Market
Had Draa souk
Had Draa souk comes round every week, 30 km and 26 minutes by road from Bab Doukkala. Its name carries Sunday (Had), but no official source publishes the day or the hours, so check the evening before at the grand taxi rank. Leave early and keep the morning free. Entry is free.
By The essaouira.org newsroom · updated on
What you will find on the souk ground
Had Draa (حد الدرا) is a rural commune of Essaouira Province, separate from Ounagha. The souk occupies a marketplace in the middle of the village, next to a grand taxi rank and a bus station.
The agency Les Petites Expériences, which runs guided visits there, describes a livestock market that gathers cattle, donkeys, sheep and goats. The stalls sell fruit and vegetables, dried fruit, pastries and olive oil, and a butcher cuts camel meat that the grill next door cooks. Trades work on the spot: a blacksmith for the donkeys, a welder for teapots, a cobbler, barbers under canvas.
Our view: this is a working market, not an attraction. Keep clear of animals being moved, and ask before you photograph anyone.
When to arrive and how long to stay
No official source publishes the souk’s day or hours, neither the Had Draa commune nor the province. The name gives Sunday: Had means that day, as Tnine means Monday. It is also the only day the agency sells its guided visit of the souk, from 09:00 to 13:00 (17 October 2026). Check the evening before at the Bab Doukkala grand taxi rank. The days of the other village souks are on our page on the region’s markets.
No opening hours are published either. The times that circulate online come from neither the commune nor an organiser, and we do not repeat them. For the way back, ask the driver who drops you off how late cars keep leaving.
Our view: leave Essaouira before 08:00 and keep the whole morning for the souk. You will be back for lunch.
Getting there and back without a car
By road it is 30 km and 26 minutes from Bab Doukkala, by our calculation. Take the N8 as far as the Ounagha roundabout, then head north on the N1 for 5 km. As the crow flies, the souk is 22.7 km away. On the way back, the argan shops at kilometre 20 of the N8 are on your route.
Grand taxis run by the seat and leave from the Bab Doukkala rank when the car is full. No fare is published, for a seat or for the whole car, so ask the price before you get in. The Lima Bus website names Had Draa on none of its nine routes and publishes its timetables only as images. The collaborative map OpenStreetMap nonetheless puts a line 5 stop, Essaouira to Talmest, less than 300 m from the souk, and routes line 8A through Had Draa. Before you count on the bus, call Lima Bus customer service on 06 61 21 34 26.
Our view: ask the driver who drops you off for his number and agree a time for the return. Agree the fare for a whole car before you get in, as our guide to grand taxis and buses explains.
Frequently asked questions
What day is Had Draa souk?
Its name carries Sunday, Had, and the agency Les Petites Expériences sells its guided visit of the souk on that day alone. Even so, no official source publishes the day, so check the evening before at the Bab Doukkala grand taxi rank.
What time should I get to Had Draa souk?
Early: we suggest leaving Essaouira before 08:00. No opening hours are published, by the commune or by the province, and the guided visit run by Les Petites Expériences is there from 09:00 to 13:00.
How do I get to Had Draa souk without a car?
By shared grand taxi from the Bab Doukkala rank: 30 km and 26 minutes by road. No fare is published, so ask the price before you get in. Lima Bus names no Had Draa stop on its routes.
How long do you need at Had Draa souk?
A morning, in our view: 26 minutes on the road each way, plus waiting for the taxi and your time at the souk. The guided visit by Les Petites Expériences, transport included, runs from 09:00 to 13:00.
Can you take photos at Had Draa souk?
The stalls and the crowd, yes, but ask before you photograph a person or their animals. It is a working market, and a no should be respected.
Is there an entry fee for Had Draa souk?
No, it is a public market and entry is free. Bring small change for tea, the grills and the ride back.