Sidi Kaouki Surf Guide – Morocco’s Best Beginner Surf Village?
We think the Sidi Kaouki is one of the best beginner destinations in Morocco. On a long, wide beach, there are plenty of individual peaks and a consistent reef section, all stretched out along dune-backed shoes under the gaze of a mystical Sufi tomb. And some lovely shoreline hotels for surfers, too.
An introduction to surfing in Sidi Kaouki
Sidi Kaouki pops up on the Moroccan coast just 30 km south of the kite surfing mecca of Essaouira. It’s one of the rising stars on the country’s surf scene.
The main offering is a long, sandy beachfront (not the prettiest) that gets whacked by loads of Atlantic swells.
The extreme north end of the shore is the easiest to reach. That’s host to a little reef section that handles some pretty decent and even hollow sections on occasion. The extreme south also holds up well thanks to its rocky floor and is generally less crowded but means walking for 15-20 minutes.
Between teh two, the vast majority of the 2.5-kilometre strand is all peaky beach break. We’re not going to pretend they are the best quality waves in North Africa. They aren’t.
In fact, they’re prone to closeouts and get heavily affected by cross-shore winds at the first whiff of summer.
On the plus side, they are downright fun and great for beginners looking to progress up the ladder from pure whitewash.
And there’s something else that makes Sidi Kaouki surf a special treat: The setting. Dusty hills and wild dunes frame the beach, while camel caravans groan this way and that across the horizon.
The town itself is home to a haunting Sufi tomb that dates to the 1800s, which you can still see crowning the main surf point. It’s a bit of off-the-beaten-track Morocco, so you get that sense of adventure, and it’s nowhere near as developed (or crowded) as rival surf towns like Taghazout.
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 is a part of our greater guide to surfing Morocco
Sidi Kaouki surf at a glance
Type of wave: Beach and reef break // Level: Beginner and up // Season: Winter
The good:
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What will I find in this Sidi Kaouki surf guide?
Where is Sidi Kaouki?
Sidi Kaouki is a small village that sits 30km directly south of Essaouira, which is the best place to come in from.
You can get there on a local bus, but it’s usually better to haggle for a transfer, or – better yet – pre-book a private transfer straight from Essaouria (it’s about $35). The drive to Sidi Kaouki takes around half an hour on the main road without traffic and it’s kinda pretty.
Geographically speaking, Sidi Kaouki is on the western edge of southern Morocco. It’s about 4.5 hours from Casablanca via the main coast highway and about 2.5 hours from the medina city of Marrakesh.
Surf spots in Sidi Kaouki
You only really need to know about the beachfront in Sidi Kaouki. That’s where the vast majority of the surfing is done. It’s the long run of sand right by the town, hosting countless wave peaks for all levels, and a few reef breaks around the iconic shrine, known as the Marabout.
We’ve also included two spots in nearby Cap Sim. It’s a region to the north of town, near the village of Ouassane that you can get to in about 15 minutes in the car. Just be warned that the roads up there are pretty ragged and it’s most likely 4X4 or quad territory.
La Grotte
The first break in the Ouassane/Cap Sim area, this one is found down a dirt track that leads to the north of Sidi Kaouki.
La Grotte shines on big winter swells, which curl into the rocks to offer double overheads with good consistency a lot of the days throughout December and January.
The height holds up well at Grotte, which means you can get some decent tube rides in. It’s only really for intermediate and up. Rewards for braving the unpaved road include empty line ups.
La Couronne
La Couronne is like the littel bro of La Grotte. It’s mellow and further inside in the bay at Cap Sim. Bring extra volume for it when it’s on the small side and you can find some super-long right hand rides that will rival even Imsouane.
Be warned: Both of the spots in Cap Sim are HARD to reach. Either go with a surf guide you get in Sidi or be ready for some tough roads and a pretty sketchy walk down hairpin trails on the cliff.
La Bouteille (the north reef)
The top end of Sidi Kaouki Beach is the mainstay break for intermediates. It’s known as La Bouteille to the locals, apparently because the reef below it looks a bit like the neck of a bottle?
Best surfed on mid tide, it rolls in over a cluster of rocky pools. They help to give a bit of shape and glassiness to the water and pull the peel right across the headland just a touch to the north of the Sufi shrine.
It’s a picturesque spot to surf and the main challenge has to be the take-off, which is deceptively slow. You’ll need some good paddle power to get onto the ride.
The wave is real nice actually, steepening in the initial section and then fattening out into a wedge as it peels into the reef closer to the shore. That steepness gets even steeper at low tides, when the wave is much harder, though still surfable.
Most will tread over the reef on the north side of the shrine to get out here.
Marabout / The Shrine
The spot known as Marabout – after the Sufi shrine that famously caps off the headland of Sidi K – is really just the name for the northernmost peak in the long line of sandbars that run up the beach.
It’s one of the more reliable and predicatable bars, though. After the windy summer, the reef gathers a nice bulk of sand around the base of the shrine that gives this A-frame with short, snippy lefts and a more mellow rights.
