A Guide To Holidays In Agadir

By Author: Bonny Kominek
Total Articles: 230
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Wide, palm lined boulevards, whitewashed domed buildings and luxury international hotels abound in Agadir, but the piece de la resistance is the crescent-moon shaped bay. Agadir is Morocco''s premier beach resort, its answer to St Tropez or Rimini.

Life here revolves around the beach. Because of Agadir''s climate, warm and sunny throughout the year, it is a buzz of life almost 365 days a year. It is relatively sheltered, unlike most other beaches on North Africa''s Atlantic coast, so there are numerous beach activities on offer and swimming is more relaxed.

The usual beach frivolity is available, from jet skiing to banana boating. But you can also hire quad bikes, dune buggies or take a camel or horse ride.

Beyond the beach there is little to do as the city was completely destroyed by a devastating earthquake in 1960. There is a reminder of this at Ancienne Talborjit, the site where the old medina once stood, now little more than a grassy mound.

But a stroll through the local markets, particularly the lively fish market, is worthwhile. Anyone with an interest in golf will enjoy hitting a round on ...
... any one of three, more than decent, golf courses, all of which have very affordable green fees.

Morocco has some fantastic surf and just a few miles north of Agadir is Taghazout, one of the country''s best surf locations, where swells can be extremely impressive, so during the winter it attracts a world class crowd. Summer time is perfect for beginners and intermediates and there are several surf schools in the area.

Morocco has some outstanding scenery and hiking in the Atlas Mountains is a truly rewarding experience. Here villages have remained unchanged for hundreds of years and open desert meets thick forest and rugged and dramatic moon like landscapes.

Just outside Agadir is Paradise Valley. This palm-lined gorge is a way into this foreign landscape and leads to mountain trails up to the Berber villages and the breathtaking waterfalls of Immouzer des Ida Outanane.

If nature is your thing, head to one of North Africa''s best bird watching sites, the Souss-Massa National Park. The Massa lagoon, just 35km from Agadir, is home to sandgrouse, cranes and flamingos in amazingly large numbers.

If you can''t make it up to Marrakech for a day, Taroudannt is much closer and will give you an insight into the frenetic and hectic life of a Moroccan city. It is smaller than Marrakech, but the elegant walled town has lively souks and yummy food markets, making the bumpy ride to and from the city worthwhile. Bonny Kominek is a European travel expert and freelance writer. They recommend Octopus travel for Agadir hotels.