If you are enthusiastic about going outside after reading the blog about Sas her climbing and hiking trip in Spain; keep on reading! Just like Spain, Morocco seems so have it all too. And maybe even a bit more. There’s the atlas mountains that are perfect for hiking and climbing, there’s the coast with it’s perfect waves and temperatures, there’s the desert where you can explore as long as you like, there’s Dakla, the paradise for kitesurfers, there’s beautiful cities, lots of culture and, most importantly; very nice food and the best fresh fruit juices!

Splitting up
Lonia and Lisa (if you follow us from our first days you know her!) wanted to go surfing for most of the trips’ duration but I chose to find some variety in combining some days in the mountains with some days at the coast. So the first day, we split up and I met up with Daphne, who I met 5 years ago on my trip in Colombia. We then spent some time in outdoor capital San Gil, went to the mountains close to Cocuy and explored the Amazon together.

Now, 5 years later, we coincidentally met each other again in Spain in January, and it turned out we would be in Morocco around the same time! And so we went; back to the mountains. Now in a different country. We drove to the mountain town of Imlil (1700m) and chose a route where we would drive over a  mountain pass. It turned out this road was demolished during the 2023 earthquake, just over a year ago. Luckily, while the road was still being fixed, we could pass and enjoy some of the nicest mountain views! 

Toubkal Region
While Lonia and Lisa were surfing in Tamraght, I arrived into the Toubkal region for some days of trekking. Toubkal is the highest mountain in Morocco, standing at 4,167 meters. Because we came in late the evening before and because I was feeling sick, we started with a day hike to a plateau from where you have the perfect view over the valley and all the way to Marrakech! At 2500 meters, there was a guy with a bunch of oranges and a juicer so we treated ourselves with some fresh orange juice. Lovely! It turned out we could summit Toubkal, even in winter. Of course, Daphne and I wanted to climb it and plan a multi day hike! Unfortunately it was holiday for the Moroccans too, so the refuge was fully booked. If you’re planning to summit Toubkal, even in winter, it’s totally doable. Just make sure to hire a guide and book the mountain refuge ahead of time. I’d recommend setting aside three days for the climb and descent, although if you’re up for it, you could do it in two.

We decided to hike up to the Toubkal refuge and the other day, do another day hike in the area. We would sleep in our campervan in between the hikes. Both were great!

The sea
After 4 days in the mountains, sleeping in a camper with icicles on the tap because of the cold nights, beautiful hikes and socializing with the local police around their bonfire, it was time to return to the coast! Lonia and Lisa had stayed in a surfhouse in Tamragt for a few days, but were also ready to move on.

I said goodbye to Daphne, rented a car and met up with the others in Taghazout. The next few days, we spent our days drinking sugar with some Moroccan tea, surfing in Imsouane, eating tajine and enjoying the sun! Taghazout is a small, but touristy surftown full of restaurants on the seaside, from where you can have dinner while watching the sunset. Imsouane is a bit bigger and more modern town a mostly famous for it long wave that’s apparently ‘the longest wave of Africa’. It’s perfect for both beginners and intermediate surfers. The town has also been in the news because the Moroccan government tore down a big part of the houses of the locals, so that they could build a fancy resort.

Paradise Valley
When the waves weren’t great, together with Lies, we took a break and headed inland to Paradise Valley, just a 40 minute ride from the coast. This spot is a bit touristy, but still worth a visit. There are plenty of little cafes where you can grab a tajine or fresh juice while putting your feet in the water, and the hike through the gorge is beautiful, though the water was quite low when I visited. Insider tip: after the last water pool where everyone seems to stop for a jump in the water before heading back, keep walking around the bend. It looks like you’re leaving the gorge, but you’ll stumble upon the most stunning section—completely quiet and secluded, with no one else around. Turned on some Ben Howard and that made for a day very well spent!

Overall, this trip for me was the perfect mix of surfing, hiking, and soaking in Moroccan culture. Whether you’re a surfer, a mountain lover, or just craving adventure, Morocco has something for everyone, and I can’t wait to go back! If you’re planning a visit and want to know more, don’t hesitate to send us a message! We’d love to tell you all about it.