Surf Road Trip in Morocco by Car: From Taghazout to Imsouane, Chasing the Best Waves

From Taghazout to Tarfaya, Morocco's Atlantic coast takes North Atlantic swell along hundreds of kilometres. To be in the water at the right stage of the tide, without relying on surf camp shuttles, you need a car. One thing to check before booking: Loccor's offer in Agadir changes from week to week; if nothing matches your dates, start from Marrakech.

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Published on 5 November 2025

1. Why a rental car is the key to a good surf trip in Morocco
2. Starting from Agadir or Marrakech: check before you book
3. Taghazout, Morocco, to Boilers: a line-up of world-class rights
4. Imsouane and the Bay: one long, pure ride
5. Which car should you rent for boards and wetsuits?
6. Surfing in Mirleft: quiet coves south of Tiznit
7. On to Tarfaya: the Saharan coast for self-sufficient surfers

1. Why a rental car is the key to a good surf trip in Morocco

On this coast, the wind and the tide call the shots. A spot that is flat when you wake up can be sending clean sets two hours later on the dropping tide, a few kilometres further north.

With your own car, you check conditions at dawn, load the boards and head for the point sheltered from the wind. You spend more time in the water and less time on crowded peaks.

2. Starting from Agadir or Marrakech: check before you book

Loccor's offer in Agadir depends on partner agencies and changes from week to week. Check the Agadir rental page for your dates; if nothing suits you, Marrakech is the most practical alternative. Better to find out while planning than at the moment you book.

From Marrakech, the A7 toll motorway runs all the way down to Agadir. Taghazout is then about twenty kilometres north of Agadir on the N1 coast road.

3. Taghazout, Morocco, to Boilers: a line-up of world-class rights

On the coast, the N1 runs through Tamraght and then Taghazout. This is where the right-handers that made the area's name line up: Anchor Point, which peels for several hundred metres along the rocks, Killer Point, Hash Point and Panorama Beach.

Keep heading north and you reach Boilers, named after the old shipwreck boiler stranded near the shore. It is a powerful, consistent wave for experienced surfers only, breaking below a raw backdrop of dry cliffs.

4. Imsouane and the Bay: one long, pure ride

Further north, after the clifftop road above the ocean, the fishing village of Imsouane is home to La Baie, a point sheltered from the direct swell.

The wave is gentle and runs for a very long way towards the harbour beach: longboarders link endless rides there, among blue fishing boats and the smell of grilled sardines. In January 2024, the authorities demolished the buildings along the bay front, cafés, surf camps and shops included. The wave and the harbour are still there; for food and a bed, check before you go what has reopened, and keep a fallback further away.

5. Which car should you rent for boards and wetsuits?

A solo surfer or a pair travelling with shortboards can fit the boards inside a standard city car by folding the front passenger seat down, provided the wetsuits are wrung out properly so they do not soak the upholstery.

For a group of three or four surfers, or for longboards, the most comfortable choice on Loccor is a roomy SUV or an estate. Plenty of travellers also carry removable foam racks strapped through the door frames to take the gear on the roof.

6. Surfing in Mirleft: quiet coves south of Tiznit

Surfing in Mirleft, about 42 kilometres from Tiznit, happens on a string of beaches between the cliffs, with beach breaks that change with the tide and the sandbanks. It is the quietest stop on the southern coast.

There is no famous point break here like in Taghazout: you check each cove from the road and choose on the spot. Aftas beach, the closest to the village, is the easiest to reach; the others are down tracks off the main road. Park at the top when a track gets steep.

Services are limited: fill up and shop in Tiznit, bring a jerrycan of fresh water to rinse off, and leave nothing on show in a car parked on the clifftop.

7. On to Tarfaya: the Saharan coast for self-sufficient surfers

Tarfaya, south of Tan-Tan, is the furthest stop for surfers escaping the crowds: a desert coastline exposed to Atlantic swell and wind, where you mostly meet fishermen.

Spots there are neither signposted nor lifeguarded: never surf alone, ask fishermen about the currents and only paddle out if you are self-sufficient. The wind often blows hard, which also draws kitesurfers.

On the road, fill up in every town and drive in daylight because of sand on the road and camels. An SUV or an estate car is enough on the paved main road; do not head down beach tracks unless you know the ground.

Frequently asked questions

Where do I pick up the car for a surf trip on the Atlantic coast?

In Agadir or Marrakech, depending on availability: Loccor's offer in Agadir depends on partner agencies, so check the city page for your dates. From Marrakech, the A7 motorway runs down to Agadir.

When is the best time of year to surf in Morocco?

The best season runs from October to April, when North Atlantic depressions send powerful, consistent swells and the wind is often offshore in the morning. Summer suits beginners better, with smaller waves.

Is it risky to leave the car parked near the spots?

At the busier spots, a car park attendant usually keeps an eye on cars for a few dirhams. Still, leave nothing on show inside: phone, passport, wallet.

Can you surf in Mirleft?

Yes: the beaches around the village have beach breaks that are far less crowded than Taghazout. Aftas beach is the closest to the village; the others are reached by tracks off the main road.

Can you drive to Tarfaya for a surf trip in a rental car?

Yes, on the paved main road south of Tan-Tan, but it is an expedition: unguarded spots, few services and often strong wind. Fill up in every town and drive in daylight.

What are the things to do in Taghazout besides surfing?

Taghazout is above all a surf village, with its cafés and guesthouses, but a car widens the choice. Inland, Paradise Valley, in the hills of Imouzzer Ida Outanane, makes a cool half day; along the N1, argan cooperatives sell oil and amlou; and Agadir, about twenty kilometres south, adds its souk, its fishing port and the marina.

Taghazout holidays: do you need a car if you stay in the village?

Not to get around the village, which you cover on foot. The car earns its keep at dawn, when you check the wind and the tide and drive to the spot that works: Boilers to the north, Imsouane further up the coast, or the beaches towards Tamraght. If Agadir has no car for your dates, pick one up in Marrakech and drive down the A7.

Sources

Visit Morocco — visitmorocco.com

Wikipedia — fr.wikipedia.org

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Written by the Loccor editorial team, the platform connecting travellers with car rental agencies in Morocco.

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