Solo in Morocco the hidden treasure suuush dont tell anyone we want to keep it hidden Tamraght and Taghazout

I visited Morocco 5 years ago in 2019, it was a place I can say which never really appealed to me. I flew into Agadir and stayed in the beautiful Sofitel and went on a few different hotel inspections, we were hosted as a group of travel agents by the Moroccan Tourist Board. I came back thinking that was nice but without any real interest to ever return, now fast forward 4 years and I found myself looking at Agadir as a short break.  It’s now April 2023 and ive been back 4 times and that’s just in the past year, I can’t get enough of the place.  I have travelled the world; Ive had the most incredible experiences of my life I had them pinch me moments but for some reason Morocco has captured my soul and my hearth.  There is something that I didn’t get the first time i visited and stayed in the 5* hotels and resorts something that only start to grow after I found out what the real authentic Morocco had to offer. It’s a place that feels like a time capsule where people bring the empty egg cartons back to the local shop to be refilled, where what you’re going to eat that day is bought from the local market fresh the same day.  Where the man on the beach selling towels trusts you a stranger to bring him the back the money that you don’t have on you that day.  A place where local traditions and customs are practiced and the sound of the call to prayer reminds you how much religion is a part of life. It’s a culture unlike mine and that’s what I find so fascinating and intriguing. 

So, I wanted to try something different something that you don’t really find in the brochures or is offered by any of the big travel brands.  I wanted to try surfing, so ive tried skiing and I thought I might as well give it a go.  But there was something stopping me I didn’t want to do it on my own I didn’t want to travel solo as a single female.  I wanted to go to a place where I would meet other people a place that I felt safe.  If I was going to travel alone in Morocco, I didn’t want my poor mother worried to death thinking id go missing she always said they would give me back after 5 mins because I don’t shut up. Anyway, to save my mother worrying and to find somewhere that I felt safe I start looking at surf and yoga retreats.  I was never a person for yoga especially that Hata stuff god that is tough I wanted something that was relaxing after a day hitting the waves (more about that in a bit).

I found a surf camp in Tamraght one of the best kept secrets in Morocco, with a short 40 min transfer from Agadir airport I was picked up and dropped off at the surf camp my new home for 4 nights.  So on arriving I was met by another guy staying there he was fantastic a friend of the owner and so welcoming it felt like I knew him years after a short chat.  I waited for the other 2 guests staying there to come back from surfing before heading downstairs for a home cooked delicious dinner it was incredible. The freshest of ingredients and what was more we got to help set the table and then bring our dishes back into the kitchen to be washed.  Now this may sound like a small thing but honestly there is nothing more satisfying than helping out it gives me personally and speaking to the others a sense of belonging a home from home is just feels nice.

The next day we were up for breakfast and then off surfing now when I say I hit the waves I hit them hard.  I learned after the first few mouthfuls of sea water to shut my mouth and breath out.  It was as simple as that so now that I mastered surviving the waves, I had to try conquering them by trying to catch one.  I swear the laughs and fun I had in the water was so invigorating If you’re a beginner it is possible to master standing on the board after a couple of hours, but this was not the case for me.  I tried and tried, and my instructor was incredible he had the patience of a saint but still nothing.  Surfing is the type of sport I know one day ill master the two others were incredible Moon man as I called him the sweetest guy from south Korea was surfing, I mean catching the white water I know right it sounds like I know what I’m talking about.  well, he was up on the board in minutes catching the white water and a day later he was in green water that’s the water before the waves break and cause all them white suddy waves the ones I’m Still trying to catch.  After surfing we chilled on the beach and had a home packed lunch and watched how the other people out surfing were doing, I swear nothing beats it give me this over tv any day.  The beach is wild the mountainous backdrop with the small beach restaurants perked on top overlooking the beach and the men walking the camels are the perfect backdrop to them incredible photos.

Morocco especially Tamraght is uncommercial, at the moment so now is the best time to visit.  It’s a little town which wait for it, doesn’t even have an ATM, now I know there are people reading this yes your probably one of them thinking oh my god how on earth is there places that don’t have ATMs, but believe me it just adds to the charm of the place.  Its only very recently that more Bougie (my cousin Ben taught me that word and it fits this place) cafes like Daydream which have the most delicious coffees around and cool surf camps are popping up as well as co work spaces such as Manzil CoWorking

To get from Tamraght to Tagazout is a leisurely hour long stroll along the new promenade and with the breath-taking views along the way you don’t even notice the time pass.  I got up early most mornings and done my 5km run up along the beach.  When you get to Tagazout a great selection of restaurants are waiting for you along with the hussle and bustle of the street markets and the smell of the charcoal cooking the fresh meat and vegetables.  It was my friend Lisa says an assault on the senses.  Every sense is awakened the smell the noise of the people going about their daily business the incredible colours of the handmade rugs the layer of sand and dust being swept away by the shop owners its all happening Tagazout is Tamraghts bigger and more livelier sister but you have the best of both worlds with that promenade linking the two.  The main draw for me and Tagazout was the blue fishing boats that were cluttering the beach now for any of you instagrammers out there this is a picture not to miss.  The Munga Guest House has the instagrammable seats outside that I’ll admit I seen on a few of them Tinder profile pictures  as I scrolled through just to see the surfing talent lol. Anyway, what I’m trying to say is there as so many great spots to get them amazing pictures to post to make all of them not so single and not so solo friends of yours jealous.