouane, a fishing village tucked at the end of a bay, where the boats come back in late morning. Beach access roads are narrow and sometimes sandy: a compact vehicle copes better.
Head inland via Ounagha and Had Draa, whose Sunday souk brings together livestock breeders and traders from the whole region. Further south, a narrow road and then a track climb Jbel Amsittene, the highest point of the Haha region, with views over the argan forest all the way to the ocean. You come down towards Tamanar through Berber villages of stone houses. Be ready to leave the vehicle below the last stretch if the track is in poor condition.
From April to June, then in September and October, Essaouira enjoys mild, almost dry days, ideal for combining the medina, the beaches and the tracks of the argan forest. September and October are often the most pleasant: the sea stays at 19 °C, nights are warm and the town has regained its calm after the summer.
While the interior of the country swelters, Essaouira stays cool: not a drop of rain, but a steady wind and frequent morning mist. It is peak season for families from all over Morocco seeking the ocean air; book campsite pitches early and pack a fleece for the evenings.
Winter in Essaouira stays mild and bright, with sunny days and rain concentrated in a few spells. Cool nights and ocean humidity still make a heated vehicle welcome. The town is peaceful, the coastal campsites are quiet, and it is a good time to travel away from the crowds.
Most pleasant months: All year round.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun | Sea |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 19 °C | 11 °C | 34 mm | 10 h/day | 17 °C |
| Feb | 20 °C | 11 °C | 48 mm | 10 h/day | 17 °C |
| Mar | 20 °C | 13 °C | 45 mm | 11 h/day | 17 °C |
| Apr | 21 °C | 15 °C | 20 mm | 12 h/day | 18 °C |
| May | 22 °C | 16 °C | 13 mm | 13 h/day | 18 °C |
| Jun | 24 °C | 18 °C | 2 mm | 13 h/day | 19 °C |
| Jul | 25 °C | 19 °C | 0 mm | 13 h/day | 18 °C |
| Aug | 26 °C | 20 °C | 0 mm | 12 h/day | 19 °C |
| Sep | 25 °C | 19 °C | 1 mm | 11 h/day | 19 °C |
| Oct | 24 °C | 17 °C | 17 mm | 10 h/day | 19 °C |
| Nov | 22 °C | 14 °C | 37 mm | 10 h/day | 19 °C |
| Dec | 20 °C | 12 °C | 39 mm | 9 h/day | 18 °C |
Averages 2016–2025 computed from Open-Meteo data (ERA5 reanalysis).
Essaouira's medina, enclosed by its ramparts, is explored on foot: its alleys only let pedestrians and handcarts through. Park the motorhome in a guarded car park outside the walls, for example near the port, and pay the attendant in dirhams. These car parks are fine for the day but are no substitute for a campsite at night.
Nicknamed the city of the trade winds, Essaouira has a steady wind for much of the year, especially in spring and summer. Hold the doors as you open them, retract the awning as soon as the gusts pick up and park with the rear of the vehicle facing the wind. Close the windows and roof vent when you leave: windblown sand gets everywhere.
Between Essaouira and Tamanar, the N1 crosses the argan forest, and the goats perched in the trees make many travellers stop; some herders put them there for photos, in exchange for a tip. To buy argan oil, choose the roadside women's cooperatives, which show the nuts being cracked by hand and sell both culinary and cosmetic oil.
Two partner companies have a depot in Essaouira: Baba Camper and ZigZag Camper. The exact handover location is given in your booking confirmation. Tell the company your arrival time, by plane or by coach, to arrange the meeting, and allow time for the vehicle inspection and the walkthrough of the equipment: water, gas and electricity.
The price depends on the departure season, the length of hire, the size of the vehicle and the insurance options. Run a search with your dates: the offers available from Essaouira are shown with a daily price that includes mandatory fees, ready to book straight away. Also compare the included mileage and the excess of each offer.
The offers we observed range from the Renault Express Van, with two seats and two berths, to the 6-Berth Motorhome, which sleeps six. In between, the 2-Berth Campervan, with four seats and two berths, suits couples looking for more comfort, and the 4 Berth Motorhome takes a family of four. Smaller models slip more easily along beach roads.
Yes: Agadir, Marrakesh, Casablanca, Rabat, Fez and Tangier are also departure cities of our partners. You can drive all the way up the Atlantic coast to Casablanca, or finish in Agadir after Imsouane. Enter the drop-off city in your search: any fee for bringing the vehicle back is then included in the price shown.
Essaouira's main beach, sheltered by Mogador Island, suits beginners in kitesurfing and windsurfing when the trade wind blows, from April to September. Moulay Bouzerktoune, to the north, attracts experienced riders. For surfing, Sidi Kaouki offers consistent waves and Imsouane its long right-handers, at their best from autumn to winter with the North Atlantic swells.
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A car licence (category B) lets you drive campervans and motorhomes up to 3.5 tonnes. A foreign licence is accepted for a tourist stay, but an international driving permit as well avoids any discussion at gendarmerie checks, which are frequent on the N1 and the N8. The minimum age and years of driving required are shown in the conditions of each offer.
A campsite near the Sidi Magdoul lighthouse, south of town, lets you walk to the medina along the beach promenade. Other campsites and guesthouses welcome motorhomes in Sidi Kaouki and Oualidia. Elsewhere, travellers often sleep in guarded car parks; isolated wild camping on the cliffs is not recommended and may be ended by the authorities.
Essaouira-Mogador airport, about fifteen kilometres south-east of town, receives a few flights, mainly from Europe. Many travellers land in Marrakesh or Agadir instead, then reach Essaouira in about three hours by Supratours or CTM coaches, or by grand taxi. If your flight arrives late, stay the night and pick up the vehicle the next day, well rested.
Yes, if you are patient. The N8 to Marrakesh and the N1 to Agadir, busy with lorries and grand taxis, alternate widened sections with two-lane stretches where overtaking calls for care. The coastal road to Safi, narrower in places, runs through hamlets and farmland. Avoid driving at night: pedestrians, donkeys and carts use the roads without lights.
With two partner companies, the choice shrinks quickly during the spring holidays, the end of the year and the summer, when Moroccan families come for the cool ocean air. Book several months ahead at those times, especially for a six-berth model such as the 6-Berth Motorhome. The rest of the year, a few weeks is often enough, except during the Gnaoua festival, which fills the town.
Essaouira makes for a relaxed start: a human-scale town facing the ocean, from which you reach the coastal road or the argan forest within minutes. In one to two weeks you can combine the lagoons and Portuguese cities of the north coast, the windswept beaches of the south and the Berber villages of the Haha region, in short stages with no long days at the wheel.
Baba Camper and ZigZag Camper offer models ranging from the small two-seater van to the six-berth motorhome. Agadir and Marrakesh, other departure cities of our partners, are less than 170 km away as the crow flies, and Casablanca, further north, lets you end the trip after driving up the coast. Finally, with average highs between 19 and 26 °C depending on the month, Essaouira suits motorhome travel in every season, summer included.
