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Compared · Quad and board
Agadir quad biking and sandboarding tours compared
Agadir quad biking and sandboarding tours look alike in their titles and differ on the ground. We read every itinerary: where they ride, how long, and whether the board is really in it.
Check availabilityfrom $23 · cancellation is free
Editorial team, sandboardingmorocco.comUpdated October 26, 20266 min read18 sources
In a nutshell
- 01Our pick
- The 4-hour outing at Sidi Toual Beach, 2,021 reviews, rated 4.81.
- 02Time riding
- Most list 2 hours on site, plus 45 minutes each way.
- 03Watch the title
- Some name sandboarding but list it only as an optional extra.
- 04Licence
- None needed on our pick; under-16s ride as passengers.
- 05From
- Prices start from $18 on the tours compared here.
What a quad and sandboarding outing includes
The formula is simple and it works. A minibus picks you up at your hotel, drives out of Agadir to a stretch of coast where dunes back onto a beach, and hands you a helmet, goggles and a short safety talk. Then you ride a quad in a line behind a guide across the sand and along the shore, stop for mint tea, and switch the quad for a board on the dunes before the drive back.
The tour this site recommends follows that pattern exactly. It is a 4-hour outing with 45 minutes by van to Sidi Toual Beach, 2 hours there with a safety briefing, a guided ride, the quad, sandboarding, tea and a photo stop, and 45 minutes back to Agadir. Hotel pickup and drop-off, a professional guide, helmet and goggles and the tea break are all on its included list; food is not.
It is popular for good reason: 2,021 reviews and a rating of 4.81, with marks of 4.8 (guide), 4.7 (transport) and 4.8 (value). The from-price is $23. It runs as a small group limited to 10 participants, with live guides in Arabic, English, French and Spanish.
The outing
Our pick, from hotel to beach and back
-
Pickup
Your hotel in Agadir
Hotel pickup and drop-off are both included.
-
45 minutes
Van to Sidi Toual
The drive south of the city to the beach.
-
On arrival
Safety briefing
Helmet, goggles and instructions first.
-
2 hours
Quad, board and tea
Ride, slide, then mint tea and photos.
-
45 minutes
Back to Agadir
The van returns you to your hotel in Agadir.
Read the itinerary, not the title
Here is the trap. Two listings with sandboarding in their titles list it in their itineraries only as an optional extra. The 3-hour Agadir quad outing with 1,625 reviews names a break, a photo stop, tea and a 2-hour quad ride in the Agadir Ida-Outanane area, with sandboarding marked optional. A 5-hour quad and tea outing to Takate does the same, with the board marked optional.
That does not mean you will not get a board on those tours. It means the listing does not make it part of the core activity, so ask before you book. If sandboarding matters to you, choose a tour whose stops name it as a main activity, such as the Sidi Toual outings or the Souss-Massa outing, which lists a safety briefing, the quad ride, sandboarding and a photo stop over 2 hours.
Watch for the opposite case too. The most reviewed quad ride on this coast, with 3,459 reviews, goes to the same Sidi Toual Beach as our pick but lists only a safety briefing, the quad ride, tea and photos, with no sandboarding at all. It is a fine quad tour. It is just not a quad tour of desert and beach with sandboarding, which is what most people searching this page want.
Reviews
How many travelers reviewed each tour
reviews
Side by side
Seven quad tours from Agadir
| Tour | Rides at | Board listed | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Our pick | Sidi Toual | Yes | 4.81 | from $23 |
| Ida-Outanane quad | Ida-Outanane | Optional | 4.83 | from $23 |
| Sidi Toual rival | Sidi Toual | Yes | 4.79 | from $21 |
| Souss-Massa outing | Souss-Massa | Yes | 4.91 | from $22 |
| Sidi Toual quad only | Sidi Toual | No | 4.79 | from $22 |
| Takate quad | Takate | Optional | 4.65 | from $18 |
| Timlalin quad & board | Timlalin | Yes | 4.95 | from $61 |
Where each tour rides and whether its GetYourGuide itinerary lists sandboarding; prices are from-prices only.
Three quad outings
Our pick and its closest rivals
Both listed
Board in title
Lowest priceDecision helper
Which quad outing is yours?
Match the tour to what you care about
Our pick
Its itinerary lists the quad ride and sandboarding at Sidi Toual.
Sidi Toual rival
It offers pickups in Agadir and Tamraght.
Souss-Massa outing
It is rated 4.91 from 207 reviews, the best of these tours.
Sidi Toual quad only
It lists the quad ride and tea, without the board.
Timlalin quad & board
It lists 3 hours at the Timlalin dunes north of Tamri.
Mechanized or motorized vehicles are not permitted on the dunefield, and ATVs are not permitted in the park and preserve.
Where the quads ride: south, inland or north
The tours split by direction. Sidi Toual Beach lies south-west of the city, about 15 km from the Agadir weather station in a straight line by our calculation, and three of the tours compared here ride there.2 The beach is wide and flat, with dunes behind it, which makes it a forgiving first ride.
