Wave Rise Surf School · Surf school in Morocco
Surf school · Morocco
Morocco has some of the most consistent surf within a short flight of Europe, and the sandy bay of Agadir is where its beginners are usually sent to learn. Wave Rise teaches there all year, from a base on the beach at Sofitel Agadir Thalassa Sea & Spa.
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Morocco's Atlantic coast picks up swell in every season, which is why surfers have been travelling here for decades. From most of Europe it is a three to four hour flight with no jet lag, and the winters are mild and dry: sun most days, and warm enough at midday to sit outside in a t-shirt.
What makes the country good for learners, and not only for experienced surfers, is the variety packed into a short stretch of coast. Within an hour or two of each other there are long sandy beaches where the waves roll in gently, and rocky point breaks that rank among the best rides in the Atlantic.
Agadir Bay faces south-west and breaks over sand. There is no reef and no rock, the beach shelves gently and the whitewater runs a long way in, so there is room to practise standing up where you can still touch the bottom. The bay is also sheltered: it stays surfable when the coast further north gets too big, which is why lessons run here in winter as well as in summer.
On a short trip the practical side matters just as much. Agadir is a real city, with hotels at every price, restaurants that stay open out of season, a promenade and an airport about half an hour away. If you are travelling with children, or with someone who does not surf, there is plenty to do between sessions.
Every one of these places is worth surfing. They simply suit different surfers, and it helps to know which before you book.
Taghazout, about twenty kilometres north of Agadir, is a village that grew up around a handful of world-class point breaks; Anchor Point is the famous one. On a good winter day the rides are long and fast. Those same days are crowded, the bottom is rock, and the waves reward surfers who can already ride green waves.
Tamraght sits between Agadir and Taghazout. It is quieter than its neighbour, popular with surf camps, and close to spots such as Devil's Rock, a beach that works well for learners when the tide and swell are right.
Imsouane, roughly an hour and a half further up the coast, is known for one of the longest waves in Morocco: a slow, gentle ride that longboarders love. It is a small fishing village, the paddle out is long and the wave is rarely empty, so it works best as a day out once you can stand up.
Essaouira, about three hours north of Agadir, is a beautiful old port with a wide sandy beach. It is also known as Morocco's windy city, which makes it a favourite with kitesurfers and windsurfers; for surf lessons the wind often leaves the waves choppy, especially from spring to late summer.
Agadir is the easiest of the five for a first lesson, for the reasons above. And you do not have to choose: we run guided half-day surf trips from Agadir to Anza, Devil's Rock and Taghazout, and a full day up to Imsouane. For a closer look at the two best-known names, read Agadir or Taghazout: which should you choose?
You arrive fifteen minutes early. We fit a wetsuit and a board to your height and weight, and you leave your things in a locker. The lesson starts on dry sand: where to lie on the board, how to stand up, and what to do when you fall — which you will, and which is entirely normal.
Then you walk twenty metres into the water. Your instructor stays in the whitewater beside you, pushes you into waves so that you can concentrate on standing rather than paddling, and gives you one correction at a time between waves. Most guests stand up during their first session; it depends on the day's conditions and on how comfortable you are in the water, and no honest surf school will promise it. For a first time we recommend two hours rather than one. There is more detail on the beginner lessons page.
The beach, the equipment and the team are the same for all three. What changes is how much of the instructor's attention you get.
Surf lessons start from 200 DHS per person, equipment included. Live prices and availability are on the booking page, and you can pay cash on arrival. Already surfing on your own? Board rental runs from the same base.
There is something rideable in Agadir Bay almost every week of the year, so the right month depends on you. For a first lesson, or with children, May to September is the calmest and warmest window. September and October are the strongest all-round months: warm water, the first proper Atlantic swells and thinner crowds. From December to February the big swells arrive; the points up the coast are then for experienced surfers, while the bay stays learnable. Whatever the month, mornings are usually cleaner, because the wind tends to build through the afternoon.
Month by month: the best time to surf in Agadir. For the cooler months: surfing in Agadir in winter and water temperature and wetsuits.
One thing we are not: a surf camp. Wave Rise is a surf school. We do not sell accommodation or week-long packages, so you stay wherever suits you in Agadir and come to the beach for your session. The base is open to hotel guests and visitors alike.
For a first lesson, look for a sandy beach with gentle whitewater and no rocks. Agadir Bay is exactly that, which makes it one of the more forgiving places in Morocco to learn. The point breaks around Taghazout suit surfers who can already ride green waves.
May to September is the calmest and warmest window for a first lesson. September and October are the best all-round months. In winter the bay in Agadir stays learnable while the spots further north get big; the water is around 16 to 19°C and a wetsuit is included.
You should be comfortable in water at chest depth. Beginner lessons take place in the whitewater close to shore, where you can stand. Tell us before booking if you are not a swimmer so we can plan the session around it.
From 200 DHS per person, equipment included. Live prices are on our booking page, and you can pay cash on arrival.
No. Wave Rise is a surf school: lessons, guided surf trips and board rental from our base on the beach. We do not sell accommodation, so you are free to stay anywhere in Agadir.
Agadir Al Massira airport is about half an hour from the city and a three to four hour flight from most of Europe. We meet at the Nautical Base on the beach at Sofitel Agadir Thalassa Sea & Spa; the exact meeting point and a map link come with your booking confirmation.
Live availability, booked in under two minutes. Pay cash on arrival.
