Sandboarding in Morocco, where dunes meet surf.

Partway through, the quads stop at the foot of the dunes and the boards come out. You carry one up the slope, sit or stand on it, and slide down the steep, soft face toward the beach. After the runs there is mint tea and time for photos, before the ride back and the 45-minute drive to Agadir.

In all, the outing lasts 4 hours, with 2 of them on the beach and the dunes. It is short enough to leave your afternoon free for the pool or the beach, and long enough to come back with sand in every pocket and a big grin.

The site's own tour rides Sidi Toual, about 15 km south-west of the Agadir weather station in a straight line by our calculation. Further north, about 50 km from Agadir in a straight line, the Timlalin dunes rise straight above the sea near Tamri, and half-day sandboarding trips go there from Agadir and Taghazout.

What ties them together is the wind. The Agadir Inezgane station counts 174.6 days a year with wind of 10 m/s or more. Wind builds dunes, moves them and keeps their faces steep and fresh; it also blows sand in your eyes, which is why goggles are handed out with the helmet.

The safety explanation gets a mention too, along with the tea break in the dunes. One couple describes reaching the sea, trying the sandboard, taking pictures and drinking tea in the middle of the sand, and calls the outing good value for money.

Families seem to like it in particular. One mother writes that her sons loved the sandboarding while she preferred the quad, and that the dunes and the sunset were among the best moments of the holiday. The rating breakdown backs this up, with 4.8 for the guide, 4.7 for transport and 4.8 for value.

Rain is a winter matter. The station's normal rainfall is 231.6 mm a year, with December the wettest month at 49.0 mm and July the driest at 0.2 mm. Dry sand is the fastest and the softest to fall on; after a rare winter shower, start on the gentler slopes.

Wind peaks in spring, with 20.5 windy days in May and 20.2 in April, and is calmest in December, with 9.7. If blowing sand bothers you, aim for the calmer months; if you like a fresh breeze, spring is lively. Our best-month page has the full picture.

Children have their own rules. Under-16s ride as passengers with an adult on the quad, there are special prices for children, and children under 3 cannot take part. The listing also says the outing is not suitable for pregnant women, and that anyone under the influence of alcohol or drugs will not be allowed to join.

Keep your distance from the quad in front, stay in its tracks on soft sand, and ease off the throttle on slopes. Goggles are not optional here: a line of quads throws sand back at whoever follows, and your eyes will thank you on the beach.

The tour starts from $23, with special prices for children. The price covers the transfer, the guide, the quad ride, the sandboarding, the safety gear and the tea; food is the one thing listed as not included.

Your pickup is from your hotel in Agadir. If you are staying in Taghazout or Tamraght, look at the comparison table above, where one rival lists a Tamraght pickup, or at the Timlalin trips that collect you in Taghazout and Tamraght.

The best pictures come from below. Ask a friend to stand at the foot of the dune and shoot up the slope as you come down, with the sky behind you, or from the side to show the steepness of the face. A short burst catches the spray of sand off the board's edge.

Reviewers also mention that their guides take photos for the group, which frees you to ride rather than film. Mint tea on a carpet in the sand, the quads lined up by the waves, the sun low over the ocean: you will not lack subjects.

Helmet and goggles are provided for the quad. Bring sunglasses for the dune part, sunscreen, and a scarf or buff to pull over your mouth if the wind gets up. A light layer helps on breezy days, even in summer, as the Atlantic wind can feel cool on the beach.

Leave jewelry and anything precious at the hotel, carry a small amount of cash for drinks or tips, and bring water. Shoes will fill with sand after the first run; some riders take them off for the board and carry them up the dune.

The listing names a professional guide and safety briefing and instructions as part of the package. On the board, ask for a demonstration before your first run, and for a seated start if you are unsure. The guide can also suggest the gentler face of the dune for children.

If your group wants more time on the sand and less on the quad, tell the guide at the start. The format is fixed, but within the 2 hours at Sidi Toual there is room for the board fans and the quad fans to get what they came for.

Further up the coast, Essaouira has miles of sand dunes on its land side, and a local outing spends 3 hours sandboarding, with a sunset picnic as a paid option. In the Sahara, the tallest star dunes of Erg Chebbi near Merzouga rise over 100 m, and short board sessions are sold in the village.

If you are curious how Morocco compares with Namibia, Peru, Dubai or the dune parks of the United States, our guide to the best sandboarding spots in the world sets them side by side on what their official sources say.

It is less suited to anyone who wants a long sandboarding session: the board shares 2 hours with the quad and the tea. For more time on the sand, a Timlalin trip or the Essaouira outing is a better match. It is not suitable for pregnant women, and children under 3 cannot join.

Expect sand everywhere, a bumpy ride if you sit on the back of a quad, and a modest climb for each run down the dune. If those sound like part of the fun, this is your outing.