South Coastal Morocco: Surfing & Desert Camp

Arrival Note: Your 8 days Morocco holiday will begin when your flight lands at the Marrakech Airport. We will arrange an exclusive driver guide to serve you. Boarding our private car, you will take a relaxing 15-minute ride to the hotel, along which you can get a glimpse of the ancient city. The guide will help you check into the decent Moroccan riad that we have carefully selected for you.

After a short rest, let’s start a guided tour of Marrakech. First, visit the Jardin Majorelle - Yves Saint Laurent Mansion, and the Berber Museum hidden in the garden. Next, we’ll see the Koutoubia Mosque, Bahia Palace, and then the Mellah of Marrakech, exploring the old spice souk and Slat al-Azama Synagogue here.

★ Marrakech Street Food Tour:
In the early evening, our guide will take you to the Jemaa el-Fna, the largest open-air night market in the area, where you will be surprised by the level of activity. Remember to follow the guide closely or you’ll risk getting lost among the rows of souvenir stalls or the local jugglers. There are so many snacks, but it is not easy to pick out the most authentic. Leave it all in the hands of our experienced guide who will show you the delicious Moroccan tagine, couscous, kebabs, harira, and mint tea. Finally, you will be escorted back to the riad for the night.

Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Riad Nesma Suites & Spa

★ Moroccan Food Cooking Class in Marrakech:
This morning, we will arrange a special activity for you to attend a cooking class on Moroccan cuisine. We’ll start by visiting a traditional souk in the Medina, pick out all the ingredients for your dishes, and then head to a local professional chef class in La Maison Arabe to learn how to make traditional Moroccan dishes like the most famous Tagine. At noon, you can enjoy the self-made dishes, salads and other delicacies.

★ Unique Experience of Agafay Desert Camp:
In the afternoon, we will embark on an extraordinary journey to the enchanting Agafay Desert. After a 40-minute drive, we will enter the Agafay Desert behind the Atlas Mountains, one of the most mysterious landscapes in the world, made up of rocky lands and Saharan dunes. Check into the camp and enjoy the delicious Moroccan desserts and tea. Here you can admire the breathtaking scenery, take pictures, and then take a ride in a jeep for dune bashing (20 to 30 minutes). Swim in a camp pool to relax for a while. At dusk, ride a camel for one hour and watch the sunset over the desert.

When it gets dark, you can have a memorable desert dinner at the camp. The menu includes salads, three main courses including tagine, and dessert of seasonal fruits. After dinner, sit around the campfire and watch the local shows. The candles everywhere and the performers will enliven the whole evening with wonderful Berber music and dance. As the night wears on, you can marvel at the starry sky and stay overnight in a Moroccan tent.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Selina Agafay Nomad Camp

► Today’s driving: 410 km (255 mi); 6 to 7 hours
After breakfast at the camp, we’ll drive south, taking in the amazing landscapes of the Anti-Atlas Mountains and Berber villages along the way. Before noon, we’ll arrive at Taroudant, a small market town on the old caravan route. Hidden within striking red ramparts, it is known as the ‘Grandmother of Marrakech’ for it is smaller but older than Marrakech. Walk with our guide through a maze of paths in the ancient Medina of Taroudant, you’ll see vibrant Berber markets, tanneries and shops, most selling pottery, leather goods, spices, dried fruit, argan oil, handicrafts, and jewelry. After lunch, we'll continue to drive 3 hours to Tafraoute and enjoy sunset at the Painted Rocks. Finally, we’ll check into a local hotel for the night.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Les Amandiers

Feel the peaceful atmosphere of the town in the morning. When we visit the local market, one of the unique things you'll find is that there are shoe shops everywhere, selling mainly the local featured babouche slippers. Pay a visit to La Maison Traditionnelle, and then we’ll head to Sidi Ifni. After a 3.5-hour drive from the dry hinterland, where you can see almond and olive trees along the way, we’ll arrive at Sidi Ifni by the sea at noon for lunch.

In the afternoon we will visit the Legzira Beach, which is considered the most distinctive beach in Morocco. Walk into the unique giant rock arches on the beach and you will marvel at the wonders of nature. This evening, we will stay at a seaside hotel in Mirleft.