Other tours head inland or further south. One quad outing rides at Tifnit, 45 minutes by van from Agadir. The Ida-Outanane and Takate tours name an area rather than a beach as their stop, so ask the operator where the ride goes.
The northern option is the Timlalin dunes beyond Tamri, where a 5-hour quad and sandboarding trip lists 3 hours on site after a stop at Plage Aghroud. It costs more, from $61, and has only 50 reviews, but it puts the quad and the board on the big dunes above the ocean rather than on a beach.
Map
Where the sandboarding dunes are in Morocco
First the whole country from the Atlantic to Erg Chebbi, then the coast north and south of Agadir, then the shore below Essaouira.
1Marrakech2Agadir3Essaouira4Timlalin dunes5Erg Chebbi
2Agadir6Inezgane7Taghazout8Tamraght9Imi Ouaddar10Aghroud11Tamri4Timlalin dunes12Sidi Toual13Tifnit
3Essaouira14Diabat15El Ghazoua16Sidi Kaouki
- 1Marrakech
The red city on the Haouz Plain, about 200 km from Agadir in a straight line; its medina is a World Heritage site since 1985.34
In Google Maps ↗ - 2Agadir
The Atlantic port 10 km north of the mouth of the Sous valley, rebuilt after the earthquakes of 1960.56
In Google Maps ↗ - 3Essaouira
A port founded in 1765, with sand dunes on its land side and an ocean breeze that brings windsurfers.789
In Google Maps ↗ - 4Timlalin dunes
The dunes by the ocean north of Tamri, about 50 km from Agadir in a straight line; several half-day sandboarding trips stop here.10
In Google Maps ↗ - 5Erg Chebbi
The sand sea near Merzouga, with star dunes over 100 m high, about 385 km from Marrakech as the crow flies.1112
In Google Maps ↗ - 6Inezgane
Where the Agadir Inezgane weather station stands, 23 m above sea level; our climate tables are its normals.13
In Google Maps ↗ - 7Taghazout
The surf village about 27 km by straight line from the Timlalin dunes; one canyon and sandboarding trip picks up here.14
In Google Maps ↗ - 8Tamraght
One of four pickup points of the guided sandboarding trip with a canyon visit.
In Google Maps ↗ - 9Imi Ouaddar
The pickup point of the 5-hour trip to the Timlalin dunes, 70 minutes away by van.
In Google Maps ↗ - 10Aghroud
Several Timlalin trips stop 15 minutes at Plage Aghroud on the way north.
In Google Maps ↗ - 11Tamri
The village where one trip stops 40 minutes for tea and lunch after the dunes.
In Google Maps ↗ - 12Sidi Toual
The beach where the site's quad and sandboarding outing spends its 2 hours, 45 minutes by van from Agadir.
In Google Maps ↗ - 13Tifnit
One quad outing from Agadir and Taghazout rides here, 45 minutes from Agadir by van.
In Google Maps ↗ - 14Diabat
A village on the shore just south of Essaouira, on the side of town where the sand dunes begin.8
In Google Maps ↗ - 15El Ghazoua
A village inland from the Essaouira dunes, among the dunes and argan country behind the coast.8
In Google Maps ↗ - 16Sidi Kaouki
One of two pickup points of the Essaouira sandboarding outing with a sunset picnic.
In Google Maps ↗
Checklist
For the quad and the board
01
Provided on our pick
- Helmet and goggles
- A professional guide and a safety briefing
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
02
Wear
- Closed shoes
- Clothes that can get dirty
- Sunglasses for the board part
03
Leave at the hotel
- Valuables you cannot get sandy
- Anything loose that could fly off
Cost calculator
Price a quad outing for your group
Enter your group size to compare four quad tours from Agadir.
People
Total from$45
per person from $23
Check availabilityfree cancellationYour group size multiplied by each GetYourGuide from-price, then converted with the ECB rate of the day; checkout has the exact total.
Video
We tried sand surfing and quad biking in Agadir: worth it?
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Riding a quad for the first time
No driving licence is needed on our pick, which makes it an easy first ride. Listen closely to the briefing on the throttle and the brakes, and let the guide at the front set the pace. The first minutes feel strange; after that the line settles into a rhythm across the sand, and you start to enjoy the view instead of the handlebars.
Keep your distance from the quad ahead, stay in its tracks on soft sand and do not brake hard on a slope. On a beach, ride where the sand is firm near the waterline and avoid the soft drifts at the foot of the dunes, which stop a quad suddenly. Goggles matter more than you expect, because a line of quads throws sand back at whoever is behind.
Children are welcome with conditions. On our pick, children under 16 ride as passengers with an adult, special prices apply to children, and children under 3 cannot join. The listing also says the outing is not suitable for pregnant women and that anyone under the influence of alcohol or drugs will be turned away.
The sandboarding part
On the combined tours the board is the second half of the session. You leave the quads at the foot of a dune, carry boards up the slope and slide down, sitting, lying or standing. On a beach dune the runs are short; on the Timlalin dunes further north they are longer and steeper, with the ocean in front of you.