It’s good fun for all levels depending on the size and by far the most accessible wave in the whole town.
Sidi Kaouki Beach
Sidi Kaouki Beach is where the vast majority of surfers in the town will head. This 2.5-kilometre-long length of golden sand is washed by more individual peaks than you can shake a shisha pipe at.
There’s no telling what each will look like, but the predominant feel of the sandbanks ususally equals loads of semi-dumpy right handers.
There’s quite a bit of power in the swell during the winter season, while summer cross-shore winds can chop the lot up to make it virtually un-surfable.
Watch out for a few rips. In fact, ask in the local surf schools by the town where is safe before you get in the water – that’s the best way.
Where to stay in Sidi Kaouki?
Sidi Kaouki has now been officially noticed. That means you can expect the number of surfers in the water to grow, but also the provision of hotels and surf camps to grow alongside it. Good news; bad news.
We already have a few stays we like the best. Most of them are within easy walking distance of the main beach and the reef breaks by the shrine, apart from one pretty lovely surf camp style stay…
- Auberge De La Plage – This one sits just 200 metres from the main surf points in Sidi Kaouki. It’s got a charming garden dotted with willow trees and patio seating areas. There’s also a playground for kids, just in case you were bringing the little ones for a Moroccan surf! The rooms are rustic-chic, with adobe walls and raw wood features. We really love that rooftop terrace with its panoramas of the ocean!
- Auberge du Marabout – The location is perfect for a surf trip to Sidi Kaouki – it’s right on the main point. Rooms are simple but comfy with lovely tiled bathrooms and a cosy communal dining-lounging space.
- Dar Iziki – A sociable, intimate hotel stay with lots of personality. We love the communal pool and the breezy gardens. The location is a little further from the waves than the hotels above, but still only a short stroll for those morning patrols.
- Chill House Surf Camp – This one’s th eonly stay that’s not located on the beachfront but a bit further inland. No worries cos they organize thier own in-house surf lessons and have a gorgeous pool for chilling between sessions.
Surf camps in Sidi Kaouki
There are now some very good surf camps in Sidi Kaouki that are worth considering if you’re coming here solely for surfing.
We’re not talking the OVERLOAD of surf camps you get in Tamraght or Taghazout but count that as a blessing – there are fewer people competing for the same waves.
Generally speaking, we’d say the offering of camps here is really well suited to beginners and improving intermedaites, but also families, especially given how close you are to Essaouira.
Here are our picks:
- 3-Day Budget Yoga and Surf Camp in Holy Surf Maroc – Holy Surf Camp is one of the best in the country. They do packages run by BF1 instructors that really home in on technique but never lose touch of the chilled vibes you want when hitting Morocco. This short package includes 2xdaily lessons and yoga in the evening. They also have a longer week’s package if you want more of the same.
- 4 Day Sidi Kaouki Surf Camp at Smaylo Surf School – A super-chilled surf camp that we’ve seen do excellently taking people from starter level to surfing green waves in just four days, conditions allowing. The pad is nice, has a pool. The instructors are fantastic.
Want more options? Check out our complete guide to the best surf camps in Morocco for 2023.
When to surf in Sidi Kaouki?
November to April is the best time of all to surf in Sidi Kaouki.
The winter is the best time to surf in Sidi Kaouki. Summer winds recede around September and offer still enough conditions for dawn patrols and glassy waves by November time.
But it’s not just that. The North Atlantic kicks into action during October. It’s the same engine room that powers the likes of Nazare and La Santa in Lanzarote (which isn’t that far away). It offers north-westerly swell directions that really compliment the lie of the land in Sidi Kaouki.
The result? Longer periods, bigger sets, and far more consistency. Being a surf town, you might also find that a lot of things shut up shop for the summer months.
Summer can be WINDY. Like, super windy. This is known as one of the windier corners of the Moroccan Atlantic, infact, so kitesurfers tend to take over between May and August. There are some surfable waves but they are small and generally only suited to beginners.
Surf shops and surf rental in Sidi Kaouki
Sidi Kaouki is still a relative newcomer on the Moroccan surf scene. It’s now got its fair share of surf schools (some of them good; others not so good). However, fully-fledged surf shops haven’t yet arrived in earnest. Still, we can recommend the following if you’re struggling for hardware…
- The Sidi Kaouki Surf Station is probably the most established surf name in the town. It’s housed in a large, double-storey building right on the seafront (home to a nice café upstairs). There are racks and racks of rental boards, which are mainly used for the regular stream of surf schools that come through. But you can also buy the basics – rashies, wax, etc.
- Gipsy Surfer Surf Shop – You’ll need to head back to the main town of Essaouira (as mentioned above, Essaouira to Sidi Kaouki is around 0.5 hours in the car) to find this cool little surf outlet. It’s hidden in the midst of the white-painted medina, offering everything from sandals to rash vests to pop-out boards. There are sometimes even local surf forecasts on display if you’re struggling to get an update on conditions.
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!
