Away With The Steiners

Ida Ougourd Market: A Truly Local Moroccan Market in Essaouira. 

Sarah Steiner

If your holiday in Essaouira aligns timing-wise with the weekly Ida Ougourd Market you are in luck.  The market is well worth a visit for a totally unique insight into rural life and Moroccan culture in general.  

It’s a far cry from the beautifully displayed souvenirs and handicrafts in Essaouira medina.  This is real life Morocco.  

Seeing people go about their daily lives in a way that is so different from what most people call the norm is the kind of experience that truly feels like a privilege and will be part of your treasured memories from Essaouira. 

Here is everything you need to know to plan a great outing from Essaouira to Ida Ougourd market. 

Where is Ida Ougourd? 

Ida Ougourd is a small village only 20km inland from Essaouira; not far from Essaouira Mogador Airport. 

The market is listed on Google maps as: 

The village of Ida Ougourd is one of those sleepy, small villages in Morocco that doesn’t have much happening during the rest of the week.  But on market day it is like a different place entirely and the whole village comes alive. 

A friendly welcome (and one of MANY donkeys) on the road to Ida Ougourd market in Essaouira, Morocco.
A friendly welcome (and one of MANY donkeys) on the road to Ida Ougourd.

When is the weekly Ida Ougourd market? 

The weekly market in Ida Ougourd is held every Wednesday morning. 

There are other weekly markets in Essaouira region held on different days of the week: 

Vendors arrive at dawn but the best time to visit Ida Ougourd market is mid-late morning (from 9am – 12pm) when the market is bustling and at its best.  The market does continue throughout the day.  But by the afternoon the fresh produce and livestock will be dwindling.  

About Ida Ougourd Market – the experience 

There are all kinds of markets in Morocco. But it is not often you get the chance as a visitor to truly experience a really local market.

Ida Ougourd market is just that. It’s hard to describe the kind of bustle and buzz of walking through somewhere that feels a world away from what our home country deems as norm. It’s not massive. But it is well worth a day trip for the chance to experience a rich glimpse of Moroccan culture.

There is everything – quite literally as soon as you walk inside the market walls – from poultry to fresh produce, fruit and vegetables displayed on tarpaulins and under makeshift tents. Dates and spices are colourfully stacked in precarious towers. And there is all kinds of tools and machinery, second-hand goods and handwoven baskets and Moroccan style djellaba cloaks.

It’s an assault on the senses in an exciting and vibrant way (especially for a Wednesday morning).

And seriously there are donkeys for Africa! I have truly never seen so many donkeys in my life.

There are donkeys as soon as you enter the road to Ida Ougourd. (A sure sign you are on the right road to the market). Inside they are tethered and waiting patiently. Or carrying hay and herbs or paniers of potatoes or oranges. There are so many!

Mateesha is the word for ‘tomato’ in Darija. It will be a great connection to use some local language!
It’s not like other Moroccan markets as many of these smaller vendors only sell their produce weekly at Ida Ougourd.

Is it cash only?

The entire market in Ida Ougourd is cash only.  There is no ATM onsite or nearby the souk.  The closest ATMs are on the main highway in Ghazoua.  (There is a Societe Generale ATM at the Aswak Assalam supermarket in Ghazoua).  

If you are visiting from Essaouira it is best to be prepared and bring cash and small denominations of notes and coins to spend. 

Does it feel safe? 

Absolutely it feels safe walking around the Ida Ougourd as a tourist. People are friendly and proud of their wares and produce.

Make sure to ask before taking photos of people. But you can relax in the knowledge that Essaouira is a popular tourist destination in Morocco. And even the weekly market in Ida Ougourd is used to tourists visiting on a Wednesday.

As with any souk in Morocco, do remember you are visiting a local market, and these people are here to sell and buy their local produce. Be respectful. Talk to the locals and be sure to spend some money in the village.

How much time do you need? 

Ida Ougourd market is a great day trip from Essaouira.  Albeit it takes around 30 minutes from Essaouira or Sidi Kaouki.  But you really only need about an hour to wander the market. 

If you have more time there is the option to buy meat and vegetables as soon as you arrive and take them to the small restaurants set up just outside the market wall.

These aren’t permanent or tourist-style cafes, but here they will cook your produce purchase for you in a tagine. And you can even continue your wanderings while you wait.

Dates and nuts are even more popular at the market during Ramadan in Morocco.

Getting to Ida Ougourd  

Getting to Ida Ougourd by road: 

It is easy to get a bus or taxi back to Essaouira.  The bus and a row of grand taxis wait outside the entrance to the market. 

The bus back to Essaouira waiting in front of the Grand Taxis outside the entrance to the market in Ida Ougourd.

Driving from Essaouira – where to park for the market

There is guarded parking in a designated carpark right outside the entrance to the market.

See the parking attendant in the bright high—vis vest for a space to park in exchange for a few dirhams.

Enjoy the experience

It’s hard not to wonder at the experience of a Moroccan souk. Some of the scenes really do look largely unchanged as they may have been for generations.

Ida Ougourd market is one of those places that takes travel in Morocco off the beaten track and I can guarantee the memories of a visit will be with you for a lifetime!

Fish – and a whole different experience – at Ida Ougourd market in Morocco.

What about other weekly markets in Morocco? 

We can’t rate the weekly markets in Morocco highly enough! It is a fascinating way to get a glimpse of traditional, rural and weekly life in Morocco and a great place to try something new.

There are weekly markets in Morocco that take place all over the country.

Here are some more of our favourites: 

Questions about planning your trip to Morocco?

More for your travels in Morocco and beyond…

These are some of the companies we use while traveling fulltime as a family (for five years now!) and the ones that we would recommend to anyone planning and booking travel. 

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