Morocco

To get a full refund, cancellation must be no less than 8 days before the local start time of the experience.

If traveler cancels their booking from 7 to 0 days before the local start time of the experience, no refund is provided.

This full-day experience immerses you in Essaouira’s industrial heritage, with a focus on the sugar and argan oil trades. The day trip begins with a scenic walk through groves of twisted Argan trees, learning about this UNESCO‑protected ecosystem and spotting local wildlife like squirrels, rare birds, and even foxes. Along the way, you’ll gain insight into how this arid yet fertile landscape has sustained generations of Berber communities, shaped by cycles of labor, migration, and resilience.

Your guide will then lead you to the striking ruins of a 16th-century sugar mill—a hidden symbol of Morocco’s economic past. As you sip tea under the trees, you’ll explore how this once-prosperous industry helped shape this region.

The day continues in the home of Hafida and her family, where you’ll take part in a hands-on Argan oil workshop, before ending with a tasting of the oil, paired with organic honey and freshly baked bread by the Berber women in the family.

This experience highlights how Essaouira’s rural lands played a significant role in the country’s economic growth. You’ll understand why sugar was once part of Morocco’s booming Saadian economy—linking agriculture, trade and empire.

This same landscape now supports a different pillar of local life: Argan oil. In the home of Hafida and her family, you’ll take part in the entire artisanal process of making this “liquid gold”—from cracking nuts to pressing kernels—guided by the Berber women who keep this tradition alive. Their knowledge has been passed down through generations, and you’ll see how each step of the process is rooted in rhythm and care.

You’ll leave with the oil you’ve helped create, a deeper appreciation of its cultural value, and the chance to taste authentic Amlou (an argan-oil based spread), made with high-quality ingredients, far from the commercial blends found in markets—as well as a connection to the people and the land that continue to sustain this craft.

Visit the vestiges of a Saadian-era sugar mill—one of the world’s few remaining pre-industrial sugar sites.

Your guide sheds light on the mill's economic role and how this industry shaped the region.

Discover Essaouira’s 16th‑century sugar factory and its Saadian-era history.

Historic Sugar Mill Ruins

Enjoy a tasting session featuring freshly made argan oil, warm bread, and honey while chatting with the family.

Travelers will connect personally with a local family, learning the cultural significance of argan oil, which is often overlooked in typical tours.

Taste fresh argan oil, honey, bread, and connect with the community.

Tasting & Wrap Up

Pause for a tea break, surrounded by argan trees and the gentle sounds of the countryside.

A serene moment to connect, reflect, and discuss what you've learned in an informal setting.

Tea Break in the Argan Grove

Visit Hafida’s rural home to learn how argan nuts are cracked, pressed, and pressed into precious oil.

Guided by Berber women preserving an ancestral craft, you’ll engage directly with the process of extracting oil.

Hands-on argan oil workshop with a Berber family.

Argan Oil Workshop at Hafida's

Begin with a relaxed walk through Argan forests at the outskirts of Essaouira, where twisted trees stretch back centuries.

You’ll see firsthand a UNESCO‑recognized ecosystem, with insights into its ecology and cultural ties, and spot natural wildlife like squirrels and rare birds.

Scenic stroll among ancient argan trees with wildlife sightings.

Argan Grove Walk

Day Trip from Essaouira: Walk argan groves, explore sugar mill ruins and make oil with Berber women.

The per person price of this experience assumes a minimum number of participants to cover base costs and logistics. The supplemental fee enables us to maintain quality and exclusivity for your smaller than minimum group

The Argan and Sugar Legacy

Guided nature walk with historical insights and wildlife spotting.

Visit to the ruins of a 16th-century sugar mill.

Tea break under the trees during the walk.

Hands-on Argan oil workshop in a Berber family home.

Tasting of Argan oil, Amlou, organic honey, and homemade bread.

One bottle of cosmetic Argan oil to take home.

Private transport to and from the Argan grove.

Sturdy walking shoes, sunglasses, a hat, sunscreen and a camera to capture the landscapes and the process.

You'll meet Tarek next to Bab Marrakech in Essaouira, marked on the map.

Your host, Tarek, is a local Moroccan who coordinates the experience and welcomes you into the region. A certified guide will accompany you throughout the journey, sharing historical insights and curiosities. At the heart of the experience it's Hafida and her family who guide you through the traditional Argan oil workshop, offering hands-on instruction and warm hospitality.