Africa,  Travel

Insanely Cool Things to do in Agadir, Morocco

Morocco is an amazing country with so much to see and do, but if you are a budget traveler like myself it can be difficult to find things to do at affordable prices that will allow you to have the same experience in Morocco for less.

In this blog, I will explain 5 really cool things to do in Morocco (specifically Agadir and Taghazout) that are cheap and cheerful. 

The Market

Morocco has some of the world’s biggest markets, which can take hours to get around. These are not to be missed on your travels to Morocco. Just seeing one of these markets is an experience in itself.

In Agadir we went to the Souk El Had, which is Morocco’s second largest market. It sells everything from food to clothes to animals. You can also get fresh juice at the market, which you must try.

If you are going to the market you want to make sure that you have cash (dirhams) with you as very few to no stalls will take card payment. If you are going to buy something this is where your bargaining skills will come out in force, as sellers here will usually start the bidding at very high prices. A lot of stalls will sell the same or similar products so make sure to shop around so you can get the best price.

Souk El Had, Agadir

The market can be very busy so just be careful of your personal belongings because like anywhere in the world there will be pick pockets. The big crowds at these markets can cause people to brush up against you, which can make it easy for robbing to occur.

In some markets people will make you pay if you take pictures of them. Although this didn’t happen to us in Agadir, this does occur often at the Midena Market in Marrakech. If the sellers catch tourists taking photos of them, they will demand money for the picture, which can often start at a high price.

Old Kasbah

A cable car will take you to the top of a mountain where you will see the beautiful panoramic Old Kasbah of Agadir. From the top of the 236 metre high mountain you will be able to see the most spectacular views of Agadir.

The cable car leaves from the Marina in Agadir and the journey to the top of the mountain takes a total of 5 minutes. If you are scared of heights this can be quite daunting but it is so worth it when you get to the top.

At the Old Kasbah you will see a 360 degree view of the city of Agadir, while also learning about its history. I recommend going at sunset, as it made it even more special for us, as we watched the sun set over the city lights. 

Old Kabash, Agadir

In total this will cost you 80 dirhams which is the equivalent to €8 per person. When you are paying they will ask if you want the premium or regular experience but there is no real difference between the two, only the price. So, make sure you go for the regular fare. Also ensure you buy a two way ticket so you can get back down.

You can stay up at the Old Kabash for as long as you like, as long as you leave before the attraction closes. 

There is also an opportunity to take pictures with/ride camels when you are at the top. We did not do this but if it is something that interests you, I would do my research before you go to ensure these camels are treated well if you are planning to engage with the seller. 

Sandboarding

If you love to be active and love a new experience this is definitely one to add to your bucket list. This was one of the most expensive activities we did while in Morocco but it was so worth it. 

We booked our tour through GetYourGuide.ie and our tour provider was TMS Tours and Excursions. The total cost of our tour was €66 each and this included transfer from our AirBnB to the desert, snacks, and use of the boards. 

We went in a small group with only four other people and our guide Mufasa was super nice. The car journey to the sand dunes takes just under 2 hours and you stop for snacks on the way. There is no bathroom so I would recommend going before you leave your accommodation and also be careful of your water intake throughout the day.

The tour in total takes 6 hours from when you leave your accommodation to when you are dropped back. You get a total of 2 hours sandboarding, which we felt was plenty of time to enjoy the experience and get pictures. 

Sandboarding, Agadir

The guides will walk you through the different levels of sandboarding starting at the easiest level and working your way up. The steeper the slopes get the harder it is to stay balanced. Between me and my boyfriend we had our fair share of falls. It doesn’t hurt as you are only falling on sand but if you are struggling with an injury at the moment, I don’t know if this would be the activity for you.

Take note that you are in your bare feet for the most part so I would recommend wearing sliders or a sandal. It can also get cold in the desert in the evenings so I would also recommend bringing a jumper with you.

Taghazout

The city of Agadir is beautiful but I don’t think it can compare to the little surfing towns on the west coast of the country. We stayed 2 nights in the surfing town of Taghazout and it was beautiful. I would compare it to a smaller San Diego. The vibes, the beaches, and the cafes were immaculate.

We got the bus from Agadir to Taghazout which takes about an hour and costs 0.70c per person. We stayed in a private room in one of the many hostels in the little town but if you aren’t on a budget there is also the Radisson Blu resort just off the beach in Taghazout.. 

The town itself has so many cute cafes and restaurants, and it is full of life from people all over the world that have travelled here to experience the Taghazout waves. The little town is known for surfing, so this is a must do when visiting.

You can also relax on the beach here, walk around the town to get the most aesthetic pictures and enjoy the stalls and markets.

Taghazout

Our hostel here cost €60 for a private room for two nights and although I wouldn’t recommend our hostel (Ayour Hostel) there are so many at a similar price to choose from.

The smoothie bowls, coffee, and fresh juices are amazing in this town, which I have a separate blog on, which is all about where to eat in Morocco.

To finish off a day in Taghazout, I would recommend sitting on top of the rocks surrounding the beach and taking in the sunset as the surfers get their final daylight waves. This was such a memorable experience for us.

Surfing

We went surfing while visiting Taghazout and it was so much fun. I hadn’t been surfing since I was in secondary school and my boyfriend had never been surfing, but we still decided to give it a try.

We decided to rent boards and go out on our own. However, if it is your first time surfing and you are a little nervous, there are so many surfing schools that hold lessons everyday. You can take these lessons in a group or on your own, whatever you feel comfortable with.

Surfing, Taghazout

I will warn you that the waves in Taghazout are crazy so be mindful of this before you take to the water. We went in November and even though temperatures were still very warm, I still recommend wearing a wetsuit. Also be sure to wear your SPF!

We rented the surfboards and the wetsuits for €13 per person from a surf shop called Mint Surf. You can rent the surfboard and wetsuit for the day for that price, returning it whenever you want before they close.

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