Essaouira Travel Forum

Our flight arrives at 5pm on oct 16th-could I get a bus from marr.to ess that evening? We're 2 women is it safe to travel in the evening?

You should be fine actually in terms of safety. Morocco for first time visitors would seem to appear daunting, unsafe and even dangerous but that's just as one's fleeting impression - its exoticism and sort of other-worldliness that Westerners especially unfamiliar to the place and culture would feel nervous about will soon disappear as you feel the rare and exciting pulse to the place. There are frequent buses to Essaouira from Marrakech and it takes a good two to three hours with many stops along the way. If you can get one by 5PM, you'll be in Essaouira in mid-evening. Try to see if you can hop on one of those mini-vans (or dolmus or petite taxi, I think they're called) with fewer passengers on board but will get you to Essaouira quicker than the bus.

Know also that in October, daylight is much diminished after summer, so you're travelling already in the cover of darkness. If I were you, I'd overnight in Marrakech and start out early to Essaouira, getting there much refreshed. But if extra cost/money plays a major factor in this travel, I'd consider taking the overnight bus to Essaouira and sleeping thru the trip.

Enjoy Morocco and happy trails.

The last bus leaves Marrakech at 7pm, and takes 3 hours and only one stop on the way.
You should expect to clear customs and collect your luggage in about 30 minutes, take a petite taxi to the Supratours bus station, about a 15 minute journey. So long as your flight is not delayed you should have plenty time.
You will not have a problem being 2 women.
If you have accommodation booked in Essaouira, the proprietor should be able to book you a private taxi to collect you from the airport, usual price 600-700Dh
Hope that helps

I'm sure you could negociate a grande taxi from Marrakesh airport to Essaouira. Don't know if my bargaining skills would be good enough!

The following are the times for coach departures.
There is a stop halfway for snack and use of toilet facility.
Hopefully this will help you plan your trip.

Marrakech to Essaouira daily:
08:30
10:45
14:45
18:30

Essaouira to Marrakech daily:
06:00
09:00
12:00
15:30
18:30

Journey time ia 2 - 2.5 hours.
The price of the ticket is 65Dh but you really need to buy your ticket as soon as you can to guarantee seating, also when you arrive in Ess buy your return ticket immediately.
It has been known to happen that the return journey be ully booked in which case you may have to stay overnight or take a taxi back at a much higher cost.