Surfing Morocco – All Spots / Seasons / Surf Camps
There was a time when travellers would look to Morocco for just those intrepid hikes in the Atlas or boundary-breaking trips to cities like Marrakesh and Fez. But then someone discovered the waves. No one’s quite sure when it happened, but some say American GIs were the first to get riding during the 1950s. Either way, the secret was outed: Surfing in Morocco isn’t just possible; it’s downright fantastic.
It seems obvious when you think about it. There’s a mega 1,835 kilometres of coastline here. Much of that threads its way along the Atlantic Ocean, passing close to already-known surf meccas like Lanzarote.
Then comes the unique geography of the nation. As the humungous Atlas Mountains (they are worth the detour from the waves, by the way) drop to the sea, they give way to long, sandy beaches and forge deep underwater trenches that act as a factory for glassy waves on wide periods.
These days, Morocco is no longer a hidden gem. It’s just a gem. There are more surf schools and tried-and-tested spots on the Morocco surf map than you can shake a tagine at. The Berber villages of Taghazout and Tamraght have established themselves as the capitals of surf, but the enthralling city of Essaouira and the resort town of Agadir are also getting in on the action of late. And there are umpteen cracking Moroccan surf towns that are smaller beyond those.
You’ll be spoiled for choice. And for waves.
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>>Read more about surfing in other destinations in Africa
Morocco surf at a glance
Good for: All levels // Season: Winter (November to March) // Surf type: Beach breaks, point breaks
The good:
- Prime winter surf destination foor Europeans
- Some of the world’s best right-hand points
- Loads of hidden places still left
- It’s cheap
The bad:
- Windy summers
- Some pollution in certain spots
Where to surf in Morocco?
Believe it or not, surfing in Morocco is still kinda’ in its infancy.
Yes, people have been coming here for decades with the boards in tow. However, most have stuck to the tried-and-tested terrain of Taghazout.
We’re certain there are hundreds and thousands of waves and surf towns/villages still to be discovered, along with some that deserve a special mention as upcoming alternatives to the mainstays…
Bouznika
Bouznika is pretty unknown to the global surf community, though there is a loyal following that seem to come back every year.
It’s more northerly than the swell-sucking spots of Taghazout et al, so gets mellower waves. They’re helped by a series of reefs and conch-shaped beaches that make it one of the more log-friendly, learner-friendly spots in the country.
It’s super near to Rabat and Casblanca, and is part surf town, part local beach resort with all the bells and whistles (think golf courses beside the sea).
>>Read more about surfing in Bouznika
Oualidia
Oualidia is another upcoming surf town on the northwest Atlantic of Morocco – the country’s most undiscovered region.
It’s actually best known as an oyster town, but there are loads of beach breaks. Plus, there’s a cool little lagoon here that forces the swell to reform over a sandy bay – it’s the PERFECT spot for total beginners.
A few nice surf camps are now around, and the town has real character, with a river and fishing boats and great seafood.
>>We have a complete guide to surfing in Oualidia
Essaouira
Essaouira is the wind city. It pokes out on a spit of land to feel the brunt of the northerly and southerly trade winds, which swirl all over the place in the summer months. That makes it a bit of a hub for kitesurfers, who have completely colonised much of the southern end of the urban beach.
When the gusts die down and the groundswells pick up in the winter, there’s lots to be said for Essaouira being the best beach for beginners surfing in Morocco. It is mellow, chest high, sand bottomed, and right next to one of the most chilled and picturesque towns in the whole country.
>>Check out our guide to Essaouira surf right now!
Sidi Kaouki
We have a real soft spot for Sidi Kaouki. It’s not the best wave in the world, but it doesn’t pretend to be.
What’s more, the setting could hardly be more atmospheric: An age-old Sufi tomb marks the headland with its arabesque design and adobe walls. Just below that is where you’ll be surfing, on a long beach that has multiple peaks. The most consistent is the reef area on the north end (close to the shrine), but you can find mushy waves and even some glassy points as you move further south. Sidi Kaouki is becoming more popular every year, so think about visiting ASAP.
>>Check out our full guide to Sidi Kaouki surf
Tafedna
We hail Tafedna as one of the best-kept secret surf towns on the Moroccan Atlantic. Your jaw will drop when you drive the corner and gaze across the 2.5-mile bay. It’s wonderfuly, beset by high cliffs, wild desert landscapes and shifting dunes.
There’s a very nice right point break right by the village, plus endless peaks up and down the sandy beach for all levels. It’s never busy. And there are some seriously nice coast hotels that offer authentic Moroccan feels with views over the beachfront.
Where to stay? Tasguayan Maison de Charme is the only option in our opinion. It’s really, really nice. A proper Berber adobe hotel with chic cottages and rooftop tea areas overlooking the sand.
