Explore Morocco's Hippie Town Turned Surfing Hub

Vivid architecture, singing birds and small fishing boats ignite the town of Taghazout. Surfers flock to the beach with sand in their hair, looking for crashing waves. This wasn’t always the case; in the ’60s, word travelled fast about a secluded Moroccan fishing village with beautiful beaches and impressive swells, attracting a slew of surfers. Today, the town centres around tourism, drawing many travellers to its peaceful sands.

Want to visit this surfing hub? Book Culture Trip’s six-day group adventure and ride the waves in Taghazout Bay before ending the day with a sunset barbecue.

The best time to enjoy the beach of Taghazout is during sunset, as it is known to have the most amazing views during the summer.

You will most likely find camels everywhere you go in the south of Morocco, but there is nothing better than riding a camel on the beach of Taghazout with the splendid sunset ahead of you. You will see many friendly camel handlers strolling through the beach who will help you during your ride. The length of the ride will depend on how much you decide to pay, but a quick ride usually costs around 20 MAD (£1.60).

There are surf schools on the beach of Taghazout that offer classes for 100 MAD (£8), and the instructors all speak English. The laid-back surfing instructors often recommend a visit to Paradise Valley, located just one hour away from the hippie town. This is a surreal oasis with cold, turquoise natural pools surrounded by palm trees and mountains, one of the best hidden gems of the country. Some people end up loving it so much that they decide to spend the night in a nearby hostel.

Taghazout has many budget hostels for travellers, including some that offer surfing and yoga packages at very decent prices. One of them is Amayour Surf, a hostel owned by a Moroccan/British couple, who love meeting new people from across the globe. Another popular hostel is Roof House Hostel, which offers free breakfasts and an amazing opportunity to meet expats and other travellers.

There are many hostels in the town, and they are all more or less the same, with a great view, breakfast and a great atmosphere, and cost 120 to 220 MAD (£10 to £20) a night per person. But if you are travelling in a group, the best option would be to book an Airbnb, which can be very spacious and budget-friendly.

The local market in Taghazout is open every day, except on Mondays and Fridays during prayer time. Here, you will have a true Moroccan market experience, with fruit and vegetables displayed on the floor or on tables, and each vendor yelling out prices. You will definitely be able to get some bargains here, as these are the cheapest foods in Morocco, with a kilogram of tomatoes going at just 3 MAD (£0.24). It’s the perfect spot to pick up ingredients for a Moroccan dinner.

If you fancy a relaxed dinner by the beach, you can opt for one of the many small restaurants on the seaside, such as Rasta Pasta, which serves both Moroccan and Italian food, or Café Mouja – Wave Cafe – a gluten-free vegan joint that serves delicious Moroccan and Mediterranean dishes.