Unearth The Voyage
Bali gets all the surf glory, but Morocco has been quietly stealing the show for years. From ancient fishing villages to clifftop ghost towns, the Atlantic coast of Morocco serves up world-class waves without the selfie sticks and resort price tags.
I stumbled onto this stretch of coastline a few years back expecting dusty roads and disappointment, and instead found some of the most uncrowded, jaw-dropping surf of my life. If you are ready to trade the tourist circus for real adventure, these seven Moroccan surf towns are calling your name.
Imsouane
Eight hundred meters. That is how long a single wave can run at Imsouane, making it one of the longest rides anywhere in Africa.
This sleepy fishing village sits in a sheltered bay where the waves peel so slowly and predictably that longboarders basically have time to make a sandwich mid-ride.
I caught my first wave here on a borrowed 9-foot log and ended up laughing like an idiot by the time I stepped off. The vibe is completely unhurried, matching the pace of the local fishermen who still bring in their catch every morning.
Intermediates will feel like pros here. The wave is forgiving, the lineup is rarely packed, and the village has just enough cafes and guesthouses to keep you comfortable without turning into a resort town.
Come before the secret gets fully out.
Sidi Kaouki
When the famous Essaouira winds turn every nearby beach into a kite-surfing blender, Sidi Kaouki sits quietly sheltered and completely rideable. Just 25 kilometers south of Essaouira, this beach break handles all skill levels with a reef setup lurking on the side for surfers who want something with a bit more bite.
The cafe scene right on the sand is genuinely great. You can watch sets roll in from your mint tea, then paddle out without walking more than thirty seconds from your chair.
That is peak surf-trip efficiency.
Beginners will find the beach breaks forgiving and consistent, while more experienced surfers can work the reef when conditions cooperate. The crowd factor stays low because most tourists stick to Essaouira town.
Sidi Kaouki is the kind of place you plan to stay one night and end up staying five.
Mirleft
Red cliffs, a left-hand point break over reef, and a lineup so empty you will check your watch wondering if you missed something. Mirleft sits between Tiznit and Sidi Ifni and is genuinely one of Morocco’s best-kept surf secrets, the kind of place that rewards travelers who are willing to take roads that are not on most GPS systems.
When the swell hits right, the wave peels cleanly along the rocky reef and hands you a proper, workable left that intermediate and advanced surfers will absolutely love. The dramatic backdrop of red cliffs makes every session feel cinematic.
The town itself is small and charming, with a few good guesthouses and a local market worth exploring. Crowds are almost nonexistent by surf-destination standards.
If you want the feeling of discovering something before the masses arrive, Mirleft is your spot right now.
Anchor Point (Tamraght)
Anchor Point near Tamraght is the cheat code for getting world-class Moroccan surf without fighting through the packed lineups of Taghazout next door. The wave is fast, hollow, and barreling, the kind of right-hander that shows up in surf films and makes you question your life choices the moment you paddle out.
Fair warning: this is a shallow reef wave with sections that detonate quickly. Experience is not optional here, it is genuinely required.
Beginners should watch from the cliff and enjoy the show.
Tamraght village itself has grown into a solid surf hub with good food, surf schools, and accommodation at prices that still feel reasonable compared to more famous spots. The proximity to Taghazout means you get all the convenience without the shoulder-to-shoulder lineups.
Anchor Point rewards those who show up prepared, fit, and ready to commit to a proper wave.
Sidi Ifni
Sidi Ifni might be the only surf town in the world where you can ride beach breaks in the morning and spend the afternoon gawking at crumbling Spanish colonial architecture that looks like it was teleported from 1930s Havana. The combo is genuinely surreal and completely addictive.
The beach below the clifftops delivers consistent beach breaks that suit a wide range of surfers. The remote location keeps the crowds thin, which means you often get waves to yourself even during peak travel months.
That remoteness is the whole appeal.
The town has a faded, slightly melancholy beauty that photographers and architecture nerds will go absolutely wild over. Surf in the morning, wander the art deco streets in the afternoon, eat fresh fish at a local spot for almost nothing.
Sidi Ifni is equal parts surf destination and time machine, and it pulls both roles off with effortless cool.
El Oualidia
Not every surf trip needs to end in a wipeout and a bruised ego. El Oualidia offers a protected lagoon that buffers the full force of Atlantic energy, creating gentle, rolling waves that are genuinely perfect for beginners and anyone working on their fundamentals without fear of getting worked.
The bonus features here are frankly ridiculous in the best way. Flamingos wade in the shallows nearby, and local oyster farms make post-surf snacking an actual cultural experience.
Fresh oysters on the Atlantic coast of Morocco for a few dirhams? Yes, always.
The lagoon setup means conditions stay manageable even when the open ocean is firing heavy swells further down the coast. Families, first-timers, and intermediate surfers all find their rhythm here.
El Oualidia is proof that a surf spot does not need big waves to deliver a seriously memorable trip.
Cap Sim
Cap Sim is not for the faint-hearted or the under-prepared. Getting there requires a 4×4, a solid sense of direction, and the kind of self-sufficiency that means bringing your own water, food, and backup plan.
Zero infrastructure. Zero crowds.
Zero compromise.
What you get in return is raw, heavy beach breaks that detonate with serious Atlantic power across a coastline that looks completely untouched by tourism. Expert surfers who make the effort describe it as one of the most intense and rewarding sessions Morocco has to offer.
The isolation is part of the deal. There are no cafes, no surf shops, no one to call if things go sideways.
Bring a buddy, check the forecast obsessively, and respect the conditions. Cap Sim rewards experience and punishes overconfidence without apology.
For surfers who want the full wild-Atlantic experience with absolutely nothing between them and the ocean, this is it.
