Our pickGuided board & canyon
Pickup in 4 villages
- On the dunes
- 100 minutes
- Rating
- 4.63
- Price
- from $30
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Guide · Taghazout
Taghazout sandboarding and surf: dunes and waves in one stay
Taghazout sandboarding works best as the afternoon half of a surf stay: waves in the morning, dunes at sunset. Here is how close the sand is, who picks you up, and how to fit both in.
Check availabilityfrom $30 · cancellation is free
Editorial team, sandboardingmorocco.comUpdated October 26, 20266 min read17 sources
The quick version
- 01Dunes
- Timlalin, about 27 km north of Taghazout in a straight line.1
- 02Board trip
- 4 hours with pickup in Taghazout, 100 minutes on the dunes.
- 03Surf lesson
- Beginners welcome; wetsuit and board provided.
- 04Surf spots
- Taghazout Bay counts its best spots within 50 km.2
- 05Board trip from
- $24 for the half day from Taghazout.
Why Taghazout is the base for dunes and waves
Taghazout is a surf village on the coast north of Agadir, and it sits between the two things this page is about. The surf breaks are on its doorstep and along the shore to the north, and the Timlalin dunes lie about 27 km away in a straight line, by our calculation from the coordinates in a trip listing.1 From Agadir the same dunes are about 50 km away.3
That short distance changes how you can plan. Staying in Agadir, a dune trip is a half-day outing with a lot of van time. Staying in Taghazout or neighboring Tamraght, you can surf in the morning, rest at lunch and be on a crest for the sunset, then eat back in the village by evening. Most Timlalin trips list Taghazout or Tamraght among their pickup points.
The Taghazout Bay resort says that outstanding surf spots lie within less than 50 km of the resort and that surfers come from all over the world.2 Its own surf camp has given lessons since April 2016.4 Sandboarding is the land-based cousin that fills the afternoons when the sea is flat, and it uses the same instincts: weight over the board, eyes ahead, knees soft. If you already surf, standing up on a sandboard may come quickly, and if you start on the dunes, the balance you learn there is a small head start for your first wave.
A double day
Surf in the morning, dunes at sunset
-
Morning
Pickup for the lesson
A 20-minute drive and a stop in Tamraght.
-
Late morning
Surf Taghazout Beach
2 hours in the water on the shorter option.
-
Afternoon
Van to the dunes
70 minutes north to the Timlalin dunes.
-
Sunset
Sandboarding
100 minutes on the dunes, with the sunset.
-
Evening
Back to Taghazout
70 minutes back to the village.
Taghazout sandboarding trips that pick you up in the village
The trip this page recommends is a 4-hour guided sandboarding experience with a canyon visit. It picks up in Tamraght, Taghazout, Anza or Agadir, drives 70 minutes to the Timlalin dunes, spends 100 minutes there with a guided tour, sandboarding and the sunset, and drives 70 minutes back. It has 734 reviews, a 4.63 rating and starts from $30.
A cheaper half day starts in Taghazout itself. It lists the same 70 minutes each way and 100 minutes at the dunes, with sightseeing and the sunset, and has 503 reviews and a 4.58 rating. It starts from $24. Both run with live guides in English and French. The difference is mostly in the pickup: the cheaper half day collects you in Taghazout only, while the guided trip also covers Agadir and Anza, which helps if your group is split between hotels.
Two longer trips add more to the afternoon. One stops 15 minutes at Plage Aghroud, then gives 2 hours at the dunes and 40 minutes for tea and lunch in Tamri. Another adds a camel ride and a barbecue to 3 hours at the dunes, and both pick up in Taghazout. They cost more, from $41 and $61.
Windy days
Days with strong wind at Agadir Inezgane
days
Side by side
Trips that pick up in Taghazout
| Trip | Activity | Length | Reviews | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided board & canyon | Sandboarding | 4 hours | 734 | from $30 |
| Half day from Taghazout | Sandboarding | 4 hours | 503 | from $24 |
| Board with lunch | Sandboarding | 5 hours | 99 | from $41 |
| Camel & barbecue | Board & camel | 5 hours | 92 | from $61 |
| Beginner surf lesson | Surfing | 2-6 hours | 359 | from $49 |
Lengths and review counts from each GetYourGuide listing; all of them list Taghazout among their pickups. Prices are from-prices only.
