There are people who go on holiday to lie by a pool. I respect them. I just don’t understand them.
If you’re reading this, I have a feeling you don’t either. You want something that actually does something to you. You’re maybe looking at Morocco, maybe looking at surf retreats, maybe Googling “how to learn to surf” at midnight. This is written for you.
I’ve been to Morocco twice. I’m going back in June. Here’s something from my experience.
Do you need surfing experience to go?
Short answer: no.
You can have a class or two! My sister and two friends tried surfing for the first time in Morocco. Already after one day, one of them caught a wave much bigger than expected. It whited him, dragged him through the water, and then he stood up. Immediately, we started to scream “Woooh”. I was so proud because they all fell in love with it immediately. You know that kind of feeling of “I have told you.”
I already had some experience, but I was still scared. The ocean has a way of reminding you who’s in charge, regardless of how many times you’ve been in it. That’s actually also part of what makes it worth doing.
Morocco’s Atlantic coast, especially Taghazout and Imsouane, is one of the best places to learn. The waves are consistent, the surf schools are experienced with beginners, and the energy in the water is collective. Everyone is figuring something out.
By my second trip, I was catching bigger, longer waves. That feeling of moving with the water instead of fighting it, your mind goes completely quiet. You are just there. Nothing else exists.
If that sounds like something you need, Morocco will give it to you.
Is a surf retreat too serious for someone who just wants to have fun?
This is the question nobody asks out loud, but almost everyone is thinking.
The answer is: it depends entirely on how you approach it. Morocco makes it very easy to approach it with joy.
A retreat doesn’t mean being serious. It means being intentional. There’s a difference.
That’s the thing nobody tells you about this kind of travel. When you’re doing things that actually use your body and your senses, you don’t need anything else to feel good. You feel motivated. Full. Alive in a way that’s hard to describe when you’re back at your desk on Monday.
What does a day actually look like?
Morning surf session while the Atlantic light is still soft. Your body in the water, your mind focused on exactly one thing = the wave coming toward you.
After, you find a local restaurant for lunch. A new dish you can’t yet name, a glass of Moroccan mint tea. The afternoon is yours. Another surf session if the waves are calling, or just time to wander, sit at the beach, let the salt dry on your skin, have a good conversation with people.
On my second trip, I also brought yoga into it, leading evening movement sessions for the people travelling with me. Nothing recovers a surf body like a good stretch. It changes how you breathe when a wave catches you, how fast you get back up, and how connected you feel to the water the next morning. Your body starts to feel like it belongs in the water.
Here’s why surf and yoga work so well together →
Then there are the days with special activities. The market in Agadir, where you can lose hours between stalls of pottery, spices, argan oil, handwoven textiles, and painted dishes. The sand dunes at sunset with Moroccan mint tea and music, and a bonfire that nobody wanted to leave.
And the best part! People are open in places like this. You meet someone at the surf break, share a wave, or end up spending the evening together. Connection happens easily when everyone is doing something real.
What should you actually know before going?
The weather is not what you expect. Winter in Morocco sounds warm. Midday sun is strong and genuinely hot. But by afternoon, it turns cold and cloudy, and the water is cooler than you’d think. Bring a good wetsuit if you have your own, and definitelly layers and long pants for the evenings. In May, it wasn´t so much different either. Let´s see how it will be now, at the end of June.
The language barrier is real. French dominates, and unlike some countries where people find creative ways to help you even without a shared language, Morocco can feel harder to navigate. Go patient. Go curious. It’s worth it. Use your phone if needed.
You will feel things you didn’t plan to feel. This is not a warning. It’s the point.
Practical things if you decide to go by yourself
Getting there is straightforward. There are cheap flights from Europe into Agadir, then either rent a car or take a taxi to Taghazout (about 30 minutes north) or Imsouane (around an hour). Renting a car gives you freedom to explore at your own pace, but taxis are cheap and easy if you’re travelling light.
If you’re a beginner or intermediate surfer, Taghazout and Imsouane are your spots. For more advanced waves, head south of Agadir — Sidi Ifni, Mirleft, and Legzira offer wilder, less crowded breaks worth exploring.
For timing: winter brings bigger, stronger waves and more surfers. If you want power and energy, go between November and April. Starting in May it is warmer, quieter, and more forgiving for beginners.
Money is easy. You can pay with euros in most places, and Revolut lets you withdraw from local ATMs free of charge. One golden rule: always negotiate. Don’t buy from the first shop you enter, take your time, compare, come back. It’s part of the culture and both sides enjoy it.
Last thing worth knowing: Morocco is a Muslim country. Alcohol is available only in bigger cities like Agadir. In smaller surf towns like Taghazout or Imsouane, it is either not available at all, or extremelly overpriced. Honestly though, after a full day in the water and a sunset mint tea on the dunes, you won’t miss it.
So, classic beach holiday or surf retreat in Morocco?
A beach holiday gives you rest.
Morocco gives you something to bring home. Experience of a new culture, the ornaments in the market, the pottery, the patterns everywhere, the birds, the ocean, the moment your friend stood up on his first wave and you all screamed. The freedom of being somewhere completely different and realising you are capable of more than you thought.
That’s what this kind of travel does. It doesn’t just take you somewhere. It shows you something about yourself.
Going back to Morocco on 24th June. If something in you is curious about what a surf and yoga retreat is like, join me! Spots are limited, and they always fill with the right people.
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