A Travel Price Comparison for Morocco Zagora vs. Essaouira for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Zagora or Essaouira?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Zagora or Essaouira? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Zagora or Essaouira?

Zagora

A small town in southern Morocco, Zagora is a popular base camp for excursions on foot, by camel, or four wheel drive vehicles into the surrounding desert. One of the most famous and historic treks is the ancient caravan route to Timbuktu, marked by a famous sign at the end of town - indicating a journey of "52 days" by camel.

Essaouira

Essaouira is a beautiful beach town on the Atlantic coast of Morocco. The city has a pleasant medina that has been named a UNESCO World Heritage site and is interesting to explore. It's an 18th century fortified town with a lot of character and charm. The city is rich and culture and you'll find a handful of art galleries throughout the town. The city is also a gathering place for artists and musicians, particularly during the Gnaoua Festival of World Music, which takes place the last week of June. This event attracts about 450,000 visitors yearly.

Which place is cheaper, Essaouira or Zagora?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Zagora is $49, while the average daily cost in Essaouira is $45. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Zagora and Essaouira in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Zagora $35
    Essaouira $25
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Zagora $70
    Essaouira $50
Compare Hotels in Zagora and Essaouira

Looking for a hotel in Zagora or Essaouira? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Zagora


Hotels in Essaouira


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Zagora Hotel Prices and Essaouira Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Zagora $1.39
    Essaouira $1.95

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zagora

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zagora:

  • Airport Private Transfer: $35

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Essaouira

Also for Essaouira, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Departure Transfer from Essaouira City to Essaouira Airport: $14
  • Private Arrival Transfer Essaouira Airport to Essaouira City: $14
  • Private Transfer Essaouira-Essaouira Airport: $21
  • Airport Transfer From Essaouira Airport To Medina: $22
  • Transfer Essaouira Airport to Essaouira: $22
  • Private Transfer from Essaouira to Imsouane or to Sidi Kaouki: $27
  • Private Airport Round-Trip Transfer: Essaouira Airport to Essaouira City: $27
  • Private Transfer from or to Essaouira Airport: $30
  • Hinterland Quad Bike Tour with Transfer: $35
  • Essaouira Airport To city Transfer: $38
  • From Scenic Diabat Horseback Ride with Transfer: $38
  • From Beachside Quad Bike Tour with Transfer: $59

Is it cheaper to fly into Zagora or Essaouira?

Prices for flights to both Essaouira and Zagora change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Zagora $13
    Essaouira $13

Typical Food prices in Essaouira

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Essaouira:


  • Baklava
    $1.37
  • Breakfast Crepes
    $0.49
  • Fish for Lunch
    $15

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Essaouira

For Essaouira, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Private Half-Day Moroccan Cooking Class: $35
  • Traditional Moroccan Cooking Class: $54
  • L'Atelier Madada Moroccan Cooking Workshop in Essaouira: $54
  • Essaouira Cooking Class: $65
  • Traditional Family Style Moroccan Cooking Class: $66
  • Essaouira Walking Food Tour: $70
  • Berber Cooking Class at a Farm in the Countryside & shopping at a rural Souk.: $96
  • 3 Hours Horse Riding with Dinner and Overnight Berber Camp: $111
  • 3 hours Camel Ride in Essaouira with Dinner and Overnight in Berber Camp: $111

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Zagora $2.79
    Essaouira $12

Tours and Activities in Zagora

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Zagora are as follows:

  • 2 Days Private Tour From Zagora to Erg Chigaga by 4x4 and Camel Ride with lunch : $500
  • 2 days tour from Zagora to Erg Chegaga: $130
  • 3 Days of Desert Adventures and Berber Encounters in Zagora: $303
  • 3 day individual camel trekking tour in the Sahara: $433
  • 3-Days Private Tour in Zagora to Chigaga Desert: $379
  • From Agadir 4 Days 3 night Désert Tours to Marrakech: $1,320
  • From Agadir or Taghazout: 2-Day Sahara Desert Tour to Zagora: $349
  • From Agadir or Taghazout: 2-Day Sahara Desert Tour to Zagora: $351
  • From Agadir or Taghazout: 2-Day Sahara Desert Tour to Zagora: $370
  • From Marrakech: Zagora 2-Day Desert Tour with Camel Ride: $96
  • From 2-Day Desert Tour to Erg Chegaga: $314
  • Private 3-days Desert tour from Zagora to Erg chigaga Dunes & Camel trek : $352

Tours and Activities in Essaouira

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Essaouira.

  • Supratours Essaouira to Marrakech Moroccan Bus and Train Tickets: $20
  • Private City Tour: $25
  • Essaouira Day excursion experience: $25
  • KiteSurfing or Surfing Experience in Essaouira: $28
  • Full Day Tour To Essaouira from Marrakech: $32
  • Friend-Guide Essaouira city tour: $36
  • Guided Dromedary Riding Tour: $38
  • Agadir: Essaouira Day Trip with City Tour, Goats & Guide: $39
  • 3-Hour Camel Tour: $40
  • From Agadir to Essaouira : Coastal Day Tour with Guide: $47
  • Half-Day Old Town Guided Tour: $48
  • Essaouira Tour - Half day visit to berber market : $56

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Zagora -
    Essaouira $8.97


When comparing the travel costs between Zagora and Essaouira, we can see that Zagora is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Africa, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

Which is Bigger, Zagora or Essaouira?

Essaouira is bigger, and its population is about 2 times larger than the population of Zagora. When comparing the population of Zagora vs. Essaouira, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit and the activities that interest you.

Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.
Share This Page
Pin This Page
Zagora vs. Essaouira Travel Comparison

Some of the links on this website are sponsored or affiliate links which help to financially support this site. By clicking the link and making a purchase, we may receive a small commission, but this does not affect the price of your purchase.