Board or surf
Three ways to spend an afternoon
Our pick
Lowest priceHalf day from Taghazout
Pickup in the village
- On the dunes
- 100 minutes
- Rating
- 4.58
- Price
- from $24
For the wavesDecision helper
What should you book in Taghazout?
Start with the board you most want to ride
Guided board & canyon
It picks up in the village and gives 100 minutes on the dunes.
Half day from Taghazout
It starts from $24 with the same time on the sand.
Beginner surf lesson
No experience needed; wetsuit and surfboard are provided.
Board with lunch
It adds a beach stop and lunch in Tamri.
Camel & barbecue
It lists a camel ride and 3 hours on the dunes.
With outstanding spots located within a perimeter of less than 50 km around the resort, Taghazout Bay is a popular destination for surfers from around the world.
Can you surf in Agadir, or only in Taghazout?
Visitors ask whether they can surf in Agadir itself or need to move north. Agadir has a long city beach, but the surf scene of this coast is centered on Taghazout, Tamraght and the points around them. If you are staying in Agadir, pick a lesson that includes the transfer: the beginner lesson we list picks up in Agadir or Taghazout.
That lesson is a good template for a first session. It drives 20 minutes, stops 15 minutes in Tamraght, then spends time surfing at Taghazout Beach, with a small group limited to 8. No surfing experience is needed, and the wetsuit and surfboard are provided; you wear your swimwear under your clothes.
It runs from 2 to 6 hours depending on the option, includes lunch and transfer, has 359 reviews, a 4.82 rating and starts from $49. If you have a few days, take a lesson early in your stay and keep the dunes for an afternoon later, when your arms are tired and your legs are not. Surfing works the shoulders and back from paddling; dune climbs work the legs, which makes them a good pairing over a week.
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 1985.67
In Google Maps ↗ - 2Agadir
The Atlantic port 10 km north of the mouth of the Sous valley, rebuilt after the earthquakes of 1960.89
In Google Maps ↗ - 3Essaouira
A port founded in 1765, with sand dunes on its land side and an ocean breeze that brings windsurfers.101112
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.3
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.1314
In Google Maps ↗ - 6Inezgane
Where the Agadir Inezgane weather station stands, 23 m above sea level; our climate tables are its normals.15
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.1
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.11
In Google Maps ↗ - 15El Ghazoua
A village inland from the Essaouira dunes, among the dunes and argan country behind the coast.11
In Google Maps ↗ - 16Sidi Kaouki
One of two pickup points of the Essaouira sandboarding outing with a sunset picnic.
In Google Maps ↗
Checklist
For a surf and dune stay
01
Surf lesson
- Swimwear under your clothes
- Wetsuit and board are provided
- Sunscreen for the water
02
Dune afternoon
- Sunglasses or goggles for blowing sand
- Water for the climbs
- A layer for the ride back after dark
03
Planning
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Leave a rest day between first sessions
Cost calculator
Price a surf and dune stay for your group
Enter your group size to compare four afternoons from Taghazout.
People
Total from$59
per person from $30
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
Sandboarding in Morocco with big wave surfers in Taghazout
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One day, two boards: a plan that works
Plan the surf for the morning, before the afternoon wind has a chance to build, and the dunes for the late afternoon, when the sand has cooled and the light is low. That makes a natural split. Surf from breakfast to lunch, eat in the village, rest in the heat of the day, and meet the sandboarding van in the afternoon.
The timings in the listings fit that plan. A dune trip from Taghazout spends 70 minutes in the van each way and 100 minutes at the dunes, a little over 4 hours in total. A surf lesson's shorter option lists 2 hours in the water. Book them on separate operators and check that the pickup time of the afternoon trip leaves you a proper lunch.
Do not cram both into a day if you are new to either. Surfing for the first time is exhausting, and dune climbs on tired legs are where falls happen. A rest day between them costs nothing and doubles the fun. Whatever you book, the trips compared here list free cancellation up to 24 hours before, which lets you move a session if the wind turns.
Wind: friend of the dunes, enemy of the waves
The coast here is windy. The World Meteorological Organization station at Agadir Inezgane, south of Taghazout, records 174.6 days a year with wind of 10 m/s or more, from 20.5 days in May and 20.2 in April down to 9.7 in December.5 Taghazout is a different spot from the station, but the pattern gives you a feel for the year.
