Tamraght Surf Guide - Morocco's Learner Paradise

Lots of the time, people think they are going to Taghazout only to find that the surf camp or whatever they’ve booked into is actually in the seaside village of Tamraght just to the south.

Our two cents: Don’t worry about it one jot if you’re a learner or a beginner, or even a decent intermediate.

As Taghazout boomed and sprawled with more surf hostels than you can shake a tagine at in the last 10 years, Tamraght sort of established itself as the overflow.

But it’s also waaay more than just an overflow town.

Yup, there are a few really great things going for Tamraght: 1) Proximity to one of the best learner beaches in Morocco (often, that’s walking distance!), 2) Arguably the best array of surf hostels/hotels/camps in the country, 3) easy access from Agadir Airport.

Basically, if you’re not too advanced and want a solid surf trip with reliable spots on the doorstep, plus a range of low-cost and lux accommodation, the chances are that Tamraght will be perfect.

On top of all that, Tamraght is a nice place. It’s got a cool village-y feel to it despite being a bit more built up than Taghazout proper, plus new Corniche running paths running north that are pretty lovely.

We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!

>>This guide is just one part of our complete guide to surfing in Morocco

Plan your trip to Tamraght

Level: All levels. Especially excellent for beginners.
Season: The European winter – Nov-March.

✈️ Flights: Fly to Agadir if you can. It’s 20 mins drive from there.
📋Insurance: SafetyWing includes surf cover as standard

🏄 Book this surf camp: Yuba Surf Morocco – Very highly rated for complete beginners, which is what this town is for!

What’s in this guide to Tamraght?

Tamraght surf spots

It’s important to remember that Tamraght is distinct to Taghazout. Yes, the two are often spoken about together. And you can certainly travel easily between both.

Here’s the headline: Taghazout is more about its series of famous right-hand points (headed up by Anchor Point), while Tamraght is more about beginner-friendly beach breaks with the odd point thrown in the mix for good measure…

Taghazout

Taghazout has its own main beach that’s popular with total beginners since it’s usually quite small and protected. These days, most surf camps in Taghazout proper will actually make the trip south on a daily basis to surf in Tamraght, just because there’s more variety of spots and – crucially – extra space. The water quality is also a bit better.

That said, Taghazout is a jumping off point for access to a series of point breaks that run to the north and they are pretty frickin wonderful. If you’re a more advanced surfer looking to hit some of the most epic wintertime rights in Africa, you’re better off trading Tamraght for Taghazout and journeying up to them each day.

We won’t go into too much detail about each here since we have a dedicated guide to surfing in Taghazout. Suffice to say that Anchor Point – a bomb of a point that’s one of the most world-class rights ever – and Killers – an expert barreler that can give the ride of your life – are both within reach. As are the cruisy points of Imsouane and the QLD-esque La Source.

Where to stay? The Dfrost Almugar Taghazout Villa run a cracking 8-day camp from their stylo pad overlooking Taghazout’s main beach.

>>We also have a complete guide to the surf in Taghazout

Crocro (or Crocodiles)

Crocro, Crocs, Crocodiles, call it what you like, this break is one of the reasons that Tamraght has managed to wean so many surf camps away from the heart of Taghazout. It’s super well exposed so hoovers up any and all NW-W swells throughout the winter, meaning there’s generally a wave here every single day.

Most of the time, they’re chest-to-head high A-frames with lefts, rights and closeouts in equal measure. It’s a great place to hang, chill, surf all day and just enjoy the Moroccan vibe.

Devil’s Rock

Devil’s Rock is a playground for learners and improvers. Forget the name: It’s not that hard at all, and it’s one of the most fantastic practice waves we’ve come across in Africa.

It’s essentially the name for the 200-300m or so of beachfront that runs north from the Tamraght headland (which is, incidentally, called Devil’s Rock). Sand-bottomed from tip to toe, it’s a long, spacious area with A-frame peaks up its whole length. Always busy but great vibes.

Punchy, peaky waves for all levels with pockets that will hold for a little for you to get used to surfing in different directions, down the line, and even with some nice turns.

14km

14km is tucked int the rocks between Tamraght’s main beach and the one that runs north towards Taghazout. It’s a bit of a challenge compared to the all-level breaks that flank it, mainlty because it’s sucky and pitches really steep. Often a fav among spongers. Some localism. Not often on the menu of the surf camps.

Banana Point

Craving long, long lines? Banana Point is the best of the rights in the main Tamraght Bay. It works on a headland that pushes a little out into the Atlantic, so it forms up like a mini (and we really do mean mini!) version of Anchor Point, with the same enviable protection from N winds.

It tends to be smallish and a bit fatter than its mates to the north, but can also handle decent size, and it’s the swell forecast that will really determine what level it’s suited to on the day. The take off is right under the rocks at the point but you can mosey up the shoulder to go into easy mode if you want.

Banana Beach

If you’re doing a surf camp, then Banana Beach is likely to be one of your first stops as a beginner. It’s a super-fogiving, super-protected, usually small wave that’s home to crews of surf campers trying to pop up and stand and bailing all over the place.

The vibes are good. The waves are super-simple mush. It’s a nice spot to get a feel for your board and the water before moving up to something else.

There are days when we’ve seen nice courdory lines marching into the sand here. They’re kinda’ closeout-ey but also can have some 30-40m runs left and right.

K12

K12 is an intermediate and improver playground. It’s gone and got a sort of unofficial blessing from the locals to be an international spot that’s open to all, so there shouldn’t be worries on the localism front here.