► Tip: You can spend the rest of the day swimming in the hotel's infinity pool, or relaxing on the quiet beach next to it, taking beautiful pictures of the incredible sunset. The Mirleft Secret Spot is an excellent surfing place, but the waves here are more suitable for intermediate and advanced surfers. If you’re a beginner, try Taghazout in the next few days.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Kasbah Tabelkoukt

Drive 1 hour to Tiznit, the center of gold and silver crafts in Morocco. We’ll visit the old Medina of Tiznit to see the fine silver handicrafts such as jewelry and sabers sold in local shops. Continue driving for 2.5 hours to the Paradise Valley deep into the mountains. Visit the Honey Road of Imouzzer here, navigate the country roads, and admire the streams, gorges, flowing waterfalls, and picturesque villages nearby. After a short hike, you can enjoy a cool swim in the natural pools surrounded by palm trees or try some adventurous cliff diving. In the late afternoon, we’ll drive an hour to Agadir and check into the hotel.

► Tip: If you’re still energetic, take a taxi on your own after dinner to the Agadir Oufella Ruins, which is open until 22:00. You can take a cable car up the hill for a panoramic view of the city from the Kasbah of Agadir Oufla on the hilltop.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Atlas Amadil Beach Hotel

Today would be the highlight of our 8 days Morocco beach holiday. We’re going to Taghazout for a day of surfing.

Basic Facts for Surfing in Taghazout:
With more than 2,000 km (1,243 mi) of coastline, Morocco lies directly in the path of major wave activity in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located north of Agadir, Taghazout, a fishing village on the Atlantic coast, is one of Morocco's most famous surfing spots. There are right point breaks, such as the powerful Killer Point, and also many reef breaks and quality beach breaks suitable for beginners. The steady waves here make for fun for surfers of all levels.
► Best surf seasons: late September to the next early April (peak months from December to February)
► Taghazout surf report for your reference:

★ Morning Surf Lesson at Taghazout
Wake up to the sound of soft waves crashing on the shore and start the morning with a surfing lesson. Never surfed before? Don't worry! We will arrange for you a certified surf instructor who will teach you the basics and theories and give you personalized instruction. The experienced instructor will ensure you learn to surf in a safe and supportive environment. You'll get personal attention and progress on the waves.
► Tip: The surfboard, leash, wetsuit, and photo service are provided. You can also bring your own gear. Personal swimsuit, towel, and sunscreen need to be prepared by yourself.

After a 2 or 3-hour lesson, have a lunch break, and then in the afternoon you’ll take a supervised free surf session, or do some stand-up paddle boarding. You can also swim or rest on the beach. After a day of exciting and wild water sports, let’s watch the sun kiss the sea horizon at dusk, and then gather with other surfers for a bonfire party on the beach. Enjoy a pleasant exchange before returning to the hotel.

► Tip: You can enjoy a hammam at your own expense at the hotel spa in the evening, or take a taxi to the famous Argan Palace for a relaxing hammam and massage.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Atlas Amadil Beach Hotel

In the morning, we will drive 3 hours to Essaouira and check into a seaview hotel with wonderful private beach. Next, our guide will walk you through this so-called ‘Windy City’, to admire the famous old Essaouira Port and the Portuguese fortifications like the Sqala du Port. Later, visit the lively old Medina of Essaouira, where you can feast your eyes on a wide variety of colorful handicrafts.

After lunch, you can enjoy some free time on the Essaouira Beach, swimming, surfing, or trying water activities at your own expense. At dusk, you can take a horse or camel ride on the beach at your own expense, or stroll along the coast to take a magnificent photo of the sunset.
► Tip: Please contact our travel consultants if you want to take a coach surfing lesson this afternoon.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Le Medina Essaouira Hotel Thalassa Sea & Spa

Departure Note: Have breakfast and enjoy the last minute of your leisurely beach vacation. Hit the road one last time, back to Marrakech. Our driver guide will escort you in a 3 hours’ private car transfer to the Marrakesh Airport. Have a good trip home!

Meals: Breakfast