Capping Africa’s left shoulder, Morocco has the great fortune of being lined with stunning seashores alongside its 2200-mile shoreline.
On the Atlantic facet, windy climate makes for terrific browsing, windsurfing and kitesurfing, wrapped in a bow with incandescent sunsets that gentle the sky ablaze in crimson and orange. On the northeastern shoreline, play in heat Mediterranean water and occasion with dancing locals at seashore golf equipment and cafés serving “Berber whisky’ (Moroccan mint tea).
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Whereas the nation is understood for its historic medinas, these eight seashores make the case that Morocco is simply as worthy for a solar journey.
Essaouria Seashore is a incredible vacation spot for a day taking part in within the surf © Posztos / Shutterstock
1. Essaouira
Greatest for windsurfing and kitesurfing
Simply outdoors of Essaouira’s enchanting Unesco-recognized outdated city, this large, sandy metropolis seashore has lengthy been a hub for hippies and wanderers. You may play a sport of seashore soccer or cut price for a camel trip right here, however sunbathing and swimming aren’t probably the most snug actions – Essaouira is called the Wind Metropolis of Africa for a cause. As an alternative, embrace the bre climate by attempting your hand at windsurfing or kitesurfing.
Planning tip: The perfect time to windsurf is between April and November. There are a number of locations to hire gear alongside the seashore and adjoining streets.
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The well-known arch of Legzira will get an sudden customer © RuslanKaln / Getty Pictures
2. Legzira
Greatest for photographs
North of the outdated Spanish port city of Sidi Ifni is Legzira, a quiet, golden-sand seashore with a powerful thousand-year-old sandstone archway. (There was a second archway, nevertheless it collapsed in 2016 after years of abrasion.)
Surf the whipping waves, meander alongside the lengthy seashore and beneath the arch throughout low tide, or go paragliding at sundown – the skies listed below are pure magic when the solar goes down. Swimming isn’t advisable because of the excessive winds.
Taghazout is nice for studying to surf ©Daria Petricheva/500px
3. Taghazout
Greatest for browsing
The Atlantic-coast city of Taghazout may be small, nevertheless it’s huge on the world browsing map, particularly amongst backpackers and people studying to trip the waves.
The seashore itself is quiet and engaging for a calming day below the solar, and there’s loads of inexpensive lodging if you would like an extended keep. Head to Satan’s Rock, jutting out from the southern tip of the seashore, to see locals jamming out on ouds and soak in western Morocco’s magical sunsets.
Detour: Traverse inland to Paradise Valley for cliff leaping into lime-green swimming pools and verdant walks between palm bushes.
4. Saïdia
Greatest for households
Stretching from the blocked border with Algeria on the northeastern tip of Morocco is Saïdia, an extended white-sand seashore that springs to life from June to September. Standard with Moroccans dwelling in Europe on their summer time holidays, this Mediterranean seashore has loads of snug white villas that may accommodate giant households and small resorts for momentary stays, in addition to the luxurious Iberostar Saïdia resort.
Alongside the seashore you may discover eating places serving fish, some with playgrounds for youths. Take a dip to chill off, or hire a jet ski or paddleboat from the marina to combine issues up. At night time, seashore golf equipment bump and shimmer for the occasion crowd.
5. Sfiha
Greatest views of Spanish islands
A ten-minute drive south of the Riffian metropolis Al Hoceima, Plage Sfiha curves alongside the shore. It is a common seashore, with households lounging below umbrella seating and consuming at eating places in the course of the summer time, however its most outstanding side is the white-washed island simply off the coast: El Peñón de Alhucemas, a Spanish-controlled post-colonial relic.
Detour: Keep atop the hill overlooking Plage Sfiha at Casa Paca, a pleasant bed-and-breakfast run by the half-Spanish, half-Moroccan proprietor, Joaquin, and his spouse, Nabila. Dinners listed below are scrumptious. Open June to October.
6. M’Diq
Greatest for fish eating places
East of Unesco-acknowledged Tetouan on the Mediterranean Coast, M’Diq is a scorching spot for Moroccans and sun-seekers from throughout the Center East. Its boardwalk is lined with mid-range resorts, eating places and cafés, however one of the best eats are discovered at Lorizon, on a stilt platform out at sea.
Simply south of M’Diq, Cabo Negro is a extra upscale seashore resort; just a little additional south, Martil has a palm-tree-lined boardwalk and cafés that sprawl out onto the seashore.
Detour: Head to the hills behind the seashores to cruise in a 4×4 at Tetouan Quad Discovery and have a cultured lunch with a view at Resort Mandy.
Oualidia is a beautiful – even at night time © Getty Pictures/EyeEm
7. Oualidia
Greatest for lagoon swimming
A pure sand wall creates a beautiful lagoon on Morocco’s Atlantic coast, good for swimming in calm water, cruising in a small boat, kayaking and paddleboarding, whereas out at sea, windswept waves make for excellent browsing.
Positioned about 120 miles from each Casablanca and Marrakesh, Oualidia is a enjoyable day journey from both metropolis. Remember to strive one of many many fish eating places across the lagoon, and order oysters – in any case, you are in Morocco’s oyster capital.
Achakar is Tangier’s finest seashore © Pierre-Yves Babelon / Getty Pictures
8. Achakar
Greatest seashore close to Tangier
Simply 20 minutes from Tangier however seemingly a world away, Achakar is the ultimate seashore on Morocco’s Atlantic coast, earlier than the ocean slips into the Strait of Gibraltar and the Mediterranean Sea. The seashore is a large strip of sand, ideally suited for sunbathing or taking a whirl on a camel.
Don’t miss the kitschy-yet-worth-it Grottes d’Hercule, the place the place the Roman god Hercules supposedly rested after ripping Europe other than Africa. From there, you possibly can look out to sea from a gap that appears just like the map of Africa.
Detour: Above Achakar is Cap Spartel, a reserve that formally marks the unofficial confluence of the Atlantic and Mediterranean. There’s a lighthouse, a restaurant and epic views.
