The largest rural market in the Essaouira region takes place every Sunday in Had Draa located 30 km up the road towards Marrakech. The farmers of the region travel there by donkey to offer their crops, animals, and crafts, and to also do their weekly shopping. The gathering at Had Draa is mainly attended by men although everyone socializes, chats over tea with friends, and exchanges news in cafés or under tents.
The market gives an authentic insight into daily lives in the Moroccan countryside. Vegetables, fruits, nuts, and spices release their plethora of aromas while the market showcases everything needed to live and work.
We sample and taste a variety of foodstuffs. Next door are many cafes with open grills which presents us with the unique opportunity to try fresh grilled dromedary, served along with warm bread, olive and Argan oil, as well as traditional mint tea.
HIGHLIGHTS ! Discovering rural life and taste local food.
Posted By : Kenneth_B
We were picked on time by the guide and driver who drove us to the market. The market was quite busy full of locals selling their wares. It was a really good experience and quite humbling too, this was how the locals lived and bought the food etc. We were very impressed by the guide who was very knowledgeable and spoke very good English. The food tasting was very good, food was purchased as we explored the market and then prepared for us to eat at the end of the tour.
We would definitely recommend this experience.
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Posted On : 2024-07-09 10:39:18 
Posted By : Catherine C
A unique and enriching experience with our two guides who were able to guide us and inform us with professionalism in the mazes of this almost tourist-free market where you have to be discreet. . In addition to the interest in sharing with the participants of this outing and our guides, this visit allows us to discover authentic Morocco on the fringes of the medina. The small snack shared together with local specialties is a delicious moment on all levels.
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Posted On : 2024-05-25 05:11:22 
Posted By : Marcus M
I have been before, and still thoroughly love this totally captivating authentic local farmer’s market. I arrived before sunrise and started at the far end of the market to experience all the animal trading, mainly cattle, but also horses, goats, poultry and camels. Wandering through the rest of the market it is split into house building material, spices, vegetables, homeware, etc, as well as hot tea sellers and food being cooked in hot coals. It is like stepping back in time.
I took a ‘taxi collective’, 10 dirham each way from the grand taxi station on Ave 2 Mars in Essaouira. It took 5 minutes for the taxi to fill up before taking 25 minutes to get to Had Dra, and be dropped by the post office. The return taxi is on the other side of the road. Highly recommend, and worth getting there early.
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Posted On : 2024-03-04 03:33:22
Posted By : Resort64044124492
The guide was very smiling and very kind. We discovered lots of things. Great time ! The souk is large and we felt well accompanied...
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Posted On : 2024-02-19 14:12:01
Posted By : Victoria_N
Our second tour with Naima this trip - highly recommend! Interesting to see a large local market and how the community operates. Naima was a great guide - very engaging and knowledgeable. She took great care of the group and would recommend!
Only improvement to provide cold water, especially on hotter days.
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Posted On : 2023-10-16 01:52:31
Posted By : 395hansl
This excursion is a great opportunity to experience an authentic Moroccan market. Naima is a super guide and she showed and explained the market and the farmer's life. Great to meet some of the market people, get some demos and taste the great food!
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Posted On : 2023-09-17 15:12:56
Posted By : pclark768
The market is truly local, thousands of Moroccan men but no Moroccan women, and in the 2 hours we were there saw less than 10 Europeans. You can buy any part of a animal there, and animal welfare is very different to ours. If you are squeamish definitely don’t go. If you want the real flavour of Morocco go. But beware of pick pockets, my wife had a bag stolen from inside her rucksack.
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Posted On : 2023-05-21 09:06:37
Posted By : Donna_H
Don't miss this experience! A sensory overload that I would not have attempted on my own. Masses of people, carts, tents, livestock, spices, foods, etc... Claudia, our guide, definitely knows her way through the market and we stopped at various stalls for tastes of prickly pear(delicious), cookies, nuts, and the like(yummy), and I may be forgetting a stop. We walked as she bought vegetables and meat for our lunch, and we went under a tent to eat and drink tea. I wasn't keen on eating camel, though I did try a piece- and then another. Well seasoned and very tasty. We were discouraged from taking pictures though, which I found a bit disappointing. A very memorable tour, with or without pictures.
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Posted On : 2022-12-05 13:22:53
Posted By : 512mail
We had an amazing day visiting the Berber Market - a great way to experience the real Morocco and then trips to the Oasis and Moulay Bouzektoun.
Our guide Naima was fantastic - so friendly and knowledgeable. Because of her familiarity with the market we were able to taste foods and sample produce that just wouldn't have been possible without her. We never felt rushed or pampered - just well looked after.
Communication with Claudia was great and transport comfortable.
Wonderful day & great value for money.
We'd highly recommend both the company and this excursion.
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Posted On : 2020-01-03 08:20:15
Posted By : sommieh f
I thoroughly enjoyed this excursion. As an added bonus we stopped at the Argan cooperative. The market itself was a slice of village life, from livestock to foods and every other thing imaginable. We even had grilled camel meat for lunch! The oasis was beautiful as well, and such a contrast to the busy market.Claudia was an excellent guide, making me feel welcomed from the minute I stepped into the van. This was my second Berberlands trip and I am considering another!
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Posted On : 2019-10-29 13:55:17
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