Surf Maroc is a surf and yoga holiday company based in Taghazout, on Morocco's Atlantic coast near Agadir. It's been running since 2003 and suits anyone who wants a social week of surf lessons, twice-daily yoga and vegetarian food by the ocean, whether you've surfed before or not.
What it's like
Surf Maroc started in 2003 with two friends, a handful of boards and an old van. Today it runs several oceanfront places to stay in and around Taghazout, a small surf village north of Agadir that's become one of the best-known surf spots in North Africa. The company also has a surf shop and surf school, so lessons, board hire and transport all come from the same team.
There are a few different places to stay, each with its own feel. Taghazout Villa is the sociable beach guesthouse. Amouage is a boutique hotel on the waterfront, and it's also where the spa sits, with massage and hammam treatments. Villa Mandala, just outside the village above Banana Beach, is the dedicated yoga retreat house, and it's the one most people on this site will be interested in.
Villa Mandala has nine bedrooms, most with their own bathroom and several with ocean views. There's a small pool on the front terrace, a garden, a Berber-style living room and a rooftop yoga shala that holds about 20 people, with props, lighting and a towel for each guest. Breakfast and dinner are eaten together at shared tables on the terrace, which gives the week a friendly, house-party feel.
The programs
The Yoga Surf Retreat is the main event at Villa Mandala. It runs Saturday to Saturday as a full week, and the team prefers guests to stay the whole time so the group can progress together.
A typical day starts with sunrise yoga, then breakfast, then a drive to whichever beach suits the conditions. Surf lessons run late morning, followed by a picnic lunch on the sand and a supervised free-surf session. Back at the villa there's afternoon tea, then a sunset class and a communal dinner. Mornings lean toward vinyasa flow, while evenings are slower: restorative, yin, yoga nidra or meditation. All of it is optional, so you can skip a class if your arms are tired from paddling.
Surf coaching is split into four ability levels, from first-timers learning board safety in the whitewater up to returning surfers working on head-high beach breaks. A week includes six coaching sessions, board and wetsuit hire, and daily transport to the breaks. The retreat also includes a few short trips, such as the Agadir souk, an argan cooperative and the sand dunes, weather permitting.
If yoga isn't your thing, Surf Maroc also offers surf coaching weeks, surf guiding for more experienced surfers who want to be taken to the right spot each day, and a women-only surf week.
Who it suits (and who it doesn't)
Villa Mandala works well for solo travelers, friends and couples who enjoy meeting people. It's adults only (15 and over on the yoga retreat), and the shared meals and group surf sessions mean you'll get to know everyone. Beginners are well looked after.
If you want total privacy, room service or a quiet hotel where you never talk to anyone, this probably isn't the right fit. Some rooms are shared triples and quads, and two rooms share a bathroom, so check carefully when you book. The food on the retreat is vegetarian; the team says most dietary needs can be handled, with a fish option available midweek on request.
Getting there
Fly into Agadir, which has direct flights from the UK and many European cities. Taghazout is about 40 to 45 minutes from the airport, and Surf Maroc includes group airport transfers on surf packages of seven nights or more. From Marrakech it's about three hours by road, and the team can arrange a driver. Travelers from North America or Australia usually connect through Casablanca or a European hub.
The surf works all year. Summer, roughly May to September, brings smaller, friendlier waves, while winter brings bigger and more varied swell.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to know how to surf?
No. Lessons are grouped by level, starting with complete beginners learning in the whitewater.
Is the food vegetarian?
Yes, on the Yoga Surf Retreat at Villa Mandala. Meals are homemade with local ingredients, and most dietary requirements can be catered for.
Can I book fewer than seven nights?
The yoga retreat is designed as a full Saturday-to-Saturday week, and shorter stays aren't usually offered.
Are massages available?
Yes. Massage and hammam treatments are offered at the spa at Amouage in Taghazout rather than at Villa Mandala itself.
When is the best time to go?
Any time of year. Pick summer for gentler waves if you're new, or winter if you want more swell. For dates and bookings, see the Surf Maroc website.