>>Check out our complete guide to Tafedna
Imsouane
Imsouane is the Moroccan king of point breaks. Laying claim to one of the longest right-handers in North Africa, it has a take-off next to a headland on the south side of town and a ride that can hold up for nearly a whole kilometer as it stretches over the bay.
Even in the punchier winter months this one tends to stay steady and mellow. That’s good news because it can’t handle too much swell. The upshot? It’s a fine longboarders option and pretty nice for beginners. That might be why new surf schools and surf camps are popping up here almost every year.
>>Check out our in-depth guide to Imsouane surf
Imi Ouaddar
Imi Ouaddar isn’t a full on surf town like Imsouane or Taghazout (see below). It’s on the road between those two, so there’s lots of good surf about – Anchor Point is 10 mins down the road, and Killers is even closer – but this one’s really a chill resort with a beach vibe.
I’ve started to reccomend it as a bit of an alt to the craziness of Taghazout. You can surf the same waves, but enjoy a much more family-friendly atmosphere. The local wave is also a beginner beach break, so it’s good for mixed ability groups.
>>Check out our guide to Imi Ouaddar
Taghazout
Oh, Taghazout: A handsome little Berber fishing town with paint-peeling boats next to fantastic right-left peeling waves over both sand and reef – who could possibly resist that?
Sadly, over-development and pollution took their toll in the 2010s and Tag became everyone’s favorite spot to surf with sewerage.
The good news is that the waste water issue is now firmly solved and the place is once again firmly the epicenter of the Moroccan surf scene. There are more top-draw surf camps here than you can shake a tagine at, waves for all levels, and great vibes. It’s the place to start.
Where to stay? Dfrost Almugar Taghazout Villa – Our top pick of surf camps in the country right now promises an epic week of surfing and traveling and meeting new people in Morocco’s surf capital.
>>Check out our in-depth guide to Taghazout surf
Tamraght
Tamraght is right next to Taghazout and many people talk about the two as if they were the same. But they’re not…
Tamraght, for its part, is a drawn out village spread across a few sandy hills about 400m back from the beachfront. It’s got walking access to several breaks that are downright fantastic for total beginners, which is why the place has established itself as a bit of a hub for surf schools and learner surf camps.
But it’s not all novice stuff. Beefy right-hand points, barreling lefts (rare in Morocco), and A-frame beachies all make an appearance, plus it’s still a great base for accessing the iconic spots of Anchor Point and Hash Point in Taghazout proper (they’re 20-30 mins away max).
Where to stay? Ocean Surf House – A chilled pad with a rooftop hammock area for chilling post surf. Nice design. Great location.
>>Check out our in-depth guide to Taghazout surf
Agadir
Agadir has been drawing beach bums and golfers for decades. But there are some jewels of surf spots to be had in the vicinity of the old port city at the base of the Anti-Atlas Mountains. So long as you can get around, variety is the keyword. Perhaps you’ll make for the reef right of Cherry’s? Or will it be the fast beach break up in Cro Cro? A lot of travelers will often look to combine a trip to Agadir with surfing in Morocco’s premier spot: Taghazout. That’s only a short transfer to the north.
We’ve got a complete guide to surfing in Agadir
Tifnit
Tifnit has a fantastic beach break with fun, wedgy lefts that can work a charm on huge winter swells when the rest of the coast around Agadir is maxing out. It was also a gorgeous place to be with real Berber charm, that is until the bulldozers came in and smashed everything down. It’s a sad tale and the future of the town is still up in the air, though the surf breaks are still accessible as of 2024.
>>We have a full travel and surf guide to Tifnit
Mirleft
If you want to feel what the Moroccan surf scene was like 20 years ago, in an age before Taghazout boomed, head south of Agadir. Mirleft is the gateway to the surf coast there and it’s pretty wonderful. A sleepy Berber fishing village, it looks over a Grande Plage with punchy beach breaks but also has access to right-hand points to the south that have some serious quality.
>>Read all about it in our guide to surfing in Mirleft
Legzira
Legzira is a jaw dropping place. Huge red cliffs and big rock arches jut out of the Moroccan coast here south of Agadir. There’s a fantastic reef break with nice rights on one side and a beach break with punchy sets that are rarely busy.
>>We have a full guide to surfing in Legzira
Sidi Ifni
Sidi Ifni is really wonderful for surfers. Two hours’ drive south of Agadir, it’s an old Spanish port town with deep Berber fishing roots.
The main beach has shorebreaks for beginners and a great reef that works consistently, firing off nice long rights all winter. Go south to the harbor and lefts come into play.
We’d rate this loveable town as one of the top alts to Taghazout, especially thanks to its rather enticing surf camp offering…
Where to stay? Ifni Surf lead the way here. They have 8-day pacakages for learners and really great local guides.
>>Read all about it in our guide to surfing in Sidi Ifni
When to surf in Morocco?
The winter is the prime time to surf in Morocco.
Winds die down to let the NW Atlantic swells roll in uninterrupted. January to March can see some good E offshores coming off the Sahara, helping key spots like Anchor Point really get rolling at their finest. Either side of the peak winter is best for beginners, in October and in May.