It’s actually a reef break since there’s a big patch of rock deep below the water here, though it acts much more like a Euro classic beach break, offering sets of big, fat waves that crumble at the lip. It’s really forgiving, quite punchy, and has wide faces to carve up. We like hitting it on a twinnie or bringing a bit of extra volume.

Good wave. 10 mins from the center of Tamraght.

K11

K11 is probably the most un-Moroccan like wave on this run of shoreline. It’s south of Tamraght in the small village of Awrir, working on a patch of reef at high and mid-pushing tides only.

The peak is a wedgy almond barrel that gets super pitchy really fast. And it’s a left! Locals often right on it and don’t enjoy watching traveling surfers not milking the shoulder for all it’s worth.

Agadir

Agadir is the city that anchors this whole surf coastline. It’s kinda’ cool, has a buzz about it, some intriguing old Moroccan sites, and a touch of package tourism to it.

We wouldn’t stay there though, unless you based yourself on the beach an Anza, which has a few good surf camps and a long stretch of beach that oscillates between easy peaks for learners to more shapely reef breaks that work left and right for more advanced riders.

To sum up: It’s a decent option if you really don’t want to stray too far from Agadir but never a proper alternative for a full-on surf trip to Taghazout or Tamraght.

>>We have a complete guide to surfing in Agadir

When to surf in Tamraght?

The winter months between November and March are the best time to surf in Tamraght.

Tamraght is just like the whole rest of Morocco’s Atlantic coast. It’s super windy in the summer and then calm and consistent on the swell front throughout the winter.

There’s really no two ways about it: You want to surf here between November and March. Other months are way to blustery or lack strong NW swells.

>>Get more info on when to surf in Morocco in our full guide to the seasons

Where to stay in Tamraght?

Surf camps in Tamraght

We’ll just go right out and say it: We think some of the very best surf camps in Morocco are located in Tamraght.

The argument isn’t hard to make. They places here don’t suffer from the premium that comes with being in vogue Taghazout, so they’re usually quite good value for money, and they have access to two or three of the very best learner spots in the region, which is cracking if you’re coming here to improve or get in the water for the first time.

We list like 5 of the best-rated camps in town in our full guide to the best surf camps in Tamraght, here’s a glimpse:

Yuba Surf Morocco – A 6-day surf camp that’s tailored to beginners, with local instructors, all from a camp that’s very close to the beach. This is the epitome of what surf camping in Tamraght is about.
Manapany Surf Camp – You go up a hill to the back of the village for Manapany Surf Camp, but that means spectacular views from the terrace in this chilled surf camp. 9.8/10 on Booking right now!

>>Get more travel inspo in our guide to the top surf camps in Morocco.

Hotels in Tamraght

We can see plenty of reasons why you might not want to commit to a full-on surf camp but still want to stay in Tamraght.

For one, the local beaches are lovely. For two, surf camps can be a bit organized for some people and the proximity of hotels to waves means that Tamraght is the perfect place for chilled DIY surf trips where you can wake up and walk straight to the peaks each morning and then kick back in your hotel.

Berber Surf House – A cool-looking lodge with local Berber touches, set right in the middle of the village.
Ocean Surf House – We think these guys strike just the right balance between mod cons and traditional Berber living. Rooftop gardens and views of the waves combine with plush double beds and nice lounge spaces. It’s a fantastic midrange options for couples, families, and friends alike.
Riad Dar Haven – If you’re feeling plush and want something with a bit of style, choose what’s arguably Tamraght’s nicest hotel. A central pool hidden in a courtyard, that old-school Moorish style, and big, spacious rooms all make it a top spot to retire to after a day on the beach.

If you’re more into the budget end of the spectrum then there’s a good chance you’ll prefer Taghazout anyway. It’s become a sort of backpacker town as well as a surf town and there are tons of great hostels there to show for it.

Surf lessons in Tamraght

To do a surf lesson, three places in Morocco really stand out: Imsouane, Taghazout, and Tamraght.

It’s just that the beaches here, with their sandy bottoms and relatively easy waves, are perfect for learners and those looking to improve without worrying too much about the technical and dangers.

There’s also great surf infrastructure in Tamraght, which means plenty of optioms when it comes to schools.

Expect to pay in the region of $40-60 for a group lesson of 1.5-2 hours.

Pre-booking makes things simple and gets you into the highest rated schools, like…

Original Surf Morocco (All-day surf package) – We love this option because it’s not your run-of-the-mill 2-hour lesson. Instead, it’s a 4.5-5-hour trip that includes transport to the beach and 2 hours of guided surfing with instruction. After that, you’ll have two more hours to have fun and surf to your heart’s content. The price also includes lunch on the beach.
Adrenalin Surf Maroc (various options) – These guys are very highly rated and offer great tuition. They also have a flexible menu of lesson options, ranging from basic 1-hour surf intros to full on 12-hour improver courses. All are good buys.

Tamraght travel basics

Where is Tamraght?

These days loads of people talk about Tamraght and Taghazout as a single entity, but they are actually two separate towns.

Tamraght is just shy of 8km south of its bigger bro. It takes 15-20 minutes to drive it in a taxi, taking a windy coast road that puts the Atlantic Ocean on one side and some wild mountains on the other, with plenty of big golf resorts in between.

More importantly for those traveling to Tamraght, the town is really close to Agadir. There’s a big international airport there – Agadir Al-Massira International Airport. It’s got links to Europe, many of which run in line with the peak surf season.

From the airport terminal it’s super easy. Get a private transfer like this one that you can pre-book. It takes just under an hour in normal traffic and shouldn’t cost more than $35. Just make sure that they know you’re bringing boards beforehand if you’re planning that.