The physics is the same everywhere. The face you ride is the slip face, where sand rests at its angle of repose, about 32 degrees for dry sand according to Britannica.15 Dry sand slides; damp sand grips. At Great Sand Dunes in Colorado, the Park Service sees more injuries once rain has packed the sand, and fewer on the loose, dry stuff.16
Expect a few runs, not dozens. The climb back up eats time, and on a tour of 2 hours on site the board shares that time with the quad, the tea and the photos. If the board is what you really want, look at a sandboarding trip to Timlalin instead, where the time on the sand is longer and nobody needs to share it with a quad ride.
Beyond Morocco: where quads are banned
Quads on dunes are normal in Morocco, but not everywhere. At Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado, home of the tallest dunes in North America, motor vehicles are not allowed on the dunefield and ATVs are banned from the whole park and preserve.171 There, you walk up and board down, and the silence is part of the visit.
Wheels leave marks. NASA's Earth Observatory points out that tracks made mainly by off-road vehicles can be seen from space on the edge of Erg Chebbi in the Moroccan Sahara.18 Stick to the guide's line, avoid vegetated areas and leave the plants on the dune edges alone: they are what holds the sand in place.
On the Agadir coast the beach rides take place in a working landscape, and that is part of their charm. You may share the shore with walkers, fishermen or a camel line. Ride slowly past people and animals, and keep the throttle for the open sand the guide shows you.
How to choose and book
If you want both activities in one short outing from Agadir, book the 4-hour Sidi Toual tour; its itinerary lists both and it has the most reviews of the combined tours. A close rival rides the same beach with Agadir and Tamraght pickups, lists 4 to 5 hours, has 373 reviews and starts from $21.
If you want the top-rated outing of the group, the Souss-Massa outing scores 4.91 from 207 reviews and starts from $22. If price matters most, the Takate quad outing starts from $18, but read its itinerary first: it lists the quad and tea, with the board only as an optional extra.
All the tours compared here list free cancellation up to 24 hours before, and our pick adds reserve now and pay later. Wear comfortable clothes that can get dirty and closed shoes, as the listing asks, and leave valuables at the hotel: there is sand in everything by the end.
Your dune outing
Quad, board and tea in 4 hours.
Pick a date, get collected at your Agadir hotel, and cancel free up to 24 hours ahead.
You ask,we answer.
Do I need a driving licence for a quad in Agadir?
Not on our pick. The Sidi Toual tour states that no driving licence is required.
Can children ride the quads?
As passengers, under 16. Children under 16 ride with an adult; under 3 is not allowed.
How long is the quad ride?
Up to 2 hours on site. Our pick lists 2 hours at Sidi Toual Beach within a 4-hour outing, shared by the quad, the board and the tea.
Does every quad tour include sandboarding?
No, read the stops. Two tours with the board in the title list it only as an optional extra.
Is food included on the quad and board tours?
Not on our pick. It includes a tea break, but food is listed as not included.
What should I wear for quad biking and sandboarding?
Clothes that can get dirty. The listing asks for comfortable clothes and closed shoes; helmet and goggles are provided.
Can I cancel if plans change?
Yes, up to 24 hours before. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before is listed, with reserve now and pay later.
Sources
The sources for this guide
- 1US National Park ServiceGreat Sand Dunes: Frequently Asked Questions↩
- 2World Meteorological Organization (Climate Normals 1991-2020, archived by the US National Centers for Environmental Information)Single station data sheet: AGADIR INEZGANNE, WMO 60250↩
- 3World Meteorological Organization (Climate Normals 1991-2020, archived by the US National Centers for Environmental Information)Single station data sheet: MARRAKECH, WMO 60230↩
- 4Encyclopaedia BritannicaMarrakech↩
- 5Encyclopaedia BritannicaAgadir↩
- 6Encyclopaedia BritannicaAgadir↩
- 7Encyclopaedia BritannicaEssaouira↩
- 8Encyclopaedia BritannicaEssaouira↩
- 9Encyclopaedia BritannicaEssaouira↩
- 10World Meteorological Organization (Climate Normals 1991-2020, archived by the US National Centers for Environmental Information)Single station data sheet: AGADIR INEZGANNE, WMO 60250↩
- 11NASA Photojournal (NASA/JPL, Terra ASTER)Star Dunes, Morocco (PIA26287)↩
- 12World Meteorological Organization (Climate Normals 1991-2020, archived by the US National Centers for Environmental Information)Single station data sheet: MARRAKECH, WMO 60230↩
- 13World Meteorological Organization (Climate Normals 1991-2020, archived by the US National Centers for Environmental Information)Single station data sheet: AGADIR INEZGANNE, WMO 60250↩
- 14World Meteorological Organization (Climate Normals 1991-2020, archived by the US National Centers for Environmental Information)Single station data sheet: AGADIR INEZGANNE, WMO 60250↩
- 15Encyclopaedia BritannicaSand dune↩
- 16US National Park ServiceGreat Sand Dunes: Sandboarding and Sand Sledding↩
- 17US National Park ServiceGreat Sand Dunes: Frequently Asked Questions↩
- 18NASA Earth ObservatorySandy Sculptures in Morocco's Erg Chebbi↩