Strong wind spoils the surf by chopping up the waves and makes the dunes harder work, blowing sand off the crests into your face. Britannica's figures show why: sand carried by the wind rises from 13 grams per hour at 10 km/h to 1,179 grams at 30 km/h.16 On a very windy day, sandboard on the sheltered faces and wear sunglasses or goggles. Keep your phone in a zipped pocket too: fine sand finds its way into ports and camera lenses faster than you expect, and a sealed plastic bag is cheap protection.
Calmer months make both easier. December, July and November are the calmest on the station's count, and the summer months are dry: Agadir's normal rainfall in July is 0.2 mm.517 Our page on the best month for sandboarding in Morocco sets out wind, rain and temperature month by month.
Getting around between Taghazout and the dunes
You do not need a car in Taghazout. The dune trips and the surf lesson all list pickup in the village, which saves you from finding your own way along the coast road at dusk. If you do have a car, the dunes are a short drive north, but go with someone who knows the tracks to the sand.
Quads are another way to see the area. One 4-hour quad ride picks up in Taghazout and rides at Sidi Toual Beach south of Agadir, though it lists no sandboarding. The site's own quad and sandboarding outing also rides there, but it picks up in Agadir. Our quad page compares them, including the tours whose titles promise sandboarding but whose itineraries mark it only as optional.
For a calmer outing, the trip with lunch in Tamri suits families and anyone who wants time on the sand without rushing. It runs as a small group of up to 15 and needs good weather; should the weather force a cancellation, it offers a new date or your money back. It also needs a minimum number of travelers, which is worth knowing if you book alone out of season.
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.
Can you surf in Agadir as well as Taghazout?
Yes, with a transfer north. The beginner lesson we list picks up in Agadir or Taghazout and surfs at Taghazout Beach.
How far are the sandboarding dunes from Taghazout?
About 27 km in a straight line. That is our calculation from the coordinates of the Taghazout pickup and the Timlalin stop.1
How long is a sandboarding trip from Taghazout?
About 4 hours. It lists 70 minutes each way and 100 minutes at the Timlalin dunes.
Do I need experience for a surf lesson?
No. The lesson is designed for complete beginners; wetsuit and surfboard are provided.
Can I surf and sandboard on the same day?
Yes, morning and sunset. A 2-hour lesson and a sunset dune trip of about 4 hours fit one day.
Which months are windiest in Taghazout?
Spring, on the nearest station's count. Agadir Inezgane counts 20.5 windy days in May and 20.2 in April.5
What should I bring for the dunes?
Sunglasses, water and a layer. Wind lifts sand off the crests, and you ride back after sunset; closed shoes help on the climbs.
Sources
The sources for this guide
- 1World Meteorological Organization (Climate Normals 1991-2020, archived by the US National Centers for Environmental Information)Single station data sheet: AGADIR INEZGANNE, WMO 60250↩
- 2Taghazout Bay (SAPST, the state developer of the resort)Taghazout Bay↩
- 3World Meteorological Organization (Climate Normals 1991-2020, archived by the US National Centers for Environmental Information)Single station data sheet: AGADIR INEZGANNE, WMO 60250↩
- 4Taghazout Bay (SAPST, the state developer of the resort)Taghazout Bay↩
- 5World Meteorological Organization (Climate Normals 1991-2020, archived by the US National Centers for Environmental Information)Single station data sheet: AGADIR INEZGANNE, WMO 60250↩
- 6World Meteorological Organization (Climate Normals 1991-2020, archived by the US National Centers for Environmental Information)Single station data sheet: MARRAKECH, WMO 60230↩
- 7Encyclopaedia BritannicaMarrakech↩
- 8Encyclopaedia BritannicaAgadir↩
- 9Encyclopaedia BritannicaAgadir↩
- 10Encyclopaedia BritannicaEssaouira↩
- 11Encyclopaedia BritannicaEssaouira↩
- 12Encyclopaedia BritannicaEssaouira↩
- 13NASA Photojournal (NASA/JPL, Terra ASTER)Star Dunes, Morocco (PIA26287)↩
- 14World Meteorological Organization (Climate Normals 1991-2020, archived by the US National Centers for Environmental Information)Single station data sheet: MARRAKECH, WMO 60230↩
- 15World Meteorological Organization (Climate Normals 1991-2020, archived by the US National Centers for Environmental Information)Single station data sheet: AGADIR INEZGANNE, WMO 60250↩
- 16Encyclopaedia BritannicaSand dune↩
- 17World Meteorological Organization (Climate Normals 1991-2020, archived by the US National Centers for Environmental Information)Single station data sheet: AGADIR INEZGANNE, WMO 60250↩