Morocco gets surf all year, though. Just check out the geography of the country – the Atlantic Ocean bashes straight into much of the shore. Of course, you might need to skip the Mediterranean parts of the coastline to find the swells, but that still leaves thousands of kilometres of potential riding territory.
>>Read our complete dedicated guide to the surf seasons in Morocco
How difficult is the surf in Morocco?
Morocco is a classic all-level destination.
It has beach breaks – in places like Taghazout and Agadir – that are perfect for total beginners. From there, it’s possible to progress to easier point breaks, like the long, peeling, longboard-friendly right at Imsouane (which is where many surf schools go). For more advanced surfers, there are all manner of options, not least of all the frothing bombs that go right at Anchor Point.
The seasons can play a big part in the challenge that the Moroccan surf presents. The depth of the winter is more likely to throw out the biggest days, especially in January and February. Come the spring, it usually mellow a lot and paves the way for beginners.
The summer isn’t great because it’s windy, but complete learners who’ve never surfed before are sure to like the whitewash slop and the empty line ups.
Where to stay for surfing in Morocco?
- Amayour Surf Hostel – One of the best surf hostels out there, Amayour has gotten itself a bit of a fan club. It’s sociable yet chic, runs regular surf programs, and comes with some real nice additions, like a rooftop terrace overlooking Taghazout.
- Ocean Surf House – The Ocean Surf House has modern rooms that are very comfy along with an outdoor terrace area for chilling, right behind the main beaches of Tamraght. If you want somewhere near the beginner-friendly beaches close to Agadir airport, this is a cracker.
- The O Experience – If you want luxury AND proximity to one of the best waves in the country, The O has you covered. It oozes super nice boho-Berber style, has terraces gazing over the Imsouane right, and is just fantastic from start to finish.
Surf camps in Morocco
The surf in Morocco is no secret any more. In fact, we’d go as far as to say that this is the surf-camp capital of Africa. Relatively easy access for Europeans looking to escape the icy North Atlantic in the winter plus a low cost of living have helped it get there. That means there’s loads to pick from, some better than the rest.
At a glance, these are some that we think are pretty darn epic:
- Dfrost Almugar Taghazout Villa – A seriously epic package is on offer at this super-stylish surf camp in Taghazout. You’ll enjoy things like yoga terraces overlooking the Atlantic, free board hire all day long, five group surf lessons, and six yoga classes. It’s our top pick in Morocco right now. Simple as that.
- Wave Gypsy Surf & Yoga – Tamraght is hard to beat for beginners, and this is one of the top surf camps in the town right now. Special mention should be made of a) the lodge, a gorgeous townhouse with cool style, and b) the extras – you can visit local river valleys for wild swimming and cook tagines. It’s cool.
>>Want more options – we’ve got a complete guide to the best surf camps in Morocco
Travel guide to Morocco
Quick facts
- Population: 36 million
- Currency: Moroccan dirham (MAD)
- Capital: Rabat
- Language: Arabic
Where exactly is Morocco?
Morocco represents a huge cut-out of North Africa. On one side, it borders the Sahara Desert. On the other, it spills into the Atlantic Ocean (hello surf). The north coast is shared between the Atlantic and the Med. At one point, Europe (the south coast of Spain, to be precise) is even visible across the water.
Things do in Morocco when you’re not surfing
The surfing in Morocco might be why you came, but there’s a whole wonderworld of African peaks and dusty deserts and historic medinas to get stuck into in this part of the world…
Hike the Atlas Mountains
Feeling adventurous? Hop some buses from the coast to the High Atlas Mountains. They soar to over 4,000 metres and claim the most altitudinous point in all of North Africa. Hiking is possible from the loveable village of Imlil, which is also the start point for mighty Toubkal peak. In the winter, the valley over in Oukaimeden even has skiing!
Hit the souks of Marrakesh
No trip to Morocco could possibly be complete without a jaunt to Marrakesh. Bursting with markets that sell everything from teapots to Arabian spices, it’s a souvenir hub. We also adore the age-old riad hotels. They come with vintage tiled walls and interior courtyards laden with flowers and fountains.
Wander Essaouira
Loads of the travelers we’ve met have waxed lyrical about lovely Essaouira. It’s certainly a lovely place, and probably the most European of all Morocco’s old cities. Set on a wind-lashed promontory close to many of the best Morocco surf spots – Sidi Kaouki is just down the road – it’s an historic town of sandstone walls and immersive souk cafés. Don’t miss it.
How to travel around Morocco
Buses are okay in Morocco. They can ferry you from town to town, so long as you don’t mind being cramped up for long journeys. Those with surfboards in tow typically hold out for private transfers (which rarely break the bank) or organise arrivals with their surf camp. You can also rent your own car, but we’d recommend avoiding built-up areas where the traffic can get hectic!
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!