Morocco is a magic country that fascinates you before you even land.
Maybe it’s the surreal colors you’ve seen on Instagram photos of famous bloggers, the legends your surfer friends tell you after coming back from another trip, or the call of the Atlantic Ocean. I don’t know, but even if you’re going to Morocco for surfing holidays, there’s so much more waiting beyond the surf.
Whether you’re planning your first trip or coming back for more, my list of 13 things to do will show you how to turn your Moroccan surf holiday into an unforgettable adventure filled with culture, adrenaline, and magical landscapes.
Taghazout and Tamraght: More Than Just Surf
Of course, if you’re a surfer, Taghazout (or Tamraght) is the best place to stay. Once a small Berber fisher village, it has now become synonymous with surfing and a chilled lifestyle. Everything here breathes surfing. That’s no surprise because Taghazout is a home to a number of world class surf breaks. Thousands of surfers come here from countries like Germany, France, Portugal, Spain and even Australia. There are a lot of surfing camps and surfing communities here and if you ever saw colorful pictures of blue fisher boats and white houses on Instagram, they’ve also been taken here. However, staying in Taghazout or Tamraght doesn’t mean you need to focus solely on surfing. There are lots of other sports that you can try if you can’t sit still and need some action, just like me.
Sandboarding in Mini Sahara
First thing that comes to my mind if someone asks me what sport to try in Southern Morocco is sandboarding in Mini Sahara. This place is not far from Agadir and if you don’t have time to travel to the majestic Sahara Desert, here you can enjoy myriads of adventures in the sand dunes. Whether you go with friends or with a family with kids, it’s a fun and thrilling activity for people of all ages. Just imagine going down the slope at the speed of the wind. Even if you never tried sand- or snowboarding before, you’ll really like it and will have lots of fun. Not sure where to start? – Check out our Sandboarding Tours here.
Quad Biking on the Beaches of Agadir
But what if you’re afraid to get covered in sand from head to toe? Luckily there are other sports you can try. For example, quad biking on the beaches of Agadir. Great thing is that you can ride a quad bike basically on the same spot where you take surf lessons during the day. So there’s no need to drive far away for some portion of adrenaline. Such tours are often available in places like Banana surf spot. Quad Bike Tours are an amazing activity for those of you who love speed, thrill and sense of freedom.
Day Trips Around Agadir
If you’re a fan of day trips, there are also plenty of things to do both in and near Agadir.
Visit Croco Park
For example, visiting the famous Croco park which is situated not far from the city. It’s an amazing oasis in the middle of the desert landscapes of southern Morocco. Croco Park is home to hundreds of evergreen trees and flowers from all continents and lots of animals such as crocodiles, turtles, lizards and more. Both kids and adults love this park and it’s a great opportunity to take a break and relax from your surf sessions. I’ve been there twice and I’m definitely planning to come back again during my next trip.
Explore Paradise Valley
Another day trip that is quite popular with surfers is the Trip to Paradise Valley. Spending the day in nature’s hidden gem, especially with a local guide who knows this place like no other is a great idea for a day escape. Get ready to do a lot of walking, swimming in the refreshing waters of valley’s lakes, jumping from the rocks and many more. Paradise Valley is definitely one of the must-see destinations during your surf holidays to Morocco.
City Trips from Taghazout
If you have more than 1 day for a city trip, you definitely need to check these two destinations: Marrakech and Essaouira, both within a 3 hours drive from Taghazout.
Marrakech
Marrakech is probably the most colorful and controversial city in Morocco. Each year it welcomes millions of tourists from all over the world. Someone comes here for the famous Djemaa el Fna which has been named a place of unique cultural exchange by UNESCO. Someone comes to explore the bright souks with all kinds of unique souvenirs such as argan oil, ceramics, carpets, leather goods, spices and many more. Someone wants to explore the nearby Agafay desert and to ride a camel or to fly a hot air balloon over the breath-taking landscapes. No matter what kind of activities you are interested in, Marrakech has something for everybody and it will leave an unforgettable mark on your heart.
Essaouira
Essaouira is another beautiful city that you can explore during your surf holidays to Morocco. It’s a place with a very chill vibe where you can get lost in the medina, buy fresh seafood from fishers in the port, ride a horse on the beaches with golden sand, try kitesurfing or admire the work of many artists while simply walking around the city.
It’s worth mentioning that the legendary Jimi Hendrix visited Essaouira in 1969 and there are countless myth surrounding his trip. Even today some locals claim they have seen him or talked to him at that time. If you’re lucky enough, you might also hear a couple of legends about the rock icon’s journey to Morocco.
Final Thoughts
So, while surfing might be what brings you to Morocco, there’s a lot of other things that will make you want to stay longer – or come back sooner. From sandboarding to souk exploring, from quad biking on the beach to wandering through Marrakech’s medina, your days off the board can be just as exciting as those spent catching waves.
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New to Surfing? Here Are 5 Things I Learned Too Late
This is a guest post from one of our surfers -Yulia trained with us in Tamraght and wanted to share her experience with beginner surfers considering surf holidays in Morocco.