Private transfer from Casablanca to Essaouira

A private transfer from Casablanca to Essaouira covers about 360 km in about 4 h 45, in your own car with an English- or French-speaking driver. You pay one fixed price for the car, from €200, agreed before you travel. The drive from Essaouira back to Casablanca costs the same.

There is no train to Essaouira, so this is a route where a private car earns its place: the other ways are a coach of six to eight hours, or a train and a coach through Marrakech. Landing at Mohammed V airport? Essaouira is about 385 km from the arrivals hall, about 4 h 45 by car.

Prices per car

The price is for the car, not for each person. Three friends in the Superb share €200, so about a third of that each, and a family of six with suitcases fits in the Tourneo, which takes 12 large bags. For eight people or more, we send two cars.

The return trip is the same drive the other way, on the day you choose. Tick "Add the return trip" in the form to book both at once.

No train: car, coach, or train and coach?

Coach and train figures are CTM's and ONCF's, read on their booking sites in October 2026; the train fare is for a flexible 2nd class ticket.

The CTM coach. On a Thursday in October, nine coaches left Casablanca between 07:30 and 16:45, from three different stations. The fastest take 6 hours; the ones leaving between 08:15 and 09:15 take 7 to 8 hours. The coach station in Essaouira is outside the medina, so you still need a taxi to your riad.

Train and coach. ONCF sells this as one trip: the train from Casablanca to Marrakech, then a Supratours coach to Essaouira. Five departures a day, from 06:36 to 15:43, and 6 h 17 for most of them. Booked weeks ahead, a ticket you cannot change or refund cost 149 to 159 MAD (about €13 to €14). The Marrakech to Essaouira coach also runs on its own: 7 a day from 07:30 to 19:00, 3 hours, from 100 MAD.

A flight. We found no flight between Casablanca and Essaouira: Royal Air Maroc's page for the route showed no fare from October 2026 to February 2027.

The car costs more per person than a coach, and less than you might think for a group: three friends in the Superb pay about €200 between them for the whole drive. It also saves the most time, and it leaves when you do. The car is worth its price when:

• you land at Mohammed V: the airport train goes to Casa‑Port and Casa‑Voyageurs, and the coaches leave from the city, so you cross Casablanca first;
• you are three or more, or travel with luggage or children: the price is per car, so it is shared;
• you want to stop on the coast on the way;
• you are staying in a riad in the medina: the car takes you to the gate nearest it, with no change of vehicle.

From Mohammed V airport to Essaouira

Mohammed V airport is south of Casablanca, so your driver heads south without crossing the city: about 385 km to Essaouira, about 4 h 45.

Add your flight number when you book. We follow the flight, and if it lands late we wait, with nothing added to the price. Your driver meets you in the arrivals hall with your name on a sign and takes the bags to the car. We confirm the price from the airport on WhatsApp when you book.

Stops on the way: El Jadida and Oualidia

Short stops for a coffee or a photo are part of the drive: ask for them when you book. A visit makes the day longer, so plan it with us.

El Jadida is 101 km from Casablanca, about 1 h 15. Its old Portuguese fortress, the City of Mazagan, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2004. The Portuguese held it until 1769, and a cistern and a church from that time are still there. Going by the coast road through El Jadida adds about 20 minutes of driving, plus the time of your visit.

Oualidia is a village on a lagoon between El Jadida and Safi, known for its oysters. Stopping there adds about 40 minutes of driving, plus lunch.

Tell us the stops you want when you book, and we confirm the plan and the price on WhatsApp. A visit is added to the price, depending on the visit.

Arriving in Essaouira

The medina of Essaouira has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001. It was founded in the second half of the 18th century by Sultan Mohammed ben Abdallah, with French architects working to the principles of Vauban. It is for pedestrians only. Cars stop at the walls, at the gate or the car park nearest your riad; many riads send someone to meet you there and carry the bags. Give us the name of your riad and we tell you the nearest gate before the day.

In peak season the car parks around the medina fill up, so tell us your riad and we plan where to stop.

Going on from Essaouira

Marrakech is about 185 km from Essaouira, about 2 h 45 by road. Several of our tours include Essaouira: the 10 days from Casablanca, the 11 days from Casablanca and the 10 days from Marrakech by the coast, all with the same driver from start to finish. For the drive between Casablanca and Marrakech, see our Casablanca to Marrakech transfer.

Essaouira to Casablanca, or to the airport for a flight

The drive back costs the same. Choose "Essaouira → Casablanca" at the top of the form, and give the address in Casablanca where you are going.

Flying out of Mohammed V? Count about 4 h 45 from Essaouira to the departures hall, then add the time your airline asks you to be at the airport. We agree the pickup time with you when we confirm the booking.

A long drive: what to expect

For a drive of almost five hours, plan a stop for a coffee and a stretch, and ask for more if you need them. The motorway service areas have cafés and toilets, and lunch on the road is easy to arrange: tell your driver what you like.

How to book this transfer

1. Send the details on WhatsApp: from, to, date and time, number of passengers and large bags, and your flight or train number if you have one. Or use the booking form on this page.
2. We confirm the car and the fixed price, usually within the hour. Nothing is booked until we confirm.
3. On the day, your driver is there with your name on a sign.