Agadir has a ton to recommend it for a short break, beside the beach, the souk and the old palace ruins, there are also some great day trip options: hop in a car and you’ll be able to take in the Medina Agadir (an impressive reconstruction of the city’s old medina after it was destroyed in the 1960 earthquake), the 80,000 acre Souss-Massa National Park, and the hidden canyons of Paradise Valley.
There are also some absolutely brilliant villages, towns and cities to stay and experience within reasonable distance of Agadir
Tagazhout and Imsouane are Morocco’s two premier surf villages (also well equipped when it comes to yoga classes, vegan restaurants, etc) which are both handily located within a short drive to the north of Agadir and feature year-round waves.
Tagazhout is still arguably the more famous destination – with ‘Killer Point’ seeing large crowds of surfers throughout the year – so we’d be tempted to drive a bit further north to the extremely beautiful village of Imsouane and spend a night there in relative seclusion.
Tigmi Blue is a delightful, family-owned and reasonably-priced bed and breakfast close to Imsouane’s beach, which we’d thoroughly recommend – owners Bruno and Severine can also help with surf lesson bookings, mountain biking, and run traditional Moroccan cooking workshops.
Tafraoute. Take a three-hour drive inland from Agadir (often on dirt roads for a bit of extra adventure) and you’ll find yourself in a different Morocco entirely – the red granite of the Anti-Atlas Mountains, and the Berber heartland of the country.
Nestling amongst those granite peaks is Tafraoute – an absolutely stunning traditional town of sand-and-pink-coloured buildings, still relatively undiscovered by tourists, and famed for its friendly residents, Wednesday markets, and almond production.
Again, we’d suggest booking in at a guest house rather than a hotel – Maison Tigmi Ozro is a good bet – and spending a day or two wandering through the streets, exploring the mountains, or visiting nearby Berber villages.
While you’re there, you may also want to check out the ‘Painted Rocks’, a bright blue-and-pink art installation out in the desert created by Belgian artist Jean Verame in 1987 (opinions are generally divided as to whether the Painted Rocks are a fun and inventive novelty or a blight on the natural landscape).
During February’s Almond Blossom Festival, when the town’s almond trees (clue’s in the name) come stunningly into blossom. townsfolk and visitors alike head out to Tafraoute’s ancient Roman ruins at Valle Dei Temp for a celebration of music, dance, folklore, and food – at night, the ruins are lit up for theatrical performances.
Essaouira. Keep driving north from Agadir along the Atlantic coast and you’ll come to the stunning port of Essaouira – once beloved by hippies and musical artists during the 60s, and this city is still charmingly dedicated to the memory of Jimi Hendrix, who visited for 11 days in 1969.
Essaouira is another haven for surfing and kite-surfing, but it also offers picturesque views of the port and its famous blue boats from the old fortress, much-praised horse and camel-riding experiences with EquiEvasion, and just outside the city, Morocco’s southernmost vineyard is available for tastings and tours.
Recommended excursions
